Later that morning, a palace attendant came to fetch Kiara and Scarlett once again. They were told the Emperor wished to see them in one of the smaller private chambers.
Neither of them looked surprised. After last night's ritual, they had both expected the Church to move quickly.
When they entered the room, the atmosphere felt noticeably heavier than before. Only four people were present — the Emperor, the Supreme Pontiff Francus, Scarlett, and Kiara. No ministers, no extra attendants. Whatever was about to happen, the Emperor clearly wanted as few witnesses as possible.
Francus stood up with a gentle smile when they arrived. Resting on the table beside him was an ornate golden chalice that gave off a soft, living glow. Tiny particles of light occasionally drifted upward from the liquid inside before fading away.
He placed both hands on the chalice and spoke.
"Miss Kiara. Princess Scarlett. The ritual was completed successfully last night."
