Chapter 343: Chapter 74: Enclosure Movement
Aurora opened her mouth, but hesitated before speaking. "Doesn’t that involve the forbidden art of extending one’s life?" she finally whispered.
"If the desire for a longer life can lead one to abandon the Holy Scripture and walk a Path deemed Heresy," Murphy’s voice was placid, "then why wouldn’t the desire for power lead one to do the same—to abandon the fundamental spirit of the Holy Scripture and walk a different Path of Heresy?"
Aurora was stunned into silence by his questions, a tempest of shock churning in her azure eyes.
She wanted to argue, but her throat tightened.
’It was true. If faith was no longer the fundamental path to obtaining power, then the pursuit of power for its own sake—or rather, the pursuit of authority—was enough to lead a person astray, regardless of the holy mantle they wore.’
A brief, dead silence fell over the study, broken only by the faint crackle of firewood in the hearth.
Murphy’s gaze shifted from Aurora’s shocked face to a letter on the desk, sealed with the wax emblem of the Imperial eagle.
He reached out and picked up the letter.
"Take a look at this." He passed the letter to Aurora.
Still somewhat stunned, Aurora took the letter. It was cool to the touch.
She took a deep breath to compose herself, then carefully broke the seal along the edge of the wax and drew out a neatly folded sheet of parchment.
As she unfolded the parchment, her azure pupils contracted, and her breath hitched. "This is...?"
...
Several mornings later, the sky was washed crystal clear.
A carriage, plain on the outside but spacious and comfortable within, departed from Monte Castle under the protection of ten elite Guards. It traveled south along a well-maintained, paved stone road.
Inside the carriage, Murphy sat in his custom-made, cushioned chair, his lap covered by the familiar crimson fleece blanket.
Aurora sat beside him, holding a report on the latest grain harvest in the Temeris Territory, but her gaze lingered more often on her husband’s tranquil profile.
Eleanor sat quietly across from them. She wore a dark green, cinched-waist gown practical for travel, and a thick book on Magic Models rested on her lap. Occasionally, she would look up, her gaze sweeping past the rapidly receding landscape outside—the mountains and wilds of the Northern Territory, now gradually tinged with the first hints of spring.
"Father," Eleanor said, suddenly closing her book, "how long will we be staying at Taymer Palace?"
Murphy drew his gaze back from the window. "It depends. Perhaps a month or two, perhaps longer." He paused before adding, "Besides, Eleanor, in the study your mother left behind, there are some more advanced Wizard’s Scriptures and notes that will help your Cultivation."
Eleanor’s dark eyes brightened. She nodded and returned her attention to the book on her lap, though a faint, expectant smile played on her lips.
Aurora set down her report and reached over to gently adjust the corner of Murphy’s blanket. "Eleanor will certainly love the things Duke Temeris left behind," she said warmly. "Spring comes earlier in the South than in the Northern Lands. The gardens at Taymer Palace should be beautiful this time of year. It will be a good chance to relax."
As she spoke, her eyes, full of concern, rested on Murphy. "You need a change of scenery, too. A chance to rest and recover properly. With Kaiden and Alina at Monte Castle, and Bernard and Lucian to support them, nothing will go wrong. As for the Church Court... now that we’ve sent the letter, all we can do is wait."
Murphy took her hand, her warmth seeping into his fingertips. "Yes, it will be good for them to gain some experience."
The carriage traveled on smoothly, the sound of its wheels on the stone road a steady, monotonous rumble.
For the first five days of their journey, they remained within the Douglas Duke Domain. The landscape retained the vast, rugged character unique to the Northern Territory.
After the carriage crossed a mountain range, the scenery began to change in subtle ways.
The chill faded from the wind, and the air grew more humid. The snowline on the distant mountains was visibly higher, and the vegetation along the road became increasingly lush and verdant.
On the afternoon of the sixth day, the carriage crossed into the Stuart Duke Domain.
Here, the fields were laid out more neatly and the villages were more densely clustered. Small, bustling markets occasionally appeared along the roadside. While it was still a far cry from the Monte Territory, it showed the distinct prosperity of the Kingdom’s heartland.
Aurora would occasionally point out the window, quietly telling Eleanor about the various sights and customs of the South.
Eleanor listened intently, her quiet, dark eyes reflecting the scenery streaming past the window.
As the sun began to set on the fifteenth day, painting the horizon a warm, orange-red, the carriage finally entered the Temeris Duke Domain.
A warm breeze, carrying the scent of mist, plants, and a faint hint of flowers, drifted in through a small crack in the window.
"We’re here," Aurora said softly, a faint smile gracing her lips.
Eleanor set her book down and leaned forward slightly to look out the window.
In the distance, a majestic complex of white palaces stood silently in the twilight, its spires and domes reflecting the golden light like a scene from a fairy tale.
Surrounding the palaces were rolling, meticulously manicured gardens, their vibrant life and splendid colors visible even in the gathering dusk.
They had reached Taymer Palace.
The guards at the palace gates had clearly been notified in advance. They bowed respectfully and quickly granted them passage.
The carriage passed through a gate decorated with intricate ironwork and onto a straight avenue lined with tall plane trees, finally coming to a stop in the open plaza before the main palace.
A head stewardess, dressed in the deep blue, silver-trimmed uniform of the Temeris Clan, was already waiting for them, bowing low with several Attendants.
