The Capital, Iggokden.
Once someone visits, they can never forget it. There were two buildings that stood out remarkably:
One was the Iggokden Cathedral.
It was known as "the most beautiful cathedral in the world" due to its highest spire in the capital, housing various murals, masterpieces, relics, and sculptures. However, recently, by the will of God, the spire had flown off, and after everything inside was cleared out, it was now a somewhat chaotic place as new things were being put in.
And the other was the Imperial Palace.
This was where those with the noblest blood on the continent resided. The palace was built by carving out an entire hill, making it not only beautiful to behold but also fortified with moats and defenses, capable of serving as a small fortress in times of need.
In the heart of this imperial palace was the Audience Chamber where one could meet the Emperor.
On the red carpet, Linea knelt, bowing her head to the pinnacle of power in the empire.
"Mother, I have returned."
"Welcome back, Linea."
Seated on the imperial throne was Linea's mother and the 18th monarch of the Einsberg Empire - Empress Eirene von Einsberg.
Her golden hair, more radiant than dust catching sunlight, was elegantly braided upward with one lock falling gracefully, exuding sophistication. Her deep sapphire eyes, reminiscent of the vast ocean, were a testament to the royal lineage.
Her youthful appearance was striking, but most notably, her chest...
Her breasts! Two immense orbs that seemed almost violent in their size!
Just looking at them could make one feel like they were being crushed by the sheer mass of "breasts"!
Even Linea, the second princess, had a glamorous figure, but compared to Eirene, it was nowhere near.
Eirene's mature, overwhelming bust was about to burst out of her luxurious dress.
Despite having learned to be suspicious rather than loving, she was 36 years old. The reason she didn't seem much older than her 21-year-old daughter, Linea, was because all the children in the royal family, including her, were adopted from her sister.
Eirene had ascended to the throne at the young age of 22 after the early death of her much older sister, Aisha von Einsberg, the previous emperor.
Upon donning the imperial crown, she faced an ugly power struggle. Her siblings were not her support but rivals for the throne, and the nobles following them were her enemies.
Nevertheless, she managed to weather the storm, even if it meant getting her hands bloody to avoid being devoured.
Now, at least outwardly, no one dared to show any defiance against her.
She ended up with children before a husband, but she didn't mind. It was better to inherit her sister's children directly rather than complicate the succession by producing direct descendants.
She had no intention of searching for a husband now. Men had never been of interest to her. While she wasn't averse to sexual desire, what made her heart race was when her plans came together, not when facing a man.
Eirene extended her pale hand forward and asked, "Did you meet the saintess?"
"Yes. As expected, I was appointed as a Holy Knight, but..."
"Something happened, I suppose?"
This led to a discussion about the appointment of "three Holy Knights in one platter."
At the mention of appointing three knights, Eirene slightly furrowed her brows and tilted her head, her golden sidelock swaying gently.
"Three Holy Knights, you say?"
"Yes."
Eirene's white hand brushed over her rosy lips.
"This is a decision that's transparently cunning."
Linea easily guessed who Eirene was referring to.
The Pope. The man, Agnus III, who was rapidly expanding his influence to regain authority.
"But Mother, selecting 'one platter of Holy Knights' this time was by God's will-"
"Linea, you don't actually believe in this nonsense about God's will, do you?"
"..."
Silence implied affirmation. Linea, too, didn't particularly believe in the existence of God.
"It's troublesome to make enemies of us. And we don't want to give them too much power to check us... so, appointing all three is the simplest solution. Both you and Ophelia are excellent knights, so adding one more unknown knight shouldn't be a risk. Moreover, by appointing three Holy Knights, they can create the impression that 'this saintess is special.' The only thing left is to revise their damn regulations... but well-"
-That would be solved if we tear apart the so-called 'Word of God' in their book.
Since they are beasts that feed on the scripture.
Eirene said this with a self-deprecating laugh.
"It's laughable how they try to reclaim past glory with the appearance of a saintess. Whether they are religious figures or nobles with political ambitions... it's all quite amusing. Linea, you've studied history, so you know, right? What happened just a few hundred years ago?"
"Yes, Mother."
Eirene and Linea revisited history-
-A time when even the Emperor had to kneel before the Pope, when religion held immense power.
In those days, the Bible was not just law; it was above the law. Women in the royal family had to expose part of their breasts as a sign of submission, which was humiliating for a family that valued worldly pleasures.
Could you believe that the Emperor's position felt like just a tax collector under the unchangeable authority of the Bible?
However, even the mightiest power has its end.
The then Pope, Magnificus II, was exceedingly greedy. He created a blasphemous doctrine that contradicted divine will, stating, "As long as you can pay, the size of your holy power pouch doesn't matter for becoming a nun," leading to the greatest sacrilege in church history, an event still considered a disgrace in religious circles-
"You know this, right, Linea?"
"Yes, Mother."
"That's right. -The sale of 'breast certificates'.'"
"...It's 'milk certificates,' Mother."
"It's not different."
After this horrific event where one could become a nun without holy power just by purchasing a 'milk certificate,' the church's absolute position crumbled due to the drastic reduction in holy power due to insufficient 'pouches' leading to a significant drop in magical power.
This led to the current balance where the church is the state religion but cannot exercise absolute authority over the Emperor, nor can the royal family unilaterally control the church.
With this balance, after 200 years, a saintess had reappeared.
Naturally, the church was eager to leverage this miracle to elevate the status of the Queden Church on the continent.
From the Emperor's perspective, this was not something she could just watch like a bystander.
"For now, I've agreed to be part of 'one dish of Holy Knights'... Should I study the Bible to avoid giving them any leverage?"
"The Bible was written by humans, after all. There's no harm in reading it as a Holy Knight, but for now, keep a low profile, Linea. I'll take care of everything. Understand?"
"What do you mean by taking care of everything...?"
At that moment, Eirene tilted her head slightly, looking down at Linea.
The gaze of an absolute ruler. This was unmistakably how a superior looks at a subordinate.
"Soon, you'll be the only Holy Knight left."
"...!!"
Linea was shocked to the point of turning pale, but Eirene continued nonchalantly.
"Of course, I won't get my hands bloody. That would be foolishly making an enemy of the church. But there are many ways to deal with things without getting your hands dirty."
"To avoid offending nobles, we'll need to prepare meticulously to deal with the Tranlente family... Yes. Let's start by handling that unknown knight."
Eirene covered her mouth with her white hand, letting out a chuckle, "Kufufufu."
Her beauty was such that one would hardly believe she was plotting.
"Mother, even so, doing something to knights who have been appointed seems unwise..."
"Have you already become friends with them?"
"That's not it, if there are things one should do in this world-"
-There must also be things one shouldn't do, right?
"You're still young, Linea. There's nothing you shouldn't do; there's just what you shouldn't get caught doing."
"...!"
While Linea was speechless in shock, Eirene was calm.
In fact, with a saintess having manifested, they were only being cautious. What reason would an Emperor have to be wary?
"Don't worry. If they are truly knights appointed by the divine word, God wouldn't allow mere human schemes to succeed, right?"
With that, she laughed again, "Uh-huh-huh."
"That is, if 'God' is really watching over humans."
****
Nom, nom.
"Delicious."
Eating tangerines to pass the time, my phone vibrated.
["Chapter 4 of 'Holy Knight Appointment' has been uploaded!"]
"Oh! The next chapter is out!"
Here comes my dopamine!
I'm excited!
Gotta read the next chapter!