CA – Chapter 2
Chapter 2
It was no exaggeration to say that the Holy See had countless believers on the continent. Five thousand years ago, after the first Pope drove the dark forces completely underground, the continent was entirely enveloped in light. The Holy See's prestige was unparalleled. Although its power gradually waned over time due to the deliberate opposition of various kings, priests were still regarded as noble and respectable figures in the eyes of the public.
Tang Qiu followed the knights to the main city and was settled in Marquis Davis's residence.
"The Marquis was summoned by the King and has not yet returned, but he is aware of your arrival and has expressed his welcome." The maid of the Marquis's residence handed Tang Qiu an invitation. "The Marquis invites you to a banquet tomorrow evening," she said politely.
Tang Qiu accepted the invitation, the smile on her lips making her seem as if she were shrouded in a soft halo. She thanked the maid courteously, "Please inform Marquis Davis that I am honored to receive his invitation."
Whether it was the inherent affinity of light magic or the gentleness of Tang Qiu's smile, the maid paused for a moment, her previously formal tone softening. "Please let me know if you need anything at all."
Tang Qiu nodded with a smile. Only after the maid's back disappeared from the room did the curve of her lips slowly flatten. She twirled the invitation between her fingers and surveyed her surroundings. Seeing the soft, large bed in the center of the room, she smiled again, this time genuinely.
She was truly tired of sleeping in the wild.
If life couldn't be enjoyed, what was left? Tang Qiu unfastened the hood of her cloak, setting it aside to reveal the pure white robes beneath. This was the uniform of a Holy See priest-snow-white without a single blemish. The cuffs, collar, and hem were embroidered with a matching set of exquisite patterns, adding to its elegance. The top button of the collar was fastened, completely covering her long, graceful neck. She wore a pair of silver boots, leaving only her face and hands exposed.
In the eyes of the world, priests were holy, noble, and elegant. Only robes as pure and white as snow could befit their status.
It was a rule of the Holy See that believers of the light could not marry, as their entire lives were to be dedicated to the Light Goddess.
Tang Qiu stood before a mirror, examining her new body. Perfect, three-dimensional features, deep sky-blue eyes that seemed naturally affectionate, long golden hair, and skin so fair it was almost translucent... This appearance certainly gave her an advantage, but it would also bring endless trouble.
After all, the Tang Qiu from before her transmigration had not been unattractive, so she was well aware of the pros and cons.
She tilted her head back slightly and undid a few buttons at her collar. Her long fingers traced the shocking ring of purple-blue bruises on her neck. Her brow furrowed. When Tang Qiu first transmigrated, she had felt that her neck was uncomfortable. Later, when she found a chance to check, she discovered this circle of bruises.
This ring of bruises clearly told Tang Qiu how the original owner had died. The fire at the church had destroyed all clues about the killer, but Tang Qiu still remembered that when she opened her eyes, she was first startled by the surrounding corpses before noticing the flames closing in.
The state of the other priests' deaths was terrifying, as if they had been mauled by wild beasts. Not a single body was intact. The memory sent a chill down her spine whenever she closed her eyes.
Compared to those priests, the bruises on her neck seemed rather special.
So special that it made Tang Qiu's heart pound. She had a feeling that the one who massacred the church might have been targeting her from the very beginning.
The original owner had too many secrets, and she had no memories. She would have to be much more careful in the future to avoid exposing her identity. Fortunately, the Gosse Empire and Edry were not on good terms, so they couldn't openly come here to investigate.
Tang Qiu lay down on the bed, the soft touch relaxing her tense nerves. She covered her mouth with her hand, yawned, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
During her time sleeping in the wild with Erin, Tang Qiu had not eaten or slept well, and her mind had been constantly on edge. Now that she was finally in a relatively comfortable environment and had gradually adapted to this world, the "desire for enjoyment" in her bones began to stir.
Supreme power was not an ambition but an attitude toward survival. Hiding underground like a rat was not in her nature. She wanted to live in the sunlight.
However, for now, she had to focus on how to survive on this continent.
She fastened the buttons of her collar one by one, then carefully arranged her hair. A slight smile touched her lips. The golden-haired girl in the mirror smiled back, her expression gentle and approachable.
On the eve of the banquet, Marquis Davis sent a maid to fetch her. It was the same one who had given her the invitation. The maid had a good impression of Tang Qiu, so she spoke a little more on the way. "This is a private banquet hosted by Marquis Davis. He has only invited friends, as well as the swordsmen and priests who have come in response to His Majesty the King's summons."
Tang Qiu smiled at her. "Alright, I will relax and enjoy the banquet."
"The Marquis will surely be pleased to hear that." The maid led Tang Qiu to the banquet hall and then departed.
Since entering the entertainment industry, Tang Qiu had attended countless banquets of all sizes and had long since mastered the art of smooth social interaction.
Although, this was her first time attending a banquet hosted in a Marquis's name.
The kingdom of Edry was small, but its economy was prosperous. The number of nobles was double that of other countries of a similar size. Marquis Davis was a confidant of King Charles, and his wealth was among the top in Edry.
The hall was built specifically for banquets, and a dazzling display of gold and splendor met the eye. The walls were hung with richly colored oil paintings that highlighted the host's taste. A red carpet covered the entire floor, and a golden statue taller than a person stood in the center of the hall.
Tang Qiu stepped onto the soft carpet and stopped about a meter away from the statue. She looked up at it, strongly suspecting that it was sculpted in the likeness of Marquis Davis himself.
Judging by the style of the banquet's decor, Tang Qiu felt her guess was probably correct.
Most of the attendees were nobles. The social activities of the upper class were always the height of luxury. Men and women in court attire gathered in small groups amidst the lively music. The men surrounded Marquis Davis, offering flattery and compliments, while the ladies covered their mouths with their hands, laughing elegantly.
This magnificent event belonged to the high-born nobility. Some of the invited wealthy merchants seemed a bit out of place, but priests had no such worries, as their pure white robes were noble enough.
The moment Tang Qiu entered the banquet, she attracted a great deal of attention. The men's eyes were fixed on the golden-haired priest's face, while the women looked at her priest robes with envy.
Although the Holy See actively recruited Light Believers, not many could become priests, because people with a constitution that could sense the light were one in ten thousand.
Marquis Davis pushed aside the people around him and walked over to Tang Qiu. His well-tailored formal wear did a good job of hiding his protruding belly and even added a touch of dignity-as long as he wasn't smiling. "Priest Grace, welcome to my banquet."
Tang Qiu looked at Davis's face, inwardly scoffing that the golden statue was indeed modeled after him, while outwardly responding with a smile, "It is my honor."
"Many things have happened in Edry recently. His Majesty the King is deeply pained that he could not protect his people." Davis also shook his head with a sad expression. He raised his hand, wanting to grasp Tang Qiu's for comfort, but she very naturally evaded it.
Davis's hand grasped at empty air, so he had to clasp his other hand instead. "His Majesty believes that Black Witches are causing trouble in Edry. It is wonderful that you have come to help us."
"It is what I should do."
Davis smiled kindly and pointed to his right. "Your companions are over there. I hope you will enjoy this evening's banquet."
Tang Qiu turned her head in the direction he indicated and, sure enough, saw two other priests in pure white robes. She had already anticipated encountering other priests, so she was relatively calm. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Davis, she headed toward them.
From the priest's manual, Tang Qiu had gained a preliminary understanding of the Holy See's structure. The high-ranking officials with decision-making power were all in the Holy See's nation, while most countries on the continent had established churches with their own bishops, priests, and clerics. The number of Light Believers undergoing training across the continent was countless.
Therefore, after the entire church in the Gosse Empire was wiped out, Tang Qiu felt that the probability of finding a priest who could recognize her was low.
When the two priests saw Tang Qiu, they took the initiative to greet her. Just as she had expected, they did not recognize Grace.
These two priests had not been in the Holy See for long. They had passed the baptism of light but still needed to complete three years of training before they could take up a post in any country's church and begin the arduous climb up from the rank of a mere priest.
They saw that the aura of light around Tang Qiu was very strong and showed a hint of envy, assuming she was already serving in a certain country. They asked, "Excuse me, in which country do you serve?"
They weren't wrong in their assumption, but Tang Qiu didn't want to reveal her identity, so she denied it without batting an eye. "I have not yet completed my three years of training."
The two priests were a little surprised. "We haven't either." Realizing Tang Qiu was in the same situation as them, they became less formal. "These three are our companions. The two of us are currently members of a mercenary team."
Some priests joined mercenary teams to make their training easier.
Tang Qiu greeted the other members of the mercenary team one by one. She only had a partial understanding of the Holy See at the moment, so she couldn't tell what level these swordsmen were.
While they were exchanging pleasantries, a sudden commotion came from the entrance of the hall. A squad of knights stood guard with swords at the door as a woman, more radiant than a rose, walked gracefully in on the red carpet. She wore a magnificent dress with a partially exposed bosom, and her light brown curls cascaded down her back, with an exquisite pearl hairpin tucked into the side. She curtsied to Marquis Davis, seemingly oblivious to his livid face, and smiled before speaking. "Lord Marquis, how could you hold a banquet without me, Lady Anna?"
Davis's face was dark as he warned, "This is my private banquet, you..."
Before he could finish, another person walked in behind Lady Anna. Dressed in a satin shirt, black trousers, and riding boots, her signature long red hair sent a shock through the entire banquet. With the exception of Marquis Davis and a few of his confidants, everyone else exclaimed in excitement, "Marshal Lucille."
Lucille stopped halfway, pointed at the golden statue blocking the path, and commanded the knight behind her, "Move it."
A knight jogged forward and deftly removed the golden statue that was blocking the center of the hall.
Seeing his statue being carried away, Davis's face turned red with anger, but he didn't dare challenge Lucille. He could only place a hand on his chest to calm himself.
After the statue was removed, Tang Qiu felt the entire hall had become much more spacious. She listened to the whispers around her and glanced about, noticing that since Marshal Lucille's arrival, the once-lively banquet had instantly cooled down.
Everyone had become much more reserved.
Lady Anna had little interest in the scowling Marquis Davis. She swayed over to Tang Qiu's group, looking each of them over before covering her red lips with her hand and chuckling. "If I had known the Marquis invited such young and handsome swordsmen, I would have come much earlier."
She deliberately lowered her voice, exuding the charm of a mature woman.
Although the swordsmen had been adventuring on the continent for a long time, they were still a bit uncomfortable with Lady Anna's teasing.
Anna's gaze reluctantly moved from the swordsmen's sturdy physiques. When her eyes fell on Tang Qiu, they suddenly lit up. She touched her lips and looked her up and down from head to toe.
Tang Qiu was a little surprised by her reaction and couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, is there something wrong?"
Lady Anna covered her lips and shook her head, her bright eyes filled with amusement. "I just feel a sense of familiarity upon seeing you, Your Excellency Priest." She took a box tied with a pink bow from her Space Gem and pressed it into Tang Qiu's hands. "A meeting gift."
Tang Qiu accepted the box in a daze. She glanced down at it, and just as she was considering how to politely decline, Lady Anna had already passed her by and started talking to the other priest.
Lady Anna was the most famous socialite in Edry. Her skills were first-class, as was her dancing. Whenever she was present, she always started the first dance to warm up the party.
Lady Anna entered the dance floor, and the enchanted swordsmen followed. As the atmosphere of the banquet gradually warmed up again, Tang Qiu found a corner and looked down at the box in her hands.
The box was very light, and the pink bow was very much in Lady Anna's style.
She hesitated, wondering whether to open it, but it was impolite to open a gift while the giver was still present.
"Anna is inviting you. She wants to spend a wonderful night with you." A cold voice sounded beside her ear. Tang Qiu instinctively turned her head and found Lucille standing not far from her.
She was holding a wine glass, though it was empty, and was toying with it casually.
Two knights stood guard nearby, blocking any nobles who tried to approach Lucille.
Tang Qiu was stunned for only a second before she smiled and replied, "Receiving Lady Anna's gift has already made my evening wonderful."
Lucille glanced at her, then averted her gaze.
Tang Qiu touched the bow on the box, feeling a little surprised. Lucille's eyes were dark red.
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