Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 63

7. The Beginning of Reform

1

The grand banquet hall of the Holy Imperial Palace resonated with solemn, yet subtle music. Considered the most prestigious venue in the Holy Empire’s social circles, it had been closed since the previous Pope’s illness. After a full four years, a grand banquet was finally held, drawing numerous nobles.

The banquet’s purpose was to celebrate victory, but many nobles and priests, not directly involved in the war, also attended, keen to gather information. Before the official start, early-arriving nobles formed small groups to converse.

The older nobles gathered with their factions, drinking wine and boasting of their close ties, while the priests sipped tea or other beverages, discussing matters of interest.

“Ahem, I’ve heard that Grand Duke Gregory has begun to actively involve himself in domestic affairs?” one noble inquired.

Another noble beside him immediately responded, “There’s been much talk about it. They say that at the award ceremony this morning, Archbishop Constantine was rendered speechless.”

“Well, even if Archbishop Constantine is the regent and the Holy Father’s guardian, he can’t stand against Grand Duke Gregory, who has supported the Holy Empire for so long, can he?” a third noble added.

“Of course not. Grand Duke Gregory, respected and revered by countless Holy Knights of the Holy Empire, is the true power, isn’t he? Until now, he had no interest in politics and remained a bystander, but now that he has stepped forward, even Archbishop Constantine and Marius will have to yield,” another agreed.

“This means we need to choose our side carefully, doesn’t it?” one of them pondered.

“Come to think of it, the mercenary leader, Leif, is quite something too. He quickly aligned himself, knowing that the Grand Duke is the real power,” another noted.

“Indeed,” came the reply.

While the middle-aged and older nobles discussed the empire’s newly forming political landscape, the younger nobles boasted of their exploits to the noble ladies.

“Is that really true, Baron Peron?” one lady asked, her eyes wide.

“Indeed, my lady. At the Elbera siege, I stood at the forefront, drew my sword, and roared, and the enemies scattered like ants. You should have seen it,” the baron declared.

“Ah!” the lady gasped.

“You’re so amazing!” another exclaimed.

A greasy-looking noble in his late twenties, who seemed to have participated in the subjugation, bragged about his exploits, and the ladies exclaimed, their eyes sparkling.

Luke, standing blankly in a corner of the banquet hall, snorted at the scene.

‘I thought the banquet in the Holy Empire would be different, but it’s no different,’ he thought, feeling a little disappointed.

He had expected the banquet to be more solemn and dignified, but it was almost the same as in the Baroque Empire. The only difference was that the music was more serious, and there were no nobles getting drunk and acting disgracefully.

‘Is it true that people are the same everywhere?’ he mused.

If it weren’t for Reina, he wouldn’t have come to such a place. There would be plenty of petty people who would be jealous of his sudden rise to fame.

As expected, many small-minded people in the banquet hall were sending him envious glances.

“Kyaa! Isn’t that Commander Leif over there? The one who shattered the meteor falling from the sky?” a noble lady exclaimed, recognizing Luke.

A man next to her scoffed, “Hmph, that’s nonsense. He must have used some trick.”

“That’s right. He must be seriously mistaken,” another agreed.

Those who slandered him were mostly nobles who had not participated in the subjugation. They refused to believe what they had not seen with their own eyes. However, there were also those who, like Count Marquez, knew the truth but still belittled or distorted it.

“What good is a good tool? It must be held by the hands of a skilled craftsman to create a wonderful piece. But people with no discernment only like the tool and ignore the craftsman…” Marquez grumbled.

Whether Marquez grumbled or not, Luke was just waiting for Reina to appear. Bored and restless, he began to poke and tease the bat on his shoulder with his hand.

– Ouch! Master, please stop! What if my true identity is revealed? Belfar, who had been slumped on Luke’s shoulder, flapped his wings and protested telepathically at Luke’s teasing.

– It’s okay. You’ve perfectly concealed your demonic energy, and due to the side effects of mastering the silver sword, the priests will actually feel friendly towards you, Luke replied.

– B, but… Heehee! D, don’t tickle me! Belfar giggled.

While checking Belfar’s skills during the day, Luke realized that something unexpected had happened to this vampire demon. He had accumulated divine power in his body while mastering the silver sword. The reason was unknown, but it was clear that divine power coexisted with demonic energy.

Divine power in a demon’s body! If this unprecedented situation were to be known in the demon realm, it would cause an uproar. Anyway, thanks to that, Belfar was able to enter the Holy Imperial Palace without any hindrance.

While Luke was killing time by teasing Belfar, he heard a young woman’s voice beside him.

“Oh my, i-is that a bat?” she asked.

“Some people dismiss them as neither birds nor beasts, but they are actually beneficial creatures that eat pests like mosquitoes,” Luke explained.

“Really? Looking closely, it’s surprisingly cute,” the noblewoman said.

At the noblewoman’s sparkling eyes staring intently at him, Luke’s pet (?) frowned fiercely. However, his appearance as a baby bat was adorable and cute, and he even exuded a subtle divine power, so the noblewoman felt curiosity and friendliness instead.

“May I touch it?” she asked.

– Tell her no! Belfar pleaded.

“Of course,” Luke replied, ignoring Belfar’s request.

As soon as permission was granted, the noblewoman reached out and began to stroke Belfar. Belfar tried to escape, flapping his wings, but Luke pressed down on the back of his neck with his fingertip, preventing him from escaping.

“Kyaa! Look at it struggling!” the noblewoman giggled.

“Doesn’t it look like its body is glistening?” another asked.

“Cute! Let me touch it too,” a third exclaimed.

“Me too!” another joined in.

As one woman began to touch him, the women around her, who had been watching, approached one after another to pet or stroke Belfar.

‘Ugh! How can I, a descendant of a prestigious vampire family, be humiliated by mere human women…!’ Belfar thought, with an incredulous look on his face, as he tried to resist and rebel. But the more he did, the more the women squealed and liked it. Eventually, realizing that it was easier to give up, he slumped down and played the role of a doll.

Luke, feeling sorry for Belfar being violated like that, asked for the women’s understanding and moved away.

2

He was about to go out to the balcony attached to the banquet hall, thinking of getting some fresh air.

“Are you perhaps Baron Leif, who was granted the Alberville territory this time?” a voice asked.

Luke turned his head and saw about a dozen nobles. Most of them were in their mid-50s or older, and the one who spoke to Luke was a noble with a protruding chin at the front.

“That’s right, but?” Luke replied.

“Hahaha, I am Baron Telman, who used to serve in the Central Knights of the Volga Kingdom. I was a close friend of your father, Vice-Commander Belic,” the noble introduced himself.

“Oh, is that so?” Luke replied, glancing at the middle-aged noble. He was wearing a tailcoat, but it looked rather old, and his financial situation didn’t seem very good. And it had been a long time since he had held a sword, as all the calluses on his palms had disappeared.

‘I don’t know what he was like in the past, but now he can’t even become a sword user,’ Luke thought.

Just as Luke was making his judgment about him, Baron Telman, who had come closer, laughed heartily and opened his mouth.

“I saw you once when you were a baby. I knew you would be a great success, as you looked like a general,” Telman said.

“I heard you defeated Schmidt, a high-level Sword Master, in a Gigantic Duel?” another noble asked.

“As expected, the son of the Firebolt Belic is different!” a third exclaimed.

As Luke readily accepted their words, other nobles also approached, chattering and acting very friendly. Among them, there were even those who patted his shoulder as if he were a subordinate.

‘Trash,’ Luke thought.

According to what Viktor and Pavel had told him, when the Volga Kingdom showed signs of collapse, the nobles were the first to flee. Some of those nobles went to the Holy Artenia Empire and lived lavishly with the wealth they had embezzled before the country collapsed. However, after a few years, they had squandered it all on luxury and waste, and then shamelessly sent letters to Peter II and Princess Reina, asking for help, which made them uncomfortable.

‘They must have come to get a piece of the pie after the rumor spread that I, who had gained fame in this civil war, was from the Volga Kingdom,’ Luke concluded.

“We are trying to organize a ‘Volga Kingdom Restoration Army’ among us exiled nobles, and we would like you to participate… Ugh! Y, you are!” Telman, who was about to start making advances to Luke, suddenly looked startled.

Viktor, wearing the uniform of a Holy Knight, was standing where his gaze was directed.

“It’s been a while, Telman,” Viktor said coldly.

“V, Viktor? I heard you were in the Baroque Empire, h, how are you here?” Telman stammered.

“Why? Am I not allowed to be in the Holy Empire? And a baron? Was it a lie when you complained to the late king that you had sold even your title because you had no money?” Viktor asked, his voice sharp.

“T, that’s…” Telman stuttered.

“Baron Leif will not participate in your useless gathering. So, don’t bother someone who is busy and get lost!” Viktor declared.

“Hiiiik!” the exiled nobles of Volga fled the banquet hall as if running away at Viktor’s cold gaze.

Viktor, who had been glaring fiercely at their backs, let out a deep sigh.

“Huu, I apologize for showing you such an unsightly sight,” he said.

As a loyal subject of the Volga royal family, he did not like those vermin running rampant. And yet, they dared to approach the princess’s lover and try to make advances. He really wanted to hide in a mouse hole.

“It’s okay. More importantly, when is Reina coming?” Luke asked.

“She will be here soon,” Viktor replied.

“Is that so? Anyway, that uniform suits you well. When were you appointed as a Holy Knight?” Luke inquired.

“Hehehe! It hasn’t been long. Only Holy Knights can enter the Holy Imperial Palace, so the princess, no, the Holy Father, made arrangements for me,” Viktor explained.

While the two were talking for a while, the music in the banquet hall suddenly stopped, and the voice of the chamberlain echoed.

“The Holy Father of the Holy Artenia Empire, Veronica III, the apostle of the great god and representative of the seven tribes, is entering!”

The doors of the banquet hall swung open, and Reina, wearing a pure white dress instead of her usual robes, entered. She was beautiful even on ordinary days, but wearing a pure white dress and a tiara adorned with pearls and jewels on her forehead, she looked like a true Snow Queen.

“I, is that the Holy Father?” one noble whispered in awe.

“She’s completely different from when we saw her at the Great War!” another exclaimed.

The young nobles who saw her for the first time couldn’t take their eyes off her and drooled, and even the older middle-aged nobles and priests stared at her in a daze. No one could blame them. Even the noble ladies and noblewomen who prided themselves on their beauty were more envious than jealous of Reina’s noble beauty.

Reina, who had ascended to the central platform of the banquet hall and looked around, greeted everyone.

“Thank you all for attending this event despite your busy schedules,” she said, her voice clear and resonant.

People who had been dazed by Reina’s clear voice shook their heads.

“No, Your Holiness,” one noble replied.

“Of course, we must attend the victory banquet hosted by Your Holiness,” another added.

“We are grateful for creating such an occasion!” a third exclaimed.

Reina smiled faintly at the attendees’ reactions.

“Then, I’m glad. Now, before we officially begin the banquet, I would like to have a moment of silence to honor the soldiers and citizens who lost their lives in this civil war,” she announced.

At the gesture of Archbishop Constantine, who was accompanying Reina, the court orchestra began to play a solemn and majestic memorial song. Reina knelt on one knee and offered a prayer.

“Oh, Elcasel [the name of the god], the great parent and god of light and justice! Today, we…” she began.

The moment she recited the prayer in her beautiful voice, a wind blew around her, and divine power began to gather. The nobles were amazed to see the gathered divine power condense and flutter around her like flower petals.

“Oh! This is incredible!” one noble exclaimed.

“The Holy Father is definitely an angel!” another declared.

Some of the nobles who attended the banquet had seen the miracle Reina had performed in the central square of Bless before. However, many of them were seeing her for the first time today. So, when they directly confirmed what they had only heard rumors about, they were able to completely erase their distrust of her.

When the prayer was over, Reina rose from her seat and opened her mouth.

“Then, please enjoy the long-awaited banquet,” she said.

As she clapped her hands, the platform was removed, and the banquet officially began. But then, apprentice priests carrying boxes with openings in them entered the banquet hall.

“What are you?” Count Marquez frowned at the sight, which was completely out of place at the banquet.

“We are here to collect donations to help the soldiers and impoverished citizens who were injured in this war…” one of the priests explained.

“What? Donations? Who dares to collect such things here?” Marquez demanded.

As Marquez became agitated, the apprentice priest replied with an apologetic expression, “It is the Holy Father.”

“Huh! I, is that true?” Marquez asked, surprised.

“Yes, she said that everyone here has a heart that loves the Holy Empire and its people, so it is okay to collect as much as possible,” the priest replied.

At those words, Count Marquez and the nobles around him turned their eyes towards the Pope. Reina, who was sitting on a large and ornate chair, which had been prepared at some point, was smiling brightly with an expectant expression. The hearts of the nobles who saw her angelic and beautiful smile became heavier than ever.

“D, donations are natural, but I didn’t bring any money with me…” one noble stammered.

“She said that goods are also acceptable,” the priest replied.

At those words, the nobles sweated profusely and offered valuable accessories such as rings and necklaces.

Luke and Viktor chuckled at the sight.

“Hahaha, amazing. She’s definitely someone I would fall for,” Viktor said.

“That’s right. She’s not someone who would just waste the people’s taxes on a banquet,” Luke agreed.

Their laughter stopped abruptly as an apprentice priest holding a donation box approached them.

“W, we too?” Luke asked.

“Yes, Your Holiness said that you two would donate quite a lot,” the priest replied.

“Oh, my!”

Seeing them frantically searching for items to donate, Belfar realized that their master’s woman was indeed something special.

Dancing and music are indispensable at any banquet.

As a lively dance tune echoed through the hall, young men and women paired up, took to the center, and began to dance gracefully.

Watching the scene, Luke suddenly seemed to have an idea and strode towards Reina.

As he approached her chair, the Holy Knights guarding the Pope blocked his path.

“Step back. No further approach is allowed…”

“It’s alright. He is a warrior of God, not someone who would harm me.”

At Reina’s words, the Holy Knights looked troubled but eventually stepped aside.

Luke approached her, bowed respectfully, and extended his hand.

“May I have this dance?”

“How dare you! You dare try to trifle with Her Holiness, the Pope, the Apostle of God!”

Archbishop Constantine, standing next to Reina, burst out in anger.

Lately, he had been struggling to keep up with Reina’s changed attitude and actions.

She had been showing a more mature side recently, but after returning from the front lines, she seemed like a completely different person.

Just her appearance at the banquet in such an unconventional manner was enough to make him lose his mind, and now a mere mercenary was trying to provoke her!

“It’s alright. It’s not a difficult thing to dance for one song.”

“What are you saying, Your Holiness? As an Apostle of God, you must maintain your dignity…”

“Her Holiness said it’s alright.”

Constantine’s face changed completely at Luke’s low, cold voice.

For the past two years, he had been trying to correct the behavior of the seemingly foolish Veronica III. If she acted in a way unbecoming of a Pope, it would damage the reputation of the Marius faction, which had promoted her as an Apostle of God.

However, that was only when there were no eyes watching. In official settings, even if she made a mistake, he would not point it out on the spot.

That was because it could be seen as rude and used as an attack by the opposition.

He had been so careful, but today he had made a mistake.

Was it because he was flustered by the Pope’s sudden change?

‘Or was that mercenary doing it intentionally?’

While Constantine was still trying to gather his thoughts, Reina, having taken Luke’s hand, walked to the center of the banquet hall.

When she appeared, all the priests and nobles looked surprised. Until now, the Pope had never danced at a banquet.

It was customary for them to attend with a solemn face and leave quickly, but Veronica III, being a young woman, showed a different kind of unconventionality from the previous Popes.

“This is unprecedented in history…”

“As a man, I can understand it, but Baron Leif is truly fearless.”

“Ahhh! If I had known she would accept, I would have asked first!”

While the young nobles were feeling shock and envy, the middle-aged nobles were busy interpreting the situation politically.

“It seems Archbishop Constantine is finished.”

“It seems Her Holiness no longer intends to listen to him.”

“This might be a good opportunity for someone…”

Although the surroundings were buzzing and noisy, Luke paid no attention and kept his gaze fixed on Reina in front of him.

“I wanted to dance with you once again.”

“Me too.”

Luke, who had been smiling at Reina’s smile, looked slightly troubled.

“But I think I might have made things a bit too big.”

“Hoho, the Pope is also a person, so she can dance. I think everyone will understand.”

“Well, if you say so.”

The two began to dance to the beautiful melody.

Like a couple who had been working together for a long time, their steps and movements showed no awkwardness.

“They are a perfect match.”

“Isn’t it because she is an Apostle of God and he is a warrior of God?”

Those who had been watching the Pope and Luke with surprised eyes soon regained their senses and began to join the melody that the two were dancing to.

3

The day after the grand banquet.

Before noon, the events of the previous night’s banquet had spread throughout the imperial capital.

Whether it was a salon where nobles gathered or a tavern where commoners gathered, the topic of conversation was the same.

“I heard Her Holiness the Pope held a banquet?”

“It was a victory celebration party, and I heard they collected donations from the priests and nobles who attended, saying they had to help the soldiers and people suffering from the civil war.”

“Oh! If it’s that kind of banquet, they can hold it as much as they want!”

“Of course, of course!”

The people gathered in the tavern all praised the Pope and raised their glasses high.

At that moment, a stern-looking man in the corner opened his mouth with a dissatisfied expression.

“More than that, I heard the Pope danced with a man at the banquet! I mean, is it okay for an Apostle of God to do such a lowly thing?”

At those words, the hall became quiet for a moment before becoming noisy again.

“They can dance, what’s the big deal?”

“That’s right, is there anything in the scriptures that says angels shouldn’t dance?”

“I think it makes her seem more human? Don’t you think so?”

While the commoners were focused on the dancing incident, the nobles were focused on analyzing the Pope’s sudden actions and the future political situation.

“Baron Leif’s actions were definitely intentional.”

“It doesn’t seem like he did it alone… Is Grand Duke Gregory behind it after all?”

In any case, unlike what Luke had feared, there was almost no criticism of the Pope dancing itself.

The only ones who made a fuss were a few mystically inclined priests and ardent followers of Veronica III, saying, ‘An Apostle of God shouldn’t be like this!’

Around the time the imperial capital was buzzing,

Constantine, who was very upset by yesterday’s events, met Reina and asked her accusingly.

“Your Holiness, what on earth is going on with you these days?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you perhaps harboring feelings for that mercenary?”

He had overturned the merit awards he had decided on and given Leif a title and territory, and he had danced at the banquet, creating a friendly atmosphere. He couldn’t help but ask because she was doing things that were suspicious.

However, contrary to his expectations, Reina showed no signs of embarrassment.

“What if I do, and what if I don’t?”

“Your Holiness!”

“You said it yourself, Regent. He is a warrior of God. Is it strange for me to have feelings for him?”

“That is…”

Constantine, who had been momentarily agitated by Reina’s nonchalant attitude, touched his throbbing temples and spoke again.

“That was just a story made up out of necessity for suppressing the rebellion. Your Holiness, as an Apostle of God, should know better than anyone that he is not a warrior of God.”

“…”

“He is a foreign mercenary who has nothing to do with our order. And the clergy of the Elkasel Order [the religious order of the Holy Artenia Empire], including Your Holiness, have a duty to be pure as representatives of God. Having a romance is absolutely unacceptable.”

At those words, Viktor, who was standing behind Reina, frowned.

However, there was no need for him to step in. Reina, who had closed the scripture she was reading, looked directly into Constantine’s eyes and asked.

“Who decided that? I have thoroughly examined the scriptures, but there is no mention anywhere of a duty to maintain purity.”

“Th, that is…”

In fact, that rule was not in the scriptures containing the words of the main god Elkasel and the saints. It only said to control desires, not that it was absolutely forbidden.

It was only a custom that had become established because being unmarried was advantageous for following God’s teachings, practicing asceticism, and proselytizing.

“And while they only talk about fulfilling the duty of purity, many of the high-ranking priests secretly have mistresses and have illegitimate children. Should we excommunicate and punish them all?”

Constantine was speechless.

He knew that many high-ranking priests from most factions, except for the Holy Purity Society, secretly married and had children, although he was not one of them.

After the small religious state that served God had grown into the Holy Artenia Empire, the long prosperity and political stability had brought corruption and depravity to the Elkasel Order.

The priests began to covet money and began to engage in promiscuous behavior with female followers.

The Holy Knights Order was even created with the intention of bringing illegitimate children into the light.

At first, there were loud voices of criticism and self-purification, but since the three factions, including the Marius faction, had monopolized power 300 years ago, such voices had almost disappeared.

Perhaps it was from that time.

That no divine revelation had come to the order.

“Th, that is… it’s just something said by some people who are slandering our order, it’s not the truth…”

“Not the truth? Are you telling me to believe that now? The words of someone who makes up lies, invoking God as needed?”

Reina, who had jumped up from her seat, snapped sharply.

Constantine, who had unknowingly taken a step back, felt as if his heart was freezing.

The Pope in front of him now showed no trace of her past foolishness or the friendly demeanor she had shown as if she were a granddaughter.

She exuded a dignity befitting a monarch of a nation.

“Let me make it clear. I am no longer the old Veronica who blindly believed and followed everything the Archbishop said. I can now make my own decisions, so please step down and focus on the affairs of the order.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you understand what I said? I’m saying that I’m going to revoke the regency position given to the Archbishop.”

Thump!

Thunder struck Constantine’s mind.

He looked at Reina with an expression of disbelief and raised his voice.

“Wh, what on earth happened in Elbera? Did you perhaps hit your head in an assassin’s attack? Or were you brainwashed by that mercenary?”

Otherwise, this situation made no sense at all.

To answer his question, one person stepped forward.

“There is nothing wrong with Her Holiness.”

‘G, Grand Duke Gregory!’

Constantine was startled when he appeared without a sound.

However, Reina looked calm, as if she had known he would appear.

“She has simply regained the memories she had lost before. Isn’t that right, Your Holiness?”

At Gregory’s question, Reina nodded.

“Wh, what on earth does that mean…?”

“There’s no need for you to know. You haven’t made any effort to know until now. Just know that the Pope who used to blindly follow your words is no longer here.”

“Is it possible that Your Highness did this?”

Constantine asked, glaring fiercely at Grand Duke Gregory.

He thought that if it was him, who had long since reached the realm of a superhuman, he could easily change Veronica.

“No. It is the will of God that has changed Her Holiness into her current form.”

‘To be precise, it was from the moment she met the one you promoted as a warrior of God. Of course, that is also the will of God.’

Constantine, who could not understand Gregory’s words at all, shouted.

“I cannot accept it! I will never give up the position of regent…”

Constantine’s face turned pale as he was about to shout that he would not give it up.

A terrifying aura emanated from Grand Duke Gregory’s body, suffocating him.

“Cough, cough!”

Gregory said to him with a murderous look on his face as he let out a groan of pain.

“Are you daring to defy the words of Her Holiness? Well, that’s not bad either. It’s a good opportunity to sweep away all the annoying rats.”

Constantine, who had barely regained his breath, looked terrified.

“Y, you said that it was not right for a knight who should protect the country to covet power, and that you had no interest in state affairs?”

“I didn’t. But because of someone, I became interested, and I even thought about doing something that wasn’t right.”

Constantine felt a sense of despair at Gregory’s words.

He held power that was second to none in the Holy Empire, called the regent, but his opponent was none other than Grand Duke Gregory.

It was clear that even the Marius faction would be swept away in an instant if he, who held the military firmly in his grasp, decided to act.

Reina said to Constantine as if trying to persuade him, who had become pale.

“Don’t be too disheartened by stepping down from the regency. I have no intention of dismissing the entire Marius faction. I will accept anyone who truly repents and is willing to correct the twisted problems of this empire.”

‘H, His Holiness Pope Benedict!’

Constantine, looking at Reina’s resolute face, was reminded of the face of the previous Pope.

Although he had suffered from illness and succession issues in his later years, Benedict III was quite a formidable figure.

When he was in his prime, he was famous for completely seizing power in the Holy Empire and relentlessly wielding the iron fist against the heretics.

The Iron Pope.

That was the nickname of Benedict III.

Why did the face of that former Pope overlap with Veronica’s face now?

Was it because their resolute expressions were similar? Or was it something else…?

Thud.

Seeing Constantine finally collapse to the floor, Reina sighed softly.

It was fortunate that the regent’s downfall had been easier than expected. On the other hand, it was also absurd to think that a person who had collapsed so easily had been committing abuses of power all this time.

In fact, Constantine’s downfall today had been discussed and finalized with Grand Duke Gregory in the carriage returning from Elbera.

Reina had expressed her intention to reform the order and the Holy Empire to Gregory, and he had actively supported Reina’s decision.

Now that he, who had always hated politics, had broken his long seclusion, the power struggle was as good as over.

‘This is not the end. It’s just the beginning. The Holy Empire needs to be more stable to help Luke. And that is also the way to serve the people.’

She decided to ring the alarm bell for the corrupt and depraved order.

The first step was to reshuffle the high-ranking officials of the Holy Empire and the Papal States.

She was planning to recruit new nobles and priests who were enthusiastic and not corrupt, regardless of their faction, and she was looking for the first person.

‘I heard that Priest Luther of the Holy Purity Society has done a lot of relief work for the poor? I should meet him first.’

With a strong step of determination for reform, she walked forward, followed by Grand Duke Gregory and Viktor like shadows.