Contrary to common assumptions, Kjerag’s highest peak, Mount Matterhorn, is not its sacred mountain.
The true holy site is another towering summit located at the border between the Silverash and Paleroches territories, Mount Karlan.
As the seat of the Vine-Bead Court, the surrounding area and the sacred hunting grounds used for ritual ceremonies are managed entirely by the Monastery itself.
Meanwhile, the Paleroches family is responsible for security, preventing anyone with ill intent from trespassing upon the sacred mountain and offending Kjeragandr.
In theory, even as the head of government, it would not be easy for Ernest to ascend the mountain and meet Enya, the Saintess residing within the Monastery.
Fortunately, there are always exceptions.
Today marked Ernest’s inauguration as both Speaker of the National Assembly and Prime Minister.
Although the Saintess had already attended the simple ceremony as a witness, if Ernest were devout enough and chose to visit the sacred mountain afterward to personally pay respects to Kjeragandr, the Grand Elder would have no reason to refuse him.
Unlike the three great families, the Grand Elder of the Vine-Bead Court was a man with a strong desire for authority.
He was undoubtedly devout and had never violated any of Kjeragandr’s teachings, but beyond that, he had no intention of relinquishing even the slightest share of power.
This was why, in the original storyline, even when the Snowcap Incident had reached an irreversible stage, he still placed his hopes on the Saintess, Pramanix, to stand forth and rally the people in Kjeragandr’s name against Silverash’s rise to absolute power.
Now, Ernest, effectively elevated by the three families and poised to take even more authority from the Monastery, had come to pay his respects in person.
Naturally, the Grand Elder welcomed this development.
By the time Ernest finally made his way up the sacred mountain, which forbade the use of any form of transportation, the Grand Elder was already waiting at the entrance of the Monastery.
Seeing Ernest dressed in a Victorian-style suit, his brows furrowed slightly, though he maintained a calm tone.
“Welcome, Speaker Ernest.
Please, come in.”
Ernest did not hesitate.
He pressed his palms together in front of his chest and performed a solemn traditional Kjerag greeting toward the Grand Elder.
The faint crease in the elder’s brow smoothed out, and a hint of a smile appeared on his face.
He nodded to the attendant beside him, who stepped forward to open the tightly shut doors of the Monastery.
The Vine-Bead Court was constructed entirely of wood, its interior steeped in an ancient, dignified atmosphere.
Various ritual objects dedicated to Kjeragandr were arranged throughout the hall.
At the center, resting upon soft cushions, was a massive oval stone engraved with Kjeragandr’s mark.
It was said to be a divine relic left behind during the last manifestation of Kjeragandr, though whether that was true, no one could say for certain.
___
Enya had only just learned from her attendant, Kjera, that her brother had come up the mountain.
Without hesitation, she hurried from the Saintess’s quarters toward the main hall of the Monastery.
She cared deeply for this younger brother of hers.
Back when they were children, after their parents’ untimely death, Enciodes had been forced to shoulder the responsibilities of both the eldest son and head of a declining family.
He was often preoccupied with external affairs, leaving little attention for the household itself.
During those times, it was Ernest, the third sibling, who stepped forward to mediate within the family.
When Enya had once been caught in a scheme and selected as a candidate for the Saintess, forced to undergo a ritual that could have cost her life, Enciodes had chosen silence, allowing his sister to face that trial.
Only Ernest had stood up and argued fiercely, even clashing with Enciodes in their first ever serious confrontation.
In the end, Enciodes’s cold authority prevailed.
Ernest was defeated, and Enya proceeded with the selection process.
But everything Ernest had done for her back then, she had seen clearly and remembered ever since.
That was why, when she saw Ernest step onto the podium earlier that day, wearing a helpless expression as he took on the role of Speaker, she had been so furious.
She had almost rushed down on the spot to fight Enciodes, to smash his head with her bell.
Once again, he had pushed a family member into such a position for the sake of his so-called greater good.
But she did not act.
Life in the Monastery had tempered her, and her attendant Kjera had stopped her in time.
Moreover, her brother had proven himself not to be foolish.
After ascending to that hollow “high position,” he had not been blinded by sudden power.
Instead, he quickly recognized the fragility of his foundation and chose to appear weak, biding his time.
Enya felt relieved by Ernest’s decision, yet that only made her more puzzled.
Why had he come to the mountain at this moment?
She knew the Grand Elder’s temperament well.
There was no way he would treat Ernest, or the National Assembly that threatened to take power from the Monastery, with any kindness.
Coming here would only invite hardship.
Unless… he had come to see her?
Just as she herself had once felt isolated and afraid after being thrust into this role, perhaps Ernest, too, was seeking someone he could rely on.
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Her brother was only twenty-one, far from experienced enough to navigate the treacherous world of political intrigue.
Enya would gladly support him.
She was nothing like Enciodes, who could cast aside his own family without hesitation.
With that thought in mind, she moved ahead of Kjera and pushed open the side door.
But the moment she stepped inside, she froze.
Ernest and the Grand Elder were indeed in the main hall of the Monastery.
However, the scene before her was nothing like she had imagined.
Instead of being silenced by the elder’s cold words, Ernest sat casually across from him at a table.
Both appeared relaxed, faint smiles on their faces.
In front of them were cups of steaming tea and half-finished plates of pastries.
Their conversation flowed back and forth without pause, as if they were two generations sharing a warm and harmonious moment together.
“Ernest?”
Enya called out his name, drawing the young man’s attention.
He immediately stood up and waved to her.
“Enya, sis.”
The Grand Elder also noticed her arrival.
The relaxed expression he had just moments ago instantly turned solemn.
Rising unhurriedly, he looked at Enya and questioned:
“Your Holiness, why are you here?
You should be reciting the scriptures at this hour.”
Enya’s gaze shifted toward Ernest.
The Grand Elder immediately understood, and his tone grew sharper.
“Speaker Ernest has come to the Monastery in his capacity as the head of the National Assembly of Kjerag, not as a member of the Silverash family.
There is no need for your concern.”
A hint of grievance appeared on Enya’s face.
The look she gave Ernest seemed to say: Weren’t you here to see your sister?
Ernest quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
“Grand Elder, Enya, please, no need to be upset.
Didn’t you just say that the Monastery’s ledgers cannot be lent out casually and require the Saintess’s approval?
You had barely finished speaking when Enya arrived.
Surely this is a sign from Kjeragandr, isn’t it?”
Seeing the elder’s expression soften slightly, Ernest stepped forward at once.
He first performed a proper formal greeting to Enya, then subtly shot her a glance before speaking:
“Praise be to Kjeragandr.
Enya, if you would.”
Enya pressed her lips together, giving Ernest a curious look, then nodded.
After greeting the Grand Elder, she turned and left the hall.
No one noticed that the seemingly unremarkable black-haired attendant waiting by the side door cast a glance at Ernest, her eyes flashing briefly with surprise and curiosity.