Chapter 045
That gaze and tone that seemed to deny me. The attitude that I’m not real anyway. How annoying. Just because you’re the Pope, does that mean you’re everything? You perverted lolita!
“If that’s how you feel, what can I say? Don’t be so tense. I just wanted to understand your intentions. I’d like to make a proposal for you.”
The Pope smiled with an innocently harmless expression, as if she truly had no malicious intent. But do you think I would believe that? Absolutely not.
That woman is still thinking of cutting open my belly to save Adrian.
“To adapt safely here, you’ll need my cooperation. I want you to come to the cathedral once a week to show your devotion to God and to have time for reading the scriptures.”
What could be the intention behind such words? I held my tongue and observed the Pope’s demeanor.
“You see.”
The Pope shrugged.
“You are stuck here, pretending to be noble and putting on a facade. After all, you’re not one of us, so why not be a bit more honest?”
While wearing such a kind mask, inside she…
Be careful. If I let my guard down, it’ll be a big problem. Don’t forget the saying, “A careless mind gets its nose cut off.”
“I want to ride on your popularity. The current young nobles are strongly rejecting the temple. But right now, you are practically representing those young nobles.”
“Are you trying to gain their support through me?”
“You understand quite well.”
“Then what do I gain from this?”
Rendia narrowed her eyes. The Pope’s intentions likely didn’t end there. However, despite the danger, I wouldn’t be able to refuse the Pope’s wishes.
That would be considered blasphemy.
It’s hard to make a living here. This is why power is everything.
“You’re not in a position to demand anything from me. Well, being generous is a virtue of the Pope, so…”
Rendia spoke as if she were being generous.
“I will allow you to inherit the title of Count of Regnis. I will help you, in the name of the Pope, to successfully inherit the Count of Regnis and become a Count. My name will back you up so that you can use your Count’s rights in the future. Is that enough?”
This is quite… tempting, isn’t it?
Until now, I had been unable to inherit the title of count. It was painful, but it was also because I hadn’t been able to pay the noble taxes due.
No, where would I even get that money now?
If my engagement to Alejandro falls through, I need to be independent. Being a mere countess is nothing compared to having the dignity of a count.
“It sounds like you’re offering to waive the noble tax, Your Holiness.”
“Very astute. That trivial noble tax.”
“Will the Emperor allow it?”
“If he sees your deep faith, the Emperor will certainly take that into account.”
So the Pope intends to persuade him. I swallowed hard. Coming to the temple once a week and doing what’s asked isn’t difficult.
However, considering what the Pope might be hiding, I might have to stake my life on this. Who knows what might have passed between the Empress and the Pope? Let’s think in the opposite direction.
What if I refuse the Pope’s wishes this time? Then I would completely fall out of her favor, and that woman would relentlessly torment me.
She might even come up with more cunning ways to kill me. This might be better than that.
“I will follow your wishes, Your Holiness.”
How much has Casper learned about the Pope? He has never disappointed me, even once. The time it takes is short, and the quality of the information is exceptional.
Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.
I have no intention of being dragged around by Pope Rendia like this. In this game, I am the victor.
* * *
As soon as I came out, Rebecca fussed over checking my well-being. Only after confirming that I was fine did she finally relax.
Then she dragged me out as if the temple were some filthy pit and loaded me onto the carriage. It wasn’t until we arrived at the office, after she had delivered a lengthy speech about how dirty the temple was, that Rebecca finally calmed down.
I have to tell someone like her that I need to go to the temple once a week.
As soon as we entered the office, I cautiously observed Rebecca’s mood and said, “I…”
It seems I’ll have to go to the temple to study.
“Excuse me? So you’re saying you’ll go to the temple every week, on Fridays, for scripture readings? Goodness. Do you know the content of the scriptures?”
Rebecca asked as if she couldn’t believe it.
“…No. I guess I’ll have to prepare in advance?”
Sigh.
I’m completely clueless about religion. I rubbed my temples. Managing the business is already overwhelming, and now I have to study religion too? Still, it’s better than outright opposing the Pope, right?
“Is that a good decision?”
“…I had no choice.”
The Pope is cunning, indeed.
“I’ll talk to His Highness the Crown Prince and see if I can bring someone to help you study.”
“Thank you, Rebecca.”
This atmosphere feels like I’ve caused a mess, and Rebecca is cleaning it up. It’s really hard to adjust.
While Rebecca and I were bonding over our complaints about the Pope, Viviana returned.
“Oh, everyone’s here! I came earlier, but no one was around, so I stepped out for a bit. There’s a new bakery nearby, and I bought some bread. Have you all had lunch?”
“No…”
“Oh, I also brought coffee… It’s brewed from beans imported from a place called Ethiopia!”
“You’re such a treasure, Viviana.”
It was the perfect time for some caffeine. Drinking coffee to cool my nerves made my heart settle a bit. Rebecca’s expression also improved compared to before.
“Looks like everyone wanted coffee.”
Viviana smiled brightly.
“Oh, and I have news to share! Duke Sidney is coming to meet my colleague tomorrow night! They’re going to a villa on the outskirts of the capital, so tomorrow evening seems like the right time.”
Viviana is truly an angel. There’s no way she could provide exactly what I need without being one.
Rebecca also melted beside me.
“Then I’ll contact the Duchess of Sidney right away and try to set up an appointment for tomorrow evening!”
* * *
The Duchess of Sidney accepted immediately. In fact, she must have been rotting inside all alone. When I saw Duke Sidney being praised as a devoted husband in public, it seemed he was managing his image quite well.
In such a situation, if the Duchess were to file for divorce, she would only look like a spoiled woman throwing a tantrum. Moreover, marriages at the duke’s level are all political arrangements.
It didn’t seem like her family would welcome a divorce either. Ultimately, she would need someone’s help.
We made all the necessary preparations.
With Viviana around, we had enough witnesses…
We packed plenty of sweet treats to lift the Duchess’s spirits. I think we bought at least one of each dessert from Dear Elizabeth.
Thanks to everyone being together, I could only exchange glances with Casper.
Anyway, when the three of us arrived at the Duke of Sidney’s residence, filled with nervous energy, we encountered an unexpected ally.
“Lady Millane!”
Rebecca exclaimed in a high-pitched voice. She seemed more surprised, perhaps because she hadn’t expected to meet her here. Lady Millane looked equally shocked.
“The reporters who were supposed to come today…”
“Do you know each other?”
The Duchess of Sidney asked with a haggard expression. It seemed she had been through a lot of emotional turmoil.
“That’s right, Karina. We talked about it before.”
“Uh… was it the red carpet?”
Iliana nodded with a gentle expression. Seeing how the two of them were talking comfortably, they seemed very close. And Iliana’s eyes were kind when she looked at me.
Could this be… a setup?
“I was going to visit you anyway; I had a favor to ask. Evelina, I heard Alejandro had an interesting story to tell.”
Interesting news?
That sounds a bit ominous.
“He’s thinking about getting engaged to Evelina.”
“Pfft!”
“Gah!”
“I-Iliana!!”
I was the last one to react. People started coughing and causing a commotion.
I… I haven’t even accepted yet… and now rumors are going to spread.
“I haven’t accepted yet, Iliana. So…”
“I really like Evelina.”
Iliana continued in a sing-song voice.
“When Evelina gets engaged, your voice will gain strength. The magazines and gossip columns she has will see an increase in credibility.”
I swallowed hard.
So she calculated that far.
