The Shining Star Above The Heaven-Chapter 488: The Execution

When Aldrian returned to his side, Emperor Herman was once again amazed. The sword did not reject Aldrian and allowed him to touch it. He knew how difficult it was to even lay a hand on that legacy artifact. Even Claude, to this day, still hadn’t earned the sword’s recognition.

"All is good. We’re good to go," Aldrian said.

"Alright," Emperor Herman replied, and they walked toward the exit.

As they walked, the emperor sighed inwardly. He hadn’t expected it to be this simple, or to take so little time. He thought Aldrian would cultivate here for days—maybe weeks, even months—so he had already prepared the place for a long stay.

But no. Aldrian had just stood there for less than a minute and—ta da—he broke through twice and seemed to have already stabilized his cultivation.

Whatever Aldrian’s body constitution or cultivation technique was, it was truly beyond comprehension. The emperor couldn’t help but wonder where Aldrian had gotten such a technique. There was no way the Flamecrest or Rivas family had anything like that. If they did, someone like Aldrian would’ve appeared long ago.

After they emerged from the secret passage and stepped outside, the emperor looked at Aldrian.

"Young Aldrian, let’s go to the imperial palace. I want to hear more about what you did in the Atria Empire. All I’ve heard so far is that you caused quite an uproar there, and I’d like to hear the story from you."

Aldrian smiled.

"Of course, Your Majesty. I’d love to tell you my story, but I hope you won’t be bored. I don’t think it will be all that entertaining."

"I doubt that," the emperor replied with smile, and they flew back toward the capital.

Aldrian glanced at the mountain range behind him for a moment before continuing the flight. He still hadn’t solved the mystery of that place.

After returning to the capital and arriving at the imperial palace, Emperor Herman brought Aldrian to his private study. Prince Claude, who had heard about his father’s return, came to visit as well. He was the only one who knew that the emperor had gone out alone. There was no way Emperor Herman would leave the palace without informing at least one person.

This was also a safeguard, in case something happened to him while he was away. It prevented panic and ensured there was someone ready to take over imperial duties if needed.

Claude also knew that his father had gone to meet Aldrian and intended to bring him to the family’s secret place to let him cultivate there. His father had already told him about it, and Claude understood the reason behind the decision.

It was because of the ongoing competition with the Doria Empire. He had witnessed firsthand how intense the argument had been between his father and Emperor Durand regarding Aldrian. Naturally, Emperor Herman did not want to lose to Durand.

When Claude saw Aldrian, he was momentarily stunned. However, he quickly greeted him with a smile and joined the emperor to listen to Aldrian’s stories about what had happened in the Atria Empire. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

While Aldrian was telling his stories, he also checked one of the rooms. There was someone whose condition he wanted to see for himself.

Princess Loraine was under house arrest, and she had received additional punishment for working with the devils. In her bedroom, he finally saw her. and as he had expected, her condition was not good.

She sat on her bed, staring at nothing. Her body was thin, and her face had grown pale. She had lost all of her cultivation, and the beauty that once defined her youthful face had faded, as if she had aged several years in a short time. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her expression resembled that of a corpse. Though she was breathing, to him, she looked more like a dead person. There was no spirit in her, no will—just a blank, empty gaze.

She had already lost her reputation and the trust of her own family. Even the people of the empire who did not know the truth about her, her name had been stained after the truth about the Durand family was revealed.

She had also lost the one she loved—the lust devil—and had ended up dancing in the palm of Aldrian’s hand, clinging to the belief that he was still alive.

There was nothing left for her to live for.

Aldrian had no doubt she would have chosen to end her life if she could. But in her current state, he doubted she was capable of doing so. He suspected she had already tried a few times in the past, only to be stopped by the emperor.

After assessing the princess’s condition, Aldrian retracted his Eyes of the Heaven and returned his focus to his story. Emperor Herman and Claude listened intently as Aldrian spoke, and they discussed many things for the next few hours, until the sun began to set. Only then did Aldrian excuse himself.

Aldrian politely declined the invitation to stay for some time before finally heading back to his mansion in Caritas. He feared that if he stayed in Vindas, something might happen that would keep him there, causing him to miss his promise to Baek Jimin.

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On the next day, when the sun had already risen above the eastern horizon, news spread from the church that the traitor Cardinal Carsius had been brought to the main church and would soon receive his punishment.

Many were not surprised, as most already knew that Aldrian had fought Cardinal Carsius in the capital city of the Atria Empire.

The battle had been too large to hide the cardinal’s features. His divine-grade spear, his techniques, and the holy energy he wielded had given away his identity as the traitor the church had been searching for, confirming that the second prince of the Atria Empire had indeed been harboring the traitor.

The execution was scheduled to take place when the sun was as high as a two-meter stick, to be witnessed by the people of Heavenly City. A platform had already been constructed in the city’s plaza, allowing those who wished to watch to do so without overcrowding.

When the time for the execution finally came, Cardinal Carsius was brought to the platform under the escort of the church’s knights. Pope Claudius and Arthur were also present, while Angelica watched the event from the main building of the church.

Many of the people who saw Cardinal Carsius hurled insults at him, and some even attempted to assault him, but the escorts swiftly prevented it. Cardinal Carsius showed no reaction, his face expressionless.

Once the cardinal was atop the platform, positioned on the wooden block for his execution, Pope Claudius stepped forward and addressed the crowd in a firm tone.

"To all who witness this, this event is a reminder, a warning to those who would consider working with the devils for their own gain. Those who align with the devils spread destruction. No matter how much you try to hide your actions from the eyes of the people, the heavens always know what you have done, and what you will do. You will get what you deserve."

"This traitor is an example of how karma returns to those who betray us by working with the devils. He has already caused immense harm to the people of the continent, bringing death and destruction."

"This time, we will end his worthless life and set an example. Your fate will be the same as his if you follow in his footsteps and do not repent."

Pope Claudius then glanced at Cardinal Carsius, who met his gaze, his expression now filled with anger.

"You will all regret this," the cardinal spat. "You have no idea what’s coming, and when that time comes, you will tremble, and you will die pathetic deaths! And that man—he will die the most horrible death!" His voice was filled with grudge, directed at Pope Claudius and all those who were witnessing the scene.

Pope Claudius did not react. He merely nodded at the executioner before stepping back. Giving the executioner space, he lifted his axe.

Swish! Thud!

As the executioner’s axe swung down, Cardinal Carsius’s head rolled off the platform, blood spilling from his severed neck. His expression, even in death, still bore an expression of fury.

The crowd cheered as they saw the cardinal’s head roll, their hatred of him palpable. They had once believed him to be a good man, but now they knew he was a traitor, working with the devils. They felt deeply betrayed, never expecting that someone who had been considered one of the candidates for the pope’s successor could commit such acts.

They felt foolish and couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of the church falling into the hands of someone like him. Didn’t that mean they had allowed a man who worked with the devils to become the leader of one of the most powerful organizations without even knowing it?

They couldn’t imagine how they would have been manipulated and played by Cardinal Carsius, if that had happened.

While the situation in the Heavenly City was quite festive due to the traitor’s execution, the one who had captured him didn’t really care about it, as he and Baek Jimin were already far away from the main church’s territory.

Aldrian and Baek Jimin had already returned to the demon territory because she wanted to take him somewhere in the territory, and he simply accompanied her wherever she wished to go. Both of them wore robes common to the demon territory.

At this moment, they were walking along the side of a high hill, surrounded by breathtaking scenery that stretched as far as the eye could see. They continued walking until they reached the top of the hill, where they she stopped.

"Here," Baek Jimin said with a smile.