After returning to the mansion, Casas instructed Noen not to let a word of this slip, otherwise Noen’s father wouldn’t let him off the hook.
"I understand, young master," Noen responded.
After stepping into the temple, Noen had fulfilled a long-held wish; he had finally seen the Divine Statue of Kagawus in that magnificent temple, the great God spoken of by the priests, so grand and solemn.
But the fulfillnt of one wish ant the planting of another in the soil of his heart, taking root and sprouting.
One night, Noen dread of that mural.
In the dream, Noen saw himself standing before the altar, gazing for a long ti at the mural. He reached out and touched the figure of the Prophet on it, whose image blended into the brilliance coming from the mountains, appearing mysterious and suprely sacred.
Noen shifted his gaze to the mountains; although the mural was so decrepit and stiff, the brilliance seed vivid, as if there was a kind of vitality that no color could describe, transmitting into his own body from the light.
He couldn’t rember the rest of the dream, only that he woke up drenched in sweat, gasping for air. He did not know what the dream ant, nor why he would have such a dream.
Noen did not bother to seek a Dream Interpreter like the Nobles and commoners would. For soone like him, a half-breed who dared not hope for more, even if the dream had aning, it was aningless.
After returning from the temple, Noen fell back into the dull life of a servant, tending cals, horses, and other livestock for his master’s family as usual, managing the housework, patrolling the estate...
Noen’s life did not change because of that sudden dream; just like his father, he always rembered his loyalty to his master’s family.
And his young master, Casas, who occasionally treated him like a brother, began to look for a suitable wife for Noen. As the son of the Pri Minister, he had the privilege to enter the Royal Palace, and Casas took this opportunity to select palace maids for the King in the Flower Garden.
King Oton was not interested in won and had great trust in his Pri Minister father, so he granted Casas’s request.
Casas had chosen three palace maids in succession and was about to pick the fourth when Queen Isis approached him.
"Casas, you are marrying the King’s won to a slave," said Queen Isis coldly.
"Forgive my boldness, your Grace, Queen Isis," Casas stopped his hand, ready to send away the chosen palace maid.
But Queen Isis stopped him.
"Carry on, Casas. After all, my King is only into n," Queen Isis said indifferently.
"To this day, he’s still looking for a cure for his ailing favorite."
Looking for a cure?
Despite his curiosity being piqued by the Queen’s words, Casas was reluctant to probe further; he didn’t dare get involved in these matters.
Seeing Casas about to leave, Queen Isis added:
"Perhaps this has sothing to do with the venerable Pri Minister Ibia."
Hearing the Queen ntion his father, Casas stopped in his tracks.
"What do you an?"
Queen Isis looked at Casas with a mocking tone:
"You don’t know? The son of the Pri Minister.
The male favorite nad Esia was gifted by your Pri Minister father to my husband.
What a formidable lover, to bewitch my King protected by the Prophetic God himself!"
From Queen Isis’s tone, Casas detected a hint of grinding teeth.
He was stunned for a mont, the politically uninvolved Casas hadn’t known that the man favored by the King was actually presented by his own father.
Perhaps, this piece of news was a secret to all the Ministers and Nobles of the Palace.
Casas slowly turned around, gazing at Queen Isis, and asked in a clear voice,
"Queen, what do you intend to do?"
Queen Isis glanced at Casas and smiled, saying,
"I swear by the na of Kagawus, I hope I can strangle that male concubine nad Esia to death."
"That has nothing to do with , I’m asking why you’re telling this,"
Casas continued to question.
Finally, Queen Isis dropped all pretense and said straightforwardly,
"I made a Prophecy myself a hundred days ago, and in that Prophecy, I saw that you and your slave must obey my commands and seek a precious offering to present to Kagawus for ."
Casas looked at Queen Isis, slightly astonished. A Three-eyed Ape-man could only make three Prophecies in a lifeti, the first usually taking place at their coming-of-age ceremony, leaving only two more available to use at their own discretion.
It could be said, for a Three-eyed Ape-man, the remaining two chances to use their gift of Prophecy were crucial.
"What kind of Prophecy is this..."
Casas murmured, both shocked and confused.
"You should understand the power of Prophecy, Casas, go back and await your fate,"
Queen Isis waved her hand, turning her back to him.
It was obvious that she was not afraid of Casas making the Prophecy public.
Casas left the Royal Court disoriented and lost.
...
After returning to his residence, Casas confronted his father.
"Father, in the na of the Prophetic God, you must tell why you presented Esia to the King!"
Ibia looked at Casas, then said,
"My child Casas, I am the King’s Pri Minister, and I must gain the King’s favor."
Casas ran his fingers through his hair; he had heard rumors about Esia from other Nobles.
According to these Noble Ministers, ever since King Oton had favored Esia, he had continuously offended various Noble Ministers for the sake of his male concubine; he had even stripped a Minister of his position to bestow it upon Esia.
"If the other Noble Ministers find out, Father... we can only pray to Kagawus then!"
Casas said with so pain in his voice.
"Casas, you don’t understand the King. As long as King Oton favors Esia for one more day, my position as Pri Minister will be eternally secure."
Ibia stood up, his corpulent body swaying,
"Do you know, our great King is not that diligent; he would rather care for his Esia than deal with Ministers.
And my child, our family is not so clean; we need the King’s protection, without the King, without the Esia we presented, our family will always be in jeopardy."
The father’s words were very clear, he had no secrets from his son.
Casas was stunned for a mont; he knew naturally that his family’s fortune wasn’t obtained cleanly, but he hadn’t realized that Esia played such a crucial role in it.
"Casas, think it over carefully. We should be grateful for Esia, and grateful to the Prophetic God, for if it wasn’t for the Prophetic God delivering Esia into our hands, my position as Pri Minister wouldn’t have co so easily."
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