Bishop Winst bowed slightly and saluted respectfully.
His movements were standard and elegant, and he maintained it for a long time.
The Empress' voice of dismissal stopped, and Bishop Winst did not lift his head for a long time.
After a long period of silence, Maria II sighed softly.
"Your Excellency … Dispense with the formalities."
The voice was old and majestic, but it no longer seemed to have the tenderness when she called out to Bishop Winst.
Bishop Winst's movements paused slightly.
He slowly got up and cast a somewhat evasive and complicated gaze at the Empress who was past her prime, only to find that she was no longer looking at him. Instead, she continued to look out of the window.
Maria II was half lying on the bed.
The golden sunlight shone on her body. The Empress' slanted and long shadow was cast on the soft and beautiful elven carpet on the ground, making her already stooped and thin figure appear even thinner.
It was hard to imagine that such a weak and thin body was able to carry the entire Holy Mania Empire on her shoulders.
A gentle breeze blew in from the window, making Maria II's somewhat messy hair even messier.
Her gaze rested on the lone tall and lush horse chestnut tree in the garden outside the window. She looked at the lush branches and leaves, and at the birds that were happily jumping around the treetops. She was slightly dazed.
Bishop Winst recognized it. It was a tree that the Empress had planted with him when she was young and had yet to ascend the throne.
At that time, it was just a weak sapling, but now, it already had a dense and huge shade.
However, the young girl who once ran around the growing sapling, giggling, and the little crybaby who used to stick to the young girl like a shadow, were no longer seen.
"Your Excellency, I want to go to the palace tower to take a look. Can you accompany me?"
After a long time, Maria II's voice sounded again.
Her voice was hoarse and majestic.
However, under the majesty, Bishop Winst seemed to hear a trace of loneliness filled pleading.
This made the refusal that he had prepared to say, "Her Majesty is weak and needs to rest. It is inconvenient for her to move around." He could not say it out loud.
Sighing softly, Bishop Winst slowly turned around and looked out of the door, intending to call the maid in, but was quickly stopped by the Empress.
"There is no need to call anyone else. Just the two of us are enough. Help me, help me down …"
Bishop Winst paused again.
He hesitated for a moment, but when he met Maria II's determined gaze, he sighed in his heart and went forward.
Reaching out his hand respectfully, Bishop Winst helped Maria II up in the most standard way for clergy to help an elderly queen during a sacrificial ceremony.
The Empress's body was smaller and thinner than he had imagined. Her arms had long withered, like withered twigs.
Bishop Winst supported her, but he did not feel much weight.
"Your Majesty! Why are you up?! "
The maids and guards were shocked when they saw the empress, who was supported by Winst, appear at the entrance of the palace.
They wanted to help Maria II up, but she shook her head and stopped them.
"There's no need. I feel like I have some strength now. I'm going to take a look at the tower …"
"Your Majesty …"
Looking at Maria II's trembling appearance, the maids and guards had worried gazes.
However, facing the Empress's dignified and unquestionable gaze, they could only lower their heads in the end, respectfully falling behind the two of them and following them to the tower in the Imperial Palace.
The tower in the Imperial Palace was the tallest building in the entire palace. From there, one could overlook the beautiful scenery of the entire Manya City.
Maria II had always liked to climb the tower and look at the scenery of the capital from afar.
However, ever since she fell seriously ill two years ago, she had never gone there again …
Winst supported the elderly empress and walked toward the tower.
Normally, it would have taken them at most five minutes to complete the journey, but now, they had been walking for twenty minutes.
When they started to climb the tower, Maria II's weak body showed signs of exhaustion. She had to rest for a long time after every few steps …
"Your Majesty … why don't … we go back?"
Seeing the empress in pain, Bishop Winst could not help but ask.
Maria II did not answer. Instead, she shook her head resolutely.
Her withered arm, which clung to the arm of the chair, was still clinging to the Bishop's shoulder.
Her trembling body was unprecedentedly resolute.
Bishop Winst sighed secretly and quietly transformed a trace of the Power of Faith into a blessing and sent it into Maria II's body.
Maria II paused for a moment.
The next moment, her movements seemed to be much more relaxed.
After an unknown amount of time, the two finally climbed the tower, the highest point of the Imperial Palace.
Maria II struggled to stand up from Bishop Winst's support and rejected the maid's support again. She panted and held onto the handrail as she came to the observation deck of the tower.
Standing on the platform, she looked outside the tower and at the beautiful city that was known as the "Light of the Empire."
From here, the magnificent scenery of the entire Manya City could be seen. Whether it was the tall landmark of the outer city, Dororia Castle Prison, or the sacred and solemn Eternal Cathedral in the inner city, everything could be seen clearly.
From here, one could see the crisscrossing streets of the city, the rows of elegant buildings, and the sparse number of pedestrians on the streets …
Maria II's gaze swept across the steeple of the Eternal Cathedral, the flag of the Empire fluttering in the Sacred Square, the eerie and solemn Dororia Castle at the end of the main road, and finally stopped at the flame-like red clouds in the sky …
The twilight was dim, and the setting sun was as red as blood. At the end of the sky, the setting sun, which seemed to be inlaid with gold, was now a full circle.
The radiance was dazzling, and it was like a dream. It was unreal.
The church bell rang, and flocks of white pigeons flew from the square and flew around the high tower in the city.
The setting sun sprinkled golden light on the earth, and the entire Manya City was covered with a golden gauze like the wings of cicadas. Even the earth was covered with a mysterious color.
Looking at the magnificent scenery under the setting sun, the Queen's eyes were a little blurred.
She gently stretched out her hand and reached into the air as if she wanted to grab something, but in the end, she slowly withdrew her hand …
"It's dusk …"
Maria II sighed softly.
"Yes, Your Majesty, it's dusk."
Bishop Winst sighed deeply.
Maria II nodded slightly. Her cloudy eyes looked into the distance and finally stopped at the Aristocrat Parliament Building beside the Sacred Square, Graycastle.
The light in her eyes dimmed a little.
"The Great Council … is it not over yet?"
She asked.
"Your Majesty, it is not over yet."
Bishop Winst answered.
Hearing his words, the aged Queen seemed to have thought of something. She sneered and slowly shook her head.
"They are all quarreling over who should succeed the throne, right? These vermin have everything in their hearts, except for the Holy Manya Empire … "
Bishop Winst was silent and did not continue the topic of Maria II.
After Maria II said a few words, seeing that the other party did not respond, she seemed to have lost interest.
She quietly looked at the setting sun on the horizon and did not speak.
Gradually, the setting sun gradually restrained its radiance and became gentle.
It walked slowly like a human, slowly approaching the distant mountains.
The radiance was no longer dazzling. It was just a bright red ball, like a magic lamp with a gentle flame.
"Your Excellency, can I ask you for a favor?"
The Queen suddenly spoke again.
"Your Majesty, please speak."
Bishop Winst said respectfully.
Maria II slowly turned her head and looked at him.
Her cloudy emerald eyes revealed a hint of silence.
"Politics is cruel, but little Theresa is innocent."
"I have never nurtured her as an heir. She should have been a carefree girl …"
As she spoke, Maria looked at Bishop Winst. Her gaze had a hint of pleading.
"Your Eminence, if one day in the future … Theresa is in trouble, can you help her for the sake of our friendship?"
Hearing Maria II's words, Bishop Winst sighed in his heart.
He knew.
Maria II's heir was not supposed to be Princess Theresa.
Her heir was supposed to be the only son of the Legendary Sword Saint, Duke Xilin, whom she had high hopes for.
He was an excellent man and a qualified heir to the throne.
Unfortunately, during a rebellion a few years ago, the Grand Duke had unfortunately died in a duel with the leader of the rebel army, leaving behind only his young daughter, Theresa.
"Your Majesty, I am the Cardinal Archbishop of the empire and one of the electors of the church. Naturally, I will support Princess Theresa when she encounters difficulties."
Bishop Winst answered.
However, after hearing his response, Maria II did not seem to be too satisfied.
She slowly lowered her eyelids. Her voice was a little lonely.
"Just … a bishop?"
Bishop Winst was silent.
After a moment, he opened his mouth to answer but was stopped by the Empress.
"Forget it, let's leave it at that …"
"Bishop Winst, you … can leave. I would like to enjoy the scenery here alone … I would like to be alone for a while …"
Maria II said.
Her voice no longer had a trace of frailty. Instead, it had completely regained its former majesty.
Majesty and alienation. Alienation and loneliness.
Bishop Winst opened his mouth and looked at the Empress' back in a daze. A hint of apology flashed in his eyes.
After hesitating for a long time, he bowed deeply to the Empress' back.
"Yes, Sun of the empire, Your Majesty the Great Empress …"
Then, he slowly took his leave.
However, when he reached the stairs of the tower, Bishop Winst could not help but stop.
He looked back at the Empress, who was becoming smaller and smaller under the setting sun, and sighed deeply.
"Theresa … She's my granddaughter after all. No matter what happens, I'll protect her life …"
"As long as I am still alive, I will protect her safety."
Hearing Bishop Winst's words, Maria II's back trembled slightly.
She tightened her grip on the railing and slowly loosened it.
Bishop Winst did not continue to stay.
He turned around and left the tower resolutely.
…
The imperial palace at dusk seemed even more lonely.
Perhaps it was dinnertime, but even the figures of the maids and guards seemed to have decreased significantly.
Bishop Winst walked alone on the main road of the imperial palace and walked out of the palace. His shadow was very long under the setting sun. Behind him, the magnificent palace had slowly sunk into darkness.
Suddenly, a piercing bell rang from afar. Bishop Winst's movements paused for a moment.
The bell did not come from the direction of the church. Instead, it came from the imperial palace behind him.
The bell in the imperial palace was only rung when something major happened in the empire.
The last time it was rung was a few years ago when the news of Duke Xilin's death in battle reached the capital.
The bell was dull and heavy, deafening. It rang a total of twelve times, echoing in the empty sky of the setting sun … It did not calm down for a long time.
Hearing the bell, Bishop Winst could not help but turn around and look at the tower.
A trace of sadness, sadness, and confusion flashed across the depths of his eyes.
Twelve bell tolls, in the history of the empire, only represented one thing.
That was, the emperor of the empire had returned to the kingdom of God …
A trace of tears flashed across the depths of Bishop Winst's eyes.
He wiped the corners of his eyes and walked out of the palace without hesitation.
At this moment, Bishop Winst knew that with the long ringing of the palace bell, the era of the past was slowly coming to an end …
…
On the 17th of June 1073 of the Eternal Era, Maria von Terence II, the empress who had ruled the most powerful empire on the Segers for seventy years, passed away in the tower of the imperial palace at the age of eighty-four.
Three days later, the great nobles of the empire finally suppressed the opposition of the smaller nobles and obtained the right to decide on the candidates for the parliament and the successor to the throne.
The granddaughter of Maria II, Princess Theresa, who was not even fifteen years old, won the election with five votes in favor and one abstaining from voting. She was supported by the nobles and the church as the new empress of the empire.
In order to distinguish her from the other empress in the history of the empire who was also named Theresa, the new empress was called Theresa II.
Seven days later, Theresa II was officially crowned as empress in the Eternal Church.
Because of the Holy War, most of the nobles could not be present. In addition to the years of war, the treasury was empty, so this coronation was quite shabby. Only the representatives of the nobles in the parliament of the empire and the nobles in the palace attended.
But even so, the young girl finally officially took over the scepter of the empire and wore the heavy crown.
One day after Theresa II succeeded the throne, the parliament of the empire in the name of the empress issued the first edict of the new empress after she succeeded the throne and formed a regency cabinet with the participation of the great nobles and archbishops.
In order to win the Holy War, in order to defeat the ambitious heretics, in order to replenish the empty treasury and the depleted army, the parliament of the empire passed a new tax bill and a draft bill through the cabinet.
In the bill, the central government of the empire loosened all kinds of restrictions on the nobles and agreed to increase taxes on the major territories, recruit more soldiers, and form a new noble coalition army.
When this news spread, the empire was in an uproar, and the people were boiling with resentment.
— — —
Awkward. Too many settings. Eat books.
Chapter 611 said that the empress was a legend. Now that it was corrected, that chapter had been changed to gold.
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