Chapter 178 (1/2)

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Saint Rusalka's Knight

Her blue cloak stood out in the white-themed building. As she walked down the halls, people wearing gray clothes bowed their heads respectfully.

「Lady Conia, you look great today.」

「You too.」

When the woman named Conia answered the greeting, the people in gray bowed even deeper.

Upon closer look, it wasn't just her cloak that was blue. Her sleeves and trousers were blue as well, including the cross on her chest, a symbol of the Church. The ornament on the grip of her sword hanging by her waist was blue. Anyone would realize that this color meant something.

The Blue Knights. Knights who protected this tower often used the color. Fewer and fewer people used the color blue the farther the temple was from Bios.

「Miss Conia.」

「h.e.l.lo, Father.」

Conia quickly kneeled on the spot. Her long, purple hair tied to the back hung straight down.

「Please be at ease. May I have a bit of your time?」the priest asked.

「Of course.」she answered.

The woman got up her feet and followed the priest. Her purple eyes beamed with intelligence, and her narrow chin and tiny lips made her face look small. Knights evoked an image of a mighty warrior, but she gave off an aura of a brilliant beauty.

Despite still being in her teens, she could walk around the tower as a Blue Knight. That just showed how skilled she really was.

「What's the matter, Father?」

「Please, come in.」

「Thank you.」

The priest led her to a small room. It appeared to be a lounge where people could take a break. On the table was a tea set, suggesting that the man who called Conia was just resting here.

The man wore a long, red robe, a sharp contrast to her attire; not the bright kind, but a dark, subdued red. It wasn't too gaudy overall. Although, the embroidery on his cuffs, collar, and belt looked intricate and sewn using expensive threads. His square cap rested on the table.

The Red Priests were a rank higher than the Blue Knights. The people Conia pa.s.sed by earlier were the Gray Deacons, the lowest among the ranks of people allowed to enter this tower.

Above the Red Priests were the Purple Aristocrats, and the White Pope stood on top of them all. This was Bios's Five Divine Ranks system that had been in place for a long time.

Of course, there were other professionals in the tower as well, like the Pope's secretary, who were not part of the hierarchy, but still given special permission to enter the tower.

「Have you heard the news?」the man asked.「His Holiness will mediate in the Ponsonian civil war.」

「I have. The conflict between the crown prince and the princess, I believe.」she answered.「Their representative would be here soon, and I was asked to be part of security.」

「Is there a point for this arbitration?」the priest muttered in a low whisper, as if he didn't want anyone else to hear.

「I'm not sure I follow.」

「What are your thoughts on the Ponsonian civil war?」

「I am inexperienced in the world of politics, but I heard the late king had not chosen his successor. After his death, the princess quickly gained control of the royal capital, and many n.o.bles sided with her. The prince left with only a few troops and he's currently holed up in Leather Elka.」

「Hmm… Are you saying the prince should surrender?」

「No.」

「Really now?」