May God's Grace Be Upon the King of the Fallen Kingdom - Chapter 2 Part 3

The Oath.

He never thought about making an oath with anyone. Sosphus was recognized for his talent at the age of eight and became a trainee priest, knowing that he would live his life according to the will of God. At the end of five years of training, when he became an apprentice priest at the age of thirteen, he was the youngest priest. He was smart and sincere for his age, but he didn’t show much of his divine power, so he didn’t have much friction with those around him and was even considered cute.

In May at the age of thirteen, Sosphus visited the rose-filled Solas Kingdom as a member of the envoy congratulating the New King’s ascension. It was not only his first time going to a foreign kingdom, but also because Solas Kingdom was small but famous for its beautiful scenery and developed arts and culinary culture, Sosphus had high expectations.

The new King of Solas was also thirteen years old, the same age as Sosphus. Eoleare III. What would it feel like to become a King of a country at the age of only thirteen? How could he handle the pressure? Since the day it was decided that he would go to Solas, Sosphus had been imagining Eoleare, whom he had never seen before, and prayed for his peace every night.

A few days later, the envoy departed for the Solas Kingdom. When they crossed the border and entered the city after a long country road on a carriage, the first thing that greeted Sosphus was the overwhelming scent of roses that made it hard to breathe.

The royal garden was filled with white roses. Young Sosphus opened his mouth in admiration at the magnificent display of colorful roses contrasting with the simple red brick palace. It was a beauty that overwhelmed Sosphus, different from the barren and bleak Empire that regarded military power as the greatest virtue.

However, if there was one beauty that stood out above all else, it was none other than Eoleare.

Sosphus saw Eoleare for the first time at the end of the envoy. Eoleare, who walked out to receive the large and high golden crown, appeared as if God had purposely created him to be Sosphus’ perfect counterpart. His flowing and glamorous golden hair and blue eyes that held the color of the daytime sea were like a pair with Sosphus’ silver hair and red eyes.

Perhaps it was because he was still grieving his father’s death, but Sosphus couldn’t take his eyes off Eoleare’s face, which was soaked in sorrow. Throughout the ceremony, he only looked at Eoleare. Beautiful. Dazzling. Radiant. Splendid. Sublime. Like a God.

That’s right. The moment Sosphus saw Eoleare for the first time, he realized that the boy named Eoleare was the one he should serve, not some unknown being in the sky. Even if he was disqualified as a priest, it didn’t matter. Sosphus was thrilled. This is what it means to fall in love at first sight. This is what it means to have such a devout and passionate heart.

Wearing a golden crown and a noble blue cloak, Eoleare walked on the red carpet and greeted each member of the envoy one by one. As he approached, Sosphus’ heart pounded as if it would break out of his chest.

Finally, Eoleare reached Sosphus. Sosphus was afraid that his expression might look strange or that the sound of his pounding heart might be heard by Eoleare.

However, Eoleare smiled slightly with his innocent face and extended his hand to Sosphus. He allowed a handshake. Sosphus just had to say, “I humbly congratulate Your Majesty on your ascension. May the grace of God be with Your Majesty’s reign.”

But he couldn’t do that. Anyone who spoke with a predetermined greeting could not convey the emotions that Sosphus was feeling towards Eoleare. Instead of shaking Eoleare’s hand, Sosphus held it from below. Then, he looked at Eoleare’s surprised expression for a moment, knelt down on one knee, and kissed the back of Eoleare’s hand.

“I pledge an infinite, eternal, and the only one oath to His Majesty Eoleare, the New King of Solas.”

It was a word that seeped out of Sosphus’ mind rather than his lips and tongue. The language of the oath, filled with divine power, was not understood by anyone around them. Only Sosphus and Eoleare, the two parties of the oath, could understand those words.

Infinite, eternal, and the only one. Eoleare felt that the word was unusual compared to the ritual greetings of other priests, but he couldn’t guess what it meant. Sosphus looked young, almost the same age as Eoleare, so he must have made a mistake in his greeting due to his immaturity. Eoleare simply smiled and let go of his hand, thinking that was all.

That was all for Eoleare. He was just a young priest who had spoken somewhat strange words. After that, as a Young King, he was busy with state affairs and soon forgot about it. He didn’t think about what infinite, eternal, and the only one meant.

Infinite, eternal, and the only one. These were all attributes that belonged to the Gods. Sosphus had pledged to serve Eoleare as a God. So even if he lost his divine power, Sosphus thought it wouldn’t be strange. He had decided to serve a New God, Eoleare, instead of abandoning the God he was supposed to serve.

So, a few months later, when Sosphus suddenly received a divine oracle, he was quite surprised. The first thing the voice of the God said to Sosphus was this:

“My son. I am your Father. If you follow my words, I will fulfill your wishes.”

From then on, Sosphus became the trustee of the oracle, moving the empire with only one goal in mind: to obtain Eoleare.

He would never forget the thrill of the moment when, ten years later, the oracle finally came down to destroy Solas. Or the excitement of watching from a distance as Eoleare was led away as a prisoner. And even the relief and anger he felt when he rescued Eoleare from becoming prey to the prison guards was something he could never forget.

Only Eoleare had plunged Sosphus into such a whirlwind of intense emotions. If we were to call his desire, lust, reverence, and worship for Eoleare as love, then Sosphus seemed to be falling in love with Eoleare every minute and every second, as if he would die for him. He wanted to kneel before Eoleare and worship him as the most noble being at the same time.

But now, above all, he wanted to save Eoleare. He had to receive the divine oracle. Even though the oracle could not be obtained just because Sosphus wanted it… But the god had clearly said that if he followed his words, he would fulfill Sosphus’ wishes. If the God kept that promise, the oracle would come down soon. Sosphus’ wish was to save Eoleare and keep him by his side to love him.

But what if… What if the oracle didn’t come down in time… What if the God abandoned Sosphus…

What should Sosphus do then?

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