Scepter of Thorns

"Seronius Tammy, your witness has arrived."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The woman lifted the corner of her skirt and leaned slightly, "Then, it's up to me to expose the true face of this heresy."

This is the subterranean chamber of the temple, where the intersection of faith must have its sordid, shadowy side.Edward is naturally very familiar with this - this place is dedicated to dealing with "apostates" with sensitive identities, because he has executed more than one person here.

As for whether those people really apostate, it is not known.

The underground palace is cold and gloomy, only a beam of light projected from the dome of the church is reflected by several mirrors, and finally hits the iron-gray cross.It hung on the curved wall surrounded by steel railings. Serones and the two Knights of Light Arrow stood on the railing to the left of it. The black thorns covering the ground blocked the way to the right.And Edward was standing there, watching her blankly.

Olando sat on the high-backed chair under the cross, the crown still pressed down low, half of his face was shrouded in shadow, blurring his expression.He even put on an extremely formal black gold robe, imbuing the trial with a solemn and solemn atmosphere.

A row of light arrow knights stood behind him, straight like arrows ready to go, ready to pierce the target at any time according to his command.

"The accuser, Seronius Tammy." Olando glanced at her, "Please state your testimony."

"Yes." The woman pursed her lips, looking to the right like a sword out of its sheath, "Edward Dorsas, a half-breed of the Heavenly Demon Race, was once appointed as an envoy of God. Am I right? Edward?"

He thought about it for a while, and the identity of the envoy must not be concealed, so he might as well play it as a card—"Yes."

"The family of priests has an exact list for every newly promoted envoy." Serones continued to testify, "And you, Edward, stole the relic during the month of being an envoy, so you were exiled by the main god. , because no oracle can leave the palace without the permission of the main god. Am I correct?"

Olando frowned, his gaze towards Serones changed slightly, and then he asked Edward, "Do you admit it, the accused?"

"No, Your Majesty." He said in a deep voice, "I would like to ask the witness a few questions."

"Yes. The witness must answer truthfully."

"I was in the human world when I was appointed an envoy of God, but how did you hear the news that I was promoted to envoy of God?"

Olando interjected: "The priestly family does have a list of angels, but only in the heavenly realm. Please answer this question, Miss Seronius."

"I learned that Edward is a well-known divine favor in the heavens, and according to common sense, people who are valued by my god will often be promoted to envoys. This is my speculation, and the most important thing is that he himself admitted it."

Olando was even more displeased, "That is to say, the so-called conclusion of the witness is actually just a personal speculation?"

"It's not just that." Serones hastily argued, "He has an artifact with extremely high light elements, and this level of forging can only be achieved by the God Realm. I dared to infer this after I noticed the existence of the artifact. "

"Do you admit it, accused?"

"I don't admit it, Your Majesty." Edward retorted, "I have indeed served as an envoy, but I have never worn an artifact. Because my treatment in the God Realm is not good, there are always people who want to target and frame me. And the main god The attitude towards you is much more generous than mine, so I am not qualified to bear the title of divine favor."

Serunes gritted his teeth, wanting to target and frame his people, isn't this alluding to her?

She simply broke her heart, "Your Majesty, he is lying, I know where he hid the artifact."

Serunes quickly recalled every detail between them in his mind.By the way, he was wearing gloves with Ostana. When she attacked Edward, the source of the divine power was also his hands.The artifact should be a ring, but interspatial rings are very common, there is no need to hide it at all.So why is he still wearing gloves?Is it because you don't want people to see the position of the ring?

But if Edward doesn't like to wear the artifact, he can put it away, there's no need to make such a fuss.

Seronius felt as if he had scratched the corner of the answer.He covered it up because he couldn't move the artifact, which might be a brand that Kylos had branded on him.Moreover, the position of this brand is very sensitive, he cannot expose it to the eyes of his fiancée Ostana.

Then there is only one position.

Kyle Rose put the ring on Edward's left or right ring finger because he wanted to own him outright.

She could hardly believe her answer, and Kyle Rose would always be indifferent in front of her, with a sense of alienation in her elegance.Serones had never seen him so powerful, and he was more real than the mask he had shown her.

If... if the one with the ring is her...

"The artifact is on Edward's ring finger." She thought her guess was close to perfect, and vowed, "That's why he wears gloves, His Majesty the Pope."

Olando ordered, "Take them off, Lord Edward."

The blond-haired, blue-eyed young man still had a gloomy expression on his face. He slowly took off his gloves, revealing a pair of slender hands.Except for a thin and shallow scar on the palm, the other places are clean, not even a space ring.

"Where is the artifact?" Edward sarcastically said, "It seems that this is another conjecture made by Miss Seronius."

"This is impossible!!" she cried out, "You must have hidden it somewhere!!"

Seronius closed her eyes again, and she manipulated her divine power to approach Edward.However, in the next second, he stepped on the thick thorns and walked towards her.Olando gestured to the two light arrow knights, signaling them not to stop them.

"Miss Seronius." He looked down at the woman.This obviously startled her, her wide eyes were full of bewilderment, "I have no intention of being your enemy, nor do I want to compete with you for anything. You have always misunderstood our relationship, but—— "

"I think I'll stop here today." Edward suddenly turned around and said to Olando, the little Pope nodded, "You go, she stays."

"Yes, Your Majesty." He bowed gracefully, and then whispered in Serones' ear, "A divine heir cannot leave the God Realm, Miss Serones."

The woman's body trembled, and she thought of something bad, which was fatal to her.

If Kyle Ross attaches so much importance to Edward, is his every move under his control?That person... Did he know that she had recovered that memory? !

Before she had time to think more, she heard Olando order: "Knight, arrest her."

※※※

Edward didn't go back directly, but turned into a remote street.Without exception, the shops on the street were locked with heavy chains, and the dark gates revealed the smell of rejection.

Edward finally stopped in front of No.13 door, and he tapped lightly on the iron chain on the door.The black door creaked open a crack, and the voice inside said hoarsely: "Please show your invitation letter."

He stroked the interspatial ring hidden in his pocket, and a long strip of paper like a bookmark was clamped on his fingertip out of thin air.It was painted with ink in a lot of messy lines, but if you look closely, you can see a square pattern hidden in it.

He passed the note into the door, the man glanced at it and returned it to him, and opened the door further, "Please come in, sir. What's your name?"

He casually used his mother's surname: "Monroe."

"Okay, please follow me, Mr. Monroe." Another guide appeared in the darkness, "The dance has started for 10 minutes, please allow me to take you to change clothes."

Is this a masquerade?A trace of doubt flashed in Edward's mind, and he followed immediately.

After walking for a few minutes, a hardcover clothing room appeared at the end of the corridor.The guide bowed and said, "I can only take you here. After changing into your clothes, please go straight and open the red door to enter the dance hall."

"I see, thank you." He responded politely, then walked into the dress room that could be compared to a palace, and looked around casually.

This address was written on the bookmark, and the bookmark was clipped on several books he bought. Edmond, who checked the books, couldn't find the bookmark that he had taken away in advance.The casual words of the young man selling books still echoed in his ears, "If you need anything, you can come to me."

He is a square.

So Edward followed the address to find it, but what awaited him was a strange ball.

The clothes here are various and fine, neat and clean, and arranged in different sizes.He picked out a simple black-and-gold gown to change into, and started looking for a mask—a dance in a place like this wouldn't do without something to hide.

Finally, Edward's sight fell on an inconspicuous bird's beak mask, which was made of silver and leather, and even the eyes were covered with copper-colored glass.And it was this mask that made him think of someone irresistibly.

Edward put it on, but there seemed to be something strange attached to his lips. He tried to say a word, but the voice in his ears was hoarse.

Can this mask change your voice? !

Edward was completely relieved, let alone a search, it would be difficult to even recognize him.

He straightened his slender and sharp beak, put on his gloves and left the dress room, and came straight to the red door.Then, he gently opened the door.

I'm afraid no one can imagine that such a wonderful wonderland is hidden behind such a narrow iron gate. People of all kinds hide under their clothes and wanton revelry, and the sounds of screaming and frolicking are integrated with the roaring rhythm .

A wizard in a pointed hat and a leopard-print girl tease each other; Madame Butterfly sips a colorful cocktail; a man in a black leather suit lifts the chins of boys and girls with a whip, as if evaluating something.

A woman with a red tube top glanced at him, twisted her waist and stepped forward, and said with a charming smile, "It's been a long time since I saw someone dressed like this."

She wears half a red heart mask, only showing her pointed chin.But this didn't make her coquettish beauty pale, she took the initiative to hook Edward's arm, leaving a gorgeous lipstick mark on it.

"I'm very interested in you... 'Doctor' [Note 1], let's have a game."

Edward: "..."

what the hell.

----Chapter61. Carnival & End----

The author has something to say:

[Note 1] Beak masks were worn by doctors in the Middle Ages, mostly made of silver, mainly to prevent the spread of the Black Death.

In a word, whether to look at women's clothing [serious face]