At these words, cold sweat broke out on Ivan as well. "Then what does the Witch Ancestor intend by entering the Holy Capital now?"
"What else?" Romanov said bitterly. "Naturally, he wants to seize even more power and prestige! Now that he's become the New Emperor's master, how could he be content with an empty title? He'll surely establish himself in the Holy Capital and use that fool Matvei to nibble away at our authority, step by step, until he controls the Imperial Court! He means to cross our threshold and take his place inside!"
Ivan flew into a rage. "Absolutely not! Isn't that inviting a wolf into our home? How can we let an outsider lay a finger on the Romanov Lineage's power?!"
Looking at the furious Ivan, Romanov sighed helplessly, his voice full of powerlessness. "This is another open scheme. Do you think that old bastard is a fool? Why would he help us resist Heavenly Strategy for no reason?
"Why would he spend resources training Matvei? What he wanted was precisely this day, when he could enter the Holy Capital with every justification and meddle in the Empire's core affairs! What does it matter if we know his intentions?
"If you refuse to let him enter the capital, he can turn hostile immediately and declare that we lack all sincerity. Not only would his earlier promises become void, he could even turn around and support Sergei, or simply raise his own banner! Then we wouldn't even be able to preserve this temporary stability!"
Hearing this, Ivan slumped into his chair as though all his strength had been drained away.
He understood now. From the moment they had decided to bow their heads and seek the Witch Ancestor's help, they had been walking step by step into the