“Be careful.”
Sylvia lowered her gaze, examining the terrified expression on Roman’s face, those eyes trembling ever so slightly, endearingly vulnerable.
What made her suppress a smile even more was that the white flower in Roman’s right eye seemed to tremble along with his eyelashes.
She reached out to brush aside the silver strands of hair scattered across Roman’s forehead, her admiring eyes fixed on him.
In psychology, there is a theory that when someone holds a higher position, facing a subordinate allows them to dominate the psychological high ground, suppressing their opponent in confrontation.
Sylvia was even more absolute—looking down on Roman from above, while letting him lie in her arms like a lover, teasing him as if he were a delicate little rabbit.
Thankfully, Bianca was not present; otherwise, even someone as composed as her would probably be shocked by the scene before her.
At this moment, Sylvia treated Roman kindly as if he were Lainie’s child, but to an outsider, her expression and actions would look like the behavior of a perverted pedophile.
If anyone else saw the supreme Pontiff acting like this, it would surely become the biggest scandal on the Yanglight Continent…
It was clear that the two were in completely unequal positions; from now on, Roman could only obediently listen to Sylvia.
“You said you’re living well now?” Sylvia asked.
Even in this situation, Roman stubbornly nodded.
“If I’m not mistaken, after being taken by that Lily Countess, you’ve become her intimate bed companion, haven’t you?”
Hearing this, even Sylvia couldn’t hide a trace of jealousy in her tone.
It wasn’t just because Roman had been ‘defiled’ by that woman, but because his face resembled Lainie’s so much.
The thought of Roman, who shared Lainie’s appearance, moaning softly beneath her made Sylvia’s cultivated composure almost crack.
“That was my own choice,” Roman said bluntly.
“So, the fact that you just took a duck bath with Lady Catherine was also your choice?”
Though the Holy Throne clearly held the upper hand, Sylvia’s voice was already tinged with impatience.
“If I hadn’t done that, Lady Catherine—”
“But the truth is, if I hadn’t arrived in time, she would have already been possessed by that Demonic Flower, and you…”
Sylvia caressed Roman’s cheek softly and whispered,
“You would be held hostage by that Demonic Flower with Catherine’s life, gradually becoming the nourishment for its desires, a mere plaything beneath her.”
“Thank you…”
Roman was left speechless, admitting honestly.
Sylvia thought the boy was stubborn and troublesome.
He wasn’t submitting to her; he simply refused to owe her anything.
“Sleeping with that Count, and then doing that with her aunt—this is what you call living well? Tell me, what’s so good about it?”
Sylvia decided to shatter Roman’s illusions step by step, making him realize that only she could unconditionally care for him.
Without hesitation, Roman said, “No matter what you think, this has been the happiest, most carefree time I’ve ever had.”
“The people here are friendly, they treat me well and respect me—something I’d never experienced before.”
Sylvia smiled lightly as if she had already guessed what Roman was going to say.
“So this is the life you want?”
“I admit, compared to those perverted nobles, the Lily Countess is a relatively good match.”
“But have you ever thought that, given your status, she doesn’t deserve you at all?”
“If not for her luck, you would never have had any dealings with people like her, let alone be forced to rely on her to survive.”
These words reminded Roman of what Milis had said to him that day.
In a way, their mother-daughter relationship was no coincidence; even their unspoken understandings were so alike.
His answer was the same as before: “I don’t think I’m relying on her, and as for my status, I don’t understand it at all.”
Roman’s attitude was somewhat impermeable to reason.
Sylvia finally squinted and said, “Do you know what the flower in your right eye means?”
Roman blinked, staring at Sylvia curiously.
Those deer-like innocent eyes made Sylvia’s face flush slightly.
“It’s called the Flower of Life by Fara—it’s the visual embodiment of Fara’s Law.”
“Although the Goddess Fara is generally regarded as the Creator, what people don’t know is that Fara actually possesses an original Law. Before she divided the four realms, she was known as the Goddess of Life.”
With each carefully guided word, Roman began to piece things together.
“No matter how precious a Sacred Seal is, after so many years of history on the continent, there should be a second person who could awaken it. Do you know why you are the only one to awaken the unique Holy Mark of Life?”
“The fact is, compared to Milis, you are the most legitimate Holy Child under Fara’s skirt, the undisputed Holy Child of the Holy Light Church.”
Sylvia’s words, threading through the meaning behind the right eye, stunned Roman.
Thinking that he had been swayed by her, Sylvia smiled and continued,
“That’s right. At tomorrow’s Ten-Year Holy City Ceremony, I will personally crown you, so that before the entire continent, you will become a Holy Child as precious as Milis, or even more so.”
Roman’s silence was taken as tacit acceptance in Sylvia’s eyes.
She slowly reined in her previously overbearing demeanor, intending to immediately bring Roman back to Saint City Osiris to prepare for the coronation ceremony.
“I don’t want it.”
Roman suddenly said softly.
Sylvia thought she had misheard and ignored him, holding his shoulders and preparing to stand.
“I said, I don’t want it.”
Breaking free from Sylvia’s arms, Roman stumbled and fell to the ground.
“Thank you for your kindness,” Roman said as he stood up, “but I have no interest in the Holy Child you speak of.”
Even a clay figure would get a little anger, let alone the Pontiff, who had never been rejected like this before.
Sylvia was stunned for a few seconds before she couldn’t help but look up and give a cold smile.
“Good child, it seems Lainie hasn’t yet taught you an important truth.”
Taking two steps forward to stand before Roman, Sylvia continued,
“That is: the world never revolves around you, nor will it change because of you.”
“Since I’m here, you are destined to come with me.”
Just as Sylvia was about to forcibly take Roman away, a powerful, unmatched aura descended from above.
The stained glass window at the very top of the Cathedral shattered, and pure moonlight accompanied by dazzling starlight poured in, a deep azure magic pointing directly at Sylvia.
Lady Catherine, glowing with an ethereal blue light in her Starry Sky Form, landed before Roman, forming a standoff with Sylvia.