[The divine authority of the Apostle of the Unseen, "The Emptiness of Existence," has concealed the present and future of the Britanoia Empire.]
[Without its present and future, the past will manifest.]
[You have been transported into the visage of the bygone era.]
[Satisfy the Unseen God's Apostle by fulfilling his curiosity about the White Princess, Yuridika Al Britanoia's choice.]
[Clue: Little Twelve Bedrooms.]
I did not know when my connection with the mysterious system I was granted as a transmigrator returned, but that's not important right now—it's what's in front of me.
"Are you in a daze again, my dear advisor? Hah! Should I cut off your salary... again?" The purple-eyed, silver-haired princess with flawless skin, whose presence radiated an inexplicable heavenly aura, teased.
Clearly, it was not the first time that I, as her so-called advisor, had my salary cut due to my incompetence.
'But what the hell's happening? Is this even possible? Concealing the present and the future... so that the past will resurface? What kind of bullshit power...' I couldn't help but inwardly curse, though simultaneously, I marveled at the illogical divine authority utilized by the Apostle of the Unseen.
Even in the original story, the author didn't explicitly display the true extent of his power—only mentioned and highlighted the authority of concealment.
'But to think it can bend, or should I say, conceal timeline... To what extent...?'
The fact that the system came online—disregarding whatever that temporary disconnection implied—meant that the Apostle of the Unseen could not simultaneously interfere with whatever I possessed and alter time.
'And to mention, it only says that it's the Empire of Britanoia... not the entire world. I can surmise that everything in this world's merely an illusion, though too vivid and terrifyingly true at that.'
"HEY!"
Lost in my own world of uncertainties and guesses, the White Princess glared at me as I was snapped out of my thoughts as she unusually raised her voice.
"Ah? Y-your Highness, I'm sorry! I-I was lost in thought! Please have my head! I don't deserve to live!"
'Huh? What the fuck is this body spouting?!'
For some reason, even though I was in this realm, I felt like I had no control over the body I was in right now...
'Wait a second... Am I merely a spectator using this whoever advisor as my point of view...?'
If that's the case, how in the world would I be able to solve this?
"I see. It seems your mind is currently occupied by the raging war against the Ishmael Empire... Worry not, your family in the borders will be safe. It's ending sooner than expected with minimal losses. So let's set aside that for now and focus on what I am asking, will that be all right, my dear advisor?"
"Yes... Your Highness."
I am still confused.
This so-called advisor, whose face and name I didn't know, felt like my mere medium as a point of view. But at the same time, it was as if his actions and words were mine too.
"So, what do you think? Should I adopt the children in the orphanage?" Princess Yuridika asked.
Hearing her question, I was reminded of the journals we had recovered, which numbered exactly twelve.
'Am I at the time... before she adopted them?'
And if she ended up adopting them as she asked her advisor... What would this body say then?
I tried to move my mouth, trying to gauge whether my reaction earlier was just a reflex of being someone showing respect to nobility.
"I-I... think you should not proceed with this plan, Your Highness."
'I see. Well, isn't this awkward?' I thought, fully realizing that I was merely a spectator using this body as the lens and couldn't exactly interfere one way or another.
I guessed it was truly just a mimicry of the past, something that could not be intervened with.
"...Why?"
I listened to Princess Yuridika's words, her tone filled with bewilderment, seemingly unable to understand why the advisor was against her adopting the children from a certain orphanage.
The advisor continued, speaking with reluctance mixed with utter logic—all of which regarding the possible consequences if this plan was put in action.
'Hmm? Based on the journals, the White Princess ended up adopting these children, assuming they were the same ones they were talking about at this moment... After that, some of the children had written, questioning why it seemed their existence was bringing agony to the Princess and why others looked at them with disdain...' I intently break down every word the two figures exchanged.
Sometimes, I even sensed as though Yuridika's eyes were piercing beyond and conversing not with the advisor but with me—the spectator of the present era.
"But they are war orphans. Are you saying the innocent shall be left in the wilderness after the Empire of Ishmael was completely ravaged and continuously flattened by His Majesty's forces?"
"No, Your Highness... I'm saying that you should not proceed with the adoption as I deem it unnecessary. After all, even without your support, the orphanage where the war orphans receive their accommodations will still be granted the empire's support for their welfare..."
It meant that there was no reason for Princess Yuridika to continue with the adoption of these children if the empire would provide the war orphans their needs in everything; at least, that's what I thought.
"...Do you really know why I'm doing this, huh?"
I sensed the advisor swallowed his saliva, and chills ran down his spine, feeling the coldness from Princess Yuridika's voice and stare, who continued speaking,
"The Church is looking for the unification with our empire, abolishing the separation of the church and the state, and I'm sure you're aware of the ongoing discussions, yes?
"..." I bowed my head, unable to look at her.
"It will be done through political marriage between me and the heir of the papacy. And the only way it can be stopped is by adopting children—those that they viewed as being tainted with evil from the Ishmael Empire. If I vow that these children have the same blood as mine, then I will be declared filthy too. That way, the marriage will not proceed. Do you get it now...?"
"Th-that's why I don't want you to go through with it, Your Highness! The Emperor will abandon you! Without his reach, you will be in danger!" In the body of my advisor, I screamed in response.
However, with everything spilled, there was only one question that popped into my mind... It piqued my utmost curiosity.
Considering it's true that this era was in the Divinity Era or the Era of Black and White Divinity from tens of thousands of years into the past... Then what kind of Church were they exactly talking about?
The Church of Luminary was founded around two thousand years ago with the ultimate purpose of unifying and giving light to the continent against the darkness of the Demon King.
From then on until this day, it became the continent's most powerful religion.
As I pondered this, Princess Yuridika's response to the advisor's outburst left my soul in disbelief—
"So I should just let the Church of Harvest and Prosperity have their way? Huh? Tell me."
'What did she just say? Even if it's not the same name as the Church of Abundance in the present world, could she be referring to the same god? The God of Harvest and Prosperity?'
"Maybe I should just declare and accuse my father that he has gone mad, don't you think so? Those bastards from the church think that they're perfect beings and fifth of humanity only brings misfortune. Everyone has their own fifth, the blood of their mothers the moment they're born, and the dust from the wind the moment we walk outside... How dare they boldly claim purity?"
The advisor's face pale at her words. It was tantamount to apostasy that, if heard, would result in immediate persecution or, in the worst-case scenario, public execution.
But considering everything the conversation I heard just now, it seemed their belief system and tradition was not worth existing.
'It seems this era has too many twisted and radical religious principles... Using the divinity in vain.'
As I contemplated, the advisor—or I—opened his mouth, knowing that he had no choice,
"Then Your Highness... what should we do?"