It's so hard being a hero!

"The blessing you just used on Miss Leila wasn't an ordinary one, was it?"

The Pope remained silent for a moment, without giving a direct answer.

"What do you think of her?" he asked in return.

The cardinal paused for a moment, then said after careful consideration, "A twenty-two-year-old silver-level holy swordsman, with exceptional talent, is worthy of the title of descendant of a hero."

The Pope nodded, then shook his head.

"His talent is indeed remarkable."

He paused.

"But when I examined her body just now, I discovered something interesting."

"what?"

"There is a familiar power about her."

The Pope turned around and looked at the cardinal.

"It's very faint, but it definitely exists."

The cardinal frowned.

"Could it be something left to her by the Holy Son?"

"Hehe, that's possible, but there's another possibility," the Pope chuckled with a strange expression.

He didn't continue speaking, and his gaze returned to the window.

In the square, Leila was talking with several nobles, her smile radiant.

Frey stood not far away, with the silver-haired girl Sophia following behind her, fiddling with her skirt.

The Pope's gaze lingered on Sophia for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly.

The girl seemed to be avoiding his gaze just before the ceremony began.

"interesting."

The Pope muttered to himself, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

The cardinal didn't hear clearly.

"What did Your Majesty say?"

"nothing."

The Pope withdrew his gaze.

"Go and prepare, the banquet is about to begin."

The banquet was held in the Royal Palace Banquet Hall.

A huge crystal chandelier hung from the dome, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime.

The long dining table was set with exquisite silverware and crystal glasses, and waiters moved among them, constantly pouring wine.

Sofia sat in the corner with food in front of her, but she had little appetite.

Her mind was filled with what Frey had just said: the Pope was using his powers to probe Lyra.

"Hey!"

Vic's voice pulled her back to reality.

Sophia turned her head and saw Vic holding a glass of red wine, smiling at her.

"What are you thinking about? You seem so engrossed."

"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired."

Vic lowered his voice.

"Did you notice? The Pope seemed to glance at you a few more times just now?"

Sophia's fingers trembled slightly.

"you saw it?"

"Nonsense, I'm not blind."

Vic glanced around the banquet hall to make sure no one was paying attention to them.

"And it's not just the Pope, Sophia has been looking for you too."

Sophia started to have a headache.

She hid from the Pope before the ceremony began, and from Sofia after the ceremony, acting like a thief.

"Can't you just stay quiet? If you stand there openly, no one will suspect anything. The more you hide, the more people will think something is wrong with you."

Sophia sighed.

"I know, I know."

Chapter 26 The Emperor's Secret

Vic seemed to sense something and quickly walked away as if nothing had happened, giving her a wink before he left.

"Little girl, why are you sitting here all alone?"

Leila's voice suddenly came from behind.

Sofia turned her head and saw Leila holding a glass of juice, smiling at her.

The stiffness and fatigue on his face had mostly disappeared, replaced by a sense of ease from the bottom of his heart.

"How did you feel after the ceremony?" Sophia asked.

"One word: exhausting."

Leila plopped down next to her and let out a long sigh.

"It's more tiring than fighting a battle."

Sofia couldn't help but laugh.

"Of course, fighting only requires using your hands, but this requires using your brain."

"Yes."

Leila nodded with deep feeling, then reached out and put her arm around Sofia's shoulder.

"But it's a good thing you were watching me from down there, otherwise I might have really forgotten my lines."

Sophia was taken aback.

"You saw me?"

"Of course I saw you. I was looking for you as soon as I came up here."

Leila rolled her eyes.

Sofia opened her mouth as if to say something, but when she saw Lyra's bright blue eyes, she swallowed her words.

But just then, a servant hurried over and whispered a few words in Frey's ear.

Frey's expression changed slightly as she stood up and walked towards Sofia and Lyra.

"What's wrong, Mom?"

Lyra noticed Frey's expression and asked a question.

"His Majesty is not feeling well and has returned to his palace to rest."

Frey's voice was calm, but Sophia noticed that her brow furrowed slightly.

"Huh? It's acting up again?"

Leila pursed her lips.

"The emperor's health is really getting worse year by year."

"Leila."

Frey glared at her.

Watch your words.

"I know, I know."

Leila stuck out her tongue and didn't continue.

As Sophia listened to the conversation between the mother and daughter, a strange feeling welled up inside her.

The old emperor is over seventy years old this year, which is quite old.

But he was the emperor of a country, with the empire's best physicians and the papacy's best priests by his side, so he shouldn't have been sick so frequently.

unless……

Sophia shook her head, banishing the thought from her mind.

Meanwhile, deep within the palace, in the emperor's bedroom.

The huge crystal chandelier was only one-third lit, and the dim light cast dappled shadows on the walls.

The air was filled with a strong medicinal smell, mixed with a kind of sweet and indescribable aroma.

The old emperor lay on the bed, his face as pale as paper, his lips an unnatural bluish-purple.

His breathing was rapid, his chest heaving violently, and each breath seemed to be using all his strength.

"quick."

His voice was hoarse and weak, like a drowning person struggling.

"Quick, give me the medicine..."

There was a person standing by the bed.

It was a woman wearing a purple dress.

She looked to be around thirty years old, with her long black hair tied up at the back of her head and secured with a silver hairpin.