Chapter 47

Since they were going to rebuild churches and temples in Visas,

the Saint Church within the Saint Airo Empire would naturally send clergy to the Desinia Territory to handle the relevant matters.

Below the Pope, those responsible for managing clergy and various affairs were divided into three ranks: Cardinals, Archbishops, and Grand Bishops.

Among them, Cardinals and Archbishops remained in the empire, assisting the Pope in managing the Holy See, while Grand Bishops were responsible for resolving issues that arose in churches and temples in the smaller nations.

As for lower-ranking bishops, bishop representatives, and the like, they were assigned to churches and temples in smaller nations and territories as administrators or assistants.

Ordinarily, if the Holy See wished to rebuild churches within Cyrus's territory, the personnel sent should have been at the bishop level.

Even if their rank were higher, it could only have gone as far as a Grand Bishop.

That was what Cyrus had thought.

But when he saw the Holy See's visitors outside the castle, his expression involuntarily froze.

A low-key yet luxurious carriage slowly came to a stop.

The black-robed attendants surrounding it lifted the curtain, revealing before Cyrus the familiar, handsome face he had not forgotten.

The current Pope—Segalot Wordsworth Augsger.

Cyrus could not help feeling puzzled.

Why had he come here?

Could it be that he had never left the territory since the ducal upheaval?

Naturally, Cyrus did not know that after burning down the churches and temples in Kaies, Segalot had continued traveling, visiting a neighboring nation before circling around to Gaina.

They happened to encounter a royal upheaval in Gaina, and the Holy See was unexpectedly involved as well.

So Segalot stayed behind to investigate.

To his surprise, he discovered that the people Cyrus had sent were also lurking there, and had helped Light Green, the eldest son of the First Prince, on several occasions.

This eldest son truly was, as Bruno Green had said, a man who loved only men and had violated the Holy See's rules.

He disregarded worldly norms and common sense, falling in love with and confirming a relationship with the personal servant he had grown up alongside.

Bruno Green had indeed not been lying.

According to the Holy See's rules, it was entirely reasonable and normal for Light to lose his right to inherit the throne because of such a stain.

But Segalot did not hand over the evidence and information his Golden Armored Knights had uncovered to Gaina's executing bishop.

Instead, he chose to watch coldly from the sidelines.

He wanted to see which of the two princes would ultimately win the throne.

The most crucial "evidence" in this struggle was the servant who was in love with Light.

At the beginning, Light had sent him away and hidden him.

But Bruno eventually found him through every possible means and brought him directly into the church.

Light arrived in time. Amid the chaotic argument and confrontation between both sides, the servant killed himself before anyone could react.

Bruno Green lost the strongest "evidence" he had against Light.

Everything that followed proceeded naturally, with Light inheriting the throne.

From beginning to end, Segalot had not particularly cared whether Light loved men or women.

Cyrus prepared outside the castle to receive the clergy on the date specified in the documents issued by the Holy See.

Yet the only ones who arrived were Segalot and the black-robed guards accompanying him.

After his initial surprise passed,

Cyrus calmly led them into the castle.

They now sat together in the study, with Ferdinand and Walker standing behind Cyrus.

Seeing that the young lord did not speak, while the Holy See's visitors also sat silently across from him, Walker could not help observing the man at their head.

The man's golden eyes held a faint, inconspicuous smile, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.

He looked to be around sixteen or seventeen years old.

His appearance was exceptionally handsome. From his hair to the hem of his clothes, nearly every part of him revealed refinement and elegance.

In terms of bearing, he did not lose to the five tall, muscular black-robed men standing behind him.

He was even more impossible to ignore, clearly someone who had long occupied a position of authority.

Such a person was definitely not a bishop or bishop representative.

An unbelievable thought could not help rising in Walker's heart.

He carefully studied those golden eyes... If his guess was correct, this eye color was unique and exceedingly rare within the Saint Church and even the entire Saint Airo Empire.

—It was praised as "the honor bestowed by the Creator God."

Walker came back to his senses and felt someone looking at him from beside him.

When he turned his head, he met Ferdinand's eyes, where he saw the same question.

Cyrus spoke at that moment. "Have you come here to personally preside over the construction ceremony for the church and temple?"

Segalot said, "I would not come in person over such a trivial matter."

He had merely come to personally see a little rose that was still growing.

Cyrus asked, "Then... do you need my help with something?"

"No, I do not."

"..."

Cyrus felt that this conversation could not continue.

Why was the current Pope only staring at him?

Was there something on his face?

Impossible... If there were, Judas would definitely have wiped it clean for him.

Could it be... that this man thought he looked adorable?

Watching the constantly changing expressions on the little rose's face, Segalot felt amused.

He said, "I came for you."

"For me?"

Cyrus's expression was clearly puzzled.

Segalot said, "The internal troubles have already been resolved, but external threats still remain."

"The Holy See is the most direct and useful means of consolidating royal authority. A nation recognized by the Holy See..."

Click to view.

He looked at Cyrus and slowly continued, "...or even a territory, is considered acknowledged in the eyes of others. For the time being, it can make some wildly growing ambitions restrain themselves."

Cyrus said, "I have never feared such things."

Otherwise, when Gadayat had become the Desinia Territory, he would have applied to the Holy See to rebuild churches and temples long ago.

Approval appeared in Segalot's eyes. "You truly are the smartest. Of course, I understand that you are not afraid of such things, but not being afraid does not mean you will not find them troublesome."

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"Sometimes, even the slightest trouble can make people feel irritated and disgusted."

Cyrus nodded. That was indeed true.

But he was even more unwilling to tolerate Holy See clergy constantly interfering within his territory and obstructing what he wanted to do in the future.

Cyrus would rather accept other obstacles—if anyone dared set their sights on his territory, then they should not blame him for paying them back tenfold or a hundredfold.

It was not difficult for Segalot to guess what he was thinking.

It should be said that ever since he first saw Cyrus smiling as he spoke those words in the church at Kaies, Segalot had realized that this child did not hold much reverence or awe for the Creator God.

The way he looked at the Creator God's statue was merely the way one looked at an ordinary stone carving, filled with curiosity and a little interest.

Segalot said to Cyrus, "Therefore, I did not bring a single bishop."

"You may appoint your own people. So long as the churches and temples are built within Visas, the clergy serving within them will no longer interfere in the Desinia Territory's affairs without authorization."

He had given a sufficiently clear hint.

Cyrus immediately thought of Grove and the other priests.

"You mean?"

"Choose one person. I can make an exception and promote him to bishop."

Cyrus asked in confusion, "Why would you...?"

Segalot's golden eyes seemed to shimmer with flowing light, but he did not answer.

Because he wanted to personally cultivate a vivid and captivating rose.

He wanted to watch what magnificent blossoms this little rose could produce in fertile soil that was full of thorns.

Choosing the bishop afterward was simple. With the Pope here, the appointment could be made directly.

Cyrus intended for Grove to become the new bishop of Visas.

After the discussion was settled, Cyrus escorted Segalot out of the castle.

Just as they left the study and were about to pass a corner, the five black-robed men behind Segalot—the Golden Armored Knights—suddenly tensed in unison.

Their wary gazes fixed on the somewhat dark corner.

Segalot looked over as well.

Two enormous figures, one black and one white, gradually emerged from the darkness around the corner.

Their bodies were sleek and powerful, their fur marked with beautiful stripes. Their thick paw pads made no sound against the floor.

"Tigers?!"

The Golden Armored Knights reacted swiftly, immediately surrounding Segalot with their curved blades raised in guard.

Coalball and Snowball seemed to sense the threatening aura coming from the other side as well.

They stopped where they were, a chilling gleam flashing in their tiger eyes. They let out low growls as their claws slowly emerged...

Cyrus could not help saying, "They are my little darlings. They are still children and will not hurt people casually."

Segalot said, "Put down your weapons."

The leading black-robed man hesitated for a moment before lowering his curved blade as instructed.

The other black-robed men immediately did the same.

Segalot could not help examining the two enormous tigers: their rare fur colors, their fierce and majestic appearance...

He then looked at Cyrus. "How did you raise them?"

Cyrus was baffled. How else could he raise them?

"Feed them meat."

"Roar."

Seeing that the threatening people had put away their weapons, Coalball and Snowball slightly straightened and called out to Cyrus, but did not come closer.

Segalot asked, "May I go closer and look at them? By myself."

Cyrus nodded.

The leading black-robed man could not help wanting to speak, but Segalot silenced him with a glance.

He could only watch as the Pope followed behind the young lord and gradually approached the two tigers, which looked exceptionally dangerous and fierce.

"What are their names?" Segalot asked softly.

"The black one is called Coalball, and the white one is called Snowball."

Cyrus had already walked up to the two tigers.

They rubbed their shoulders and faces against him one after another, displaying complete intimacy.

Just as Segalot wanted to reach out his hand, Coalball and Snowball both showed resistance.

They bared their sharp teeth at him. Even the king-shaped markings on their foreheads seemed to become ferocious.

"Give me your hand."

Cyrus stretched out a fair, tender hand toward Segalot, palm facing upward.

Segalot raised an eyebrow with mild curiosity.

He placed his right hand atop it, nearly covering it completely.

Segalot had the inexplicable urge to give it a squeeze, but he restrained himself.

Holding his hand, Cyrus slowly placed it on Snowball's body.

Under his palm was smooth yet hard fur, which occasionally slipped between his fingers...

"Snowball is very well-behaved."

Segalot stared directly into the white tiger's cold eyes.

After watching for a while, he suddenly smiled. "Is that so? Can I touch the black tiger again?"

"Mm."

At last, beneath Coalball's increasingly displeased gaze, Segalot withdrew his hand.

He said, "I think neither of them is very well-behaved."

"You are the most well-behaved one."

Cyrus took a step back to avoid him. "Indeed."

If I am not well-behaved, then who is?

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