Villainess X Villain: They are obsessed with each other!-Chapter 50 -: 49 Nathaniel Augustus Hayes!
News of the chaos in Alaskar spread like wildfire to the other two floating continents.
No surprise there! After 500 long years, a new Saint Trial was finally happening.
The Saint is basically the biggest religious superstar of the Holy Empire, so of course everyone was losing their minds.
Meanwhile, over on Auranel, the biggest continent by land, two ancient clans ruled almost everything.
Together, the Hayes Clan and the Valentina Clan controlled about 90% of the land.
These two families had been fighting, arguing, and glaring at each other for thousands of years over... well, everything.
Inside the grand throne room of the Hayes Clan:
"We greet the patriarch of the Hayes clan!"
A man with black hair and a slightly older face dropped to one knee. He wore elegant priestly robes.
Behind him, a line of knights in shining armor knelt too, their helmets gleaming under the light.
Many other important-looking people stood quietly around the room, watching everything.
"Rise," a deep, calm voice said from the throne.
A man stepped into view.
He looked around 40, with long black hair and bright blue eyes.
Even with his age, he was strikingly handsome.
Anyone who knew Julius would immediately notice, same sharp jaw, same intense look.
This was Nathaniel Augustus Hayes, Patriarch of the Hayes Clan... and Julius’s father.
The man in the priestly robes rose smoothly, along with his kneeling knights. He gave a small, respectful bow.
"It is an honour to stand before you, my lord," he said, his voice calm but warm.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced toward his knights.
One knight understood the silent signal right away.
He stepped forward, carrying a tray draped in rich red cloth.
With careful steps he approached the throne and dropped to one knee right in front of Nathaniel.
"This is the personal invitation from Her Holiness, the Pope herself," the knight announced clearly.
"She humbly requests your presence at the Saint Trial, to witness and take part in this once-in-five-centuries moment."
Nathaniel leaned forward slightly and lifted the red cloth.
Underneath lay an elegant envelope edged with thin golden plates that caught the light like tiny flames.
He picked it up, broke the wax seal, and unfolded the letter.
His sharp blue eyes scanned the elegant script. Very quickly his gaze reached the bottom of the page.
"Hmm..." A low, thoughtful hum escaped him.
He folded the letter with neat precision and set it on the arm of the throne.
"A joyous day," he said, voice carrying easily through the hall, "not just for the Holy Empire, but for all three floating continents."
He leaned back, fingers lightly tapping the throne.
"Seven hundred years ago the Church of Benigore left its mark on our entire history."
"If that legendary Saintess hadn’t stepped in back then, our ancestors would have had a very hard time signing any peace treaty with those savage Zlycons." He let out a quiet sigh, almost nostalgic.
The priest-robed man gave a soft chuckle.
"Indeed, my lord. We owe so much to the heroes of the past who bought us this long peace."
He paused, letting the weight of those words settle over the room.
Then his tone turned more serious.
"However... as you already know, during the Saint Trial our devotees except the Palladians are forbidden from fighting."
He bowed again, deeper this time, showing real sincerity.
"And we both know those devil-worshipping scum will smell weakness. They’ll try to interfere, they always do."
He lifted his head just enough to meet Nathaniel’s eyes.
"So the Church of Benigore turns to its oldest, most trusted ally."
"We humbly ask that the ancient Hayes Clan, bound to our nation for centuries, lend its strength if the worst should happen."
The throne room went perfectly quiet.
Every pair of eyes slowly turned toward the man with long black hair and piercing blue eyes.
Nathaniel leaned back on the throne, fingers steepled under his chin as he mulled over the priest’s words.
"Hmm..." he hummed again, eyes half-closed in thought.
After a long moment, he straightened up with a decisive nod.
"Very well then," he said, voice firm and clear.
"The Hayes Clan will lend its strength, for the good of all humanity."
The priest’s face lit up like a kid who just got his favorite candy. He bowed deeply, almost too quickly.
"Many thanks, my lord! The Church of Benigore will never forget—"
Nathaniel raised a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"But," he added calmly, "I myself cannot attend the Saint Trial."
The priest blinked once, then schooled his expression back to polite calm. He waited, hands clasped in front of him.
"As you all know," Nathaniel continued, letting his gaze sweep across the room, "our lands overlap in many places with the Valentina Clan. We’ve been at each other’s throats for centuries."
He paused, letting the heavy truth settle over everyone like morning fog.
"And the current patriarch of the Valentina Clan..." His tone dropped, turning grim.
"He harbors more hatred toward us than any leader in our long, messy history."
A few of the knights shifted uncomfortably. The air felt thicker.
"That’s why I must stay here, in my own territory," Nathaniel said.
"If I leave even for a few days, there’s a very real chance of open conflict... maybe even bloodshed."
He offered the priest a small, almost apologetic smile.
"So I hope you understand my predicament."
The priest returned the smile, warm and understanding.
"Of course, my lord. It isn’t easy being the one who has to hold the line."
Nathaniel nodded once.
"Still," he went on, "I will fulfill my duty as Patriarch of the Hayes Clan, loyal friends to the Holy Empire for generations."
The priest’s respectful smile grew a little wider. He waited patiently.
Nathaniel drew in a slow, deep breath.
"To prove our friendship... and to make sure nothing goes wrong for the Holy Empire during this sacred trial..."
He opened his mouth to continue.
"I will send the First Elder—"
"Ahem."
A soft, polite cough floated through the throne room.
