Chapter 128

Proofreader: somnium

Ansgar was startled.

“You don’t have to, Madam.”

“Ansgar.”

“It was the Dowager Marchioness Rosan, who committed the heresy. Of course, you may feel morally responsible, but strictly speaking, it has nothing to do with you.”

Artizea has already separated herself from Miraila. In this capital, no one with an ear didn’t know it.

“I can’t hide forever.”

“The priesthood has no authority to interrogate Madam. If the Temple wants to take you for the kin punishment, they’ll have to get Sir Lawrence out first. Not Madam.”

Ansgar said sternly.

“Unless all the knights and servants of Grand Duchy Evron lose their lives, no one will be able to restrain or enforce Madam.”

Artizea was a little bitter and a little sad. It was because Ansgar’s attitude had itched the scars of the past.

“Don’t worry, Ansgar, all you can be punished at the temple is excommunication.”

“Madam…….”

“The scandal is not a small sin. But for it to be a real threat, it must lead to the deprivation of property or title.”

Those who are excommunicated are deprived of their rights as members of the society. This was another matter with atheists.

An atheist simply meant that he had little or no piety. But excommunication meant that he was a felon who did not deserve to be under God.

Therefore, they retroactively lose all rights.

Therefore, the sacrament of marriage becomes nonexistent. All children born become illegitimate.

When Milaira is excommunicated, Artizea will no longer be a direct line of the Marquisate of Rssan.

But how about that? It is only formally stated that Artizea is the daughter of Marquis Rosan. No one thought of her as the real lineage, so it had little to do with her reputation.

“I have already succeeded the Marquisate of Rosan, so there is no way I will lose my title unless another blood family sues for inheritance. The title of Grand Duchess Evron was obtained through my own marriage, so it doesn’t matter if I become an illegitimate child. Because I am not being excommunicated.”

“Madam…….”

“Ansgar, if I am excommunicated, will Evron banish me?”

“It will never happen.”

Ansgar declared. Artizea smiled.

“Then I don’t have to worry.”

“Madam.”

“Don’t worry, Ansgar, this is my decision.”

When Artizea said that, Ansgar couldn’t hold back any more.

The Mistress has already made a decision. Any further disapproval would not be an advice, but an out of place nagging.

Artizea greeted Marcus separately. She couldn’t pretend she didn’t know the old butler, who had not slept for days out of worry.

Because this had something to do with Miraila, Marcus became even more angry and wept.

He had now thought that she was stabilized in many ways, and that she could just wait for the birth of her successor in peace.

Only now, it seemed he could forgive and forget even the complicated feelings about Artizea’s birth.

If only a child is born, if only a real heir of the real lineage is born, then the Marquisate of Rosan will be able to start anew.

Again Miraila ruined it.

Marcus’ position is different from Ansgar’s. In the worst case, Evron can also choose to give up on Artizea.

“Don’t worry too much. How much money have I dedicated to the temple so far?”

“Madam…….”

Artizea was joking, but Marcus couldn’t take it lightly.

Then Artizea looked into Marcus’ eyes and spoke straightly.

“The problem is actually more on the side of the rebellion than the excommunication of my mother.”

Marcus clenched his lips so that it turned white and he nodded his head.

Heretics are excommunicated. Wizards are burned at the stake.

But it is not a kin punishment system. Lawrence and Artizea would indirectly suffer as a result of Milaira’s excommunication.

However, it was a rebellion to curse the Empress; to pray for her misfortune and death.

Even if Artizea completely cut off her relationship with Miraila, it is of no use. As long as they were related by blood, it was a felony that would get even Artizea and Lawrence executed. Grand Duchy Evron and Lawrence’s men will also be implicated and imprisoned altogether.

“His Majesty won’t do that. It’s not that he can’t kill his wife or his own son, but there’s no benefit to be seen in doing so.”

“Then what does Her Majesty the Empress… .”

“She no longer has the energy to take an active part in this complicated battle. But isn’t there one person who will do everything in his power to allege treason?”

At Artizea’s words, Marcus spoke heavily with bloodshot eyes.

“I know what you mean.”

“For the time being, let the temple dominate. Until public opinion subsides, heresy is better for me. Understand?”

“Yes. …… I am angry and sad, but I understand.”

Artizea lightly tapped his arm.

Hayley, who was ready to go out, was waiting. She wore clothes that looked like a knight’s uniform, with a short sword and pistol around her waist. On her chest was the insignia of Grand Duchy Evron.

Artizea was surprised. Because she didn’t know that Hayley had such clothes.

“Hayley?”

“It’s just clothes. I’m not good at swords and I can’t even shoot.”

Then Hayley showed the magazine of her pistol. It was empty.

“This role originally belonged to Lysia, but now it doesn’t.”

“I was going to make you watch the social scene.”

“Leave it to Sir Freil. The place where a lady-in-waiting will be is close to her mistress.”

Without hesitation, she handed over the heavy duty to Freil. Artizea couldn’t help but laugh.

Hayley said with a slightly red face.

“It’s not because of Your Grace. Anyway, you need to put pressure on your employees.”

“Right.”

“I thought that it would be to spread the word, that Your Grace is not going to talk secretly, but waited for the priests to come.”

“That too. Bishop Akim has a strong desire for power and honor. It’s better to indulge his face.”

“The fight starts with momentum. Your Grace may be obedient this time to build the prestige of the temple on the outside and to gain tangible benefits from the inside, but from the point of view of the Evron people, that won’t do.”

“As long as Evron isn’t going to throw me away anyway, there’s no problem with negotiation if I don’t show off my power. I don’t want to show anything but the impression that they are trying to oppress us with power and status.

“We are Evron, Your Grace. It seems strange to send Your Grace alone.”

It was true.

Hayley added.

“If you don’t understand, think of it as a way to put the two old men at ease.”

Having said that, she had nothing more to say to Artizea.

Hayley had already mobilized the knights.

As if in a crisis situation, Artizea stifled a smirk, like the Grand Duchess heading to the battlefield.

Artizea herself walked out to the front door in simple attire with only Hayley.

About 10 knights followed her, and about 70 Evron knights were already waiting outside, fully prepared.

With this number, it could be seen that all the knights in charge of the security duty were not involved in other office work or intelligence work.

The priesthood had a slightly intimidated face.

Artizea approached Bishop Akim. He remained expressionless.

“What is this, Marchioness Rosan?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to obey the temple, it’s that my family can’t let me go alone.”

Artizea said with a genuinely perplexed face.

“You know, the temperament of the people of Evron.”

“Tell them to step back. You dare to intimidate the temple with force?”

Then Alphonse stepped forward and bowed his head politely.

“How could you possibly mean that, Bishop? I just want to do my best as a knight.”

“We will be the only ones going to the temple. The rest will gather up and then come back. In the current circumstances, we have decided that it is inappropriate to let Her Grace out of the mansion without any escort.”

Hayley said.

“Are you saying that you do not believe in the protection of the temple?”

Bishop Akim looked at Artizea again, expressionless. However, Artizea, with an embarrassed smile, still did not answer.

It was difficult. Bishop Akim would not even let a lady-in-waiting accompany Artizea. Especially an armed lady-in-waiting.

But the knights follow. It was fortunate that they would push everyone into the temple together, or that they would be stationed near the temple.

Thinking like that, Hayley felt like a small problem.

“Alright. Since you have a noble status, there is no helping it but to allow a lady-in-waiting.”

Bishop Akim said so and opened the carriage door. It was the carriage of the little temple he rode in.

Artizea got on the carriage without hesitation. Hayley followed.

Bishop Akim got on last, and he said after closing the door.

“From now on, the temple will decide whether or not every action and word of Marchioness is in line with the will of the gods.”

“Are you threatening to put Her Grace on a heresy trial right now?”

Hayley asked.

“Not only the Marchioness, but everyone else is living in a test of whether or not they are living uprightly according to the will of God. Do not take it in a bad way.”

At Bishop Akim’s words, Artizea only smiled bitterly in her heart.

Soon the carriage departed. The sound of the hoofs of the Knights of Evron resounded.

***

Lawrence’s situation was slightly worse than that of Artizea’s.

Because he was directly involved in the last human trafficking case. Besides, unlike Artizea, he had no one to be a shield.

His mansion on Sabellin Street was surrounded by protesters, as was the Rosan mansion.

Even after Bishop Akim dispersed the protesters in front of Rosan’s house, the number of protesters gathered in front of Lawrence’s house only increased day by day.

Through the open window, the light of the torch could be seen all the way. Even two weeks have passed since the Miraila incident, the protests only intensify day by day.

It didn’t matter day or night. Those who thought Lawrence might escape at night were voluntarily surrounding the mansion.

‘Stupid.’

Lawrence frowned.

If he had decided to run away, he would have done it right away. Even now, if he made up his mind to go out, he could leave at any time. He could go out through a secret passage, but he could also mobilize guards and servants to break through by force.

But Lawrence had no intention of running away. He thought he had done nothing wrong.

To the common people at best, he, the son of the Emperor, has no reason to run away with his tail between his legs.

“I wish it was disbanded. Has the meaning of ‘Father Emperor’ changed yet?”

“Rather, it is the good judgment of the working-level officials that any disbandment would just provoke the protesters further.”

Gayan said so without expression.

Fortunately, unlike at the Rosan’s mansion, there was no attempt to set fire to his mansion.

Protesters threw dirt at the mansion. Gayan instructed his troops that there was no need to block it.

The Guards were doing their best to accumulate the ability to do such a thing, despite not training every day.