A Few Days Later
[Pope] Ennius found himself seated at a vast mahogany table. The gentle chime of bells from a distant courtyard occasionally pierced the thick silence, harmonizing with the muted clinks of porcelain. From a delicate, gold-rimmed cup, he took measured sips of hot tea.
“Fascinating,” the [Pope] murmured, his voice tinged with a blend of weariness and intrigue. He gently placed the parchment report filled with ornate script on the table. The ink was still fresh and bore his cousin’s, Cardinal Atticus’s, calligraphy.
“My son begged me for an audience, trying to intercede on behalf of the girl. Now you, Atticus,” the [Pope] mulled. “Should the girl besting our [Executioner] in this little trial of yours take precedence over our other problems?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t deem it essential, Your Holiness.”
“And you believe she has potential… to be Anointed?” The head of the Papal State asked the man in front of him.
Cardinal Atticus shifted slightly in his ornately carved chair, the dark red of his robes deepening in the room’s shadowed corners. He met the Pope’s probing gaze with a grim nod. “Your Holiness,” he began hesitantly, his voice quivering, “this… she…”
“Dawn’s Mercy, Atticus!” Pope Ennius interjected, frustration evident in his tone. His fingers tapped on the table impatiently, the weight of his golden signet ring catching the dim light. “You know very well not to dance around with me. Out with it!”
The recent memories weighed heavily on the Pope. His return from a fruitless diplomatic mission had left him drained, the endless political maneuvers chafing at his patience. He was a man under immense pressure, and the present situation was not doing him any favors.
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“Your Holiness, Aurora’s allegiance will never rest with us if we keep pushing her like this. I genuinely fear that her growing influence and power could render her an asset of unprecedented value. And I fear her talent might be so great that no matter what Your Holiness decides for her future, she might pit herself against our family once her levels allow her to do so.”
A low sigh escaped Pope Ennius’s mouth as he leaned back, the creak of his chair echoing in the silent room. “Shadows take the Gens Claudia,” he whispered, his voice filled with a blend of contempt and resignation, “Their lineage, their blood, is just so stubborn.”
[Cardinal] Atticus took a measured breath, meeting the [Pope]’s steady gaze.
“Your Holiness,” he began, each word carrying the weight of years of counsel and caution, “you once granted me the privilege to speak with the utmost candor. I shall do so now, even if the truth might be unpalatable.”
The Pope, Ennius Constantinus, nodded ever so slightly, signaling him to proceed.
“We stand,” Atticus continued, “on the cusp of an irrevocable error. Aurora Claudia surpassed our expectations, proving herself more than just another pawn. In her presence, even Lumius’s talents appear… mundane.”
Pausing briefly to let the gravity of his words sink in, he resumed, “Aurora’s intelligence is a force to reckon with, but it’s her uncanny knack for finding creative solutions that makes her stand out. And her unwavering loyalty, her generous spirit—these traits make her invaluable. Yet, they also pose a peril. Should we act against her, Lucianus’s retribution would be both swift and ruthless. We’d be forsaking an ally of immense potential.”
The chamber seemed to grow heavier with the revelation. [Pope] Ennius, though groomed to remain imperturbable over the years, could not disguise the ripple of tension passing across his face.
In a voice barely audible, he inquired, “Given these circumstances, Atticus, what course of action do you advocate?”
Cardinal Atticus hesitated momentarily, collecting his thoughts amidst the pressing silence. “Our interactions with the Gens Claudia have long been marred by mistrust and discord. However, with Aurora, a new plot can emerge. She’s still in her formative years—she offers us and her family a chance at reconciliation. Guiding her and nurturing her potential can bring mutual benefits…”
“Atticus, out with it already!”
“Your Holiness, if I may be so bold to make an unusual suggestion…”