As a villain, he could do whatever he wanted.

Page 109

"Halt! Today is not a day of prayer, and the church is temporarily closed. Please leave."

Just as he approached the door, two very serious-looking nuns approached him. Dressed in conservative and heavy nun's gowns, they addressed him with expressionless faces, holding their scepters across the church door, effectively shutting him out.

"Oh? Are you two the guards here?" Looking at the two women dressed as nuns, Lius raised his head slightly and asked.

"No, we are the servants who guard the church today. We are servants appointed by Her Majesty the Pope and Her Majesty the Holy Maiden to guard the church. Before the day of prayer, no one outside the church is allowed to enter. So please leave, young master."

The two women spoke solemnly, then continued to grip their scepters tightly, showing no sign that there was any room for discussion.

In response, Lius stepped forward slightly, pondered for a moment, and then spoke again in a serious tone:

“My name is Lius-Fren, as you should know. I make many donations and provide much assistance to the church every year. Given my status and position, am I not allowed to enter?”

"Young Master Leus..."

Upon hearing Lius's words, a brief moment of hesitation appeared in the eyes of the two women, as if they were somewhat uncertain.

Then, another voice came from inside the church, interrupting the three's conversation and breaking the tense atmosphere:

“Young Master Lius is right. Given your contributions to the Church, there is nothing inappropriate about it. Therefore, your presence here today is entirely in accordance with the rules.”

"Oh? That voice is..."

Hearing this delicate voice, Lius raised his head slightly, his gaze passing over the shoulders of the two nuns and down to the white-robed woman inside who was walking towards the door.

Bathed in sunlight, the woman in white robes exuded an aura of utter holiness, and if one looked at her chest, the insignia symbolizing the highest authority in the church shimmered with light, creating a sense of awe in everyone who approached her…

Chapter 212 The Female Pope (Part Two)

"Oh? You are..."

Looking at the emblem on the white-robed woman's chest, Lius appeared thoughtful, scrutinizing the woman who had suddenly arrived.

Upon hearing this, the two nuns who had been guarding the door abruptly withdrew their scepters, turned around with impeccable posture, and gave a slight bow to the woman approaching, addressing her respectfully:

"Good day, Your Highness."

"Oh? The High Priestess?"

Hearing the two men's respectful words, Lius tilted his head slightly and looked again at the white-clad woman who was approaching. He watched as her face gradually emerged from the shadows and was bathed in sunlight, revealing her image to Lius.

All that could be seen was that the woman in the white robe was wearing a snow-white mask, and her body was covered by a loose and heavy white robe, along with a huge hood, which concealed her face, making it impossible to see her specific features.

However, the long, dark blue hair peeking out from under the hood and the slender, beautiful legs visible through the gaps in the white robe still conveyed the woman's stunning beauty.

Hearing the words uttered by her, one could sense a touch of nobility in them. Combined with her exquisite attire, she exuded an unparalleled air of prestige, making one want to linger on her for a while longer.

"Your Holiness the Pope... I've heard a lot about you when I was making donations to the church. Seeing you today, you are indeed as noble and beautiful as I imagined."

As the woman approached, Lius gently extended his hand and greeted her formally. The Pope nodded slightly, walked slowly out of the church door, and came to Lius. She also extended her hand and gently shook his.

“Young Master Lius… I have heard many things about you before, but I never expected to meet you today. It is a great honor for the church.”

The woman's voice sounded very gentle, but Lius couldn't detect much emotion in it; it was just some polite, formal talk.

Lius didn't say anything outwardly about this. After shaking hands with the woman, he followed the mysterious pope into the church and up the stairs to the pope's room.

Along the way, Leus's gaze lingered on the Pope's retreating figure and the passing landscapes.

The interior of the church is even more magnificent and vast than its exterior, surpassing even a royal palace.

In addition to the prayer hall used for daily prayers and the nuns' rooms, the interior also includes an alchemy room and a herb garden, which are scattered throughout the central area of ​​the church. Next to the garden, you can see female soldiers in armor and the training grounds where they train. They exude a "fierce" aura in terms of temperament and appearance.

All these architectural elements are combined and firmly encased by an outer classical marble wall, giving the entire church a magnificent atmosphere, making it seem like a formidable fortress that cannot be easily breached by anyone.

“Wow… the main church is so magnificent, much more luxurious than our small chapel in the countryside. Is the appointment and dismissal of bishops and high priests usually conducted here?” While admiring the surrounding scenery, Lius asked the white-robed woman walking in front of him with curiosity.

“Yes, the church’s income is used to pay taxes to the kingdom, and the rest is used to build various buildings within the church. The main church is located in the most prosperous area of ​​the kingdom, so the church buildings are naturally more luxurious than those in other places,” the woman in white said as she walked without turning her head.

"I see. Haha, it seems that a large portion of the gold coins I donated in the past few years have been used here, haven't they? It seems that I am also a contributor to this church. Your Highness, would you be willing to arrange a room for me here? So that I can stay here for a while next time I come."

Lius jokingly asked the white-robed woman in front of him, but she remained silent, looking very serious and without any emotion that could be aroused. She simply kept taking steps, leading the blond boy behind her forward.

"Hmm...not responding...looks like he's not the kind of person who's good at joking."

Looking at the silent figure in front of him, Lius pondered these thoughts, while also scrutinizing the woman's figure once more.

Looking at her tall figure, which was a head taller than him, Leus swallowed hard, his curiosity about the female pope growing even stronger.

"Her appearance has always been concealed. I always felt that she resembled Bishop Nottica somewhat, but their personalities were very different, and they had no connection with each other. It was probably just some kind of tradition. Speaking of which, I didn't expect to meet the Pope so easily. In that case... could the Holy Maiden also be allowed to meet her?"

With this thought in mind, Lius was about to speak to the pope before him when she stopped abruptly at the doorway of a room, speaking slowly to the blond boy behind her:

“Young Master Lius, tell us the purpose of your visit here.”

The Pope gently pushed open the door and led Leus inside. She had Leus sit on an exquisite mahogany bench and spoke to him in this manner.

"So you're going to be so blunt about it... That's very much in line with the church's practices."

Thinking this through his mind, and looking at the white-robed woman sitting opposite him on the bench, Lius remained silent for a few seconds before finally relaxing and speaking softly to the female pope before him:

"May I ask Your Holiness to introduce yourself? I have a deep curiosity about your church, especially about Your Holiness. It is a rare opportunity for us to meet today. May we be able to have a frank and open conversation?"

"Introduce yourself..."

Repeating Lius's words, the Pope gazed at the blond boy before her for a few seconds through her hood, then nodded slightly and introduced him in a solemn tone:

"If this is your idea, then I am willing to comply and formally introduce myself to you."

As she spoke, the Pope exhaled softly, and when she opened her eyes again, a noble air, like that of a deity, flashed in her eyes, which shocked Lius.

“My name is Rosalind, the thirty-sixth Pope of the Kingdom Church. Today I formally meet you, Prince Lius. I hope you will give me your guidance.”

Chapter 213: The Pope (Part 3)

“Rosalind. May I address you as Lady Rosalind from now on? Calling you Her Majesty the Pope feels a bit too formal.”

Repeating the young woman's words, Leus nodded slightly and made this suggestion to Rosalind. The pope, however, seemed speechless, offering no direct answer. Instead, she composed herself and continued speaking:

"Now that you have introduced yourself, Young Master Lius, you should answer my question and tell me the purpose of your visit today. I have heard of your deeds and know that you rarely come to the church, but you have made a special trip to the main church to meet with me today. Naturally, it is for some important matters. You don't need to keep hiding anything from me, just tell me directly."

"You actually drew such a conclusion? As expected of the Pope of the Kingdom. However, this time, Lady Rosalind, you have overthought things. I really have no special reason for coming here today. I just admire you and the Church's deeds, so I came to pay my respects."

As Lius spoke, a kind smile on his face, he gently picked up a freshly poured cup of black tea, and under Rosalind's gaze, he quietly took a cross from his robes and placed it on the long table in front of him. He then continued, speaking to the young woman in white before him:

"I'm here today just to say hello to you on behalf of my Aunt Anne. Look, this is the cross that Aunt Anne gave me; it's a gift from her."

"The Pope gently held Anne's crucifix in her hand, examined it carefully, and finally placed it back on the table. She gazed at it thoughtfully, and slowly asked:"

"You're here today just for this purpose?"

"Yes, I just wanted to send my regards to the church in Aunt Anne's name. After all, Aunt Anne was once a bishop of the church. Since she has come to the capital, she should naturally come and take a good look at her former working environment. Is there anything wrong with doing this?"

As Lius spoke, he tilted his head slightly towards the white-haired young woman in front of him and asked, while Rosalind, after a few seconds of silence, handed the cross back to Lius.

“Young Master Leus, you are a very important person to Anne, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Aunt Anne has taken care of me since I was little. She has a very close relationship with our family, and I like her very much. To me, Aunt Anne is the most important person.” Lius nodded and answered firmly.

"So, do you know anything about Anne's past?"

Rosalind continued to ask, her eyes revealing no emotion.

"Well... to be honest, I don't know much about it. When I was with Aunt Annie, I wanted to ask her about it, but she always avoided the topic. She only mentioned that one of her predecessors had become a saint in the current church. Other than that, I don't know much else."

"Saintess?" Rosalind was slightly taken aback by Lius's words, then nodded and looked out the window at the vast training ground. She continued speaking to Lius in a thoughtful manner:

“Young Master Lius, you really know too little about Anne’s past.”

“Is that too little… I know that too, so I’ve been secretly investigating to learn more about Aunt Anne.” Lius nodded slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed, and then continued calmly:

"However, judging from your tone just now, Ms. Rosalind, does that mean you... know Aunt Anne very well?"

"I don't know her too well, but I have a certain grasp of her personality. She once lived in the main church for a period of time for her own training. During that time, I personally taught her and cultivated her ability to manipulate magic and understand relevant theological knowledge."

"So...Ms. Rosalind, are you Aunt Anne's teacher?" Lius asked, somewhat surprised.

"I was just her mentor for a period of time. Before Anne became a bishop, she traveled extensively throughout the kingdom, going to various monasteries for training. During that time, she was taught by countless people and witnessed many things. To her, I was just a passerby."

"To regard the highest-ranking female pope in the current Kingdom Church as just a passerby... Ha, Aunt Anne's thoughts are sometimes really hard to understand." Listening to Rosalind's words, Leus chuckled and teased. Rosalind, rarely amused, chuckled softly behind her mask, followed by a faint sigh. She shook her head and continued speaking to Leus:

"Regarding Anne, although I haven't known her for long, I can still discern her character from the subtle details of her life. I can sense that, despite being devoted to the church, she doesn't have the superficial sense of dependence on it. On the contrary, there's a subtle undercurrent deep within her heart, especially evident during her daily prayers, which I can't hide from her."

"Is the turmoil in her heart... because of her senior?"

Lius pondered, recalling his conversation with Anne a few weeks prior, and slowly uttered his conclusion, "I could sense from Aunt Anne before that she harbored some resentment towards the Church, most likely because of her predecessor who was forcibly taken away by the Church to be made a saint," which made Aunt Anne feel aggrieved, leading to her current mindset.

After saying this, Leus looked again at the white-robed woman in front of him and asked in a questioning tone:

"I don't know much about the predecessors Aunt Anne mentioned, but judging from her tone regarding the position of 'Saintess'... it seems that once one becomes a Saintess, one will be subject to many restrictions, is that right, Ms. Rosalind?"

Saint Rosalind also looked directly at Lius, their eyes meeting for a moment, before she finally exhaled slowly and nodded gently.

"The saintess is a saint appointed by God, and she also possesses a part of God's power. If she were discovered by other evil people or even cultists and used for their purposes, it would inevitably lead to terrible consequences. Therefore, confining the saintess to the church is a way of protecting her."

"If that's the case, then aren't we prisoners inside a church?"

Looking at the female pope before him, Leus frowned and asked, while Rosalind, after a few seconds of silence, nodded slightly and admitted:

"If that's what you think... then you're right. The saintess is a prisoner of the church, an inseparable part of it. Young Master Lis, you're not wrong at all."

Chapter 214: The Pope (Part 4)

“That’s right, according to what you said, Prince Lius, our treatment of the Holy Maiden is indeed similar to that of a criminal, but…” Rosalind paused, a serious look appearing on her face, and continued speaking to the young man before her:

"However, this is also a way to protect her. If her connection with the goddess were exposed, she would be attacked by many people. Rather than letting her suffer so many attacks, wouldn't it be more reasonable to make her a saintess of the church to protect her?"

"It's both protection and imprisonment. Confining the saint to a dark and sunless church, and then, apart from the annual missionary work, never being able to leave the church again, is like being a convicted criminal. Even if such behavior is intended to protect her, it ultimately only protects her body, while torturing her heart," Lius replied with a frown.

“It’s not as exaggerated as you say, Prince Lius. The Church can give her everything she wants and will do its best to meet all her requests. Whether it’s for magical research or prayers to the gods, the Church can provide the highest quality that the Holy Queen’s Kingdom can offer. So what kind of torture is that?” Rosalind asked rhetorically.

"Do you try your best to meet all the saint's requests... including allowing her to see her family and friends and share the joy of being together with everyone?"

Lius asked Rosalind the same question, to which Rosalind remained silent, only slightly shifting her gaze to the side. After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke slowly:

"For the greater good... some things that could lead to unforeseen changes need to be suppressed. Neither one's own emotions nor attachment to desires are things a saintess should possess, as they would weaken believers. Therefore, they should be abandoned."

"So this means that you really can't satisfy the saintess's desires, and you don't want her to meet with her family and friends, including Bishop Helen, who is the saintess's daughter?" Lius frowned and asked in a more serious tone.

“Please watch your words, Prince Lis. These decisions are not only shared by our church, but the saint herself also trusts this theory. Several times when Bishop Helen came to try to meet with her mother, the saint took the initiative to request not to meet her, which is enough to show the saint’s own thoughts. You don’t need to have too many concerns about this. Let’s continue talking about Bishop Anne.”

In the tense atmosphere, facing Lius's questioning, Rosalind did not answer directly. Instead, she shifted the topic back to Anne, gazing wistfully out the window, gently shaking her head, and speaking with a hint of regret:

"I have a deep impression of Anne. Besides her attitude toward the church, I was also amazed by her extraordinary talent."

"Is Aunt Anne's talent particularly outstanding?" Lius asked.

"That's right. Among all the believers I've ever met, she is the most talented. She can master every magic in the academy and every scripture in the church at an extraordinary speed. Even I can't compare to her in this respect. Especially when I was teaching her, I was convinced that if she could continue to grow like this in the future, one day the position of Pope would belong to her."

Rosalind said this with a serious tone, and Leus was surprised by her unreserved high praise, so he continued to question Rosalind:

"If that's the case... why did you, Ms. Rosalind, so readily agree when Aunt Anne withdrew from the church? Shouldn't you have forced her to remain in the church, like the saint did?"

"Initially, I did intend to do that, especially after receiving Bishop Anne's letter of resignation. My first reaction was to burn the letter completely and suppress the matter forever, so that Bishop Anne would never bring it up again. However... Rosalind seemed to recall some unforgettable memory, causing her to pause briefly. Then, with a melancholy look in her eyes, she gazed at the cross in Lius's hand and continued speaking with a hint of hesitation:"

“But at that moment, for some reason, a strange feeling flashed through my mind.” “A strange feeling? What kind of feeling was it?” Lius asked, somewhat puzzled.

"It was a very complex emotion, a mixture of fear, unease, hesitation, and confusion, especially when I touched the letter of resignation Anne had given me, wanting to destroy it completely. That feeling intensified to the extreme, as if it were preventing me from doing so, preventing me from letting Anne continue to remain in the church." Rosalind swallowed, regaining her composure, her tone returning to its previous emotionless state. She took a sip of tea and told Lius her final words:

"Ultimately, that feeling influenced me, and I stamped Anne's resignation letter, expelling her from the church. After that, I kept it to myself and didn't let anyone else know."

"Just because of this premonition in your heart, you're going to give up someone you think is extremely talented? Isn't that a bit too easy?" Lius asked.

“Sometimes the will of God exists in this feeling. For me, although many years have passed, that strong sense of unease still lingers in my heart, as if I had fallen into a layer of ice water. Every time I think back, I have a similar feeling, which makes me more and more certain that making this decision was the right one.”

Hearing Rosalind's words, Lius nodded thoughtfully, then frowned and asked the white-robed pope before him again:

"But... why are you telling me these things, Ms. Rosalind? Didn't you say before that these were your own secrets? Why are you telling me now?"

"I'm not entirely sure about this matter. Perhaps it's because of your relationship with Anne, or perhaps I've unconsciously become curious about your talent. Or maybe after saying so much, my vigilance has decreased, and I've started to speak recklessly. But whatever the case, now that I've told you so much, Young Master Lius, I have something I'd like to ask of you."

"Oh? You want to ask me for a favor?"

Hearing Rosalind's words, Leus was somewhat surprised, and the white-robed pope nodded slightly, looking intently at Leus's face as she spoke her thoughts:

“When you return to the estate, I would like to ask you… to investigate Anne’s true character and to perceive the most authentic inner self hidden beneath her surface. Is that alright?”