Becoming a true Saintess?
Charlotte’s heart skipped a beat.
Within the Holy Royal Court, the position of a Saintess was transcendent.
They could directly communicate with the Divine, serving as symbols of the Divine on earth, and even the Public Domain Chief Priest would have to pay respects when seeing them.
However, not just anyone could beco a Saintess.
Not to ntion, just the criterion of transcendent qualifications alone would stop most people, let alone needing the approval of the Divine to beco a true Saintess.
Gaining the approval of the Divine...
Charlotte felt a toothache coming on.
Although she had the advantage of the Blood Holy Scripture, which even allowed Charlotte to conceal her identity in front of a legendary Clergy, a Clergy was still just a Clergy, and the Divine were the Divine.
Charlotte wasn’t brave enough to face a Divine directly.
Let alone the Divine, even this Great Priest at this mont had not activated the Holy Power to probe.
Otherwise... Charlotte really wasn’t sure if she could conceal her identity well.
As for the gaze of the Divine Lord Haral...
Although, from the previous "second crossing," her relationship with this Divine might be rather nuanced, even now, Charlotte hadn’t figured out what exactly her "crossing" during her ascension had been.
For safety’s sake, Charlotte thought it best to keep away from the gaze of those mythical beings.
Not to ntion, a Saintess also had her duties.
A Saintess was not a Clergy serving part-ti as a noble; if she truly beca a Saintess, it would an giving up the ruling rights over her domain...
Thinking of this, Charlotte was sowhat puzzled.
If the Diocesan Grand Priest brought up her initial vow, it ant that the Church had interest in the Castel Domain.
But now they were inviting her to beco a Saintess, which was contrary to her initial oath.
After all, if ruling rights were abandoned, the oath would naturally no longer matter.
The Royal Authority of the New Moon Kingdom and the Church Authority clashed fiercely, and with only Charlotte left in Castel, if Charlotte relinquished her ruling rights, the domain would likely be reclaid by the Lords, now that she had declared independence from Bold, it would be directly reclaid by the Royal Family.
From this perspective, if she really chose to beco a Saintess, the King would probably be delighted.
In that case, why would the Church invite her?
Could they really value her "qualifications" that much?
Charlotte didn’t believe it.
Charlotte harbored doubts, yet she showed none of it on her face, instead offering a look of gratitude and apology:
"Great Priest, thank you for your generous affection..."
"Becoming a Saintess of the Royal Court is the highest honor for every devout believer, but... my identity is special, not just as a believer, but also as a Lord."
"Although I have decided to dedicate my life to our Lord, I have not forgotten the glory of my family..."
Charlotte’s aning was very clear.
Giving up her domain to beco a Saintess, this she would not do.
Although this response was almost tantamount to showing that she was not truly devout, Charlotte did not care.
After all, the Church was neither blind nor foolish.
As long as they diligently investigated what she had done since her crossing, they would know that her vow was probably just to leverage the Church’s power for protection, to counter other nobles coveting Castel.
Rejected by Charlotte gracefully, the Diocesan Grand Priest did not show a surprised expression.
Clearly, this Great Priest knew everything.
He smiled slightly and said:
"My child, I know your concerns."
"However... rest assured, the Church is not inviting you to beco a full-ti Saintess, but to hold the identity of the Saintess of the New Moon Diocese while still being a Lord."
"After becoming a Saintess, you would not need to fulfill the duties of a Saintess, nor would you need to go to the Church Authority Country to undergo the trial of the Holy Gate, and you can still retain your noble status..."
Saying this, the Great Priest paused, his words pregnant with implications:
"The Church will not interfere in any matters of Castel, but will beco your strongest support, insulating you from any pressure even from the Royal Authority."
Charlotte: ...
So the aning here is... asking her to moonlight?
But, what’s the aim?
Nobles indeed have the precedent of moonlighting as priests, but their kind of moonlighting is mostly just for show; they go to the Church to get gilded. Even priests get gilded, but can a Saintess be gilded too?
If she moonlights as a Saintess, what’s in it for the Church?
No... wait.
There really seems to be so benefits.
By having her moonlight as a Saintess, she would carry the halo of the Church, and as long as her initial vows are confird, it’s almost certain that Castel Domain would beco the Church Domain in the future.
Furthermore, becoming a Saintess ans she’s destined to remain single for life, and it would be impossible to break her vow of celibacy, as that would an defiling God.
This equates to a further reinforcent of her initial vows.
At the sa ti, by having her moonlight as the Church’s Saintess, the Church could naturally deploy more priests to Castel with all legitimacy.
Even if these priests don’t ddle in the affairs of Castel, they could still strengthen the Church’s influence there.
The Church doesn’t simply want a Saintess.
But through the identity of a Saintess, it aims to fortify the relationship between Castel and the Church.
Could it be that the Church has noticed the actions of the Nais Clan in the Falling Star Kingdom and plans to use Castel as a stepping stone to suppress them?
Or is it that they have beco interested in the faith in the Northern Territory Duchy?
Or perhaps...
The Church already knows sothing?
Charlotte’s thoughts surged, and nurous conjectures erged within her.
"How about it, my child? The invitation from the Church, are you willing to accept?"
The Diocesan Grand Priest asked gently.
Charlotte fell into deep thought.
This was no simple invitation.
This was a barter.
Using the Church’s protection to exchange for future control over Castel.
The Church actually did not care that much about how steadfast her faith really was.
The Church probably just wanted to use Castel as a stepping stone to expand the influence of the New Moon Diocese.
To be honest, this conflicted with Charlotte’s own goals.
She had already acquired the "Faith Network," and spreading her own faith in the Northern Land was her next plan.
What she needed was to minimize the Church’s focus on the Northern Land, not to draw the Church’s power into it.
Yet refusing the Church’s invitation also bore great risks.
It nearly ant openly telling the Church that there was an issue with her.
Wouldn’t every noble who wanted to use the Church’s power for protection consider such an offer to be quite sincere?
Charlotte didn’t have a valid reason to refuse.
She had to think of an appropriate excuse.
But what would be a suitable excuse?
Charlotte sunk into thought.
Her gaze fell upon the prayer room’s cot and suddenly, she was struck by an idea.
She recalled soone the Church had judged to be scum...
At that thought, Charlotte had her plan.
She let out a long sigh and said,
"Great Priest, I appreciate your great kindness."
"Had you made this offer to a year ago, I would have accepted joyously without hesitation."
"But now, I cannot deceive my inner heart..."
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