Ch.54Saint Commotion (5)

“Um… I’ve told you everything…”

Jeanne, having revealed all she knew, lowered her head and anxiously watched Claude’s reaction.

This was only natural. Even Jeanne herself thought her words lacked credibility.

It might be one thing to claim she could discern a person’s life from the energy emanating from their body, but who would believe her talk of angels visible only to her eyes?

This ability had only manifested recently. If someone had told my past self about such things, I wouldn’t have believed it at all—so how could I expect others to?

Jeanne silently prayed that the Holy One would show her mercy.

‘…She’s insane.’

But contrary to Jeanne’s worries, Claude actually believed her words.

What Jeanne had revealed were things that others simply couldn’t have known.

[Um… the Holy One and that wo… woman aren’t related at all, so it’s not incest…]

[Their ages? Well… the Holy One is 23, and those two are 21 and 19 respectively?]

Jeanne had calmly mentioned facts like my being a reincarnator and how Chloe and Ines were connected to me, continuing to speak as if reading from a book.

At first, when I saw Jeanne speaking about these facts so matter-of-factly, I thought it was the characteristic confidence and delusions of a madwoman. But as she continued, I found myself increasingly speechless. No matter how delusional someone might be, facts couldn’t align this perfectly.

However, there was one question Jeanne couldn’t answer clearly: the one about Chloe and Ines.

[Why were you so hostile toward Chloe and Ines?]

[T-that’s… well… you see… they smell.]

[…Never mind.]

They smell… huh.

From what I’d observed of Jeanne’s behavior so far, she wasn’t lying.

I’m not sure what she meant by “they smell,” but it’s probably some unique language only Jeanne uses. That’s a common characteristic among schizophrenic patients.

‘…I’ll have to postpone her execution for now.’

It’s clear that Jeanne does see something.

Of course, if it’s something only visible to the mentally ill, it would naturally be a hallucination, but my instincts after hearing Jeanne’s words are screaming that it’s not the case.

“Jeanne, return to your room for now. Someone will come soon; just follow them quietly.”

“Ah, no… I… I…!”

“I won’t kill you, so just stay put.”

“Y-yes…”

Did she think she would be executed?

When I ordered her to leave, Jeanne trembled again and became restless, only calming down after I assured her I wouldn’t kill her.

What should I do with her… what a headache…

……….

I’m alive… I’m alive!

I could have died since those witches had blinded and deafened the Holy One, but fortunately, I survived.

Yes… yes… there’s no way the Holy One would be bewitched by such witches. I worried for nothing.

“Hee, heehee…”

“Shut up and walk.”

The soldier escorting Jeanne frowned and snapped at her unpleasant laughter, but Jeanne paid him no attention.

She was simply lost in happy daydreams, constantly replaying her meeting with the Holy One.

“Tsk…”

Realizing that the prisoner wasn’t paying him any mind, the soldier clicked his tongue in annoyance. However, since the Duke had ordered that Jeanne not be harmed, he barely managed to restrain himself.

Deciding that getting angry would only hurt himself since he wouldn’t have to see her after the escort duty anyway, the soldier chose to stop viewing Jeanne as a person. More like a human-shaped wooden block.

Thanks to this non-hostile attitude toward Jeanne, the soldier was able to maintain his sense of self without receiving the angels’ baptism.

……….

“…Your Highness, I heard you spared that witch.”

Shortly after Jeanne was escorted back to prison, I met with Armand.

No matter how deeply immersed in secular matters he might be, Armand’s essence was that of a clergyman. Naturally, he wouldn’t look kindly upon Jeanne, who impersonated a saint.

“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t spare her; I merely kept her alive.”

Though it’s just a difference of one word, the meaning is worlds apart.

Armand must know this, but it seems his anger has made him lose some of his rationality.

“Is there information you wish to extract from that witch? Perhaps you want to know how she bewitched the innocent lambs?”

“…?”

Armand.

Are you mad?

“Hahaha…”

The authority to deal with traitors belongs solely to me, the secular ruler.

Even if the traitor exploited faith, this authority never changes.

But… what’s this? Is he questioning my judgment?

No matter how high-ranking a bishop sent by the Holy See might be, he has no right to intrude upon the domain of a secular ruler.

Perhaps hundreds of years ago, when the power of the Canaan faith was at its peak, but now the authority of religion has greatly diminished due to church corruption and the strengthening of secular rulers.

“…Your Highness, I implore you to uphold the righteous faith.”

When not only my mood but also the atmosphere around Chloe and Ines turned hostile, Armand finally hesitated and changed his tone.

However, he still doesn’t seem to realize his mistake.

He’s merely responding to the ruler’s anger, firmly believing he’s done the right thing.

“Hmph, of course.”

Even when scolding someone, you should only scold those who recognize their wrongdoing, even slightly.

Didn’t Confucius say to ignore rather than admonish those without a shred of guilt? That’s exactly the case here.

I respond to Armand’s words half-heartedly.

“So, is that all you came to see me about?”

“…There is one more matter.”

When I deliberately asked with a sarcastic tone, Armand took a small breath and got to the main point. His attitude suggested he was being careful not to upset me.

Until early in my reign, when I had to be extremely cautious of the church as an illegitimate child, Armand always maintained a confident attitude before me.

But due to victories in war, the purging of hostile nobles who could oppose me, support from major nobles, and achievements in domestic affairs, he can no longer do so. Yes, indeed, people aren’t looked down upon when they have impressive credentials.

“These days, heretics are running rampant in the Holy Empire, so I request your response to this matter.”

“Heretics…”

I’ve heard about this a few times.

As I’ve mentioned before, the Canaan faith, which enjoys religious dominance in this continent, is in a terrible state due to corruption.

Still, thanks to its past glory, it maintains its influence, but as seen from the many people who supported Jeanne’s rebellion, those with mounting grievances are breaking away from the central church’s influence.

In the past, the Canaan Church would have said, “Kill them all and let God sort them out!” and slaughtered all believers who strayed from the central church. But with secular rulers growing stronger, this is no longer possible.

No ruler anywhere would stand by and watch foreign powers kill their subjects in their own territory, even if they were labeled heretics.

‘But… the Holy Empire is different.’

The situation in the Holy Empire is different.

An excessive number of vassals has diminished the Emperor’s power, and consequently, the vassals of the Holy Empire enjoy a position almost on the verge of independence, beyond mere autonomy. From the Emperor’s perspective, the vassals of the Holy Empire are not much different from foreign powers.

Above all, as its name suggests, the Holy Empire has strong religious characteristics.

This means that even though they are corrupt, the clergy wield enormous influence in the Holy Empire, which ultimately leads to burdens on the people and eventually gives rise to heresy.

The Emperor of the Holy Empire seems well aware of this fact, but since his authority comes from the Canaan Church, the state religion, he cannot severely punish the corrupt clergy.

In the end, the only option available to the Emperor of the Holy Empire is to militarily suppress the people and vassals who have turned to heresy out of desperation.

It’s no coincidence that the Holy Empire remained neutral when our Burgundy Duchy fought against the Carolingian Kingdom. If they had engaged in external activities and failed to suppress domestic heretics, it would have been catastrophic.

“I understand. I will do my best to prevent heretics from entering the Burgundy Duchy.”

But that’s the Holy Empire’s problem, and I am the Duke of Burgundy. Why should I care about another country’s affairs?

In response to Armand’s request for a response to the heretics running wild in the Holy Empire, I answer that I will work to prevent heretics from entering the Burgundy Duchy.

Armand’s request seems to be asking for help in suppressing heretics in the Holy Empire, but I have no reason to do such a thing.

It’s actually beneficial for the Burgundy Duchy if the Holy Empire weakens, and from the perspective of the Holy Empire’s Emperor, my intervention would only add to the forces he has to deal with, making things more complicated.

“…Yes, thank you.”

Satisfied with my answer about preventing heretics from entering our country, Armand withdraws.

It seems Armand also knew his request would be rejected, and above all, since he is from Dijon, he doesn’t seem to mind much that I prioritize Burgundy.

Hmm… given the situation, Armand probably made that request to me under orders from the Holy See.

…Wait a minute.

“Bishop Armand, that request came from the Holy See, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Perhaps, has this request been made not only to me but to other rulers as well?”

“I believe so. The Holy See, in turmoil over the proliferation of heresy, is asking for help from rulers of various countries, almost to the point of calling for a crusade.”

…Wow.

It seems the current Pope isn’t very politically savvy. No, actually, I admire how he’s a devout clergyman who pursues faith without considering political situations.

Armand’s words imply that the Holy Empire will soon become an arena for various countries.

It’s unlikely that rulers who believe in the Canaan faith would refuse a request to help suppress heretics. Many rulers will certainly make military interventions in the Holy Empire.

The Emperor of the Holy Empire will surely despise foreign intervention, but he won’t be able to drive them away.

As I mentioned earlier, the Emperor of the Holy Empire borrows his authority from the Canaan Church, and it’s the head of that religion who has created this situation.

I can use this to my advantage.