: Intrigue

A noble guest came to the study of Grand Duke Butani, Mr. Christopher, the Archbishop of the Holy Church of Light. Both of them were full of thoughts and were in a bad mood.

The grand duke looked gloomy and there were too many troubles recently. The Kingdom of Apia got a large amount of gold from some channels, which temporarily solved the difficulties in payment. However, since the gold was in the hands of the Apia local government, the economic center of the entire principality began to tilt towards the region.

This aroused strong dissatisfaction among the nobles. They put pressure on the Grand Duke many times, but the Grand Duke was not good at the economy and could not effectively adjust. The military's dissatisfaction became stronger and stronger. Several veteran generals not only expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current situation, but even began to list a series of policy mistakes after the Grand Duke ascended the throne.

Cardinal Christopher has also been very upset recently. He already knows that the Hope God Church has recently appointed two young knights as its leader, and the Hope God Church’s recent series of actions and actions came from these two people.

Jedisakel had a special identity. In this sensitive stage, in order to avoid criticism from the Principality of Butani, Garfield concealed his true identity. Jedisakel's public identity was called Jedisowerf. Picassovando of course used his real name, but whether it was a real name or a pseudonym, the Bishop used all his power and could not find out the true origins of these two people.

The three bishops of the Holy Sect of Light came to the Tagore Empire. Among the three archbishops, he had the least achievements in recent years. Pope Nishi has always been quite unhappy with this. Now, they were originally suppressed by them, and they could almost wait for natural death to the goddess of hope that suddenly came back. When the dead tree was in spring, the pope was furious when he heard the news.

Crithtopher stood in front of the crystal ball, and was scolded by the Pope with a stern voice and expression. He looked like a mortal face. It was time for him to do something big as soon as possible. Otherwise, if he didn't say that the position of the Pope was, it would be a problem whether the position of the Cardinal archbishop could be maintained.

"Uncle, I sincerely believe in the Holy Teachings of Light, and at the same time I have given many conveniences and support for the spread of the Holy Teachings of Light in our country. Now I hope that the Holy Teachings of Light can also help me.

I am now like I am trapped in a quagmire. The failure of the war has caused a series of problems. These problems have been covered up by the strength of the battlefield and the news of victory, but now they are exposed. Economically, politically, and military…”.

"Dear Lord, what kind of help do you want the Holy Church of Light to provide you?" Christopher asked lightly.

"Can I fully trust you, Grandpa?" the Grand Duke looked directly at the bishop and asked solemnly.

Christopher straightened his waist and looked serious: "I am the servant of the Lord, and in the name of the Supreme God, I give His kindness to the earth. If you are devout to the Lord, believe me."

Grand Duke Butani sneered in his heart. Only when he believed there was a ghost, but now he really couldn't find a second person to help him.

"Butani's current economic situation is very difficult. I need to borrow a huge amount of money to overcome the difficulties. And I can't think of anyone else in the Principality of Buttani except for the powerful Holy Spirit of Light. The second thing involves..."

The Grand Duke's voice lowered and his body leaned forward slightly: "When it comes to several senior generals of the military, these people lack sufficient loyalty to me. I hope to remove them from their posts in an absolutely safe manner, but because they have been in the military for many years, their disciples and brothers in the robes are all over the entire army, I need an absolutely loyal armed force to control the overall situation before I can issue an order."

The Cardinal's eyes flashed and said, "The Lord means..., do you want to use my Knights of Glory?"

"With unity, you will benefit both. The old men of the military have no good impression of the Holy Church of Light, you know that."

The bishop leaned back and closed his eyes to ponder. The grand duke did not ask, and quietly waited for his answer.

"The Grand Duke is using me. He has never been a true believer, but an unyielding warlord, tyrant and politician. In his eyes, there is only the desire to conquer, never any belief, he only believes in himself.

Those old guys in the military do not have a good impression of the Holy Spirit of Light, but is it really beneficial for him to take the risk of helping a grand duke who also does not believe in the Holy Spirit of Light to get rid of several generals who are against him and replace them with his confidants? No! With these old guys there, he has to rely on himself."

"The Crown Prince", he couldn't help but feel young.

Christopher opened his eyes: "Dear Lord, I personally am willing to help you do anything given our deep friendship. However, as a bishop, I cannot give the world a false impression: interfere in politics.

I can promise you about lending to the Holy Church of Light. In addition, I heard that Apiah is not very stable now. Consul Garfield has obtained a batch of gold through his relationship, but it is only used to alleviate the dilemma of Apiah's realm. At the same time, he is strengthening the Goddess of Hope and strengthening the Knights of the Apocalypse like an army.

I think this is the most dangerous. I have a suggestion, what do you think. I can lend the Grand Duke five million gold coins, which is a completely interest-free loan and can be paid off in ten years. However, this money is all assets donated by the believers of the Holy Spirit of Light. In order to appease the believers, I hope that the Grand Duke can also swear to believe in the Holy Spirit of Light from now on.

In addition, Garfield consul was ambitious. This person was the great trouble of the Grand Duke. However, he had another identity, that is, he hoped that the chief priest of the Goddess Cult, I could put aside his identity as the Consul, launch a siege against him in the name of the Holy Church of Light, and eliminate the future troubles for the Grand Duke. In this regard, the Grand Duke did not need to dispatch troops. As long as he made a political statement, stand on our side, what do you think?"

Grand Duke Butani sneered secretly. Although Garfield was a thorn in his eyes, he still relied on this thorn to balance the Cardinal. If he really made the Holy Church of Light the family the dominant, wouldn’t he become a puppet?

As the Grand Duke, he stood by and let Christopher fight with another sect in the name of religion in his own territory. When the Holy Church of Light wins, the economic and political control there will probably be completely in their hands..."

Grand Duke Butany immediately rejected the proposal in his heart, however, he really needs some money to get through the difficulties, otherwise his government would not be able to operate.

Grand Duke Butani frowned and hesitated for a while before saying, "Garfield is the consul of Apiah. This is an indisputable fact. In the name of religious conflict, you can let go and fight. As a ruler, I cannot explain to the people. Please forgive me, Lord Bishop. The only thing I can do is to convince my wife to believe in the Holy Church of Light."

Christopher sighed, slid his eyes, and pondered for a while before saying, "Okay, if the Grand Duke Madam could convert to the Holy Church of Light, then five million gold coins would be sent to the Grand Duke's Mansion immediately. As for the military and Apia's affairs, I think we can discuss them carefully, and there will always be a solution."

When Grand Duke Butani saw him agreeing, he said with relief: "Okay, then we will make up for it!"

The cardinal raised his lips and smiled slightly.

He was smiling on his face and in his heart: Letting the Queen of Apiah, a devout believer of the Goddess of Hope convert to the Holy Church of Light, is more lethal than killing the 100,000 believers of the Goddess of Hope. By then, the spiritual pillar of the Goddess of Hope will completely fall.

The Grand Duke is still young. Does it require his approval to launch a religious war?

The war between religions is like love between men and women. When it is time to happen, it will happen for no reason...

Elizabeth Susu and her husband confronted each other again in the bedroom.

"Tell me to change my faith? You might as well kill me! This is absolutely impossible!" Elizabeth was so angry that her breasts were fluttering. She never expected that this nominal husband would make such an rude request. This was a great offense to a believer and an act of disrespect.

"What a shit faith! Anything that strips the sacred cloak that wraps it out is exposed is a naked benefit! I am your husband, and everything about you should be subject to my interests. Now, I need some money to deal with temporary difficulties, and the price is just to change your faith. What's the big deal?"

Elisha had a white face, and said coldly: "I'm sorry, I refuse! I have sacrificed enough for you. Now all I have left is Apiah's people and the faith deep in my soul. You cannot, and are not qualified to deprive it."

Elizabeth turned around and wanted to leave. Grand Duke Butani grabbed her arm again. A contemptuous sneer appeared on the corner of Queen Elizabeth's mouth: "Why, are you going to fist and kick me again? The last injury was just right. I don't mind you're going to abuse me again, because only then did I feel that my husband seemed...a man!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she groaned and her petite body fell on the carpet. Grand Duke Butani slapped her and reached out to hold her, but her strength was no match for Grand Duke, and she fell heavily to the ground.

She angered Grand Duke Butani. The handsome face had been completely distorted. His face turned ashen and blue veins appeared on his forehead. With just one step, Grand Duke Butani came to her, bent down and held her slender neck, and lifted her whole body into her mouth.

Elizabeth's face was red with a pinched face, and she made a uh-sounding sound in her mouth, but she couldn't speak.

Grand Duke Butani squeezed out a gloomy sentence from his teeth: "Don't try to challenge my patience anymore. You bitch, what queen, are not as good as a shit in my eyes! What do you have? The people of Apiah and the faith deep in your soul?"

Grand Duke Butani laughed wildly: "Do you believe that I can let your people corpses be everywhere? Can I let the religion you believe in disappear? As long as I give you an order, I don't need to send out a soldier or a soldier, someone will do it for me!

Don’t obediently listen to my instructions, you will become nothing, including your honorable queen! The clients of the brothel will be interested in a bitch who once was a queen. Do you want to try it? Each of them can prove to you that he is a man!"

Elizabeth Susu's face turned purple due to suffocation. She stared at Grand Duke Butany with an extremely resentful look, but she couldn't say a word.

"Let go of the queen!" The maid Ami rushed in.

She is Elizabeth Susu's personal maid. She grew up with the Queen. The two have long been like sisters. The Queen married the Grand Duke of Butany, and she also came to the Duchy of Butany with her.

She knew that the queen had been unhappy since she got married, but she didn't know the reason. On the surface, the grand duke and his wife were so loving, and their identity and appearance were so compatible. Amy always believed that the queen's sadness was because of missing her motherland.

Just now, Grand Duke Butani ordered all servants to leave. She did not intend to violate the order, but the queen ordered something. Now the powerful people have arrived. She wanted to report the queen as soon as possible, so she stood not too far away. The roaring conversation between the Grand Duke and his wife was not small, and she listened to everything.

Her sisterly affection and loyalty to protect the Lord made her break in desperately.

Grand Duke Butani's face changed drastically and he said sternly: "Who asked you to stand outside the door? What did you hear?"

Ami hugged the queen, who coughed violently, bent over and couldn't speak for a while.

Ami hugged the queen, stood bravely in front of the grand duke, and said angrily: "I heard it all, Lord Grand Duke, how can you be so rude to the queen? Even though you are the queen's husband..."

Before she could finish her words, the sentence "I heard it all" just said, when Grand Duke Butani's eyes suddenly became murderous. A purple air flashed on his face, and he slapped Aimi's chest with a palm, slapped the petite girl backwards, and threw it to the corner of the bed like a half-broken sack.

"Ami!" Queen Susu screamed, staggered over and picked her up.

Poor Amy's eyes were dull, her face was already light golden, and black blood stains meandered down the corner of her mouth, and her internal organs were slapped by this palm.

Grand Duke Butani could not deal with Queen Elizabeth at will, but a little maid was not much more noble than a dog in his eyes. Now the situation cannot be discussed. Grand Duke Butani hummed heavily, brushed his sleeves away, and left the door. Seeing that the corridor was empty and there was no one else, the Grand Duke left with confidence.

Queen Elizabeth hugged Aimi, who grew up together with childhood sweethearts, and she burst into tears.

Aimi never understood why the grandpa got such a big temper. She only understood one thing, that is, she was about to die.

Although Ami heard the queen's pun, she didn't understand anything. Her heart was full of questions, but she would never have the chance to understand it.

As she was dying, she struggled and said the last sentence: "Your Majesty, the guest you...invited...has arrived!"

"Amy...", the queen's tears fell on her face one by one, and the faint voice was like a soul in hell: "I will avenge you, one day!"

When the general manager led several servants into the queen's bedroom with fear, the cute girl Ami had turned into a cold body. Queen Elizabeth seemed to be sitting in front of the dressing table and was applying powder makeup.

Her hair is tied high and her forehead is as bright as jade. Her noble and elegant temperament is like she is about to attend a grand dinner. There is no abnormality, but her cheeks are pale, her lips are red like blood, and she exudes a chill that makes people feel scared...

This is a shop on the street, which has always operated various fine wines, but now the economy is in a downturn and the business of the wine shop has become lighter. It was just dusk when the shop closed, and the door panels have been mostly on, leaving only a wide gap for a person to shine in lazily.

The boss, who is nearly 70 years old, sat at the door, dozing in the warm sunset. The noise caused by the occasionally carriages passing by on the street seemed to have nothing to do with him. This street was originally a not-so-busy street, and it seemed that he had no hope for his business, just like most Butani citizens who could not see the future at all.

A carriage drove to the door and stopped in front of the door for a moment. A thin gentleman wearing a black cloak and a top hat hurriedly opened the car door and flashed into the tavern. The carriage continued to move forward without any abnormality.

The boss stood up, yawned, threw the chair back to the room lazily, then carried the last door panel and entered the room. The door panel closed. This time, the hotel was completely closed.

As soon as the thin gentleman entered the house, two people waiting in the dark came up to meet him. Three people went up to the second floor. While walking, the man took off his hat, took off his cloak and handed it to the person next to him. Then a charming beauty appeared in front of everyone.

She climbed up to the second floor and stood at the stairs. Yanran smiled and said, "I have been waiting for a long time. General Sult, Earl of Alexander, Judge Blaine, Lord Donald, Hello!"

The beauty's manner is elegant and impeccable, her temptation and charming curves show infinite youth and vitality, and that graceful smile brings people a perfect visual enjoyment.

The four prominent figures bowed respectfully and bowed: "As far as you are concerned, respectful Queen Elizabeth, Is there anything important to the Queen secretly summoning us?"

"Of course", Elizabeth Susu walked over calmly and sat calmly in the seat directly in front of the table. The four adults looked at each other and sat down from left to right.

The queen smiled slightly, her wonderful eyes flowed, and her sexy flowed out in the midst of her hopes: "It is related to the individual, the fate and future of the country. Do you think it is an important matter?"

Dozens of horses were tall and mighty, and the knights on the horse were all terrifying, which made people afraid to see them. They rode their horses along a spacious road, and stopped from time to time to point at the lakes, mountains, and trees on the side of the road.

There was no special explanation for their clothes, and no one knew which noble master was. With a stay away from him, the farmers did not dare to approach him. They just stood up in the ridge far away, and looked at them curiously with hoes.

Until the group returned to the near city of Armedi, many residents recognized the two knights in the middle as their beloved Paladin Karnier and the new deputy head of the Blood Rose Knights, Mr. Jady, who brought them wealth and hope, and smiled respectfully and affectionately, and bent down on the side of the road to pay high respects.

Kaniri said: "It's basically the route. The Queen is a believer of my religion. The monarchs of Apiah have all been believers of the Goddess Church. The Goddess Church and the Kingdom of Apiah have long been integrated, and their relationships are inseparable from blood and flesh.

Every year on the goddess' Christmas Day, the queen would go to the Holy Forest to pay homage to the Holy Forest. However, after she married Grand Duke Butani, because Grand Duke Butani believed in the Holy Spirit..., you know, the Holy Forest of the Holy Spirit is very exclusive. In order not to embarrass Grand Duke Butani, the Queen did not come back publicly to attend the Christmas ceremony.

But she comes back quietly every year and goes to the Holy Forest as an ordinary person. This is also known to everyone in the Duchy of Butani. It is a secret that is not a secret. Now our relationship with the Holy Church of Light is very tense, so the queen has to be extra careful about its safety. Like Gantis was attacked last time, and he has not found any evil spirits until now..."

He suddenly smiled bitterly when he said this, and sighed: "It's hard to tell whether the so-called assassin he was talking about exists or not."

Jady alertly changed the topic and asked, "Master, you started to deploy in our Apiya Kingdom. Is there any problem with Butani?"

Canary's attention was indeed attracted: "Of course it's not without problems, but even if someone is not good to the Queen, there are not many opportunities to attack in Butani. If something happens to the Queen there, he will definitely not be able to escape the relationship between the Night Holy Sect. However, we both tried our best to maintain this balance in the past, and it is difficult to talk about it now."

He whipped his horse's buttocks and said, "Every year when the Queen decides to come back, the three of us will personally rush to the Duchy of Butani to greet the Queen and escort the Queen north. Oh, this year only Dolores and I are the only ones."

His face was a little disappointed, and then he said, "There are almost zero along the way that can harm the queen under our protection. But it will be troublesome to enter the Holy Forest. You know, our number of believers is very large, and we allow people from other countries and other sects to watch the ceremony. By that day, the Holy Forest is almost overcrowded.
To be continued...