Gospel of Blood

Since Sebastian had already arranged a place to stay, Charlotte didn’t linger at her family’s shop for long.

She met briefly with the excited and somewhat incoherent shop manager, listened to his report on the shop’s development and the challenges it faced in Lutecia over the years, and offered encouragement as the lord.

She promised to invest more resources into the family’s business in the capital. Then, she got back into the carriage, surrounded by her entourage.

This time, Sebastian led the group instead of Baron Sharon.

Like major cities in other human nations of Myria, Lutecia was divided into inner and outer districts. The inner district, centered around the royal castle, housed many nobles, clergies, and wealthy individuals. The security at the inner district gates was even stricter than at the outer district. However, the guards didn’t trouble Charlotte.

As soon as they saw the Castell family carriage, they recognized the family crest and allowed them to pass without waiting for Charlotte to introduce herself.

The officer in charge of security even saluted from afar.

“Welcome to Lutecia, Countess Castell!”

Such a stark contrast in treatment surprised Charlotte and made her further speculate about the situation in the capital.

Unlike the crowded outer district, the streets became wider and less congested as they entered the inner district.

This wasn’t because the roads were actually wider, but because there were fewer people. This relative sparsity was due to the numerous noble estates and villas in the inner district, resulting in a lower population density compared to the outer district.

Moreover, entry into the inner district was subject to more rigorous scrutiny.

Sebastian had rented a noble estate in the western part of Lutecia’s inner district, by the artificial section of the Kaina River that flowed through the capital.

This estate, named Riverside Street No. 7, spanned about 20,000 square meters. Although not very large, it was well-equipped, featuring a typical Western Yunette architectural style with tall spires, slender columns, and pointed arches.

Charlotte preferred to call it gothic.

Overall, the style leaned towards the mysterious and solemn, particularly complementing the blue-gray architectural tone of Lutecia, adding a sense of grandeur.

The landscaping was well-done, with a delicate fountain garden. From the garden, one could even see the distant spires and copper-green roofs of the Holy Court’s Lutecia Cathedral.

Seeing the holy cross at the top of the spire, Charlotte mused.

“We’re quite close to the Crescent Cathedral?”

Sebastian smiled respectfully.

“Not too close, but not too far either. It’s a distance that keeps us out of the church’s direct view but not so far as to arouse suspicion.”

Charlotte nodded slightly at Sebastian’s words.

From the perspective of the Crescent Royalty and various kingdom nobles, her relationship with the church was likely quite delicate. Given the overall environment, the main reason King Louis V permitted the Third Prince’s covetousness towards Castell was likely due to her stance on the church.

Charlotte could foresee that during the upcoming central council meeting, and her audience with the king, this matter would likely be discussed.

“Once I’ve settled, I should visit the cathedral.”

She said.

Making a show of piety was essential, given her public identity as a devout believer.

“Of course, as you wish.”

Sebastian answered respectfully.

After examining the estate, Charlotte got out of the carriage. Servants and maids in Castell uniforms were already waiting at the entrance, though there were only about thirty of them.

“Countess…”

They bowed respectfully upon seeing Charlotte.

“Master, these are some selected servants from the shop, responsible for managing the estate during this period. They’ve all passed magical inspections and can be trusted.”

Sebastian said.

Charlotte nodded slightly and then signaled for the convoy to enter the estate.

Soon, the knights and attendants began bustling around, unloading goods, making the estate lively.

Charlotte headed straight to the main building of the estate. The interior decor was as solemn as the exterior, with a color scheme of black, gold, and red, which Charlotte favored. It was both luxurious and tasteful, a result of Sebastian’s meticulous selection based on her preferences.

“Which family does this estate belong to?”

Charlotte asked, admiring the smooth, heavy wooden spiral staircase and the valuable large oil paintings on the walls.

“It belongs to the Anro family.”

Sebastian replied.

“Anro? That Anro family?”

“Yes.”

“Anro family, huh…”

Charlotte nodded thoughtfully.

The Anro family was one of the nine ducal families of the Crescent Kingdom, with its head being John de Anro, the Duke of Moonshield.

John was an old acquaintance of Charlotte’s. She had passed through the Moonshield Duchy and visited the Duke when she traveled north to inherit Castell.

It was at a banquet in Anro City, the Duchy’s capital, that she first met the Third Prince, Philip.

However, as far as Charlotte knew, that encounter with the Third Prince was a coincidence, he was merely passing through Anro City on his way south to Borde.

The Anro family itself was a branch of the royal Valois family and a staunch supporter of the king.

John de Anro, the Duke of Moonshield, was a steadfast supporter of King Louis V. Being the king’s cousin and with his fief adjacent to the royal territory, John maintained neutrality in the rivalry between the Second and Third Princes.

He was also relatively mild towards the church, unlike some other nobles who were more confrontational.

In other words, the Duke of Moonshield was a moderate within the royalist faction.

Charlotte nodded.

“Not bad.”

Indeed, it was quite suitable. The nine ducal families of the kingdom each had their allegiances, and the Duke of Moonshield held a relatively untouchable position. Renting an estate from another family might raise suspicions about Castell’s allegiances, but the Anro family was a perfect neutral choice.

Charlotte wasn’t planning to involve herself in the Crescent Kingdom’s political struggles on this trip to the capital. Her goals were to solidify her status as a royal direct vassal, pledge loyalty to the current king, dispel any doubts the king had about Castell, and inform the church about the Blood Demon Cult’s presence in Lutecia.

The Blood Demon Cult had become her enemy. Through a captured cultist, Charlotte had learned that this organization also had a foothold in the capital.

However, Charlotte didn’t plan to confront them herself but intended to hand the matter over to the church.

Let the professionals handle it. Reporting was something she could do easily, and maybe she could even gain some benefits from the church.

Additionally, she aimed to open up trade routes for Castell’s extraordinary materials, connect with various noble families, and prepare for the development of her territory.

As for the throne struggle, she didn’t care as long as it wasn’t the Third Prince who won.

She believed the Second Prince’s faction would seize this opportunity to strike, as they had facilitated the central council’s convening. Charlotte’s task was to avoid being used as a pawn in this power struggle.

Reflecting on her experiences upon entering Lutecia, she calmly asked.

“Sebastian, you mentioned earlier that there was an urgent matter at the shop, so you couldn’t meet me at the gate. What happened?”

Sebastian hesitated slightly before answering respectfully.

“Master, it was a shop inspection.”

“Inspection? Inspecting what?”

“To check for cultists.”

Sebastian explained with a bitter smile.

Charlotte’s heart stirred.

“Cultists? Blood Demon Cultists?”

“Yes, a few days ago, there was an incident involving Blood Demon Cultists in Lutecia. Although the Diocese stopped and captured them in time, it caused a considerable stir…”

“King Louis V was reportedly furious when he found out and ordered the city guard and church to root out all Blood Demon Cultists hiding in the capital.”

“With the central council approaching, Lutecia’s internal security has been heightened. All shops must undergo inspections to prevent the Blood Demon Cult from causing trouble…”

“Our shop was under special scrutiny because one of the captured cultists was a former employee of ours…”

Hearing Sebastian’s explanation, Charlotte narrowed her eyes.

The Blood Demon Cult, again…

For her, this organization was like a persistent curse, haunting her wherever she went.