In the Name of Empress-Chapter 417 - 292: The Saintess’s Request (Part 3)
Roland’s status is just slightly below that of the Pope/Emperor, much higher than an ordinary King/Prince.
The white robed Priest even felt that calling him ’Your Highness’ was somewhat insufficient.
Above ’Your Highness’, but not quite ’Emperor’—how should he be addressed? It really puzzled the white robed Priest.
Fortunately, Roland didn’t care for such titles, just smiling and nodding in response as a greeting.
Roland had a good impression of this smooth-talking white robed Priest and proactively asked for his name.
The white robed Priest was flattered, standing up straight, his voice trembling a bit, "Your Highness, my name is Martin, and I follow Miss Saintess to Val City on official duty as a Ceremonial Priest."
"Do a good job, I’m a keen judge of character, you at least have the potential to be an Archbishop."
Roland smiled and encouraged Martin a bit, then bid farewell after asking for Christine’s whereabouts.
After parting with Martin, Lisa looked back at the white robed Priest who was trembling with excitement and couldn’t help whispering:
"Roland, this Martin doesn’t look like a priest at all, more like a businessman. Are you sure he can make it to Archbishop? That’s overseeing a provincial diocese, only below a Cardinal."
Roland smiled and patted Lisa on the shoulder, teasing:
"I can’t even see my own future, how could I possibly understand others? I’m not Alina."
"Then you..."
Halfway through her sentence, Lisa swallowed her words.
She embarrassedly stuck out her tongue, having been cooped up for a month or two in the underground Magic Cultivation Room, forgetting basic social interactions.
Just like praising someone else’s child as clever, it’s all just politeness.
Lisa quickened her pace to catch up with Roland, suddenly remembering his pat on her shoulder and feeling a bit unhappy.
"Roland, don’t pat my shoulder in the future."
Eh? A pat on the shoulder doesn’t seem too extreme, does it?
Roland was puzzled, he remembered clearly, Lisa once stole a kiss while he was drunk, which was much bolder than a pat on the shoulder, right?
Shrugging, Roland raised his hands in surrender.
He never understood a girl’s mind, so he figured he’d give up on guessing and simply complied.
With a still slightly annoyed Lisa, Roland found Miss Saintess.
What surprised him was that there was not only one Saintess in the Divine Hall.
Erin?
Due to Christine, Roland didn’t have much fondness for this Saintess candidate.
He wanted to support Christine to become the official Saintess, which naturally made Erin his adversary.
Seeing Roland’s figure, Erin’s face changed slightly, but she still stepped forward to greet him.
"Your Highness the Light, long time no see."
Roland replied indifferently, asking in a deep voice: "Miss Erin, coming from afar, what brings you here?"
"Your Highness the Light, have you heard about the Wende Empire being invaded by the Vladimir Empire?"
"I haven’t heard, is this a recent event?"
Erin nodded, some helplessness in her voice: "The Vladimir Empire claims they need passage to reclaim the Val City State occupation zone, but the Wende Empire refused, leading to a small-scale conflict between the two, with casualties nearing a thousand."
"Oh." was Roland’s simple acknowledgment, without further words.
Erin furrowed her brow slightly, trying hard to control her emotions and not make her inquiry sound like an accusation.
"Your Highness the Light, if my guess isn’t wrong, all of this stems from you, doesn’t it?"
"Miss Erin, one cannot speak carelessly."
Though Roland was indeed the source, he adamantly refused to admit it, even righteously countering:
"Our Sussex Empire is a peace-loving nation. Over the years, the Val City-State People have longed to restore their nation, and we heeded their call to help them realize that dream. On the other hand, the Vladimir Empire has been aggressive, leading the partitioning of Val City State, ignoring their national sentiments. They must take responsibility for all bloodshed incidents."
Erin: "..."
She widened her eyes, almost unable to believe Roland’s ability to say such things with a straight face.
This was standard diplomatic rhetoric, and she, having been educated among the elite from a young age, could spout them for three hours without repeating herself.
Was this the attitude of speaking properly?
Seeing Erin’s displeased expression, Christine gave a gentle cough and interjected.
"Erin, these are the struggles of secular powers, we shouldn’t interfere."
"Christine, didn’t you have these concerns when you fought for His Highness the Light?" Unexpectedly, Christine sided against her, and Erin’s temper flared up instantly.
"Stop!"
Roland noticed the corners of Christine’s eyes narrowing, indicating her anger, and hurriedly stepped in to mediate. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
"Erin, you’re the guest here, you may speak first."
Though he let Erin speak first, Roland emphasized her status as a guest in a firm tone, and Christine seemed satisfied, her expression gradually relaxing.
Erin cleared her throat, succinctly explaining her point.
Within the Divine Court of Light, there weren’t monolithic views—a faction within the Vladimir Empire’s Divine Court of Light stood opposed to the one spread across Central Rodinia.
If it was a secular struggle, they could ignore it, but if anyone clashed with the Vladimir Empire, they would surely back them up.
The Wende Empire was the only empire steadfast in the Faith in Light, incredibly significant to the Divine Court of Light.
The Divine Court of Light naturally wouldn’t stand by and watch the Wende Empire fall, so they sent Erin to Val City Divine Hall seeking aid.
Holy Water, Holy Hall, Temple Warriors, funding, even Christine herself, she wanted them all.
But Christine didn’t want to give any of it.
This was the team she had painstakingly built, her hard-earned support for Roland, and also the foundation for her ambition for the Papacy—these were hers!
After understanding both sides’ conflict, Roland took just a second to make a decision.
"Miss Erin, I understand your request, you may return now."
"Wait, so do you agree or disagree?" Erin seemed a bit panicked. Roland’s cold demeanor was beyond expectations, naturally making her anxious.
"Miss Erin, in terms of status, I am higher than you. In terms of authority, Christine and I are responsible for all matters in the North Rodinia Governor District of the Val City State. You do not have the right to mobilize any resources."
After a slight pause, Roland replaced it with a bright smile.
"Of course, as fellow guardians of the Light, bathing in the Goddess’s glory, and since you contributed much during the Holy Spring Revival, you may take some Holy Water with you."
After speaking, Roland pretended to glance at Christine, asking with a smile:
"Christine, what do you think?"
"As you command!" Christine, out of Erin’s sight, gave Roland a thumbs-up, though her voice remained formally serious.
In an official tone, she reminded Erin that not even a Cardinal had the authority to order Roland.
That was the condition promised when Roland was brought on, one that no one could violate.
