Work Prophet

"Hmm..." Miss Rabbit seemed a bit hesitant, but after a moment she said, "I think the Lords, and even the Emperor, have too much power."

"Hmm?" Li Yu initially thought Ireya would say that if she became the master of the Golden Valley, the tragedy at Ganlin Castle would never have happened. But unexpectedly, the girl was thinking even further.

Miss Rabbit said, "Previously, many Lords complained to me that the Double Rest Sect was too controlling. It's one thing for self-farming peasants to enjoy double rest, but even the serfs are to follow a five-day work, two-day rest schedule, even during corvée labor.

"But during this time, I went to many places and found that people's lives there are generally better than before. With the Judgement Court overseeing, those Nobles don't dare to exploit the people below them as recklessly as before."

"If the Cavalry of the Black Dog Guard could reach Ganlin Castle, I believe Badur wouldn't dare to act with impunity either."

Duren, standing by, also said, "I had heard similar rumors in Lion Heart Castle before, some Lords would abuse their subjects."

"However, according to the Empire's laws, even His Majesty the Emperor finds it hard to interfere in such matters. Essentially, as long as those vassals remain loyal to their liege lords and pay their taxes on time, they can do as they please within their territories."

It seems the girl had indeed thought a lot over the past year. She continued, "I've also seen many good Lords who care much about their subjects. Knowing their houses and farmlands were destroyed in the war, they gave them seed freely and reduced most of the rent.

"But after their death, who can guarantee their successors will be as kind? The ancestors of the Rodriguez family were deeply loved by the people of Ganlin Castle, but things are different with Badur."

"Even if the Arias family lasts long enough, perhaps there will be such scoundrels among my descendants too."

"That's why I believe this world needs the Double Rest Sect, and our Nobility also needs to be supervised and restrained by the Double Rest Sect."

Ireya, feeling troubled again, said, "But whether it's Allister or Conley, they all have their faith. If they achieve the final victory, they will certainly find ways to limit the development of the Double Rest Sect.

"As for Claudio, will he want to embrace Saturday? I heard that the Second Son Alliance is full of non-believers who are very wary of religious power. However, if we help Claudio gain Golden Valley, maybe he would be willing to sit down and talk with us."

Li Yu was noncommittal, "Actually, we have a better choice."

"A better choice? Who?"

"You," the Prophet of the Double Rest Sect said, looking into the girl's eyes.

Miss Rabbit was stunned, instinctively saying, "But I... I don't have the legitimacy to rule this Continent."

Bratis Continent, much like medieval Europe, highly values bloodlines. Compared to those truly noble families, the history of the Arias family is very short, and besides Ireya, there are no notable figures.

In the eyes of true nobles, Miss Rabbit seemed more like a lucky upstart, making it very difficult for them to swear allegiance to someone like her.

Ireya happened to arrive at a special time when the western region had been invaded by the Wing Tribe people, and the original rulers, the Figrola family, had announced their abandonment of its ownership.

Miss Rabbit stood up, drove away the invaders, so the Nobility of the western region accepted her as the new Lord of the West.

But outsiders wouldn't be so agreeable, even Ireya's title as "Lord of the West" was questionable in their eyes.

The Figrola family had ruled the West for nearly a millennium, and the connections among the twelve great Nobles at the apex of the Empire's power were very close-knit.

Many great Nobles felt sympathetic towards Figrola's plight, merely waiting to see how the chaos on Bratis Continent would unfold. Furthermore, with the West being relatively distant, nothing had been said yet.

But the future was uncertain.

In fact, recently, the girl had heard rumors that, as a vassal of the Figrola family, she drove away her liege lord.

Others fabricated lies, saying it was due to her lack of effective assistance that Marquis Kuren perished, and that she had harbored ambitions to replace the Figrola family ever since.

Miss Rabbit had Ivan investigate the sources of these rumors, catching some of those spreading them, but the rumors had already spread and the impact could not be reversed.

Fortunately, after driving away the Wing Tribe, Ireya had been busy promoting new farming tools and practices from the Double Rest Sect, as well as eradicating bandits and restoring production.

Her efforts were recognized by most in the West, so no chaos had erupted.

But the Lady felt it would take at least several decades or even centuries for the people of this land to truly accept her, never mind other areas beyond the West.

She couldn't compete with Allister and Claudio from the Vespasian family.

"Legitimacy isn't the issue," said Li Yu. "As long as you're willing, I can grant you the legitimacy to rule this Continent."

"How would that be done?" asked the girl in surprise.

Li Yu softly uttered four words, "Divine Right of Kings."

The people of the Bratis Continent have an inherent fascination with bloodlines, but aside from that, the legitimacy of power can also stem from religion.

This political theory once prevailed in different countries in another realm.

Combining secular kingly power with religious divine authority can greatly consolidate the legitimacy of kingly power.

Of course, this comes at a substantial cost. Since power remains constant, introducing divine authority would inevitably influence kingly power, and once kingship legitimacy is decided by God,

it means religious authority will surpass kingly power. A strong religious leader might even have the power to depose a king.

A typical example can be seen in the story of Gregory VII and Henry IV.

Emperor Henry IV of the Holy Roman Empire, dissatisfied with the growing power of the Church, first challenged Pope Gregory VII, declaring him an imposter and wanting to expel him from the church.

This angered Gregory VII, who excommunicated Henry IV first, stripping him of his ruling legitimacy. The German princes, long dissatisfied with Henry IV, seized the opportunity to demand a new Emperor.

In the end, Henry IV had to seek an audience with Gregory VII, standing barefoot in the snow for three days and nights along with his wife and son before being granted an audience.

Henry IV knelt, kissing the tip of Gregory VII's shoe, pleading for his forgiveness.

Although Henry IV later gained revenge, the impact of introducing divine authority on kingly power was evident.