Blood Holy Scripture: True Ancestor Charlotte de Castel

The promise of the Judgement Knight was fulfilled within a few days.

On the first day of the second month, the apprentice knight from the ninth district Judgement Court personally delivered 300 gold tanas as temple offerings to the orphanage.

300 gold tanas...

This was equivalent to the annual income of six ordinary households in the Holy Capital and was a substantial amount for the Grey Swan Orphanage, enough to sustain it for two months.

Moreover, with Susan's temple offering of 60 gold tanas per month, the orphanage could even expand its charitable scope and provide black bread to more homeless, suffering souls.

But Susan couldn't be happy.

In the Holy Royal Court, the monthly salary of an apprentice clergy is 15 gold tanas, and after tier-entering, it increases three to four times, reaching about 50-60 gold tanas. As a Silver Moon, it can increase nearly once more, reaching 100 gold tanas.

From the time it was discovered that the siblings had affinity with Holy Power, Daniel showed greater talent and advanced to Silver Moon before Susan, becoming the main support for the Grey Swan Orphanage.

However, even as a Silver Moon, even as a Judgement Knight, a month's income couldn't possibly reach 300 gold tanas.

Susan wished for the Grey Swan Orphanage's financial situation to improve.

But not in such a worrying way.

"This absolutely isn't a genuine offering, Bell. I know you were raised as a knight by my brother. Tell me truthfully, what exactly is my brother doing?"

"Sister Susan, Captain Daniel is a knight valued by the Main Priest Group. Besides the normal offering, the rest is subsidy from the Main Priest Group."

"The Main Priest Group's subsidy? This... can't be. My brother isn't..."

"What happened to the captain?"

"No... it's nothing..."

"Sister Susan, rest assured! The captain acts with integrity. These gold tanas are all legitimate income for the captain. I heard the captain has been selected for the Saintess's guard team! This was pointed out by Chief Priest Filiberto!"

"Saint... Saintess?"

"Yes, it's the Falling Star Queen, Charlotte of Castel. You've heard of her, right?"

"Mm... I know."

"Right, right, no one in the Holy City doesn't know her. Although there are many rumors about her, I have a distant relative working in Castel's mining area who once witnessed her exhibiting Holy Power! Not only that, I've heard she has elf bloodline, as beautiful as an angel. The Holy Palace even has a portrait of her, though I've never had the chance to see it."

The apprentice knight was quite excited when speaking of the soon-to-arrive Saintess.

Susan's expression was somewhat complicated.

Being a priest, Susan, of course, had heard the various rumors about the Saintess.

Moreover, due to her brother Daniel's influence, she paid special attention and learned more.

For example, the origin of the portrait in the Holy Palace is said to be when Charlotte of Castel triggered a Divine Miracle in the New Moon Kingdom, the passing artist painted it and later gifted it to the Holy Palace.

Another example is the rumors about the Saintess and the Heresy Church. Daniel once said the Falling Star Queen was closely associated with the Bloodline, even possibly being a Bloodline herself.

Susan didn't know which of these pieces of information were true and which were false.

The world of adults is always full of lies; only the faith in one's heart is the final sanctuary.

But what Susan knew was that her brother harbored hostility toward the "Saintess," and she knew that her brother's faith was no longer devout.

Yet... under these circumstances, he was still selected for the guard team.

Was this her brother's decision?

Was this the Judgement Court's decision?

Was this the Cardinals' decision?

What exactly does her brother intend to do...

What are the Judgement Court and the Main Priest Group planning to do?

Reflecting on her brother's anger when he talked about the Church and his hostility when mentioning the Saintess, Susan's unease grew stronger.

She knew her brother believed in "heresy."

But all along, she thought this "heresy" was probably just a "faction" within the Church that didn't agree with the current mainstream faith.

The evidence was that her brother still loved the light, still admired justice, still yearned for the symbol of the sacred sun.

This kind of "faction" isn't uncommon in history; though different from mainstream beliefs, it's harmless, so many times the Royal Court turns a blind eye.

But now, it seems... perhaps not.

"No... I must see my brother again!"

Susan murmured.

Susan ultimately couldn't meet Daniel again.

"Lord Daniel? He's been reassigned by the Main Priest Group, apparently joining the guard team's training."

"Daniel... I haven't seen him for some days, he must be off assigned to some task again, right?"

"Don't worry, Susan. When I see that boy, I'll let him know you're looking for him."

Days passed by, and the celebratory atmosphere for the Holy Capital's succession ceremony grew stronger.

Gradually, chief priests from other church districts arrived, increasing the number of priests and nobles in the city.

But Susan still received no word from her brother.

"He's serving as the Saintess's guard when the Saintess arrives, I'll surely be able to find him!"

Susan thought.

But when the renowned Saintess finally came to the Holy Capital, Susan... still couldn't find her brother.

It was Susan's first time seeing the "Saintess" she had heard so much about.

Although she only glimpsed her from afar, her exquisitely beautiful, almost divine appearance left a lasting impression in Susan's heart.

Angel...

Susan felt that apprentice knight Bell's description was quite fitting.

She could even sense a warm radiance from the beautiful girl, a divine power.

"She truly is the Saintess."

Susan couldn't help but think.

But this did not put her at ease, because even though her gaze swept over the Judgement Knight's guard team inside and out, she still did not see the figure of her brother...

Susan had a nightmare again.

She dreamed of a sea of fire, dreamed of an endless abyss, and in the abyss, she was constantly falling.

She saw the end of the abyss, it was a black and red sea of blood, where countless ugly and deformed monsters were lifting a bizarre Sun Badge, singing and worshiping fervently.

She saw one of the monsters wearing clothes exactly like her brother's. It struggled continuously, turning its head with difficulty, its distorted face meeting her eyes.

The rotten, pus-covered mouth slightly opened, and there seemed to be a faint light in the hollow eye sockets.

"Hurry... escape..."

That was the last sound from the brother in her nightmare.

Susan suddenly awoke.

And not long after, she received another series of shocking news:

Cardinal Priest Filiberto was seduced by the Evil God, intending to assassinate the Saintess, and was finally captured.

All Judgement Knights involved in the assassination were netted and sentenced to the Holy Fire Judgement.

The Cardinal Priest Team fell from grace, becoming lackeys of heresy, and various internal heretical truths of the Church were revealed, including human experimentation, human trafficking, and desecration of deities...

Gregory XII was furious, ordering an investigation into all apostates within a week.

In an instant, a storm arose in the Holy Capital, with new clergy being arrested every day, and apostates being judged by the Holy Fire in the square daily.

Even the Judgement Court in the Ninth District experienced an unprecedented earthquake, with nearly half of the Judgement Knights arrested.

The charge was heresy.

Susan panicked:

"Where's my brother?"

"Where is he?"

"What happened to him?"

"My brother is an honest person, a true knight, he would never harm others. Even though he can no longer use the Holy Power, I know he still recognizes the core doctrines of the Divine Lord in his heart."

"What he doesn't recognize is actually the current Church."

"I must find him as soon as possible! I want to know the truth, I want... to find a way to save him!"

Susan clenched her fists, planning to go to the Judgement Court to investigate, but just as she was about to head out, she heard a weak knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

Susan instantly became alert.

"Miss Susan... it's me... Leon..."

Susan's spirit lifted.

Leon, he was her brother Daniel's assistant, a First Tier Judgement Knight.

She hurriedly opened the door, and a strong scent of blood hit her face.

The young Judgement Knight was seriously injured, his knight's uniform soaked in blood, his face unnaturally pale, and the wounds on his body were deep enough to see the bone.

"Leon?! What happened to you?!"

Susan exclaimed.

"Miss Susan..."

The Judgement Knight gritted his teeth, took out a blood-stained letter from his chest, and handed it to the young priestess with difficulty.

Susan's gaze fell on the letter.

Gradually, her eyes widened, and her expression was filled with indescribable fear and shock:

"This... this is..."

"This is the letter Lord Daniel gave me..."

"Lord Daniel was betrayed; we've all been betrayed!"

"It's not True Believers, nor is it heresy, it's the Evil God! The true Evil God!"

"They want to summon a Divine Descent! They want to destroy the Holy City, they want to sacrifice everyone here!"

"Please, you must find a way to pass this... to the Saintess of Falling Star!"

With that, he didn't wait for the girl's response, struggled to his feet, and staggered out of the orphanage.

Not long after, noisy voices rose from the street:

"He's over there!"

"Stop him! Kill him!"

The sound of swords clashing soon followed, ending with the screams of the Judgement Knight.

Soon after, a series of footsteps approached, getting closer and closer.

Along with the footsteps were low discussions:

"Did he just... enter here?"

"Seems like it."

"Wait, the Grey Swan Orphanage? This is Daniel's den!"

"So it's here, no wonder..."

"Go in! Search—!"

A hoarse voice came, indifferent and vicious.

Susan's face turned pale.

She shielded the startled children behind her, then gritted her teeth, crumpled the opened letter back into a ball, and swallowed it whole...