The Distinguished Mr. Rose Chapter 112: Chapter 111: No Turning Back, the End is Nigh

Read chapter 112 of The Distinguished Mr. Rose by QuiteTheSlacker on NovelPedia.

Chapter 111: No Turning Back, the End is Nigh Lucius scuttled above the wobbling, shaken Ganelon whilst he lurched through the castle’s halls. Dear, oh dear… the High Tribunal was a complete mess. His withered face, his sunken posture: This and all he wore, battered after countless days of setback after mistake after utter disappointment. The man could feel it, his grasp over this city loosening. His pawns moved not as he expected anymore. Yet, no matter how he tried to investigate, the gentlemanly Lucius was always one step ahead of him, always skulking just out of sight before he could arrive. Nonetheless, the spark of hope within him had still refused to dim. If he could just carry out this last plan, replace the Archbishop and instate his lackeys to gain control over a majority of the castle’s political powers, then there might be a path out of this mire. No one would bother him anymore. No one would be capable of stopping him. Lucius smiled, silently watching as he always had. Hope was such a terrible thing. It gave comfort in one’s darkest hour, encouraged them to persevere no matter the difficulty faced, and yet… there existed no deeper, no more gut-wrenching a horror, than when it was pulled away at the last moment. Could Ganelon withstand it? Would he remain his ever arrogant self? There was no point in asking such questions, for soon Lucius would have the chance to witness the answer himself. Eventually, the High Tribunal entered the priestly district of the castle and met up with a few paladins belonging to Sir Pinabello’s faction. They were ordered to guard the premises and allow none through - no one, not even the Peers. Such meagre forces would have little capability of stopping the empire’s finest warriors if it came to a scuffle. However, they didn’t need to prevail; they weren’t expected to, their only purpose being to delay and buy as much time as possible. Of course, such a scenario was but a precaution. Ganelon didn’t actually expect anyone to intrude, for this meeting of his was organized in utmost secrecy, with only those of his inner circle and the Archbishop privy to the exact time and location. Unfortunately for him… a certain gentleman had already bribed the very candidates he would have made into a puppet. Those same, shady priests now flocked to Ganelon’s side and accompanied him to the arranged meeting point. Lucius had a most delightful tea party with them just a few days before. Now, it was time to see whether they’d keep their loyalty… or repay the gentleman’s ‘friendship’. At last, the group arrived at their location. Ganelon walked up, cleared his throat, and then knocked on the door. It soon opened, revealing the elderly face of Archbishop Turpin. “Ah, Ganelon! I did not expect you to come so early.” The High Tribunal bid him a strained grin and kept a cordial tone. “My business concluded sooner than I thought. May I come in?” “Of course, of course! Though I know not why you requested so sudden a meeting, my company shall always be available for an old friend.” Ganelon brushed past the elderly priest without a word and made himself comfortable on a worn chair. Unlike the gilded crystals and decorations of the Venerated Sanctum, the branch situated within the castle was of much humbler furnishing. This was where Turpin spent most of his day-to-day activities; and true to his oath of Chivalry, he cared not for wealth or struggles over power. He was the very picture of a model priest. Yet it was because of his faith that he did nothing in the midst of Pepin’s rule. The other priests soon followed after Ganelon, as well as Lucius who managed to sneak inside, unseen, before the entrance was shut. “Hm? Oh my, I thought this to be a private meeting,” Turpin said, glancing at his fellows in robes. “Whatever has brought you fine folk to this simple old man?” Ganelon made a dismissive gesture. “Don’t mind them. Just some people worried about your health. You haven’t visited the Sanctum in some time, ye