Ch.142Governance (1)

“Who are you…?”

In the early dawn, a devotee cleaning the church as usual, even as the nation’s ruler has changed, tilts their head curiously at the sight of an unfamiliar group.

In a medieval society with limited external interactions, strangers would naturally draw attention, but the devotee is surprised not by their unfamiliarity but by their attire.

Judging by their clothing, they are clearly engaged in some form of religious activity. However, no matter how much the devotee searches their knowledge, these garments don’t conform to any known style.

While religious attire comes in various forms, there’s a common requirement that garments should be long enough to cover all skin except the head, neck, and hands, and should be loose enough to conceal the body’s contours.

Religious activities typically prioritize culture, tradition, and doctrine over individual preferences, meaning religious garments shouldn’t be modified by individuals. Yet these people’s clothing completely violates such taboos.

‘…How indecent.’

The clothing worn by this unidentified external group has short sleeves and is so tight that it reveals the body’s contours.

One woman’s outfit even exposes her legs and shoulders, making it impossible to consider it religious attire at first glance.

Above all, their attire is pitch black, angular, and even features sword-shaped cross decorations, giving them an extremely intimidating appearance. If Claude had seen them, he would have been reminded of military uniforms.

The devotee recognized them as religious practitioners because their attire satisfied important doctrinal elements and overall, the design and religious decorations resembled those of ordinary religious garments. Without those religious symbols, the priest would have simply judged them as outsiders.

“Greetings, where is the bishop in charge of this church territory?”

“He hasn’t come to church yet. He’s probably still sleeping at his residence.”

“Isn’t there morning prayer?”

“Ah… hahaha… Yes, there is, but the bishop hasn’t attended morning prayer due to circumstances.”

The devotee feels annoyed by the group’s persistent questioning but answers without showing it. Of course, they’re not answering completely truthfully.

After all, they can’t simply say that the bishop doesn’t attend morning prayer because he finds it bothersome.

“Hmm… can’t be helped.”

“Yes, if you want to meet the bishop, later— huh?!”

Seeing the group swallow and groan, the devotee tries to see them off, thinking they’re about to leave, but that assumption proves completely wrong.

Far from leaving, the unidentified group ignores the devotee and enters the church. The devotee, flustered, tries to stop them but is ineffective due to being greatly outnumbered.

“Completely dilapidated. How about over there?”

“…No signs of the scripture being used, at least a year.”

“Excuse me!! How dare you enter this… place…?”

The group in unusual religious attire dusts off the scriptures covered in dust and shakes their heads at the creaking prayer room furniture.

The devotee, who followed them in belatedly, was about to become greatly angered by their rudeness but stops, as their attitude and demeanor resembled those working for the public good rather than trespassing thieves.

They merely roll their eyes, desperately trying to figure out who these people are.

“You don’t need to be so afraid. We’re just here to check on the current state of churches within Caroling.”

“Um… excuse me, but who exactly are you and why are you checking on this…?”

“To cut out the rotten parts.”

The devotee, who had been speaking to the largest figure, instinctively turned their head at the beautiful voice from behind, where the woman from earlier stood smiling as she spoke.

Though her appearance is incredibly beautiful, the words coming from her mouth are so brutal that one cannot appreciate that beauty.

Cutting out rotten parts—implying something will happen to the church—the devotee is greatly shocked as they guess who sent these people and where they came from, but barely manages to stay standing.

“Hehe, it’s truly fortunate to see such devout faith maintained amidst widespread corruption. It reminds me of Lot, who maintained his morality in Sodom when everyone else had fallen, and received mercy from the angels. I’m very pleased.”

The devotee cannot say anything in response to the beautiful woman’s—Jeanne’s—praise.

She could have simply given a compliment, yet she uses the terrible disaster of Sodom as an example—isn’t she not just hinting at what’s to come but openly announcing it?

“For the Lord, and for the Son.”

……….

[That’s the last one. I hope everyone has been comfortable in Dijon.]

The three-day victory celebration has ended.

Of course, we couldn’t just party in the palace for three days straight, so I occasionally took the nobles to see various parts of Dijon.

I showed them the orphanage where orphans can grow up like normal children, the bank that manages the assets of Dijon citizens whose capital has increased due to concentrated commerce to suppress inflation, the drainage and water supply systems covering both the old and new districts, the university that has recently produced graduates and entered stable operation, the military academy full of high-caliber generals, and the grand, massive Dijon Archdiocese under construction.

The nobles who toured various parts of Dijon had different reactions—some were indifferent while others were impressed—but there was one place everyone absolutely loved: the military academy.

The sight of dozens of elderly and middle-aged men simultaneously opening their eyes wide and rushing forward to ask if they could send their children to the military academy was too terrifying to maintain any dignity. Ugh, it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

“Brother, good work.”

“Thank you, Chloe.”

Chloe hands me a drink after I return from the closing ceremony.

Since giving birth, Chloe has completely withdrawn from the front lines and no longer holds any position, so she doesn’t need to do any work, but she still tries to accompany me whenever possible.

She acts this way without hesitation even in front of other servants and attendants, which has caused much talk among those working in the palace. However, since Chloe has experience working as a maid and lady’s attendant, she has many friends and isn’t ostracized or looked down upon. She’s just the subject of gossip about her extraordinary affection or how others would just relax if they were in her position.

Of course, even if there’s no malicious talk, being the subject of gossip isn’t good… but since Chloe herself asked not to interfere, I’m turning a blind eye for now. If anyone crosses the line even slightly, I’ll immediately put a stop to it.

‘…Chloe.’

Chloe, either unaware of what I’m thinking or simply not caring, just stands beside me with a bright smile as I drink grape juice.

The more I see that smile, the more my heart aches thinking of all the things I couldn’t do for her. I couldn’t even take her to the banquet, could I?

Of course, bringing a concubine to a banquet could be politically burdensome, but I didn’t want Chloe to feel excluded, so I had invited her to the banquet, only to be repeatedly refused.

“Are you really okay with not having attended the banquet?”

“Oh, I’m fine, really. Our relationship isn’t invalidated by the absence of such things.”

Chloe brushes aside my concern with a smile, as if I’ve asked this too many times already.

Really… she’s been like this since forever.

“Chloe, is there anything you want?”

“Anything I want?”

“Yes, I feel bad always receiving help from you.”

“I only need you, brother…”

“Don’t say that. Tell me anything. I’ll grant whatever you wish.”

“Hmm… whatever I wish…”

At my repeated request, Chloe’s face falls into contemplation.

Oh? In the past, she would have immediately refused, saying there was no need to give her anything.

This is a good sign.

Yes, Chloe is human too, so she must have desires of her own.

It makes me very happy to see Chloe continuously changing and becoming more honest with her feelings like this.

“…Then, brother, do you remember the ticket I gave you as a birthday present?”

“Ticket?”

“Yes, the wish ticket that allowed you to ask me to do anything.”

Ah, that?

When Chloe was 6 years old, before she was adopted into the duke’s family and when her mother was still alive, she wanted to celebrate my birthday and gave me a square piece of paper labeled “1 Wish Ticket,” saying I could ask her to run any errand.

Of course, there wasn’t much I could ask a small child to do, so I used the wish ticket right there and then, asking her to take a nap with me.

But why is that coming up now?

“I’ll take your wish ticket. Just once, a wish ticket where you have to follow my words even if you don’t like it.”

“Huh?”

What’s this about?

I shouldn’t say this, but if Chloe were an innocent girl, I could grant that request without worry.

But considering her fierce arguments with Ines and how she sometimes drugs me to get her way, honestly speaking, Chloe is quite far from innocence.

Even so, I can’t refuse this. After all, I said I would grant whatever she wished.

Moreover, Chloe’s request is essentially just converting my declaration to grant anything into a wish ticket to be used later, so there’s absolutely no reason to refuse.

…Well, it should be fine. No matter how Chloe might have that side to her, she wouldn’t do anything to harm anyone.