Where does God’s will go (2)
Clap-!
“That’s me.”
“… … okay.”
Upon entering the office, I saw my father reading a silver letter.
The pattern of the cross surrounded by thorns was revealed on the back of the letter, so it was clear that it was the symbol of the goddess Roena.
I immediately got to the point without any conventional courtesies.
“Is that a letter from the temple?”
“right.”
“I heard that a saintess and a high priest are being sent from the Holy Empire.”
“… … It must be true since it was sent directly from the temple.”
Swoop-
Father put the letter he was reading on the desk. Pushed towards me, so I could see.
I gazed at the silver letter pushed forward, then picked it up and checked its contents.
It was a content decorated with all sorts of useless rhetoric, but it was a simple content if simply implied.
“Esteban and the Commonwealth Empire. And it feels like asking about the relationship between dwarves.”
“… … .”
I smiled after putting down the letter I had finished reading.
“It’s as if they were waiting for me to come back with a link to the dwarves.”
The temple sometimes played the role of a window that conveyed the will of the Holy Empire.
In other words, it is the same as planting their eyes and mouths in other countries for spreading doctrines.
in this case. It must mean that the Holy Empire was watching my movements.
Tak- Tak-!
Fingers, which had stopped, began tapping lightly on the handle.
“The courteous tone and informal visits were nailed down, and mentioning dwarves and the Commonwealth is probably just an excuse.”
“Do you think so?”
“yes. In conclusion, it should be seen that the purpose is to pressure Esteban itself. If you have any pods, the pressure will come right away.”
“… … Whoa.”
It was an answer close to certainty.
Because what they wanted was so clear.
‘Of course, that’s not the only reason.’
My father, who was listening to the story, kneaded his temple and said.
“I heard the pope… … Only then can future movements be restricted. I am curious about your thoughts.”
“It will not be the Pope.”
“hmm?”
Maybe not, not maybe not?
At my confident answer, my father’s voice lowered, as if he was cautious.
“What does that mean?”
“At least the present pope is not of that kind. That’s a sure thing.”
“… … Hmm.”
This must have been the result of the voices of the high priests.
At least as far as I know, he was a sincere man who carried out God’s will even among the rotten high priests of the Holy Empire… … .
‘In the first place, he wasn’t the kind of person who would be such a person.’
okay. At least for the current pope.
I raised my hand that had been tapping on the handle and lightly stroked his chin.
“The important thing here is not whether the pope moved or not.”
“That means… … .”
“It was an established fact that they were moving anyway. Now, the key is how to use that movement.”
Then, my father was startled and got up from his seat.
“It was a fait accompli?! Did you mean that even this situation was within the expected range?”
“Why not?”
“Wait, how… … .”
“It’s a simple story. From their point of view, they probably couldn’t understand the series of situations that happened in Esteban.”
This was something that never happened in the future.
Even so, if there was certainty that such a thing would happen, it would be possible because they knew better than anyone else what they had in mind.
‘So it can’t be fun.’
The conflict that will arise within it is what I have been waiting for… … .
Right from the moment I thought of accepting the land from the bastards of the Federation Empire.
By this point, my father could clearly understand what I was trying to say.
“The movement of the Holy Empire… … Did you mean to use it as a new means to keep the Federation Empire in check?”
“That’s right.”
Saying that, I was laughing.
The point was that the two empires still didn’t know about Esteban’s plans, and that was all.
“Please leave this task to me.”
It was a variable for the saintess to come in person, but it was enough to use even that as a means.
The important thing is how firmly Esteban can withstand the pressure from them.
How big and secretly it grows under the cover of the chaotic situation of the northern continent.
Ah, is this the first time you’ve said something like this to your father?
“Right now, our enemy is not Roenna, but Carrot.”
“… … !”
The voice that contained the name of the Federation Empire was cold and felt cold.
* * *
It was not a very common sight to see nobles rushing forward.
In the first place, the situation itself in which the entire palace moved urgently could be seen as unusual.
As a result, the ladies-in-waiting, who continued their daily lives as usual, glanced at them out of curiosity while feeling a slight sense of anxiety.
“I wonder if something really happened?”
In response to the anxiety expressed by a maid, the maid who was washing the windows agreed.
“I know. I thought it was a light commotion earlier, but now it looks like something happened.”
From noble mtl dot com.
“It won’t be a big deal… … .”
“well… … .”
The ladies-in-waiting began to speculate on the reason for the clutter.
The first thing that came to mind was Prince 1’s return from dispatch.
Since he was the first prince who had recently shown unconventional moves, the possibility that there was a disturbance due to the contents related to him is most likely.
However, one court lady shook her head and dismissed that possibility.
“Isn’t that the time when Her Highness returned? Besides, His Highness the 1st Prince also hurriedly moved a moment ago.”
“is it… … .”
If so, I don’t have anything to point out… … .
At that time, the lady-in-waiting who was washing the windows clapped her hands at the vaguely recalled memory and shouted.
“ah! Could it be that?”
“huh?”
“Why, the carriage that entered the royal castle earlier!”
“carriage?”
The ladies-in-waiting who heard the story tilted their heads and started searching for memories.
In the palace where dozens of carriages came and went every day, it was not unusual for a carriage to arrive.
However, if a carriage with a different meaning than usual came and went, the words were different.
Even if you go over it inadvertently, your head will remember it unconsciously.
“Come to think of it.”
“It looks like a silver carriage came in earlier… … .”
silver carriage.
A visit from the temple side. Or, it was the color of the wagon that envoys related to religion were riding on.
However, there are very few religions that spread in Esteban. And if they were the only ‘temple’ built in Esteban, they were the only ones that existed.
“ah! A chariot of the Holy Empire?”
That moment.
A weak breeze began to feel behind the ladies-in-waiting.
scent of spring. Or the freshness of summer. It was such a pitiful shaking that none of the ladies-in-waiting felt abnormal.
However, the wind was definitely blowing.
“I thought it was a bit noisy, but this happened while I was away for a while.”
An unaffected smile and a refreshingly cheerful voice.
The man’s eyes flashed as he listened to the chatter of the ladies-in-waiting.
“Will work bother you?”
Soon, the wind slowly hid itself in the shade, leaving a long aftertaste.
* * *
It was next to impossible to omit theology from human history.
From the secret story of its birth to a part of history, it was because humans had a closer relationship with the existence of God than anyone else.
So, it was not so strange that those who served Roena, the main deity, had great authority.
“I am Garden, who is serving as the high priest.”
White hair fell down the priest’s robe along the bowed head.
The beard and hair that grew out of order were also received from the principal.
‘A fundamentalist.’
Just by watching it, I was able to figure out a man’s personality.
I sat down and was greeted.
“Allen Esteban. He is the first prince of Esteban.”
Even at first glance, his tough personality and demanding side made the attendants who were carrying the tea cups flinch.
It’s probably an atmosphere that blooms implicitly, just like living in the body.
I lightly raised my hand to bite the servants and casually asked a question.
“I heard that the saintess is coming. I can’t see that.”
“I’m sorry. The saintess of Roena moved her steps to look back on the lives of believers staying on this land.”
“Right. It’s a pity.”
I said it around, but the meaning was obvious.
─You ran away.
I shrugged my shoulders and opened my mouth.
“Today is just a casual talk, so don’t mind it. Welcome to Esteban.”
“I don’t know what to do when you welcome uninvited guests so much.”
The etiquette of the ‘Kingdom’ that flowed naturally as if it was set in a frame.
also.
fundamentalist. That, too, was to the extent that it could be said to be a tightly packed personality.
I confirmed the personality of Grand Master Garden again and smiled deeply.
“It’s been almost 50 years since the Holy Empire sent a diplomatic envoy. So, why did the Pope send you here?”
“… … His Holiness expressed concern about Esteban’s movements.”
“Hoo. You mean the Pope?”
In an instant, the eyebrows of the Grand Master of Gardens twitched.
Although it was a momentary movement, I did not miss it and continued talking.
“The pope must be busy taking care of the chosen people of the empire, so how did he turn his eyes to such a small country?”
“Everyone on this land is the people of Roena. There is no reason why the eyes of the holy kingdom should not reach.”
My smile grew thicker.
“Obviously, it was doctrine. Unless my memory is wrong.”
“That’s right. Therefore, His Holiness wants me to make the words of Roena dwell in this land again.”
“Right.”
I nodded, but I didn’t erase the smile.
There were a few things I became convinced of in a short conversation.
one. The fact that the existence of a saintess is only a face madam, and the actual work is concentrated on that high priest named Garden.
two. It is the Pope’s judgment that he deliberately sent the high priest, who was a terrible fundamentalist.
However, this was the Pope’s mistake.
He must have hoped to bring more accurate information by sending a high priest with a tight personality.
For me, who had already predicted their movements, that character was a story that spoke for honesty.
‘finally… … .’
three.
The fact that the ‘concern’ they speak of is not a simple diplomatic expression.
They were wary of us joining the Federation Empire.
No, we were extremely wary of our actions.
In a different direction from the story of simply giving away the heart of the Holy Empire.
‘Then the story is simple.’
“I hope I can borrow this seat to relieve that anxiety.”
Like that, the lips that lifted the teacup curled up.