Months Later – The Holy See of the Principality of Christendom
The great hall of the Papal Palace was silent, save for the hushed whispers of priests and nobles who had gathered to bear witness to the momentous occasion. At the far end of the chamber, upon a throne of gold and ivory, His Holiness, Pope Peter III, regarded the assembly with solemn eyes.
At his right hand stood Cardinal Matthaeus, his red robes immaculate, his expression a mask of divine judgment. He had waited long for this moment.
The exodus had been total.
Tens of thousands had abandoned Carthage, fleeing north into the lands of the Principality, desperate to remain under the grace of the Church. Those who remained had suffered famine, disorder, and violence. The hospitals stood empty. The orphanages had been abandoned. Even the burial rites of the faithful had ceased. The land had been cursed in all but name.
And now, it was time for the final blow.
