Chapter 261 (2/2)

“What are they up to?”

Count Marcus seemed to frown upon the actions which were being done in the banquet.

“To receive donations to help the soldiers and the people who were injured in the war…” Said an apprentice.

“What? Donations? How dare you try to reap something in this occasion?”

When Count Marcus seemed angry, the apprentice responded with a calm expression.

“Pope’s words.”

“Hu! Really, really?”

“Yes, everyone gathered here love the Holy Empire and the people in it, so you can give as much as you want.”

At those words, Count Marcus and the others turned towards the Pope.

When she was completely ready, Reina sat in a colorful chair and smiled looking at the members in the hall.

The hearts of the nobles, and seeing the angel smile the most beautiful smile could feel their hearts turn heavier.

“Obvious, obviously I am going to give donations. But I haven’t brought much money with me right now.”

“It doesn’t matter, anything of help works.” Replied the apprentice.

At those words, the nobles sweating offered up expensive jewelleries, such as rings and necklaces.

Luke and Victor couldn’t help but smile.

“Hahaha, this is amazing. I love this act!”

“Right. You can’t just waste the taxes taken from the people to create parties.”

With such laughter, the apprentices tried to fill up the donation boxes.

“We, we too?”

“Yes, Pope, the Pope has said that if it was you two, you would pay a lot of sum.”

“This is!”

Belfair, who looked at his master finding things to donate realized the woman of his Master was very different from the people he had come across.

Dancing and music were indispensable at a banquet.

With cheerful dances in the middle, young men and women began to dance hand in hand holding onto the other and walking to the center of the hall.

As Luke watched the scene, not realizing what he was doing, approached Reina.

As he approached the chair, the paladin escort allotted to her stopped him.

“Please step back. The ideal approach…”

“It is alright. He is the God’s warrior, he won’t ever hurt me.”

At Reina’s assurance, the paladin seemed flustered but soon withdrew.

Luke approached her and politely bowed his head extending his hand.

“Can I ask you for a song?” Asked Luke.

“This is burdensome! How dare you harass the Pope, the Apostle of God!”

Archbishop Constantine who was right beside Reina was upset.

He was tensed with the change in the attitude and behavior of Reina.

She has been growing more mature lately, and she was turning into a completely different person from the one whom he met on the first day.

Having her at the banquet itself was crazy enough, but for letting the mercenary approach her!

“It is alright. One song isn’t very tough to perform.”

“What are you even saying, Pope. An apostle of God…”

“Didn’t the Pope herself say that it’s alright?”

At the low question from Luke, Constantine’s complexion changed.

He had been trying to fix Veronica III’s words and acts which were like a kid’s for the past two years. And if he didn’t get the Pope to fit with him, he would be losing the dignity of holding the Marius faction, for which he used the Pope.

And he made sure to talk only where there were no eyes to see. Even if she made any mistake, he never pointed it out.

It was because he could be asked by the opposition for restricting the opinion of the Pope.

He was so careful all that time, but he couldn’t stop himself from making a mistake.

Was it because he was flustered with the changes that were happening with the Pope and to the Pope alone?!

‘Did that mercenary intentionally do this?’

While Constantine was unable to sort out his thoughts, and Reina walked to the middle of the banquet hall following Luke’s hand which was directed to her.

When she appeared, both the nobles and the priests were shocked. A Pope had never danced in the banquet till then.

It was customary to just leave the hall with a very stern expression. Veronica III was a young woman, so it was different from the previous Pope’s they had.

“This was never done in history…”

“It isn’t like he hadn’t proved himself to be a man, but Viscount Lev doesn’t know fear.”

“Ahh! If I knew, then I would have asked first!”

While the young nobles felt shocked and jealous, the middle-aged nobles were eager to interpret the situation politically.

“No matter what, I feel like Archbishop Constantine is done for!”

“The Holy Pope no longer wants to listen to him.”

“This might be a good opportunity for someone…”

Voices were all around, but Luke didn’t care for anyone other than the woman who was right in front of his eyes.

“I wanted to dance with you just once.”

“I, too.”

Seeing Reina smile, Luke couldn’t help but break into a smile.

“But there is so much work that has to be done.”

“Ho ho, the Pope too is a human, you can surely dance for once. Maybe everyone will understand this.” Said Luke to calm her nerves.

“Well, if that is the case, then it is all good.”

The two were dancing beautifully to the melody.

The two were stepping and moving as if they had known each other for a very long time, and there was no single second of awkwardness in them.

“They are a perfect match.”

“The God’s warrior and the God’s apostle?”

Those who were staring at the Pope and Luke were surprised for a second and began to join in on the melody.