Ch.74Church Order Disposition (4)

“Huaaah— mmph?!”

“What’s going on, why are you—hmmph?!”

Click—

‘…Heh.’

The soldiers who had been slacking off and taking it easy on duty just moments ago now stand at rigid attention, trembling as they see me, as if they’d never been relaxed at all.

It’s surprising how clearly I can see their faces even in the darkness. Or rather, should I say I can sense them?

The faint shadows on their faces actually reveal their emotions more clearly.

“Good work.”

“Y-Yes!”

“…Oh? Y-Your Majesty.”

Just as I’m about to give a quick greeting and move on to spare us both the awkwardness, one of the soldiers stops me with his words.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“This person… is she… a prisoner…?”

“Prisoner? Ah, you mean Jeanne. Yes, she is a prisoner. Why do you ask?”

“N-Nothing at all! I apologize, Your Majesty!! I was being presumptuous— mmph?!”

Ugh, so noisy.

The soldier rolls his eyes back and forth, looking alternately at me and Jeanne, before suddenly apologizing loudly.

Seeing my reaction, another soldier panics and covers the shouting soldier’s mouth. The shouting soldier takes a sharp breath and his face quickly contorts.

What’s with them anyway?

“…Let’s move on.”

Though I’m taken aback by their strange behavior, I decide not to question them further since I sense nothing but fear from the soldier.

With our difference in status, pressing them would only terrify them more.

“Y-Yes!”

“Take care.”

The soldier keeps bowing deeply as we pass by, and Jeanne gives them a gentle smile with a nod. The soldiers become even more convinced of their assumptions after seeing Jeanne’s natural encouragement.

After all, what else would a king be doing with such a beautiful prisoner at this hour of night?

The soldiers feel both admiration for Jeanne’s beauty and a slight jealousy toward Claude who has exclusive access to that beauty, but that jealousy soon dissipates like fog.

Jealousy only makes sense when you’re somewhat on the same level—how could they possibly feel jealous with such a vast difference in status?

“Aaaahhhh… That was close.”

“…Man, I’m incredibly envious.”

“You…! Watch your mouth!”

“Come on, they’re far enough away now, it’s fine!”

Once Claude and Jeanne have disappeared into the distance, the two guards on duty straighten their bent necks and backs while beginning to speak freely.

One of them envies Claude as he recalls Jeanne’s appearance, while the other scolds him in panic, but the first guard dismisses the warning.

These soldiers are merely putting on an act for each other while mentally organizing the reports they’ll submit to their other masters, Chloe and Ines.

……….

“Hey, nice scenery, isn’t it? Our gardener put his heart and soul into making this garden.”

The garden at night has a different charm than during the day.

The sounds of insects chirping come from all directions, and the soft moonlight filtering through the leaves creates a mysterious atmosphere.

It seems the light rain earlier today has filled the air with a fragrant forest scent.

“Yes… it’s lovely, absolutely lovely.”

Jeanne seems quite taken with the garden.

The look in her eyes as she gazes at me shows she’s deeply impressed. Well, it’s natural to be moved when you’ve been locked up in prison and suddenly find yourself in such a beautiful garden.

After saying that, Jeanne follows closely behind me, the handcuffs on her wrists jingling as they sway. The sound of the handcuffs blends with the insect sounds from the grass, creating a pleasant harmony.

As we walk enjoying these musical sounds, I notice a particular path ahead.

“Ah, let’s go another way.”

“…? Yes.”

That path leads to the bench where Chloe once drugged me and acted boldly, and where Chloe and Ines had that fierce fight.

Going that way would make me feel strange, and Jeanne with her special abilities might notice something if she sees that bench. Better to take another route just in case.

Fortunately, Jeanne doesn’t question me.

She tilts her head curiously but then nods, seemingly wondering why we’re taking a detour but trusting my judgment enough not to ask.

Really… how can she trust me so much from the beginning when we’ve had no prior connection? What is this “aura” thing about…?

Jingle— jingle—

Chirp— chirrrp—

Afterward, we walked in silence for quite some time. Only the sound of Jeanne’s handcuffs, the insects, and our footsteps fill the surroundings.

The slightly damp soil path clearly shows our footprints, and upon seeing our tracks ahead, I realize we’ve completed a full circuit of the garden.

Hmm… just walking like this is getting a bit boring.

“Aren’t you getting a little bored?”

“I’m fine, Holy One. Just walking together like this is already more than I deserve.”

“No, it’s hardly a reward… I was thinking of doing something else if you were bored, but that’s too bad.”

I thought we’d done enough walking and wanted to try something else, but Jeanne apparently wasn’t bored at all.

Oh well, since she seems to enjoy walking, I guess we’ll just continue—

“Ah… actually! I do feel a little bored now that you mention it.”

“…Really??”

Suddenly Jeanne throws her hands up flustered and speaks as if she’s just realized something.

…Heh, Jeanne clearly changed her answer after hearing my follow-up.

Her expression and tone completely give away her anxiety about me changing my mind.

She’s as cute in personality and behavior as she is in appearance. If only she could tone down her religious fervor a bit.

“Then let’s go get something to eat. They only give you tasteless food in prison, right?”

“Yes, yesss…”

“Wow… what if you actually admitted the food was bad?”

“Ah, um… I’m sorr—”

“I’m joking, just joking. Come on, let’s go.”

It’s technically forbidden to give prisoners anything other than prison rations, but that’s a law for ordinary people to follow. I’m the king, and here I am the law, so it doesn’t matter.

It’s a bit late, but the kitchen always prepares slightly more food than needed, so there should definitely be something left for Jeanne. It might be a bit cold, but that can’t be helped.

I led the hesitant Jeanne to the dining hall, where fortunately some cream soup, bread, and a few pieces of meat remained from the castle servants’ dinner.

Though slightly cold and perhaps a bit stale in flavor, Jeanne didn’t seem to mind at all and happily devoured the meal. In that moment, she wasn’t the fanatic who led numerous rebels against soldiers or preached widely to people, but simply a sweet young girl appropriate to her age.

……….

“…Pardon? This is truly… the Holy See’s directive?”

“Yes, Father. His Holiness has stated that selling these indulgences is absolutely necessary for building a new church to display our might against heretics.”

“I… understand. You may go now.”

“Very well. I’ll leave these here.”

What could His Holiness be thinking…?

The civil war in the Empire grows more intense by the day. New bodies of heretics and Holy War forces appear around us daily.

In such a situation… selling these indulgences? What good could possibly come of it?

It’s certain that many who still haven’t lost their faith will turn away because of these indulgences, and the heretics who have already turned their backs will become even more enraged.

Our church has barely avoided conflict by burying bodies regardless of whether they were heretics, but if it becomes widely known that we’re selling these things, our church will face an all-out assault from heretics that very day.

‘I could just burn them and pretend this never happened… but that won’t work.’

This directive and these indulgences have probably been distributed to all churches. That means my efforts alone would be futile.

Besides, I’m supposed to sell these indulgences to raise offerings for the Holy See, and if I send nothing, they’ll suspect me of embezzlement.

Above all, I cannot refuse the orders of His Holiness and the Holy See. The word of His Holiness is truth itself.

What… what should I do…?

If things continue like this, the number of heretics will only grow. Yes, we could obtain substantial offerings, but isn’t it more urgent to help those blinded by heresy repent and send them to heaven…!

“Father…?”

“Ah, yes… Sister, what is it?”

“I… heard a loud noise…”

“…Ah, hahaha… My apologies. I caused a disturbance.”

Only after hearing the nun’s words does the priest notice that the items on his desk are scattered across the floor.

The priest smiles awkwardly as he picks up the fallen objects. When the nun approaches to help clean up, he waves her away, insisting that he should handle the mess he created.

“…Kuk.”

After sending the nun away and left alone in the room, the priest grinds his molars as he organizes his belongings.

No matter how much he dislikes it, he cannot refuse the directive of the noble Holy Father and the Holy See under him.

The priest prepares to sell the indulgences as ordered by the Holy See while constantly thinking of ways to appease the heretics who will be angered by this.

Of course, all those methods prove useless, and before long, this church is quickly burned, looted, and reduced to ashes by the furious assault of the reformists.

Fortunately, the money earned from selling indulgences had been safely sent to the Holy See.