Gospel of Blood

After hearing the insinuating words of the Bishop, a cold gleam flashed in the eyes of Duke Borde.

However, he quickly regained his composure and restored his faint smile. Although the smile seemed quite forced.

He realized that he had been played by the Bishop. But he couldn’t react rashly.

The legitimization of Leno’s illegitimate status still required the church’s approval, and he couldn’t afford to fall out with the church now, as it would completely disrupt his plans. He knew, perhaps the Bishop also understood this, which is why he took the opportunity to support the Castell girl.

The Bishop’s intention was actually quite simple. To exchange Castell’s future territory as a religious vassal for the legitimization of the illegitimate child and the support of the church.

This was a transaction. An unexpected transaction.

This was not the result the old duke wanted. However, this time he had no choice.

The old duke’s gaze shifted subtly between the fervently beautiful girl, the respectful and obedient old priest Raoul, and the always smiling bishop, who seemed like a kind old grandfather.

In his heart, he was puzzled.

Who? Who exactly? Who proposed this despicable and cunning idea?

What perfect timing to completely disrupt his plans!

The old duke didn’t believe that this plan was proposed by the young Castell girl. After all, there was nothing in it for her.

Leaning towards the church wouldn’t bring much benefit to the girl, at most just temporary protection, and what the church could offer, he believed he could offer as well, and even more and better.

Making such a choice seemed more like the girl didn’t trust them, so she sought refuge with the church, or… was it truly for faith?

Thinking of this, the duke narrowed his eyes slightly.

He didn’t think a canary long kept in a cage would be capable of such deep scheming. Most likely, she was manipulated.

He also believed he was not unkind to the Castell family. If the girl behaved and obeyed, he was truly planning to make her the mistress of Borde. After all… Leno needed a noble wife to erase his stain.

But now, everything was out of control.

After much thought, the old duke felt that it was more likely that the girl was deceived by the church’s priests.

It must be those old foxes taking advantage of the young and ignorant Castell heir, wanting to expand the church’s territory through this.

With such thoughts, the deep gaze of Duke Borde soon fell on the two priests.

He smiled faintly but clenched his fist slightly under his sleeve.

Taking a deep breath and suppressing his anger, the old duke’s gaze once again fell on Charlotte. But there was much more indifference in his eyes.

He smiled slightly and said to the girl.

“The holy light protects us. Although it’s regrettable, since Lady Charlotte has made her decision, as devout believers, we naturally have to respect it…”

“Of course, people’s minds always change, especially when they’re young. A year’s time is full of variables. If Lady Charlotte changes her mind in the future, the doors of the Borde family will still be open to you, and we will always be your strong support…”

With that, the old duke looked again at the Bishop on the side and nodded slightly.

“Your Excellency Bishop, can we begin the holy ceremony for Leno?”

The response from the Duke pleased the Bishop greatly.

He smiled and nodded.

“Of course, Lord Leno is a true holy knight. It is only right for him to return to the embrace of Borde and restore his deserved glory.”

Thus, the deal was reached. At least on the surface.

Next was the agreed-upon process.

Accompanied by ethereal hymns, and bathed in holy light, the Bishop performed the holy ceremony for Leno, who knelt on one knee. However, the atmosphere was not particularly warm.

The protagonist, Leno, didn’t seem particularly pleased. He seemed preoccupied and his gaze couldn’t help but glance towards the direction of the church several times.

The nobles had various expressions, and some had already begun to show signs of distraction.

Although the old duke was smiling, his smile had never changed, and there was a chill in his eyes.

Only the beautiful Castell girl, with a devout expression, silently walked to the front of the nobles, her face full of fervent yearning under the holy light.

As the sacred ceremony ended, the Bishop declined the nobles’ invitations, citing discomfort, and retired to a side hall to rest.

The birthday banquet continued.

Charlotte’s declaration of faith seemed like a little episode, apparently not affecting the progress of the banquet. But even the dullest nobles could sense that the atmosphere of the birthday banquet had worsened. And with this episode, the flies buzzing around Charlotte disappeared as well.

Although some young noblemen still gazed at her eagerly, eager to try their luck, they were soon stopped by their elders.

The Duke might be on equal footing with the Bishop. But these nobles are not.

Just as the Castell heir finished declaring that she would dedicate everything to the church and never marry, someone came to vie for her affection. It would be a direct challenge to the church.

Sebastian, who had infiltrated the birthday party, was itching to come over and flatter the girl with a few words, but he shrunk back under Charlotte’s cold glance.

He hadn’t forgotten Charlotte’s words. He couldn’t afford to cause trouble for her in her current position. But he was genuinely curious and excited about the girl’s choice.

The actions of the Gods are never without purpose.

The great Lady Nyx decided to “join” the Holy Court, but why?

“Lady Anna said that the decline of the Bloodborne is due to the decisive role played by the Holy Court.”

“Could it be… Lady Nyx is laying the groundwork for revenge against the Holy Court in the future?”

“No wonder she’s such a great presence returning from ancient times! Just as she’s revived, she’s already focused on the most powerful church in this world as the start of her far-reaching layout!”

“Returning to the Kingdom of the Lord… Heh, I’m afraid when that time comes, it will be the great Lady Nyx who returns to the throne, ruling over Myria. Who returns to whose kingdom, it’s really hard to say!”

Sebastian’s gaze was intense, filled with excitement.

It’s quite interesting—although he originally didn’t want to get involved in the conflicts between Gods, now that he’s truly caught up in a competition among true Gods, he feels an unexpected thrill.

He could sense that he was witnessing a great moment in history!

No one disturbed Charlotte, so she freely enjoyed the feast.

Receiving the church’s approval made her quite satisfied, finally resolving one of the recent annoyances.

The idea of allying with the church had come to Charlotte after she survived an assassination attempt.

No power was better suited to deal with the scheming dukes and nobles than the church.

Unlike the unscrupulous nobles, the church at least appeared upright. Although they were interested in expanding their lands, they wouldn’t act as recklessly as the nobles.

As long as Charlotte presented herself as devout enough, she could gain many supporters and allies among the church’s clergy.

Undoubtedly, the church was a far better choice for Charlotte than the Duke’s House.

The black cat Nice and the priest who had recently visited the mansion to lead a young girl in worship were the bridges between Charlotte and the church, while the old priest Raoul was her guide.

Through Nice, Charlotte already knew that the Borde Duchy Bishop was planning to run for the position of Archbishop.

The elderly priest needed an achievement to add to his credentials.

The fact that he was willing to perform a holy ceremony for Leno, an illegitimate child, was part of a deal to secure the support of Duke Borde.

And an opportunity to expand the church’s domain, establish a new sacred land, and evangelize in the northern regions where the church’s influence was still weak… was undoubtedly more valuable than a duke’s support.

Charlotte knew that if she proposed this, the Bishop would not refuse.

As it turned out, the Bishop was even more agreeable than she had expected, not even requiring her to swear an oath.

Thus, with a promise of future benefits, Charlotte successfully secured the church’s protection!

The band from Moon Bay continued to play music, and a relaxed Charlotte found the music even more pleasing to the ear.

The standard of the Duke’s banquet was quite impressive. Comparing the various delicacies, Charlotte found them just as good as those of the Castell family, especially the drinks, which were perhaps even better. The milk, in particular, was richer and smoother.

While the young girl enjoyed the food, a priest suddenly appeared, respectfully bowing to her.

“Lady Charlotte, the Bishop would like to have a word with you.”

Charlotte’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly stood up.

“I understand.”

Under the complex gazes of the nobles, Charlotte gracefully entered the side hall where the Bishop was resting.

The side hall contained only the Bishop, who was admiring the religious paintings on the walls.

He looked kind and gentle, radiating a holy aura, like a friendly grandfather. There was no sign of the formidable presence one would expect from a Third Tier Blazing Sun, none of the oppressive force that Duke Borde exuded.

Charlotte took a deep breath, gracefully lifted her skirt, and respectfully curtsied.

“Charlotte de Castell, greetings to the Bishop.”

The Bishop smiled as he looked at the young girl, his pure gaze full of admiration.

He nodded slightly and gestured to a chair.

“Sit, no need to be formal.”

“Thank you, Bishop.”

Charlotte sat down gracefully.

Looking at the young girl’s innocent face, the Bishop couldn’t help but sigh.

“Ah, youth… It’s a wonderful thing. The future belongs to you, while we… have grown old.”

“Lady Charlotte, you are quite impressive. Raoul has told me that your faith in our Lord is strong and that you are deeply favored by the holy light.”

At this, the Bishop smiled happily.

“The church needs talents like you!”

“Rest assured, with the church’s support, no one will be able to stop you from inheriting your title next year.”

“When you head to your territory, the church will also send a squad of Demon Hunter Knights to personally escort you to Castell.”

Upon hearing the Bishop’s words, Charlotte respectfully curtsied, her voice sweet and girlish, filled with genuine joy.

“Thank you, Bishop. You are so kind!”

The Bishop laughed heartily.

He waved his hand gently, his expression filled with affection.

“It’s a small matter. At our age, the only pleasure left is to nurture the younger generation.”

Then, his expression turned serious.

“As long as you remember your promise and keep our Lord’s glory in your heart.”

Charlotte’s expression also became serious.

She drew a perfect ring cross over her chest, her gaze devout and fervent.

“Of course, Charlotte will never forget the Holy Light of our Lord. Charlotte will always be a devout holy believer!”

The Bishop was even more satisfied as he gazed into the young girl’s clear, pure eyes.

“That’s good. Rest assured, child, as long as your heart is with our Lord, the holy light will always protect you.”

“Hahaha, by the way, I heard from Raoul that you love milk the most. Come, try some of this. It’s a high-quality product I brought from the capital, specially preserved with a magic array!”

As if remembering something, the Bishop chuckled, picked up a pitcher from the table, and poured a cup of milk for himself and the young girl. He then drank his own cup first, his face showing contentment.

Oh, is this for real?!

Why does it feel like the whole world knows I love milk?

Charlotte’s mouth twitched slightly in a barely noticeable way.

Looking at the milk before her, she hesitated slightly.

It couldn’t be helped—the psychological trauma left by her crazed grandmother was too deep.

Even though she knew this was the Duke’s mansion and the Bishop probably just wanted to offer her a drink to get closer…

After some thought, Charlotte stood up and carefully picked up the cup, but as she sat down, she suddenly “accidentally” spilled all the milk onto her skirt.

“Oh no…”

She exclaimed, quickly standing up, looking a bit flustered.

Seeing the milk rapidly spreading across the girl’s skirt, the Bishop was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

“Are you alright? Here, wipe it off quickly.”

“Thank you, Bishop… I’m sorry… Charlotte was too excited and accidentally dropped it…”

The girl took the handkerchief, wiping the white liquid off her body, her expression full of guilt.

“It’s fine, just wipe it off quickly.”

The Bishop waved his hand dismissively.

The girl wiped herself clean, but the dress was still stained.

Looking at her soiled gown, her eyes showed some hesitation. After a brief internal struggle, she stood up and curtsied.

“Bishop, I sincerely apologize… Charlotte has been so clumsy. May I be excused to change into a new dress?”

The Bishop nodded and smiled.

“Of course, go ahead. It was my enthusiasm that startled you.”

“Haha, it’s getting late, and I’m feeling a bit tired too. If you ever have the chance, you’re always welcome to visit the cathedral.”

“Thank you, Bishop.”

Charlotte respectfully curtsied again and then gracefully took her leave.

It wasn’t until the girl had completely disappeared from sight that the Bishop’s smile slowly faded.

He stood silently for a few seconds before suddenly rising and moving to the chair where the girl had been sitting. Gently and tenderly, he stroked the seat, then lowered his head and took a deep, greedy breath, as if savoring the warmth and fragrance she had left behind…

Taking the handkerchief the girl had used to wipe herself, he brought it to his nose and inhaled deeply, a serene smile spreading across his aged face, mingling with a sickly greed and longing.

“Ah, youth… It’s truly wonderful!”