Chapter 31
Julian creased his eyes prettily and said gently, "I've been thinking deeply about the favors Your Majesty has shown me. And I realized that I don't think I've ever truly pleased Your Majesty."
"Well, from the Rotandus Empire's perspective, your very existence is a pleasure, so don't think that way."
Zahida sat askew in her chair with a sullen expression. She couldn't decipher the meaning of Julian acting so humble.
It had never happened before.
Julian, whether he knew Zahida's thoughts or not, nonchalantly picked up his coffee cup.
"It's a unique aroma, one I'm tasting for the first time."
"It's coffee made with newly sourced beans from Bongani. They were presented before being released to the market. The aroma is quite pleasant as I continue to drink it."
"Indeed. It's a taste that lingers."
Julian kept beating around the bush.
Zahida, unable to bear his evasiveness, finally pressed him.
"So, what is the reason for your visit? You are not usually one to act this way."
"How can you say such hurtful things when I adore Your Majesty so much?"
Flattery? Is Duke Julian Johannes flattering me right now?
Zahida stared at Julian's captivating smile with astonished eyes.
He was wearing his usual neat white shirt and a black vest that accentuated his excellent physique.
The only difference from usual was that he was wearing a thin red ribbon instead of a tie.
It was a popular fashion in the capital recently, but Julian was not one to follow such trends.
'I thought it was an ugly outfit, but it looks different on Julian.'
Just as Zahida was inwardly admiring Julian's appearance, Julian stopped teasing and got to the point.
"The reason I visited Your Majesty today is to inform you that I have finally made up my mind."
"Made up your mind?"
"Yes. As of today, I have decided to turn my back on the temple and stand by Your Majesty's side."
"Turn your back on the temple? You?"
Zahida wondered if she had misheard and asked again.
Julian, as if to confirm, repeated each word in an even clearer voice.
"That's right. I am giving up the blessing of the Dephria Goddess."
"What does that mean...? Do you think you can easily defy the will of God?"
"If I were Your Majesty, I would be jumping for joy, but I don't understand why you're acting like this. Well, you're not wrong. Even if I antagonize the temple, whether or not they take away the blessing bestowed upon me is solely within the realm of God."
"You didn't budge when I tried to persuade you, so what's the special reason for changing your mind?"
"Should I say I was stimulated by someone...?"
In fact, Julian had been preparing a plan to undermine the power of the temple for a long time.
Preparations were almost complete, but he couldn't bring himself to start. It was because of a lingering concern that held him back.
'If the existence of God disappears from me, what will I become?'
It was fear that made him hesitate.
If the power of the temple weakens, people's perception of the Dephria Goddess will also change.
He would not be able to avoid the aftermath.
The thought that he might lose everything he had enjoyed as the blessed Duke Johannes made him hesitate endlessly.
Isn't it funny?
He had struggled his whole life to escape the shadow of God, but when the opportunity finally came, he became reluctant to part with the few coins he held in his hand.
'Look at you, being so afraid.'
Julian couldn't bear his own weakness.
He felt that he had lost a lot for the Johannes Dukedom.
But when he heard that Rebecca had fallen down the stairs on her own, Julian felt like he had been struck on the head.
Rebecca was fearless. She only had her body, but she gave even that up.
He realized that he had never sacrificed anything for what he wanted.
'Would you understand if I said it's to be free?'
Rebecca said calmly. She wore a smile as hard as tempered steel.
The spirit emanating from her slender frame was remarkable.
In front of her, Julian became endlessly small, becoming the boy who had lost his nanny.
When he thought of Rebecca, his heart throbbed again and pain returned.
The thought that he might collapse at any moment flashed through his mind.
So he decided to throw away everything he had, like Rebecca.
You can't get anything without giving something up.
Julian was more afraid than ever, but he felt more alive than ever.
"Julian, why are you spacing out like that? So, who stimulated you?"
Zahida urged Julian to answer.
He was definitely strange today.
The greenhouse was neither too hot nor too cold, but his cheeks were suddenly flushed red.
When Zahida ordered a servant to bring a cold drink, the servant soon brought cold herbal tea and lemonade.
Julian, who chose the herbal tea, smiled meaningfully.
"It's still a secret. But someday you will know."
"Could it be a woman? Don't tell me, that time..."
Zahida recalled Julian dancing with Rebecca at the victory banquet the other day.
Julian, realizing that Zahida was thinking of Rebecca, quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, I heard that you perfectly fulfilled the request I made last time. My thanks are belated."
"It wasn't that difficult, but when are you going to tell me the reason?"
"That's what I came here to tell you today. Didn't I say I would stand by Your Majesty's side?"
"Weren't you always on my side?"
Julian frowned for a moment at Zahida's sly smile, then continued.
"That's right. But now I will show you that I am definitely on Your Majesty's side."
"How?"
"I have a plan to destroy the temple."
In that instant, Zahida's benevolent gaze sharpened at once, like a hawk that had spotted prey it had long awaited.
"I always welcome such stories."
Julian glanced at the servants standing silently.
Zahida noticed his intention and nodded.
With that one movement, all the servants in the glass greenhouse quickly left.
As the last servant closed the door and left, Julian placed his clasped hands on the table.
"Do you remember the Kadir Order?"
"The Kadir Order? Isn't that the religion that flourished before the Dephria Order?"
"As Your Majesty already knows, the Kadir Order was not a false religion as it is known to the world. The Dephria Pope at the time incited the people, which is why that perception remains to this day."
"So, you're going to revive the Kadir Order?"
"Of course not. I don't have the power to do that, and there's no reason to. However..."
"However?"
"We can learn lessons from the past. The Dephria Order will follow the same path of decline as the Kadir Order."
It sounded like Zahida's head was spinning.
Julian smiled.
"The decisive reason for the collapse of the Kadir Order was its overly strict doctrines. The reason why the Dephria Order was able to quickly establish itself as the state religion was because there were many who were dissatisfied with the Kadir Order."
Julian took a sip of the iced tea. The cool chill and subtle herbal scent filled his mouth.
He spoke in an even calmer tone.
"The current Dephria Order is also walking the same path. The Dephria Order encouraged indulgence to attract people, didn't it? Free pleasure is good. But recent actions show that it is excessive enough to shake the foundations of the country."
"That's right. I have a headache because the temple keeps interfering."
"Don't worry. The Dephria Order will collapse on its own, unable to overcome its desires."
"How so?"
"We need a new religion. Of course, we can't change the state religion overnight, so it will be a new Dephria Order."
Zahida flinched at his words. His sharp eyes scanned Julian darkly.
Julian looked at his gaze for a moment before whispering a secret.
"Don't we have the Mont Blanc Club?"
Zahida's eyes widened.
The New Dephria Commando, commonly known as the 'Mont Blanc Club,' was something he had planned since he was Crown Prince.
This was also the reason why he, who was hostile to the temple, poured generous support into the seminary.
The more talented people there were, the more people would raise their voices against injustice.
As Zahida had expected, the prosperity of the seminary greatly contributed to the production of scholars who opposed the current Dephria Order.
Zahida gathered them together and created a secret club.
When the Emperor first gathered the scholars, they were unaware of the reason and trembled with anxiety.
However, the situation was quickly resolved with one word from the Emperor.
'Shouldn't everyone freely taste the lucky flavor of this Mont Blanc cake?'
The clever scholars quickly understood his meaning.
After some discussion, oaths were made in front of the Mont Blanc.
After that, the Mont Blanc Club became Zahida's hands and feet and became an excellent tool to check the temple.
The club's goal was to expose the misdeeds of the Dephria Order and find the true nature of religion.
They started by planting spies in every temple in the empire.
They relieved those who had been harmed by the temple's tyranny and made them their allies.
In the meantime, the emerging nobles, who were suppressed by the old nobles, learned of the existence of the secret club.
Of course, this was information that Zahida had intentionally leaked.
The emerging nobles were delighted to discover a new force.
They soon joined the Mont Blanc Club and willingly provided funding for its activities.
Although it was not outwardly visible, an invisible and tense power struggle arose between the old nobles and the temple, and the Emperor and the emerging nobles.
Even before the Mont Blanc Club was formed, Julian had been digging up all the weaknesses of the temple.
At some point, Julian realized that there was a group that was one step ahead of him or, belatedly, looking for the same things as him.
Intrigued, Julian immediately investigated the group of unknown identity.
He eventually learned that the group was the Mont Blanc Club and that the Emperor was behind it.
Isn't it said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend?
Julian, who had been quietly holding the truth in his hands, now spread his hands wide.
"Do you know a painter named Barinika?"
"Of course. Isn't she one of the best painters the empire boasts? And don't change the subject. How much do you know about the Mont Blanc Club?"
The smile completely disappeared from Zahida's face.
His tone was so fierce that it sent shivers down one's spine.
Julian, who had only ever seen his smiling face, was intrigued by the new Emperor's appearance.
