Arestia Empire'S World Domination
Chapter 55: Not In Accordance With What to Expect

...—Capital of Excelia, Arestia— Empire...

...—28 April 1239—...

"Always remember this, Saint. Once you arrive at the capital, no one can guarantee your safety, not even for me, Constantine XIV."

The words always ring in the minds of the long blonde woman who wore the great white clothes of the church right after her release to carry out religious missions towards the western lands away from religious life.

Jeanne certainly understood that her mind was not as naive as a child who thought that her life would always be pleasant. On his way to the western lands, representatives were directly elected by the church authorities. Jeanne's subordinates and guards were not only from people affiliated with Cardinal Copet— who was her former caretaker and foster father—but also came from the other three cardinals as well as the holy knights.

"Father..Thanks to your prayer, I am so grateful to have come this far." Jeanne closed both eyes, clasped her hands tightly and stuck them over her chest that looked a little big.

The grandeur of the city gate that became the destination was clearly plastered behind the glass of the horse carriage. Not only was Jeanne's caravan escorted by the regular soldiers of the Arestian Empire as well as the private army of Margrave Francois. Not only that, even Ares had sent out a special intelligence squad to observe every action the priests and bodyguards of the Saint had taken.

Not unlike Ares, Warren considered it dangerous to leave Joan without a single Arestian escort upon their arrival in the Arestian realm of Forbrenne. Due to the coercion of the military and the nobles of Arestia, neither the holy knights nor the priests liked this action.

Disdained, doubtful, these negative prejudices were the reason the holy knights were upset, although some of them had devised a plot to murder the Saint with some other priests.

Until a moment, the caravan of the Saint came to a halt. Jeanne instinctively opened her window curtain to observe the situation. Not far from where he was, the knights of Arestia as well as some nobles had lined up to greet despite still being outside the city walls.

Unknowingly, one corner of Jeanne's lips lifted. The Emperor accepted his mission with open arms.

The carriage slowly moved back, until it passed through the large gate that became the outer boundary of the capital. Boisterous voices rang out, Jeanne instinctively once again tried to peek, but something she very much did not expect was right inside her sight.

Terrified.

The expressions of the residents of the capital impressed bad, some reflection of fear can be seen from most of their eyes.

"No. not again..." Jeanne leaked out a small voice, a white robe that covered both her legs squeezed out, recalling her experience in the course of her last few days.

As someone who always lives in the midst of the Alven community, his arrival was so welcomed. It was very different from the residents of the capital as well as the cities of the Arestian Empire that he had visited during his travels.

Although he, the priests, and the holy knights were welcomed by the nobles of Arestia and had escorted them from the harbor, some servants and noble knights were unable to hide their fears. Even so with the residents of the cities he stopped by, only radiating despair as they looked at the carriage of the Saint's carriage.

Far from religious life, although local morals and decency are still held in high esteem, people cannot afford to be separated from the stories of their ancestors. Scary stories about the great war between religions thousands of years ago and some small wars hundreds of years ago made their hearts broken. No different from the assumption that the freedom and local beliefs they believe will certainly be taken away if the Saint spread his religion in the western continent.

Not far from the carriage caravan that split the sea of humans on the main street of the capital, Ares looked murky from the top of the highest tower of the palace, not expecting the public to make a reaction that was beyond his expectations.

"Are you... okay?" Excel showed a worried look, no different from Warren standing slightly behind them.

"I'm. I'm fine." Words that are not appropriate. Ares slightly bowed, both elbows attached to the white balcony felt a little pain, depressed due to the weight of his body.

For a moment, the three were in silence, until Ares turned to look at Warren with a serious face, "What would happen if Arestia did not stand up?"

Warren understood, Ares questioned what the Arafant Church would do if Ares remained a common noble at the border, "They would still enter the western continent, but not overtly like this. Perhaps, from my point of view as the former successor of a veteran military noble, it would be even more dangerous for the residents."

"Proxy... what?" tymphal Ares.

Warren smiled pacifyingly, wanting to slightly ease the burden that befell his close friend, "No need to think about it, because of your actions that have killed hundreds of nobles, the church will not spread Arafant's teachings clandestinely anymore."

"Didn't you make me look like a bad guy?" Ares smiled in annoyance, a frown could be seen above the skin of his forehead.

"Who knows?" No matter what, Warren shrugged both of his shoulders, "Good people will never kill someone, you know?"

"No, it's impossible." Ares shook his head lightly.

"What do you mean?" ask Warren.

"I've moved all my mistresses and my children besides Raze, Orcian, and Wilma to safety" Ares replied, displaying a wry smile.

"Huh?! Where?! Me—why didn't you tell me?!" asked Warren who was surprised.

Ares' actions are not without reason. Given that Esther is known by people as a "cursed child," it is risky to let her stay in the capital, moreover, Ares did not know what the priests and holy knights in the faction opposite the Saint would do. It was safer to leave Esther, her children, and her mistresses under the protection of the Cornwall Clan for a while.

Excel giggled small, covering his mouth with his right hand, revealing immense elegance.

"Don't laugh! You guys make me look like a fool!" warren's reply was upset.

"Well, Warren. Put that aside first, given the risk that Arafant will have a lot of power if I let them into this country alone... wouldn't it be better to invite the rabbis of the Mihiral Religion as well as some other beliefs at the same time?" Ares clapped his left palm with his clenched right hand, showing an expression as if he had just noticed it.

"Well?!" Speechless and momentarily open, Warren could not believe what had just pierced his ears, "Ares not the killer of your children, Ares?!"

Warren did not notice any change in expression in his close friend, Ares kept smiling, as if unconcerned with his past.

"No, it's not like that, Prime Minister." Excel smiled, though darkness emanated from the look in his eyes, "Even though I sometimes felt jealousy towards Milly. But, if we retort to his teachings, that's not the end of a problem."

"We know that the situation is no longer safe when pastors of the two religions enter the capital. In contrast to clergy from other religions, rabbis and pastors have a veiled purpose when teaching their teachings. After a long discussion..." Ares turned to Excel, receiving a light nod to continue his words, "We decided to clash the two religions in the capital."

"More, with the presence of northern people in the capital like Thorgils and Astrid, at least they won't be able to touch civil society" Ares said, revealing a wry smile.

Silent, Warren fell silent without being able to express words. The plan of Ares and Excel goes far beyond what he can think, especially with both of them without consulting first with the nobles who are members of the House of Lord.

"Did you remember something that we haven't finished yet at the military meeting of the southern island conquest plan?" ask Ares.

Warren's eyes were wide open. The burden of thought due to the stupid couple before him grew, "Ja—don't say..."

"true." For a moment, the views of Ares and Excel met, smiling happily at each other as they could gift the prime minister of the country, "If wherever our safety would be threatened, our safety would be threatened, isn't this a good time to go to the enemy's habitat?"

"Ka—you will go to the southern islands alone?! Do you not remember if you already have children?!" warren said loudly, feeling very objected.

"It's okay, there's no need to worry about that, Prime Minister." Excel gives a bright pitched response, "If so, then, please give an appeal to the nobles right after the negotiations with the clergy ended to send their families to safety and the imperial family will not be available for a while."

Warren knew that if Ares and Excel had decided on something, their decision would not have been swayed by anything. Even for the House of Lord, their condemnation would only end up like an ordinary blank sheet of paper.

Warren sighed heavily, trying to calm his mind by making a serious face, "Until when are you guys going to do it? At least, I can prepare the fleet before you guys arrive."

The two glanced at each other, Excel smiled wryly as it could once again surprise Warren, "No, there's no need to do it, Prime Minister."

"Why?" warren asked back, raising his eyebrows in confusion.

"Because you will definitely send an army upon hearing the news that the Arestia Imperial Family has been taken captive."

Age drops. For Warren, maybe today is the day he first had a mild heart attack and fell unconscious.

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