It was a whole day before Gray embarked on the road back to the Lion King Palace, as night began to fall.
The silver moon hung high in the sky, with white-gray clouds drifting about, and the northern stars faintly visible.
Lights were on in every household. The streets, bustling by day, had turned cold and deserted, while each home grew warm once more.
Gray rode his horse side-by-side with the King’s carriage. Or rather, the King’s carriage chased after his horse.
The King’s face was rather unpleasant, "Did I just offend him?"
"Then why isn’t he saying a word or acknowledging me? He was quite happy in the theater just now!"
"Well... Your Majesty, maybe, Holy Knights just have that kind of personality?"
The scene was quite awkward, as Gray seemed entirely unconcerned about the King’s carriage traveling beside him. Sometimes with a single twist at a corner, he’d block the King’s path entirely. This kept the King’s coachman busy and exhausted the guards following them.
At the moment, the King had no idea that a fierce argument was happening inside Gray’s mind.
*"Gray, I know that your ideas are well-intentioned. But I must remind you, the chance of realizing this dream is nearly zero. If you could do it, it would mean that the millennia-old pursuit of humans genuinely accepting the Holy Faith has succeeded. Yet, after ten thousand years, all we have seen is the continuous distortion of the Holy Faith. We praise kindness, and they exploit our kindness. We crusade against heretics, and everyone claims to be pious, then continues to secretly violate the commandments. Even our clergy conspire with them, while we can only turn a blind eye. Otherwise, the foundation of our faith in this world would completely collapse. Just like in Alboiseld’s story."*
*"No, Gray, I believe your dream is noble. A Knight should have such dreams. If a Holy Knight cannot stand proudly in the sunlight, how can he claim to be a Holy Knight?"*
*"Are you egging him on?"*
*"Is this considered egging on? Oh, I really don’t get it. A Holy Knight’s dream aligns with the Holy Spirit’s goal. You see a problem with that?"*
*"You’re confusing the issue!"*
*"Am I? Then tell me, how am I confusing the issue?"*
*"Gray, don’t listen to her! She’s a Succubus; she wants to lead you down the wrong path. Her mission is to make you fall! Don’t believe a word she says!"*
*"Ha, ha. What if tonight I recite every word from the Bible?"*
The grand hall was brilliantly illuminated, teeming with countless nobles and aristocrats.
Compared to the Royal Family’s ball, this place was much smaller, but even more crowded and bustling.
Duke Fernandes raised his wine glass and saluted a lavishly dressed, elderly gentleman standing across the room. He said softly, "This is the president of the Lion King City’s chamber of commerce. Not just the nobility, but the wealthiest merchants of Lion King City are all here. Even chambers of commerce from neighboring countries have sent representatives. The wealthy have grown tired of merely material indulgence; they seek spiritual elevation. If they can gain some noble title advancement, all the better. They don’t care about land, since they already lack for nothing. Am I right?"
The first impression Duke Fernandes gave was one of kind and friendly demeanor, with elegant manners and a distinguished presence. He was well-known as a good man, with extensive friendships and an excellent reputation. Before the Battle of Yilin White City, he was regarded as the foremost of the three great Dukes in the Isaac Kingdom, second in prestige only to the old King.
Standing beside him, Count Gruglu also raised his glass to the distant elder, and asked softly, "Duke Fernandes, inviting merchants too, what’s the purpose of this ball? Surely it’s not that simple."
Duke Fernandes looked at Count Gruglu with a faint smile, and said, "You can’t see through my intention?"
Count Gruglu shook his head, and said, "Although, Duke Beisher has asked me to convey to you that she has no intention of vying for the throne and no interest in encroaching on the Royal Family’s interests."
Duke Fernandes was stunned for a moment, then slowly laughed and said, "Simple, straightforward. I like people like you. Ha ha ha ha. This is good news."
Count Gruglu asked in bewilderment, "Duke Fernandes thinks this is good news?"
"Of course. Isn’t this good news? If Duke Beisher wanted to vie for the throne, what would we do? We only need her to remain neutral."
"But she does not intend to remain neutral either."
"What about you? Do you intend to remain neutral?" Duke Fernandes said meaningfully. "Benedict II wants to win over Yilin, we all can see that. But he seems dissatisfied with the Holy Knight’s engagement to the Gruglu family. And we believe, the attitude of the Holy Knight’s future father-in-law is just as important as the Holy Knight’s allegiance."
Count Gruglu was clearly taken aback.
"Want to meet Duke Tangjis?" Duke Fernandes asked casually.
"Duke Tangjis is in Lion King City?" Count Gruglu asked softly.
"Yes, want to meet him? If it’s you, I can introduce you." Duke Fernandes smiled, raised his wine glass, and gave Count Gruglu a knowing look. "Just now, he was expressing regret that your granddaughter Shelley didn’t attend the afternoon tea party. Perhaps meeting you would make up for that regret."
*"That’s not right. Maybe under your divine education, I’ve become a pious succubus? Don’t you have any confidence in yourself? I don’t find his ideas wrong at all. If a Holy Knight’s dream does not align with the Holy Spirit’s goal, what right does he have to call himself devout? How can he call himself a Holy Knight?"*
*"It’s not the same! He is Gray! You’re misleading him! Others who claim the Holy Spirit’s goal as their dream move towards that goal only slightly! But you know Gray would go for the end!"*
*"Oh, I understand now. So, your so-called Holy Faith is just lip service. Is that it? Gray, would you like me to tell you about another faith? Different from the Holy Faith, we really intend to realize faith! It’s very fun! You can rush as much as you want!"*
Catherine was almost out of breath from anger, while Vivian became more excited the more they argued.
The Black Cat remained silent.
Gray said softly, "Catherine, don’t worry."
"I won’t act recklessly. I know it’s not easy. So, although I have this idea, I only ask the author to write a book on it and don’t reveal my identity directly."
"Honestly, I am indeed quite glad you didn’t reveal your identity openly. At least... things are still under control."
"Maybe the book will be well-received? Just like I enjoyed reading ’Knight’s Guide to Development,’ regardless of the protagonist, I would like it. Because the knightly spirit is real, that’s beautiful enough, isn’t it?"
"Gray, no one would like a novel with a Lich as the main character. Didn’t you see the author’s reaction? I never thought such a book would sell. I just hope you won’t be too disappointed when it doesn’t."
Gray’s soul flame flickered, and he felt a bit down.
"Really? What did you say this morning?" Vivian quickly said, "This morning you said that man was out of his mind, didn’t you? How could we believe his words? Don’t worry, Gray. I really like books with a Lich as the protagonist."
"Really?" Gray was overjoyed, and his soul flame flared up again.
"Of course it’s true. Your story is fantastic!" Vivian said earnestly.
"Gray," Catherine was almost frantic, "I must remind you again, do not listen to a demon’s words! Do not listen!"
"She said... Gray, demons are the best at deception, and their most important trick is to speak half-truths so you can’t tell right from wrong. They can even speak the whole truth but lead you to a bad ending."
"I don’t understand how the truth can lead to a bad ending."
"That’s called sophistry! Sophistry! Do you understand? They exploit every loophole! Even if you devoutly yearn for the light, they can use your yearning!"
Gray was silent for a long time, and softly said, "This is my own decision, it has nothing to do with her."
"This..." Catherine was momentarily at a loss.
"Catherine, I promise you, if I’m not absolutely certain, I will not reveal my identity. Then we’ll work together so that one day we can stand in the sunlight with pride, okay?" Gray asked softly.
This time, it was Catherine who fell silent. After a long silence, Catherine finally answered wearily, "Fine. No matter what, you must not reveal your identity. Understand? I won’t interfere with anything else, but this, you must obey me."
"Thank you, Catherine!" Gray was exultant.
He was like a child, easily saddened and confused, but also easily revitalized.
After a pause, Catherine turned to Vivian and said, "Vivian, let’s talk."
"Sure," Vivian answered cheerfully.
Two faint beams, one white and one red, flashed imperceptibly, and Gray’s mind fell silent.
"Don’t you have anything to say?"
"Actually, I have quite a lot. But I can’t even convince myself... Maybe you’re right, like when you charged into battle. So, forget it."
Swaying slightly, Gray continued moving forward on his horse. The King’s carriage still trailed beside him, along with a large entourage of guards.
The silver moon weaved through the clouds, spreading its moonlight below.
In this winter night, the entire Lion King City became a beautiful painting. Cold, but filled with dreams.