The golden-armored knight silently followed behind the woman, matching her every step.
She was a woman who wielded immense authority within the New Church... Ever since humanity had withdrawn from Laputa, a large number of new nobles had emerged among the survivors in just over a decade.
Miss Isabelle was the cream of the crop among these new nobles.
She possessed not only extraordinary beauty, but also astounding means... On top of that, she had a fatal allure to both sexes.
Yet such an exceptional woman remained single to this day, despite the line of people pursuing her stretching all the way to the city gates.
"Lady Isabelle, please."
At the door to the New Church's pope's study, the guard respectfully ushered Isabelle inside... She looked over the elderly man within.
He was on death's door and utterly lifeless. No matter how one looked at him, he seemed unlikely to survive more than a few days. Yet the man had stubbornly held on until today.
Aside from relying on an excellent team of doctors, it was mainly because he had been secretly taking certain drugs that could be called forbidden.
"You're here, Isabelle."
"Your Holiness."
The pope removed his glasses, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and said, "You probably know why I summoned you."
"I know a little." Isabelle nodded.
"What do you think?" the pope asked, raising his head. The old man's eyes were bright, utterly different from that nearly rotten body.
"The old nobles are clinging stubbornly to the glory of the past. They've already fallen behind Laputa's development." Isabelle said calmly, "There are too many nobles in Laputa. When the time is right, we can streamline them a little."
The pope fell into thought. After a moment, he made his decision. "Then I'll leave it to