As Catalina and Fraser entered the palace, the sight before them was imposing. Dorian stood smugly by their father, Corrado Lantz, his posture radiating self-satisfaction.
Beside the emperor sat an elderly man clad in flowing robes, a cane in hand-it was none other than Infinides.
“Master…” Catalina’s eyes lit up with hope as she saw the Abbot. She stepped forward, ready to plead her case, but the weight of her father’s glare quickly silenced her.
“Lina,” Corrado began, his voice heavy with anger, “you ventured into the Ethereal Realm on your own, and now I hear you’ve been consorting with some small-time cultivator? Do you want to drive me to my grave with your antics?”
Fraser stepped in hastily, his tone conciliatory. “Father, Catalina has always been adventurous. It’s natural for her to want to explore Ethereal Realm. And she wasn’t unprotected-she had guards with her. Please, don’t punish her too harshly.”
“Silence!” Corrado’s sharp rebuke froze Fraser mid-sentence.
Seeing her brother cowed, Catalina took a step forward, her head held high. “Fraser, don’t waste your breath defending me. I admit it. I went to Ethereal Realm for fun, and yes, I got
involved with a Tribulator. We even spent several nights together.”
Her brazen admission left Corrado momentarily speechless, his face flushing with barely contained rage. “You…” he sputtered.
Catalina, undeterred, pressed on. “If you’re angry, direct it at Master. It was his idea! He’s the one who sent me to the Celestial Battlefield. He’s the one who suggested I become dual cultivation partners with the Tribulator.” She pointed accusingly at Abbot Infinides.
Infinides raised a hand in protest. “My disciple,” he said evenly, “don’t put words in my mouth. When did I ever send you to Ethereal Realm? And when did I ever suggest such an absurd thing? You need to take responsibility for your own actions.”
Catalina’s confidence faltered as disbelief flashed across her face.
He was the one responsible for everything, yet now he’s denying it?
“Master, how can you deny it? You’re just leaving me out to dry!” she protested.
“Enough!” Corrado’s voice thundered through the hall. “How dare you accuse Abbot Infinides of such deceit? A man of his standing would never stoop so low. You’ve brought this mess upon yourself.”
He continued, his tone sharp. “And that business with the Demon Seal Alliance-you’ve stirred up trouble and caused the deaths of several guards. Don’t tell me that was your master’s doing as well?”
Catalina shook her head. “No, Father. But those people deserved it! Master always said the Demon Seal Alliance is full of villains.”
Corrado’s eyes narrowed. “Blaming your master again, are you? You clearly have no sense of accountability. If that’s the case, then I have no choice but to impose strict discipline.”
He rose from his seat, his expression as cold as steel. “You are hereby ordered to retreat to the imperial monastery for a decade of reflection. You will not leave until the full term is served-no exceptions!”
Catalina’s face went pale, but her defiance burned as brightly as ever. Gritting her teeth, she hissed, “Fine. Even if it’s a hundred years, I’m not afraid!”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and stormed out of the hall.
“Catalina!” Fraser called after her, hurrying to follow.
Watching the dramatic exit, Dorian couldn’t help but smirk.
“Why are you smiling? Get out of here!” Corrado snapped, fixing him with a glare.
Dorian quickly stifled his amusement and made a hasty retreat.
Once Dorian was gone, the atmosphere in the hall shifted. Corrado and Infinides exchanged knowing glances before breaking into hearty laughter.
“Abbot Infinides, I think it’s safe to say Lina will hold a grudge against you for quite some time,” Corrado said, shaking his head in amusement.
“Let her,” Infinides replied, his voice tinged with resignation. “The peace in Ethereal Realm is already precarious. The Demon Seal Alliance is hot on my trail. Our days of tranquility are numbered.”
Corrado nodded solemnly. “Twilight Imperial City will soon be exposed. When that happens, I won’t have the luxury of playing the serene king anymore.”
He paused, his curiosity piqued. “But tell me, Abbot Infinides, what do you think of this Jared fellow you suggested for Lina?”
Infinides’ lips curled into a mysterious smile. “Emperor Lantz, trust me when you meet him, you’ll understand. Jared is no ordinary man. If he were, I would never have considered him worthy of Lina. She’s your precious daughter, but she’s also my cherished disciple.”
“Very well,” Corrado said, leaning back with a sigh. “I’ll take your word for it. Let’s just hope this decade of reflection helps Lina and prepares her for the trials ahead.”
The hall fell silent as the two men contemplated the challenges awaiting them.
