Arestia Empire'S World Domination
Intermission: Jeanne, Pawn of The Church Authority

...—Basilika Our Lady of Noven-Belle, Church Authority Region—...

...—22 January 1239—...

Small whitish threads once again scattered, raining a city that has the characteristics of Roman architecture to cause there is not a single roof of the building in it that is not covered by the soft winter snow.

Not at a very extreme condition like the northernmost part of the world, all residents of the city can at least move outdoors despite having to wrap their bodies in thick fur clothing.

However, none of them complained. Everyone set foot through the cold snow. Whether coming from any background, whether a priest to an ordinary commoner, all steps were only aimed at a golden-colored building that towered majestically in the middle of the city.

Basilica of Our Lady of Noven-Belle, a magnificent Roman architecture with many large white pillars as a buffer, almost in every corner of the building there are paintings that project various events in the scriptures.

The basilica, built in honor and love of Saint Noven of Belle— City, has now changed its name to Noven-Belle—, just after the Arafant Church Authority decided to change the land consecrated as a result of the destruction The Holy Empire of Regulus in the past and considered when the previous holy land had been polluted.

Today is a great day, almost every resident of the city flocked to the main courtyard outside the basilica, only to hear the words that the saint would say.

Evidently, the words of a Saint were the truth— which was actually caused by the effects of the game, making everyone wait for the Saint to once again conduct his lecture.

Until the sun rose a little, everyone was waiting for the presence of the saints, anyone both high-caste people inside the basilica and commoners who could only listen from outside the building. Security was very tight was guarded by hundreds of holy knights who stood guard in every corner of the basilica area.

"Your Saint Majesty. Please follow me." A young saint knight who slightly lowered his head to hold his eyes as a result of the beauty of the woman in front of him gave a warning.

"Thank you."

The beautiful girl with long blonde hair raised her expression, moving following the guidance of one of her guard knights.

Wearing a white monk's dress that swept the floor, the long white veil she wore covered all of her hair up to part of her face, giving off a sacred impression that was hard to approach.

Saint Jeanne, a Noven heiress who is rumored to have received the words of God. Climbing the steps of the stage where the lecture will take place, Jeanne knows that all cardinals do not like her except for a cardinal who has cared for her since childhood like her own father.

Cardinals and church officials only showed smiles, as if it was just a formality.

On the grand altar, Jeanne's speech felt very coldly enlightening. All eyes were on him, thinking that the Saint was showing a smile. But no one knew, Jeanne behaved impassively behind her faint veil-covered face, even with her turkish blue eyes no longer emitting light, even though he had never shown it to anyone before.

The four cardinals sit on an indoor balcony that also overlooks Jeanne. With the exception of Cardinal Copet—, a big fat man with gray hair that only grows around his head, as well as someone who had been caring for Jeanne from a young age like her own biological child—three other cardinals looked at the Saint with a low gaze.

Cardinal Julia, an old woman with a wrinkled face who had long hair full of gray, white clothes extending to the floor almost covered her entire body, strongly showed the greatness of one of the church officials.

Cardinal Jirgis, a middle-aged man with short brown hair with a long beard who gave off a sly, sly impression, it was common knowledge that the power and influence he wielded was right under Imperial Prime Minister Renacles, making almost all nobles submit and obey him.

Cardinal Aulus, a handsome white-haired middle-aged man with an intimidating face dressed in an oversized white robe with many glamorous decorations sat speechless, his gaze clouded as he watched Jeanne deliver her cool speech.

In economics and foreign relations, high clergy and clergy, and in the military represented by the Holy Knights, three cardinals represent the three great pillars upon which the authority of the church rests.

Pope Constantine XIV, supreme leader of the Arafant Religion.

In contrast to the four cardinals, of whom only Copet was strongly aligned with Jeanne both in front of and behind the scenes, Constantine took a middle stance, like a very wise religious authority, although he had a strong name to be his successor after his death.

The speech was over, Jeanne again stepped down, towards the depths of the building with her elite holy knight escort.

"Saint Jeanne." In the middle of the hallway, a heavy-pitched call halted her steps, Jeanne was well acquainted with the voice, making her and the knights turn around, paying respect to Constantine and the four cardinals who walked after her.

Jeanne looked down, behaved respectfully like a servant, though the position of the Saint should be higher than that of a pope—because Jeanne could hear the voice of God. So did the holy knights who immediately pulled over, bowing in their heads as the highest honor to Constantine.

A small glance at the three cardinals behind the Pope, Jeanne's whole body involuntarily trembled a small— that no one was aware of.

Some of the pressure Jeanne had received from the three cardinals was particularly voracious against the pope's subsequent position. The pressure of degeneracy, until the threat of assassination he had received, although not directly on behalf of the three cardinals, Jeanne and Copet were not that stupid, he said, both are well aware that the real mastermind is the three cardinals who are in danger of losing their positions.

"How are you preparing?" Constantine confronted Jeanne directly.

Although Jeanne had a height that ranged from 160 cm, both were very far when compared, where the large body of the Pope almost had a height of close to 220 cm.

Jeanne turned her gaze away, focused on Constantine who spoke to her, "I'm so grateful that you've taken the time to pay attention to me, Your Holiness the Pope... Since God makes it easy for us, we can prepare things well and in time."

"so." Constantine closed his eyes for a moment, "I heard the news that Emperor Arestia had a feud with Ecasia and Renacles."

Jeanne was momentarily shocked, involuntarily speechless. Although the incident has passed more than a full month, news and news in the medieval era is difficult to spread, unless the parties have a network of spies and information. Of course, the Pope and the three cardinals who were in opposition to Jeanne had their own informants, they had been aware of the news for several days.

"In addition to the threat of heretical groups, your journey to the west is certainly difficult to pass." Constantine gave his warning with a heavy tone that impressed firmly.

"Thank you for the advice you have given me, Your Holiness the Pope." Jeanne looked down inside.

"May God's protection always be with you." Constantine stepped back, leaving Jeanne side by side in a different direction to him.

Unlike the other three cardinals, who did not care for Jeanne even for a mocking expression, Cardinal Copet frowned as he passed by her, looking saddened to be unable to do anything with extra security for Jeanne. Although Copet was one of the cardinals, he had a weak voice, always hindered by the interests of the other three cardinals.

After feeling the departure of the church officials, Jeanne again raised her head, stepping back in a different direction to those with her head slightly bowed.

Unwittingly by a single elite holy knight escorting, a single tear once again fell, as a result of responsibility and extremely difficult tasks, his heart distorted, as if it was no longer power to carry the title "Saint" on both shoulders.

Although I don't want to reveal it. I miss my life in the orphanage a lot, Dad.

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