NOVEL NEXT Chapter 36: Princess Alice
Greenwich, located in southeast Greater London along the southern banks of the River Thames, is famous as the site of the Prime Meridian. Within the Royal Greenwich Gardens stands the historic Greenwich Observatory—a world-renowned astronomical institution with centuries of history.
Although the observatory was relocated half a century ago, its original site remains intact. Most ordinary people believe the relocation was due to the facility's age, but those within the occult world know the truth. The original site now serves as the headquarters of one of England's multifaceted magical associations—the Greenwich Assembly.
The Greenwich Assembly has a rather amusing origin. It wasn't established by a single founder or visionary. Instead, it began as a casual circle of busybodies who loved gossip and exchanging secrets. What started as a loosely-knit group soon evolved into one of the most prominent organizations in the mystical world.
Its membership is diverse, including magicians, fairy researchers, occult scholars, technological experts, amateur enthusiasts, clergy, artists, nobles, royals, and wealthy patrons. Far from a tightly-knit organization, the council is more akin to a loose network—a platform for sharing information and keeping abreast of the supernatural realm's developments.
Today, a rare, unscheduled meeting was taking place at the Greenwich Observatory.
The assembly's leadership consists of elderly scholars referred to as Diogenes, named after the famed Greek philosopher. These elder members collectively decide the direction of the assembly through debate.
"Another emergency meeting? Which Devil King has stirred up trouble this time?"
Among the elderly council members sat a strikingly unique woman. Her figure was elegant and refined, her platinum-blonde hair shimmering like molten silver. Her complexion was as pale and flawless as fresh snow, and her apparent age was no more than twenty. Despite her youth, she carried the poised air of a noblewoman, blending youthful charm with a mature grace.
Her delicate frame was adorned with a white cashmere blouse embroidered with floral patterns at the collar. A luxurious shawl draped across her shoulders. Her hands rested lightly on the armrests of her chair as her melodic voice filled the room, carrying a mix of curiosity and wry amusement.
This was Princess Alice Louise of Navarre, commonly addressed as Princess Alice. Once the youngest chairperson of the assembly, Alice now serves as a special advisor. Known as the White Princess, she is regarded as one of Europe's most gifted witches, particularly for her unparalleled skill in clairvoyance.
Alice had ascended to the role of assembly chair in her teenage years, her prodigious talents and extensive knowledge earning her the position. However, she had later stepped down, citing poor health. Perhaps she was no longer interested in the position or she was just that tired.
Nonetheless, her frailty wasn't truly an excuse; it was a genuine condition. The intensity of her spiritual power left her physically weaker than most, a state impervious to both magical and scientific remedies.
"Princess Alice, this meeting pertains to the actions of the new King," said one of the elder scholars.
"Ah, Diogenes Elder, please refrain from addressing me with such formality," Alice said, sitting up straight with a graceful smile. "It always makes me feel so self-conscious."
Then her expression turned expectant, her sapphire eyes gleaming with interest. "So, what new developments have you uncovered? Our reports on the new King are rather sparse at the moment."
One of the elders nodded gravely. "The new King recently slew a Heretic God on Italy's Ponza Island. Based on our intelligence, the deity in question was none other than Metatron, the archangel described in the Book of Enoch. We are currently uncertain about the exact authority he gained from the battle, but we've pieced together some of the powers he inherited from his earlier slaying of Michael."
The elder gestured toward a screen, and the projector whirred to life, displaying footage taken from a military satellite. "This is the battle on Ponza Island, recorded using England's government satellites."
Unlike many magicians, the council embraced technology, recognizing its utility. Unable to approach the battlefield themselves, they often relied on technological methods to observe battles between Heretic Gods and Campione from a safe distance.
Watching the footage, Alice sighed softly. The video depicted Ponza Island as it was consumed in flames, obliterated by the terrifying powers unleashed by Roy's authority.
"The destructive potential of Devil Kings remains as terrifying as ever," she mused. "Whether old or new, their chaos knows no bounds."
The elder scholar continued, his voice cautious. "This video will be archived in our restricted section, accessible only to the Diogenes members. Any information regarding a King must be handled with utmost care to avoid provoking their wrath. The authority that the new King obtained after killing Michael seems to be different from the authorities of other Kings. Based on our observations, the new King has displayed four distinct applications of his authority:
"First, an immensely potent close-combat authority.
"Second, a large-scale destructive ability capable of summoning divine fire, as well as a magic eye similar to the Marquis Voban's.
"Third, an ability to summon angelic armies.
"Fourth, a transformation into an angelic form, akin to the Black Prince's Godspeed authority."
"Devil Kings cannot gain multiple distinct authorities from a single deity. Thus, we suspect these abilities share some underlying constraints. However, the specifics remain unknown. All of these manifestations align with Michael's mythological feats. Given the angel's numerous legends, it's difficult to predict the remaining powers the new King possesses."
"Has the new King chosen a name for his authority?" Alice asked, her hands folded elegantly in her lap.
"Yes. Per his request, the authority has been named Holy Right. Additionally, Princess Alice, here are some personality assessments of the new King, courtesy of your former knight, Paolo Blandelli. The more detailed insights, however, remain with his exclusive knight, Erica Blandelli, who recently earned the title Diavolo Rosso of the Copper-Black Cross and would never reveal those insights to us."
The elder handed a file to Alice, who began flipping through its contents. After a few moments, she let out an exasperated sigh.
"This is exactly the type of Devil King I dread encountering," she said. "From your notes, his temperament seems to resemble the Marquis Voban, but I see him more as a version of Alexander Gascoigne."
Pausing, she added gravely, "No, he's worse. Both Voban and Gascoigne have their limitations. Gascoigne is cautious and calculating, bound by his meticulous nature. If you understand his bottom line, you can predict his actions. Voban, though ruthless, is arrogant and prefers brute force. He can be placated with careful diplomacy.
"But this new King? He combines recklessness with intellect. His actions in Rome show that he's not only willful but also frighteningly strategic. He is precisely the kind of Devil King who can sow disasters far beyond his immediate reach."
She closed the file, a look of resignation crossing her face. "A calculated madman is the worst kind of menace."