Chapter 49: Knight of the Eastern Capital

“What? Can you say that again?!”

In a landscape of lush greenery, by a small waterfall and the Abyss, a girl clad in pristine white Holy Knight armor, with a sacred sword at her waist and a golden holy shield on her back, turned in astonishment. Her crystal-clear golden hair swayed and shimmered like radiant clouds with her movement.

Though she did not appear angry, the pressure and divine aura radiating from her in this emotionally charged moment left the maid responsible for delivering the message breathless, instinctively instilling a desire to worship within her.

As she silently lamented the astonishing transformation of the long-absent Second Miss, the maid took a deep breath and repeated the brief message she was instructed to deliver by the clan leader.

“Second Miss, the Holy Church has held a public vote, and they have decided to initiate the ritual to summon back the [Arbitrating Holy Sword]. Due to the special circumstances, the review has been waived, and you, Divine Aida Edwina Cecelia, will directly succeed as the new [Judging Saintess]. The succession ceremony is scheduled for the Holy Arrival Day in a little over a month.”

Saying this, the young maid, who belonged to the Cecelia family and had grown up alongside the two young ladies, carefully took out a scroll sealed with a golden stamp—a message from the Holy Church, second in rank only to the goddess’s oracle, and delicately handed it to the blonde Holy Knight girl.

“…”

Edwina accepted it, broke the unsealed stamp, and hastily read through the large characters on the golden paper inside. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“Understood, you can go back now.”

“Second Miss… You…”

“I said, go back.”

“… Yes.”

Unable to resist the divine pressure radiating from the blonde girl once more, the maid respectfully nodded and quickly turned to leave.

After a long while, when the maid’s figure completely vanished from view and silence engulfed the area.

“The Holy Church, how splendid! August Lambert! How foolish of you as a divine scion!!!”

*Smack!*

The girl slammed the golden decree onto the ground with all her might, her small feet, encased in pure white steel boots, stomped on it mercilessly until it was twisted, deformed, and crumpled before she angrily retreated a few steps and sat on a large rock by the pond, panting heavily.

“I am angry… but it’s merely meaningless venting of emotions that doesn’t help the reality at all. Little Edwina, after three years of training, I thought you would have understood this principle by now. Why are you still so easily provoked?”

A steady, aged voice slowly emerged from behind an exceptionally sturdy ancient tree, and soon a flower-haired old woman, draped in a simple white priestly robe but without any holy insignia or seal, leisurely made her way out, leaning on a cane.

The old woman’s hair, simply tied up with a wooden hairpin, was white—not the kind of naturally luminous white of a particular race, but a genuine pallor that emerged from biological aging, reflected the hues of late life. Her back was visibly hunched, and she wobbled with her cane, giving the impression that she might fall over at any moment.

“Teacher?”

Seeing her appear, Edwina was astonished and hurriedly stood up, running forward to support the old woman to the stone she originally occupied. She then bent down to pick up the crumpled, dirty golden paper, which, due to its special material, showed no actual damage, but wore an indignant expression.

“But Teacher, the Holy Church is going too far! My sister is risking her life against demons, and instead of thinking of how to help quickly, they are pulling these disgusting little tricks in the back? Don’t I know August’s intentions? He’s just scared that because I awakened my divine bloodline without obtaining the divine artifact, the Cecelia family might threaten his position as pope, so he can’t wait to have me succeed as the Saintess.”

“According to the rules, someone who becomes the Third Saintess can no longer participate in the papal elections or occupy a seat in the Holy Church, I understand that. But doesn’t doctrine also clearly state that unless the previous Saintess’s death is confirmed or she voluntarily steps down, no one should replace the Third Saintess arbitrarily? Not to mention summoning back the divine artifact, which is almost tantamount to declaring the Saintess a heretic! What August is doing is no different than trampling on authority?!”

Watching the young Holy Knight girl filled with righteous indignation, the old woman merely smiled lightly as she leaned on her cane.

“Ah, so you still haven’t seen through the upper structure of the Holy Kingdom and certain matters, only knowing how to blame August. Firstly… this decision is from the Holy Church’s vote; on the surface, the pope doesn’t unilaterally retract or replace the Saintess’s authority. So how can we call it trampling on authority?”

“But, those guys in the Holy Church are all…”

“Right, many are August’s people, but what evidence do you have? Moreover, aren’t there also people from the Cecelia family and Summerfield family in there? The three divine scions exercise checks and balances. Alone, neither the pope nor the Lambert family can consolidate absolute power.”

Upon hearing these words, Edwina felt a chill run down her spine.

“Then Teacher, do you mean…”

The old woman clasped her hands over the cane and turned her gaze towards the deep pond nearby; the aged and worn look in her eyes remained unexpectedly calm.

“Yes, it seems your rapid growth and unique encounters have stirred up many hidden figures, conspiring to suppress the Cecelia family. Heh, I’m afraid the situation with little Phyllis will worsen, and not only due to the demons’ fierce advance, but also due to the manipulations of certain people behind the scenes.”

Edwina’s fingers gripping the sword hilt instinctively tightened a bit, and she spoke solemnly.

“Is… it the Summerfield family?”

“Can’t say for sure; it could be or not. The three divine scions are at odds, and while they are the strongest, the structure of the Holy Kingdom is not a monocracy. But it’s alright, little Edwina, you must always remember what the true foundation of the Holy Kingdom is. The position of pope is certainly important, but compared to the goddess, it remains one among the trivial multitude.”

“The goddess…”

After a moment of contemplation, the Holy Knight maiden finally lifted her head.

“After saying so much, what you really want to know is how I awakened my divine bloodline, right?”

The old woman did not deny it, only smiling faintly.

“I’ve asked you this question many times. Could it be that even now, at this moment, little Edwina is still unwilling to reveal the truth? Or is it that…”

A glint of insight flashed in the old woman’s murky eyes as she made a shocking statement.

“Or could it be that the Goddess herself has specifically instructed you not to disclose the full story to anyone?”

“…”

The expected panic and shock from the girl did not ensue. After a moment of brief bewilderment, Edwina gradually calmed down, her gaze steady and profound as she looked into the distance, hinting at something.

“As the true pillar of the Cecelia family, I naturally believe you completely, but… there are indeed some things I cannot say, and I’m sure you have guessed some.”

“That esteemed one is not a distant deity who looks down upon mortals; She is the first ray of light shining upon the world, the embodiment of all dawns and hopes. She bestows this body with Holy Light, driving away the wicked, and illuminating my heart; She… is right by our side.”

“I see… no wonder even with little Phyllis’s uncertain fate outside, little Edwina, you still always seem composed.”

Upon hearing this cryptic admonition, the old woman finally revealed a look of satisfaction and fell silent.

“Since the light has returned, then the Cecelia family, over a thousand years in the making, should… spring into action!”

   

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