Chapter 892 (2/2)

“The successor was his first Pure Witch, Zero,” Isabella said. She did not know what His Majesty would think of those words, but since she started off, she would do her best. “Graycastle isn’t our enemy. Instead, in order to defend the real enemy, Lord O’Brien even hope to ally the church with Graycastle.”

“Do you mean… the demonic beasts?” Someone could not help asking.

“They’re more fearful than the demonic beasts.” Isabella shook her head and said, “They’re recorded in canon within the church that only a very few people could see. Mayne was averse to let the Pure Witch seize the power, so he secretly revolted and framed Zero who was about to leave for Graycastle as a messenger. That’s the cause for the battle of Coldwind Ridge.” Fortunately, Mayne’s trick didn’t work out. I survived that battle, yet the initiators of the rebellion died within more than a month. There was no doubt that they were punished by the deities.”

“There’s no so-called last battle, and you don’t need to hold the cloister alone to the last moment, either,” she paused. “You’re safe now.”

Both the nuns and the orphans looked as though they could not believe their ears.

“What about… our punishment… for killing the priests?”

“They had dishonored their names and therefore disqualified for what they had done, so I decided spare all of you.”

There was a moment of silence. Then they started to cheer wildly. “Thank you! Your Merciful Holiness!”

“Long live Pope Isabella!”

“Long live Your Holiness”

Isabella pressed her palms downward to make them calm down before she continued, “Just as I said, I’m no pope. The rules don’t really make me attain the that role. I’m just the executor of Supreme Pontiff, as I was before.”

“But you still represent the Church of Hermes!” Qiu said, thrilled.

“I have a mission for you,” Isabella said clearly and with certainty. “Of course, that’s after all of you eat your fill.”

The nuns and the orphans knelt again after hobbling back to their feet. They said as one, “At your service.”

Isabella knew very well that those people did not side with her because they were convinced by her. They had been forsaken and should have been done for. Now that they were given the hope to return to the church, they naturally would devote anything, even if the “church” they would know now was not real.

Supposing that the real Church of Hermes was still standing, they might mull over whether they had made the right choice after they removed themselves from the plight and cooled down. But that was impossible now. By the time the First Army arrived, what she had said would definitely come true.

Only by breaking their old beliefs of the church and instilling a half-true story she had made up as the new “truth”. King Roland would now be able to control this land veritably.

“It’s very simple. I want you to restore order in the Old Holy City,” Isabella said methodically. “Qiu, first gather the residents of the two other cloisters and retell them my words. You must also see to it that every child gets their portion of food before nightfall. The First Army of Graycastle will answer your call and help you. Since they had known that it was Mayne and other men who betrayed, they wouldn’t make things difficult for you. After that, all of you must walk out and inform every household of the news and note the names of whom have left and stayed respectively. If you run into the treasonous priests or the believers, report to me immediately.”

As the orders were given, the nuns went into action right after they answered the “yes”. The situation they were in did not magically improve but a new outlook and hope dwindles in their eyes.

Soon, they ripped down the gate. When a nun was about to take the girls out of the cloister in order, one girl suddenly bowed low to Isabella.

“Thank you, Lady Isabella.”

The other girls followed her behavior one after another.

“You’re so nice, My Lady.”

“I’ll remember you forever.”

Every girl in the line echoed these kinds of words.

“Thanking me…” Isabella slightly closed her eyes, lost in thought. She had received much hatred and many curses since the day she became a Pure Witch, yet this was the first time she was being thanked.

But what she had done was not for gaining gratitude, but for her goal. She would also put those people to death without the slightest hesitation if that was needed to achieve her goal. So… this kind of gratitude seemed unwanted to her.

Although that was she had been thinking, Isabella felt like something unknown emerged in her heart, a feeling she had never had before. She could feel a soft distension occurring in her heart and warmth like a fire. Isabella thought she would resist the feeling, but… it was not as annoying as she had expected.

Was this King Roland’s intention?

Isabella slightly lets out a breath and then slowly followed the end of the line to the camp.