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Oracle’s Revelation
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In the royal capital, a governing structure was established consisting of King Louis, Vice King Casablanca, and the royal family member Marie, under whose guidance the kingdom’s reconstruction was underway.
However, the king’s authority no longer held the same power it did during the reign of Zerold I. Louis could not disregard the will of the noble factions behind him, and in meetings, priests brazenly asserted themselves as representatives for Marie. Despite Casablanca’s desperate resistance, policies favorable to the nobles and the church were swiftly enacted one after another.
“Oh, God. May peace come to the kingdom.” (Marie)
Meanwhile, Marie is not in the palace where political forces are all over the place, but in a church. Though half-charred by the flames of Leo’s attack, the church continued to serve as a place of prayer for the people. Marie was well aware of her lack of political ability, so she left meetings to Zenon, the high priest. Instead, she dedicated herself to grassroots activities like supporting orphanages and hospitals.
“Your Highness Marie.” (Mother)
“Mother.” (Marie)
As Marie, who had made her daily visit to pray at the church, prayed, the sister known as Mother, who held a high rank among the nuns, approached her.
“You’re praying earnestly as always.” (Mother)
“Yes, even if only a little, I hope God’s blessings may shower upon the people of this kingdom.” (Marie)
“Your presence serves as a model for all believers of the kingdom.” (Mother)
Mother wiped away her tears as if deeply moved, but Marie remained humble as if it was only natural.
“I am merely doing what I can. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” (Marie)
“We await your return.” (Mother)
When Marie was escorted back to the royal palace by the guards who had come to pick her up, Mother looked like a completely different person, her expressionless face gone blank as she jogged off to her office at the church.
“Her Highness Marie has returned.” (Mother)
“Well done. Now, let’s begin the meeting.” (Zenon)
A man slowly turned to face Mother’s words. It was Zenon, the high priest.
As the church’s representative, Zenon negotiated with Louis, Casablanca, and the nobles, seizing upon the kingdom’s current weakened state to strengthen his influence.
“Thanks to Marie, the church has gained an unparalleled opportunity to intervene in politics. Furthermore, with the kingdom’s instability, we can seize the hearts of the people. We cannot let this chance slip by.” (Zenon)
Mother nodded in agreement.
“If the church holds power, there will no longer be foolish power struggles like those plaguing the current kingdom, nor any grieving citizens.” (Mother)
“Indeed, exactly so.” (Zenon)
As they whispered to each other, the door suddenly burst open with a loud bang. High Priest Cyan entered. His long, snow-white beard hung down to his waist, adding an eerie air to his presence. He had apparently never shaved in his life.
“You there! What about your devotion to God?! Training, training, training!” (Cyan)
“Your Eminence… We are currently discussing political matters…” (Mother)
Seeing Mother trying to calm Cyan down, Zenon inwardly clicked his tongue.
You had to mention politics… Just mentioning politics riles up the old man Cyan.
Predictably, Cyan erupted in anger.
“Politics, you say!? How dare you drag our sacred God into such mundane affairs as politics! Your duty as high priest is to convey God’s words to the kingdom, and nothing more! Don’t waste time thinking about power!” (Cyan)
“Understood.” (Zenon)
While he bowed his head obediently to avoid further reprimand, Zenon cursed inwardly.
This was why the church was continually looked down upon by the kingdom. Around 200 years ago, there had been a plot by church affiliates to overthrow the kingdom. Since then, Laplace Kingdom had rigorously enforced the separation of church and state, and the church’s political influence remained weak.
But now things were on the verge of change. The more unstable society became, the stronger the power of religion grew. And this time, they even had Marie, a prominent royal, in their hands.
If we don’t act now, when would we?
Zenon had been an orphan. Perhaps that’s why he’d grown into such a calculating man. Raised in an orphanage attached to the church, while the other orphans went on to become craftsmen or adventurers, Zenon stayed. The reason was simple. He longed for the authority of a priest. The higher the rank, the more freely he could guide the kingdom’s believers and control vast sums of money. Faith meant little to him.
In contrast, the high priest Cyan standing before him was a devout fanatic. Originally born to a wealthy family, he claimed to have heard God’s voice, abandoned his entire fortune, and joined the church. Therefore, he held no interest in worldly matters like power and devoted himself solely to receiving God’s revelations and praying. His upbringing and motivation to join the church were the complete opposite of Zenon’s.
As for Mother, she genuinely believed religion could save people. A pure-hearted and pious sister, some might call her a fool who’d abandoned critical thought. Such people were easy for Zenon to manipulate. Indeed, when he explained that the swiftest way to spread God’s teachings was for the church to hold political power, she readily became Zenon’s pawn.
With the fanatical Cyan as the church’s highest-ranking high priest and the calculating Zenon as its political representative, their contrasting dispositions made for what was, from an objective viewpoint, quite an ideal distribution of roles. Yet, for Zenon, Cyan was nothing but an annoying fanatic.
“I have received God’s sacred word. Eliminate the heretics from the kingdom.” (Cyan)
It seemed Cyan had received another ‘oracle’ during his fervent devotions. His face was drenched in sweat as he relayed God’s words.
Here he goes again.
Zenon had lost count of how many times he’d struggled to suppress the high priest’s hallucinatory proclamations and delusions. He always wore a serious expression while suggesting frightening things.
Did he even grasp the effort it would take to eliminate heretics?
Zenon intended to dismiss this new proclamation politely as he always did, but in that instant, a shock, like an electric current, jolted through his mind. Military authority, the Warden Household under Casablanca’s control, the Sheeb Order, the conflict between Louis and Casablanca… Various pieces of information began to align in Zenon’s mind.
This absurd ‘oracle’ might actually be an opportunity for the church to make a significant impression. Zenon knelt reverently and recorded the oracle on paper.
“Understood. I shall convey the sacred oracle of our revered God to His Majesty King Louis immediately.” (Zenon)
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