511 Discovery (1/2)
The morning after the rain was particularly refreshing. The sun was not high yet but was warm and gentle.
The selected Dragon Scale horses, emitting silver grey brilliance, accommodated the proud knights to go to the Nekso Palace, galloping as gracefully as if dancing.
Behind them, Natasha accepted the tributes of her subjects with a gold crown and the 'Sword of Truth', followed by the nine dukes and other lower nobles.
After they reached the Nekso Palace, the nobles dispersed and went to the hall where the Parliament of Nobles was located, waiting for the queen to host her first meeting.
Natasha returned to the queen's house calmly and turned on a divine power circle, blocking the center of the Nekso Palace. Then, she took off her armor and changed into a black court dress under the help of Camil and two maids.
Hinting to the two maids to leave, Natasha finally revealed slight exhaustion. ”That's a lot of pressure. I don't know who are my enemies, who are my friends, and who are supporters that I can win over. This place is too strange and depressing compared to Orvarit. I didn't even dare to speak when the divine power circle was not activated. Kritonia, 'Heart of Time', is the one responsible for the safety of the Nekso Palace and the entire Rentato.”
It was obvious that she did not trust Kritonia.
”Actually, you don't need to come to inherit the throne. Holm is much more complicated than Orvarit. As an outsider who lacks concrete support, you can be involved in schemes and riots easily.” Camil said a lot of things despite her usual coldness. ”Whether you are inclined to the Congress of Magic, or the Church, or try to balance them, it will all be very troublesome.”
Natasha said in a bitter smile, ”I know it. Even if I collaborate with the Church to strike the Congress of Magic, disregarding Granny Hathaway and the royal family of Holm, it may still not be enough to resist the Congress. They are expanding to fast. In order to contain them, we need both Holm and the help from Brianne, Colette and Calais. Also, it will raise objections and even the revolt of the liberals, which may result in the division of the kingdom, turning Holm into ruins.”
”If I'm inclined to balance, the Church will definitely urge me, and I will have to consider that the Violet family and my father are at places where the Church is most powerful.”
”Why did you make such an unwise choice if you knew it so clearly?” Camil blamed her.
Natasha shook her head and said ruthlessly, ”What excuse did I have? If I state that I'm unwilling to assist the Church, it would be a betrayal of faith that will be punished by the Holy City, and the Violet family will be weakened openly and clandestinely. Therefore, when I heard the news, I thought that I might go to Holm someday, but not now. However, my father suggested that I come and let me know my mother's regrets.”
”Since I couldn't find an excuse, and the blood of Hoffenberg runs in my body, I might as well shoulder the responsibility of Holm. I do not wish to see a civil war in Holm that transforms my mother's beloved hometown into hell. That's why I'm here.”
”Besides, I am a devout believer, the leader of the Hoffenberg family and the Violet Countess. The Church should respect my will to some degree, just like before.”
”Natasha, that was before. If the situation in Holm comes to a critical moment, the Church will never consider what you think but only ask you to sacrifice for the Lord.” Camil found Natasha's plan too ideal.
Natasha smiled and said firmly, ”If it is completely against my will, I would rather sacrifice myself. The Church cannot interfere with the power of the throne randomly. That's a deal the two parties reached before the Lord hundreds of years ago. If the Church violates it, they will be heretics and raise all nobles' hostility.”
Camil looked at Natasha and helped her clean her necklace. ”What are you planning to do? What do you want Holm to become? What's your future direction?”
”Well, I don't know yet. I cannot make up my mind for now.” Natasha was more or less confused.
Camil looked at her solemnly, ”Then, you'd better figure it out fast. Whether you are to lean towards the Congress of Magic or the Church, or to maintain balance, you have to make a decision soon. That's the only way to make preparations in advance.”
She was referring to the Duchy of Orvarit.
”I understand. The principles of my administration must be settled soon in order to issue laws and eliminate opposition. However, that needs a much deeper understanding about the situation in Holm. Now, the only thing certain is that even the most liberal noble is unwilling to be eliminated by the Church and even the most conservative noble wouldn't want to return to the dominance of the royal power hundreds of years ago. That is, not considering people like Gordon who are completely devoted to the Church. So, I should try to maintain balance for the time being.” Natasha nodded.
Then, she turned around and looked at the mirror. Touching the emblem of the Hoffenberg family, she said to herself, ”Before that, I need to figure out my faith. What is the Lord to me in my heart? What's the relation between the Lord and the Church? Only by seeing through myself can I make future plans, advance into level eight and draw the Sword of Truth. Also, it's hard to tell what Grand Cardinal Sard thinks and wants…”
She did not tell the Grand Duke or Camil about the shaking of her faith. Besides Lucien, only Fernando and Lucien guessed a little from the projection of Mountain Paradise that Francis summoned.
”Alright, it's time to go to the Parliament of Nobles.” Camil opened the gate.
Natasha looked at the mirror again. When she saw the fear and sorrow of the beautiful purple-haired girl inside, she suddenly thought of something else, ”After I become the queen of Holm, I cannot go to the magic tower to visit Granny Hathaway, or check his unique magic tower and the Atom Institution that he mentioned a lot in Aalto. My every move will be interpreted by the malicious nobles. If I do those two things, it will be a sign that I'm inclined to the Congress of Magic.”