Chapter 167

Cyrus was pulled into the room where he was born by His Holiness the Pope, who slowly recounted his past. Before succeeding to the throne, Segalot had lived in the imperial palace for a period of time.

At that time, his relationship with Warner could be described as that of playmates.

However, Segalot was soon taken out of the palace by the new pope and moved into the Saint Church.

The relationship wasn't described as distant, but it wasn't close either.

They maintained a distance that ranged from unfamiliar to friendly.

"As for my background, there's really not much to say..." Segalot Cyrus sat on the edge of the bed, holding his hand in one hand, their hands clasped together, their fingers intimately intertwined.

He slowly recounted everything from the past.

Cyrus listened attentively— the Saint Airo Empire had experienced royal changes long ago, and Augsger once existed as the most prestigious surname in the empire.

It's a pity that everything gradually withers and declines as people's lives pass away.

The Augsger Family is a case in point.

Despite its former prominence, as the family size gradually decreased and there was no new blood entering the family for a long time, this most prestigious surname began to be slowly replaced by others.

And, as time goes by, no one will remember anymore.

There was no conspiracy, just the helplessness of reality.

Segalot is the only remaining member of the Augsger Family.

If he hadn't had the extraordinary signs at birth, if he hadn't possessed those blessed, shimmering golden eyes, perhaps...

"Perhaps what?"

Seeing that the Emperor was not going to continue, Cyrus curiously shook their clasped hands, signaling him to continue.

Segalot: "Augsger has always been kept in the palace, which is actually a form of imprisonment, except that the 'prisoner' enjoys the most luxurious treatment..."

"Like a caged bird, though well-fed and clothed, its freedom is restricted."

Cyrus: "If Your Majesty hadn't become Pope, you would have continued to live here, wouldn't you?"

Living in this almost unnoticed place.

Segalot gently touched her hair, twirling a strand of Cyrus's hair between her fingers, and said, "Yes, perhaps I will stay here forever, but I won't do nothing..."

"Since the Augsger Family once enjoyed great glory, then in my hands, this family will reignite its flame."

"As for Gales... the Empire has no need for two prestigious surnames."

But now that he has been chosen as the next pope, none of this matters to him anymore.

Segalot ever wanted was to be free.

Although Segalot was the last member of the Augsger Family.

However, in his view, unless necessary, he would not bear the mission and inheritance of his family. His naturally cold and aloof nature meant that he cared about very few things from childhood to adulthood.

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"Anything can be easily discarded."

Segalot took Cyrus's hand and gently kissed it. "But now, you are indispensable to me."

Cyrus's cheeks flushed.

Segalot continued softly, "I will always stay where you are, within your sight... I will not leave, and you will not leave either."

"I will support any decision you make, without reservation..."

He spoke slowly, his tender whispers seemingly enveloping Cyrus completely.

The alcohol fermented, and a slightly tipsy feeling returned.

Cyrus couldn't help but yawn, and was immediately pulled into Segalot's arms. Segalott patted his back, his deep voice like a lullaby, making him want to sleep.

"Hmm..."

Cyrus squinted and rubbed against His Holiness the Pope's chest, trying to clear her mind.

"Are you sleepy?" Segalot whispered, pinching his blushing earlobe.

Cyrus gave a muffled reply, her eyelids half-closed. "Your Majesty, it's so good to have met you..."

Wait a little longer, the Plot Deviation Value is almost full.

Segalot paused in his hand that was patting his back, then couldn't help but smile, his golden eyes seemingly filled with starlight, dazzling and beautiful.

He lowered his head and placed a kiss on Cyrus's forehead.

"I am the one..."

Cyrus had no recollection of how she got to the Sheri Hall.

When he opened his eyes, he was already lying in the room, covered with a warm blanket, while Eggy was sleeping at the foot of the bed.

As soon as he sat up, Eggy perked up his ears and glanced back.

"Could it be that His Majesty carried me here?" Cyrus murmured to herself.

He rubbed his head, realizing he had slept soundly after drinking and had no memory of returning at all...

At this moment, Eggy jumped off the bed, picked up the slippers placed at the foot of the bed, and then carried them to Cyrus's hand, whimpering to signal him to take them quickly.

I don't know when I developed this good habit.

As Cyrus praised it, he got dressed and got out of bed. He seemed to hear faint sounds coming from outside, so he went over and opened the door—

The blinding sunlight poured in from the open balcony, casting a dazzling array of colors on the carpet in the corridor, making even the tiny dust particles floating in the air clearly visible.

On the large balcony outside the room, the furry beasts each found a spot to lie down or bask in the sun.

Meanwhile, Judas was holding a pot of freshly brewed flower tea, pouring it into a cup. Two figures sat beside the round table: Orville and Archibald.

"Woke up."

When Orville saw Cyrus open the door and appear, he waved and said, "Come sit here and have a cup of tea."

Archibald looked over with deep, unfathomable eyes.

Cyrus adjusted to the glaring sunlight, lowered her hand that had been slightly shielding her eyes, and asked, "Judas, what time is it?"

Judas: "My lord, you've missed lunch."

It's already noon.

He slept for so long...

Cyrus slipped on his slippers, walked over, sat down, took a sip of the floral tea that Judas had served him, and asked, "Where is Your Majesty?"

He thought he would see Segalot first thing when he woke up.

Upon hearing this, Orville glanced at the fluffy creatures and turned his head away.

Archibald found the herbal tea tasteless the moment he took a sip, and then expressionlessly placed the cup back on the table with a soft, not-too-loud sound.

Judas said, "My lord, His Majesty the Emperor went to the Saint Church and only recently left."

"His Majesty said he would come before dinner."

Cyrus nodded.

Later, Judas left to prepare lunch for him, while Orville and Archibald sat on either side of him, neither of them speaking, creating a somewhat silent atmosphere.

In such a quiet environment, Cyrus inevitably drifted off into thought.

He couldn't help but recall the stories Segalot had told him in the palace the previous night, and the promise that ended like a vow...

Cyrus glanced at the progress of the Plot Deviation Value; it was still stalled at this stage. But that didn't matter; after attending the wedding of the male and female leads in the original book, he would...

"Little Zuoyi."

Just then, a deep voice brought Cyrus Zuoyi back to his senses. He turned around and asked, "What's wrong, Archie?"

Archibald said, "I have something to say to you after lunch, just the two of us, alone."

Cyrus assumed it was a business collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and agreed.

After the meal, Orville left a gift and departed, while the fluffy creatures were taken away by Judas, and Archibald went to the room with Cyrus.

Cyrus wondered why Orville would give him a gift. When she opened it, she found it was a Blood-Red Jadeite polished into the shape of a ring.

Perfectly natural, crystal clear.

Although it was very beautiful, Cyrus closed the box after taking one look and planned to return it to Orville when she had time.

He placed the box on the table and turned to ask Archibald what he wanted.

He noticed that Archie was unusually quiet today, and his brows would furrow unconsciously at times, as if something was troubling him.

Archibald stood there, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

He recalled what he had seen in the courtyard outside the hall the previous night: Little Zuoyi and the Emperor... their actions were so intimate...

The Emperor kissed Little Zuoyi's fingertips, and she didn't pull away...

Is this something two people who get along normally would do?!

Archibald couldn't resist stepping forward and taking Cyrus's hand, holding it tightly in his palm. However, the next moment, the hand slipped away.

Cyrus withdrew her hand and looked at Archibald with a puzzled expression. "Archie, what's wrong?"

Archibald clenched his empty hand and whispered, "Little Zuoyi, there are many things that go against common sense and are not permitted by the Holy See... If men fall in love with other men, would you find it disgusting?"

Cyrus opened her mouth in surprise upon hearing this.

Why did Archie even think to ask that question?

He said, "... I think feelings are uncontrollable, whether it's love between a man and a woman, or between two men... it should all be allowed."

"Under the watchful eye of the Creator God, all people are equal, and their emotions are naturally the same."

"So, you don't mind being with men, right?" Archibald said.

Cyrus: "Archie... what exactly are you trying to say?"

I want you to be with me.

Archibald's words struck Cyrus like a thunderbolt, causing him to stare wide-eyed at Archibald in disbelief.

Are you serious?!

What exactly happened between you and Orville?!

Did he become a Mary Sue after transmigrating into a book?! Is Warner., the male lead from the original book, going to confess his love to him soon? Plus the first and second male supporting characters...?

Cyrus was a little startled. "... Archie, don't joke around."

Archibald walked up to him and said, "You understand, I wouldn't joke about something like this."

"Little Zuoyi, since you don't dislike me, why don't you try accepting me? Or... do you already have someone you like...?"

Before Cyrus could answer, he asked, "Is it the Pope?"

Cyrus was stunned for a moment. "Archie, you..."

How did you know?

Cyrus's reaction says it all.

Archibald took a deep breath, his chest heaving. He suddenly turned around and slammed his fist on the sofa, his voice suppressed and restrained. "Being with me is the right choice."

"Little Zuoyi, leave the Emperor and come to my side."

Cyrus: That sounds familiar.

He didn't answer, but shook his head as Archibald turned to look at him, indicating his stance.

Archibald said, "I can't stay here any longer. I'm angry, Little Zuoyi."

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would lose control...

After Archibald left, Cyrus rubbed her temples and sat on the sofa, feeling that there had been too many things going on lately... making it difficult to handle.

He thought that learning about the intentions of two friends in succession was already enough to make him uneasy.

Little did they know, even more shocking news was yet to come.

Three days later, at the king's wedding, the bride did not appear. The entire palace was searched, but nothing was found or found.

The conclusion was that the king's fiancée Shamir Phoebe, had run away.

At the wedding ceremony, almost instantly all eyes in the hall were on Cyrus... suspicion, scrutiny, and amusement...

They believe that Shamir Phoebe's disappearance is related to him.

Finally, Warner announced that the wedding would be temporarily canceled, and they would focus on finding the person first.

Cyrus had come here to attend the king's wedding, but since it had been canceled, he planned to return to the Desinia Territory immediately.

Apart from the Pope, Orville and Archibald also went along.