Antonio fell silent after hearing Count Shuesterm out. For a moment, he had no idea what to say.
A landed noble siding with a church was certainly good news. It meant the church would gain a group of Believers and expand its influence among the Nobility.
But the timing was wrong.
Rumors had only just spread through Nobility circles that the Agriculture Church intended to overthrow the Strathlade Kingdom. Now Count Shuesterm had expelled the priests of the God of Cruel Officials Temple, the Temple of Revenge, and the Temple of Dawn. Wouldn't that make people think the rumors were true—that the Agriculture Church really did intend to overthrow the kingdom?
Count Shuesterm had expected the priest before him to say, "Count, welcome to the Agriculture Church," then give him something to do, a chance to prove himself. Instead, the priest said nothing. His heart sank.
To show the Agriculture Church his resolve, he had offended the Church of Cruel Officials, the Church of Revenge, and the Church of Dawn all at once.
In a noble's fief, the noble was effectively king. In theory, he could expel whichever temple he pleased. But theory was one thing and reality another. A noble who expelled a church's priests might have to worry about being casually killed one day by a passing adventurer or Magic Beast.
Not wanting to die under mysterious circumstances someday, Count Shuesterm gritted his teeth and decided to show the priest just how sincere he was.
"My lord, my Nobility allies also plan to expel the priests of other gods' temples from their lands and build temples to the God of Agriculture. When can you send priests to take up residence? The Believers in our territories are waiting for your church's priests to spread the gospel."
*Other Nobility are