The Pope and his entourage soon departed, Viego placing a kiss on Zephyr's cheek—a gesture signifying familial status. It was all too unbelievable.
I almost forgot the sense of relief I'd felt less than thirty minutes earlier.
Now what?
We waved them off, promising to attend the gathering the following night. Viego wanted his new "little brother" showcased inside the Apostles Palace and had invited every notable person, including the Puppet King and his family, to attend a celebration held explicitly in Zephyr's honor.
"Lord Zephyr, we thank you for indulging His Holiness and us alongside him."
Father smiled a winner's smile. As the architect of this rapid turn of events, he had landed in a very favorable position—the man who introduced and was responsible for this little extension of our trip.
Damn you, Father. I could be leaving in a few hours if not for your insatiable interference.
"Please, the pleasure was entirely mine." Zephyr offered a polite smile, then turned to me. "Carlos, how did it go?"
His clear voice jolted me back to the present. "It went well. She signed."
I pulled out the wrinkled document and handed it to him. Reading it, his smile broadened.
"I'm happy for you, Em."
"Than—"
"How wonderful indeed. Carlitos, unfortunately, her parents will arrive sometime tomorrow, so we can't avoid them at the celebration. But don't you worry. I've handled it. Make sure they are seated far away from us."
Mother looked uncharacteristically enthusiastic; I hadn't seen her this happy or excited in a long time.
"I'll leave it to you, Ma. Zephyr, let us retire. You must be utterly exhausted."
"Hmm... Rico, I must rely on you and your good taste for clothes and such. I apologize for the inconvenience." He turned toward my father.
Father shushed him immediately. "Don't you worry, my boy. It shall be done. Julia, let's send for Shilian and his sister." He called for the most expensive tailors in the city, and my mother instantly left to ensure their timely arrival.
"Now go, you two. Rest and enjoy being home." He gently steered us toward the door.
I walked away behind Zephyr, fairly confident he meant those words mostly for him. At least, thanks to this development, my divorce now meant nothing. The Anolas were only relevant in certain inner circles, but this man? He was significant in all of them.
Once we were far from the main residence, I asked, "How did that even happen!?"
He glanced back, shaking his head.
"I was ambushed while looking for food. This damn place is like a labyrinth, and your mother... it's like she knew my exact location. This entire estate is spooky, if you ask me."
He walked along nonchalantly. Does Lylly have to live with this?
"I meant you and..."
"We touched the clouds," he pointed upward.
Viego did mention touching God... so he took the Pope flying. That explained some things.
"...After that, he was kind and loving, like a long-lost big brother. Your father, by the way..." He stopped suddenly and shook his head again, this time with evident amusement. "I can almost respect his cunning. These people are easily pleased, thank God." He snorted, oblivious to the sheer audacity of his statement.
Touching the clouds? The Pope of a nation acting like a long-lost family member? Easy?
I saved the other questions on account of the cold and waited until we were both seated comfortably inside the golden guesthouse.
He was only wearing a black sweater, matching pants, and boots, fiddling with the necklace he valued so highly. The Revel brothers had once mocked it with a subtle comment; shortly thereafter, they found themselves very close to... touching God.
"Forgive me, my love..." He closed his eyes, silently asking Lylly for forgiveness from a thousand miles away.
He snapped his eyes open. "Go."
"What now?"
It was the most important question. Was he planning something?
"We will spend a lovely night and leave the morning after the celebration. Don't look at me like that." He put away his necklace and pointed at the bag. "Hand it over. I'm ravenous, and I've only had that dreadful wine."
I handed him our provisions bag and waited until he was munching on the mazzepan he loved so much. Lylly had ensured he had plenty.
"I had no choice. You told me not to offend these men's names in front of people. What was I supposed to do when your father literally shoved him in my face?"
I leaned back, somewhat relieved. A victim of circumstance.
"I'm sorry, but I did—"
"I know. You warned me. It might be useful to have a powerful 'Brother' like him. He might be a monster and come from a whole lineage of them, but..."
He lay down on the couch with his feet dangling, making himself entirely comfortable.
"...Nevertheless, he commands an army of fanatics and worshippers who will do anything he bids. That's useful."
True enough, having someone like that as a 'brother' was preferable to having him as an enemy.
"Still, you played the part very well. You bamboozled them all. How does someone pretend like that?" I asked, settling myself down.
I found his performance worthy of the theater. He was as friendly and easygoing as he was when he was home, surrounded by our family.
"I told you: pleasing them is easy. A few flattering words, then show them something they've never seen, and they become fans. After that, it's just a careful repeat of the same things, just in smaller doses."
Cold, calculating... he understood exactly what was needed and when. He disliked these people as much as I did, but he also saw opportunity in them and had the means to exploit it. In times of war, having the spiritual leader of a nation at your back and call is invaluable.
But again, it was only achievable because of Zephyr: his looks, his charm, his power, and his soft-spoken, easygoing nature allowed him to befriend and, if necessary, use others by manipulation, or, if he must, violence to his benefit.
Family is all...
His way of life was easy to understand, and to fall in love with the sense of belonging those words carried. It might sound empty or naive ideology for some, but if someone like Zephyr truly meant it... you never felt fear again, as long as he considered you family.
I lay down slowly, finally exhaling the nervous breath I'd held since I saw those archers surrounding my family's castle.
"I'm glad you think ahead. But I doubt Viego will help us against them. He's working to marry the King's daughter to secure eternal peace. Soon, Dharma and Insatel will be uniting as one."
"Who said we need his help? I said he would be useful. He mentioned something about that engagement and how urgent it is before Karta attacks them. Instead, they need a stronger alliance."
I sat up, sensing a change in the air. "So you do have a plan?"
"Chensler has two Blessed with him, right? The fire guy and the healer?"
I was confused. I had told him about those details months ago.
"Yes. The fire guy is a strong opponent by the nature of his blessing, and the woman is just as talented as Viego with healing. As long as you are not dead, she'll bring you back."
Those two were the main reasons why a direct assault on that cockroach would never work. He was well protected and kept alive as long as he was breathing. They never left his side.
"We just need him to leave Tetra, right? Don't you think his son's engagement party, held here in Dharma, would be enough to make him move?"
"Why would he agree to hold it here?"
"What if the Church demands it? Just like here, in Insatel, their presence is large enough even if not enforced by arms."
"That sounds great," I felt the sarcasm coming because he didn't know the priests of Ehlite at home and how corrupt their first acolyte was. "...Why would the Church demand it? Viego hates them, and the First Acolyte who leads them."
They both believed themselves the one closest to Ehlite and refused to acknowledge one another.
His smile, though, was as confident as ever.
"Leave that to me. Let us bring the faithful of two nations together and rejoice." He put his hands together as if praying and turned his head toward me.
"Uniting them should be easy, since First Acolyte Levian is already a... 'trusted brother' of mine."
"Y-you... him!? H-how did you get so close to him!?"
He looked back up at the ceiling adorned with golden flowers.
"I told you. Pleasing them is easy."