NOVEL NEXT Chapter 686: -133- Magic Book
Forced back the Kingdom Knight Order and successfully entered the Royal Palace, Charlotte truly earned a wave of prestige among the parliamentary party nobles of the Falling Star Kingdom.
After the "audience" was over, the Falling Star nobles also took their leave, considering it the completion of their reception for the "Queen."
It is worth mentioning that before these nobles left, they all presented various kinds of gifts, some were extraordinary materials unique to the Falling Star Kingdom, some were precious books, some were luxury items like jewelry, and some even left behind a chest full of gold pounds.
To some extent, it carried the notion of "filial piety."
It could also be considered a tradition of the Mireya feudal nobles. When nobles had an audience with their lord, bringing a gift was common sense, a way of expressing loyalty.
Although... in a certain sense, Charlotte was not yet the true Queen of the Falling Star.
Regarding these gifts, Charlotte didn't refuse and accepted them all.
It wasn't that she was greedy.
But if she didn't accept them, these supporting nobles of the Falling Star might develop other ideas, thinking whether she was dissatisfied with them or with the gifts.
However, what made Charlotte slightly uncomfortable was that even Campbell Grand Priest had "offered" a gift—a magic book that appeared quite exquisite.
You must know, although this Grand Priest was only a clergy of Blazing Sun strength, he was the highest-ranking clergy of the Holy Royal Court in the Falling Star Kingdom.
"Praise the Holy! Saintess, this is a magic book I acquired in my early years, said to be left behind by Nicholas, the most talented Legendary Mage in history. It's imbued with sophisticated Magic Restriction, rumored to hide the secrets of Nicholas's magic research."
"I heard that you like to collect these magic tomes on usual days, so I offer it as a gift for your arrival in Falling Star!" Campbell Grand Priest said with enthusiasm.
Charlotte: ...
Nisi: ...
Charlotte couldn't help but glance at the Black Cat beside her, her expression strange.
And Nisi curiously peeked at the magic book.
However, upon this glance, it instantly widened its eyes, its anthropomorphic expression suddenly remarkably brilliant.
It almost meowed, instinctively dashed out to snatch the magic book, and then… was scooped up by the scruff of its neck by Charlotte and brought back.
Hmm... it seems to be the real deal.
Just not sure what is written inside that has excited Nisi so much.
Charlotte suddenly became curious about the magic book.
"Thank you for your gift, Your Excellency Grand Priest."
She smiled and likewise accepted the gift.
Campbell Grand Priest became even more enthusiastic.
After Charlotte had forced back the Kingdom Knight Order, this Grand Priest, who Charlotte felt was older than her own deceased grandfather from a previous life, looked at her with eyes full of excitement and encouragement:
"Saintess, your arrival must be the guidance of our Lord. Under your leadership, the Holy Light will surely illuminate the darkness; those evil spirits lurking in Falling Star will be purified by the Divine Light!"
Charlotte: ...
Well, that completely regards the power she had just shown as that of the Saintess.
But it is understandable, for aside from "Purification" and "Healing," the Divine Arts of the Holy Royal Court are most adept at the "Spiritual Series."
The power that Charlotte used to repel the Kingdom Knight Order was the Bloodline's Talent Magic "Spiritual Intimidation." The Grand Priest, with only Blazing Sun strength, could not detect the true nature of the magic cast by Charlotte, now a Demigod. By some twist of fate... he had mistaken her power for that of a Saintess.
Charlotte responded to Campbell Grand Priest's praise with a "devout" smile.
During the boat journey, she had already had an in-depth conversation with Count Stafford. To be honest, although the Grand Priest held a transcendent status, his influence in Falling Star was very small.
No, more accurately, with the Holy Royal Court's New Moon Diocese retracting its power and the Nais Bloodline secretly gaining strength, the Church power throughout the Falling Star Kingdom was very weak.
Compared to the significant role in the New Moon Kingdom, in Falling Star Kingdom, the Church's power was more like a vassal of the Falling Star nobility, and Lin Campbell High Priest also seemed more like a ceremonial "rubber stamp."
Otherwise, the Falling Star nobility wouldn't be pinning their hopes on Charlotte's "Wild Saintess" identity.
Because their local Holy Royal Court sub-church was utterly unreliable in the conflict with the Bloodline.
With the New Moon Diocese retracting its power and consolidating internally, they completely neglected the situation in the Falling Star Kingdom; the only variable was Charlotte, whom even the Diocesan Grand Priest of the church "approved" of as the "Wild Saintess."
So... there was a touch of "clinging to a powerful thigh" in Campbell Grand Priest's demeanor.
This gave Charlotte an idea.
Perhaps... she could, like in Castel Domain, find a way to sideline the church division in the Falling Star Kingdom.
After Campbell Grand Priest presented the magic book to Charlotte, he stood aside.
Besides the Grand Priest, there were a few other nobles who did not leave.
Including Marquis Howard, the Chief of Internal Affairs; Count Greenville Roman, the Court Advisor; and Count Stafford, the Chief Chairman of the Kingdom Council who had welcomed back Charlotte.
These four were the high-ranking officials of the "Parliamentary Party" nobles of the Falling Star Kingdom who supported Charlotte's succession to the throne.
Among them, Marquis Howard represented the royal court nobles' power of Falling Star and was a new noble force of the parliamentary party; Count Greenville Roman represented the Roman Royal Family; Campbell Grand Priest represented the Holy Royal Court, and as for Count Stafford... he represented the influential nobles of the parliamentary party supporting Charlotte.