The small temple was like a tiny branch tucked away in the corner of the 4th district of Ulveris.
Ulveris always had many temples, and they kept increasing. With so many historically significant buildings that couldn't be easily demolished, there was a lineup of people wanting to build new temples to elevate their grandeur.
As a result, the importance of temples varied according to their size. There were large temples overseeing the 4th district where nobles and high-ranking priests frequented, as well as small temples within the districts known for their devout followers.
It wasn't a sudden appointment for Len, who had become a prophet. While there was a resident priest at this small temple, he quickly made room for Len when he expressed the need.
"I may charge a bit, but I'll give you a discount because it's me."
Len said, trying to sound impressive.
Neris sensed traces of his childhood innocence in his shameless yet not unpleasant face. She couldn't help but smile.
"It seems sacrilegious to rent out a sanctuary for money, especially offering a discount to the powerful. It could be considered blasphemy elsewhere."
"That's how it is here. It wasn't quite like this when I was young."
"Is it the Pope's influence?"
"Well, sort of. If the higher-ups are clean, the lower ranks won't crumble so easily."
It was the same in Neris's previous life. If Omnitus had been even slightly noble and listened to the word of God, he wouldn't have allied with the Elendria family. He wouldn't have supported them with a lot of money and even sent his daughter to become a queen.
"Did you pass through the Barom Viscountcy on the way here? If your group seemed troublesome, they would have scrutinized you from the entrance. The guards at the entrance of Ulveris are all a bunch of sticklers."
"What do the worldly people do when they scrutinize visitors to the Papal Decree?"
"They ask for money. They come up with various reasons. Even to book a room, they say you have to bribe them. Sometimes they scam people by charging an entrance fee. It's a bit of a waste, but it's an amount you can afford to pay. Haha!"
Money, money, money. Neris felt a bit dizzy from hearing the word 'money' too much. She didn't realize the Papal Decree was in such a state.
"With it being so blatant, isn't there anyone who resists? The Viscount is the owner of the land surrounding the Papal Decree, not the owner here. The owner here is the Pope himself."
"What can you do? The Pope is close with the Barom Viscount. He even tells them to climb the golden ladder, right? Welcome to Ulveris, where you can't take a step without money."
Ulveris.
Neris was stunned. She sighed and sipped the herbal tea that Priest Adams had just handed her. Dried lavender petals danced in the tea water.
At that moment, Len's eyes shifted to Neris's left hand, which held the tea saucer.
"And if high-ranking men and women hide here, their purpose is clear. To buy an expensive sacred marriage vow. Marriage?"
A massive diamond, surrounded by purple diamonds, even white diamonds. It was so obvious that there was no need for excuses.
Neris nodded.
"Yes."
"Marriage itself can be performed by any priest, but only the Pope can annul it. Even the marriage of a Viscount with only one Vista? He definitely won't easily grant permission."
"But there are circumstances that require it."
Neris's demeanor remained calm. At Len's tone of knowing everything, he smiled slyly.
"Yes, everyone has their own circumstances for coming this far. I'll look into the situation in more detail. It may take a few days at the fastest, and if things go well, it could take even longer, so for now, relax. Since we've prepared a room for you to stay, go and rest. I'll send dinner up later."
It was a great favor. After a brief hesitation, Neris nodded her head.
"...Thank you."
"Don't mention it. It's nothing compared to what you've done for me. Now, go inside. I'll have a little chat with the 'lord.'"
With that, Len pointed to Cladwin.
Cladwin, who had been teased, smiled slyly. Len did the same.
Despite the smiles of the two men, Neris felt a bit uneasy, but... she had no choice now that she had received the invitation. Neris quietly nodded her head again.
"Understood."
"I'll guide you. The priestess will take care of your accommodations."
Priest Adams quickly stood up.
Neris and Priest Adams walked out of the small room. As they left and the door closed, a sharp silence filled the room.
Len had a mischievous boyish smile, but his eyes held a sharpness that could kill. Cladwin asked gracefully and leisurely,
"So, do you have the intention to marry us directly?"
"No, idiot. Do you think a dangerous guy like you can dare to drag anyone in?"
Len retorted harshly.
Since childhood, Len knew that Cladwin was no ordinary man. It was absurd for a noble's heir, who had been attending school just fine, to suddenly appear with fatal wounds that anyone could see.
Moreover, was his body normal after treatment? There were too many wounds that should have been fatal.
So, Len hoped that Neris wouldn't get involved with Cladwin. The kind and innocent girl already met several conditions for a good marriage. She was pretty, gentle, smart, and even caught Nelucian's eye.
However, after graduating from school, she went to Maindland and turned things upside down, even becoming a jewel in the rough.
Len knew that Cladwin was not at fault. But he had to stop a dangerous and unstable man from interfering in her already complicated life.
Contrary to Neris's thoughts, Len's use of rude language, reminiscent of his student days, was not due to a lack of energy for image management. He simply couldn't bear it anymore.
The presence of this infuriating junior.
Although it was an attitude that could easily provoke anger, Cladwin chuckled leisurely.
"But you said you would marry me."
"Then try harder. If you give me all of Maindland, maybe I'll marry you, you money-grubber. Then go find another priest at that time. I'm not interested."
"Well, you don't have to answer right away. It seems it will take some time even for me to decide."
Despite being the one who first mentioned 'staying for a few days or more,' Len flinched. His eyes scanned Cladwin as if assessing him.
"Do you know something?"
"Well, I might know as much as a senior, or even more. Anyway, I'll step back. You won't give me the answer I want right now, will you?"
It was the right thing to say. However, as Len watched Cladwin leave, he felt a sense of defeat.
"Annoying brat."
The Papal Audience Chamber, spacious like the Emperor's banquet hall but adorned with white drapes instead of crimson ones.
The walls were adorned with scripture passages and religious paintings, exuding luxury in every corner. The room was a place that could make one feel overwhelmed just by entering, designed for the arrival of the Alhyeonja. At the far end of the Alhyeon Room, a high platform was set up, and the chair placed on it was dazzling with its golden gilding.
Seated in the chair, the man in this room, and indeed the master of faith for believers worldwide, Pope Omnitus, sat reading a letter with a composed expression.
He was a man of somewhat awkward movements, but his stature was imposing, and one could still sense his strength in every gesture.
His temperament had been becoming increasingly irritable lately. He would even throw a golden candlestick at his chief financial officer in fits of anger.
Besides standing at the pinnacle of the Timaios faith, a belief deeply rooted in the hearts of people worldwide, there were many reasons to fear him.
Hence, his uncomfortable expression was particularly intimidating to the girl who knelt on the floor of the Alhyeon Room.
The girl, being naturally timid, felt even more intimidated.
"Hmm..."
Omnitus suddenly seemed to lose interest in the letter he had been reading attentively and turned away.
The maid next to the girl happened to pick up the letter that had fallen near her and handed it to the financial officer. The maid, who appeared diligent, smiled at the financial officer. It was an effort to make a good impression.
Observing this, Omnitus suddenly shouted at the girl who was kneeling beside him as if struck by lightning.
"Tell your father to make up his mind! So, do you want your name to be engraved, or not?"
The girl wanted to cry. Honestly, she wasn't interested.
Whether her father's name went up as a high donor on the newly built Exorcism didn't interest her.
She had no interest in examining the Pope's demeanor and the power dynamics around him.
The former was the purpose of her visit known to the Pope, and the latter was the actual purpose her father had informed her of.
If it weren't for such matters, Idalia Kendall, the beloved daughter of Viscount Kendall, wouldn't have come to this place, even with an excellent study program.
Omnitus toyed with the large ring on his hand and clicked his tongue.
Idalia was a noble's daughter and had received a decent education, but that was a value that only mattered in her peer noble society, not to the Pope. He would have preferred a more assertive envoy.
"Well, our father... of course, he wants his name to be engraved. But exactly how much more is needed..."
Idalia, who had been hesitating, asked the question she could barely pull out from her fading memory. Omnitus clicked his tongue again.
"Am I supposed to pay now? It's the donor's heart, isn't it! Go and ask your father directly, find out exactly how much more is needed, and don't waste my time!"
Donations are nominally voluntary. Even though everyone knows that in reality, it's a negotiation where each side tries to show their hand before the other.
Feeling like crying, Idalia left the Alhyeon Room.
The Lily Palace where the Pope resided was built on the highest peak in Ulveris, and the place where she was now also had a high number of floors, allowing her to overlook the cityscape beyond the windows.
The lively appearance of the city people seemed very annoying to her as she sighed. The maid approached her and whispered excitedly.
"Miss, do you know what I saw in His Holiness's letter earlier?"
"Hedda, what should I do if I see His Holiness's letter..."
"Oh dear, I didn't look because I wanted to, it just caught my eye. Anyway, you'll be surprised to hear it too. Apparently, Duke of Maindland has arrived in Ulveris! They say he's here to get married."
"Is that so...?"
The scary yet handsome Duke's marriage would surely cause a stir in society. Idalia became slightly interested. Despite switching majors to theology due to teasing, she preferred gossip over faith.
"But do you know who he's marrying?"
"I don't know. Who is it?"
"Neris Truedoy!"
The maid, Hedda Railing, whispered with malice and interest in her eyes.