Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Saintess Competition
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"The Pope's daughter?"
"..."
"?"
I peered closely at her face.
The current Pope was estimated to be over 250 years old, which meant his daughter would be...
Yet no matter how I looked at her, she appeared to be in her twenties at most.
"You're ageless."
"Pardon?"
Hold on. One more thing.
If the Pope was her mother, that meant to have a daughter, she would have...
"Who is your father?"
"??"
Whoever he was, he had to be an incredibly dangerous man.
"...I think I know what you're imagining, but I'm her adopted daughter."
"Ah."
I see.
That explained everything.
"...You do know who I am, right?"
"I know the basics. Not in great detail, though."
On the way to the Holy Capital, Eline had briefed me on the current state of high society and background on the agenda items.
Aselina Radain.
Captain of the Rose Knight Order and daughter of the current Pope, Mercadie Radain.
And one of the leading candidates in the Saintess selection competition, a key item on this assembly's agenda.
—However, my lord, among those who perished in the accident while traveling with the previous family head to attend the assembly were our diplomats and intelligence gatherers... So the information we can currently collect through Bilheim Family resources is limited. Please keep that in mind.
And Eline had added that.
...No. Even so, how could she omit the crucial fact that she was adopted?
"Information from the Holy Capital doesn't reach the North easily."
"...Ahem. Anyway, fine. Let me ask once more, Duke Robertus Bilheim."
She extended her hand to me again.
"Support me in this assembly."
The Saintess of the Radain Faith.
The representative of female clergy affiliated with the Church.
A position equal to the cardinals in authority, or even greater depending on the agenda.
As the explanation suggests, she's different from the saintesses chosen by gods in typical subculture tales.
She's an elected official, selected by votes from lords and priests gathered at the assembly.
So her proposal was essentially electioneering.
—There are two leading candidates in this Saintess competition. One is Aselina Radain of the Rose Knight Order.
She entered the Church young, graduated from seminary early.
Unlike most female priests who aspire to be healers, she joined the Rose Knight Order as its sole woman,
and rose to captain at the youngest age based on her battlefield merits.
"..."
I stared down at the hand she offered.
Putting aside her status as a top Saintess candidate, the head of the Papal Knights had come to me personally.
Even before I'd undergone formal entry procedures.
'She must be desperate.'
Considering my position in this Saintess competition.
A new Duke of the North who appeared like a comet.
Though newly appointed, so lacking connections or political clout...
'They must figure my buzz alone makes me worth recruiting.'
The lord of the Northern Territories, backed by the Pope and chosen by the Holy Sword.
My public endorsement would give her plenty of publicity.
'...Of course, my choice here is already set.'
"It's too early to decide."
"..."
As I withdrew her hand, her smiling face stiffened slightly.
"Are you refusing?"
"I just need more time to think about whose hand to take."
If they competed to recruit me, the smart move was to play hard to get until my value peaked.
Grabbing the first offer meant missing out on better terms.
"And as I said, from that distant North, I don't know the central politics."
Plus, I was a total novice in politics.
I had no info on the Holy Capital's power dynamics, factions, or key figures...
No data for decisions.
"We'll talk later."
I walked past her.
...This was the right move, right?
I'd never done politics before.
"—Are you sure about this?"
Aselina's sharp voice halted me.
"..."
There it was. No way she'd let it slide.
Stay calm.
Can't show weakness here.
"...Hm?"
I turned slowly, forcing a relaxed smile.
A smile played on Aselina's lips, but her eyes were razor-sharp.
'Intimidating.'
It's fine. Don't flinch.
Who am I? Duke of the North, Robertus Bilheim.
"What do you mean?"
"You know who I am, yet you refuse my offer... I'm asking if you can handle the fallout."
"..."
"The countless nobles and priests supporting me... Can't you imagine what retaliation they could unleash on you and the North?"
How would I know?
And her threat didn't hold water anyway.
Diplomatic isolation only works if there's prior exchange, but the North was already cut off.
Like threatening North Korea with severed ties—it wouldn't faze them.
Pathetic, comparing the North to that.
Wait. Does that make me Kim Jong—
...Stop thinking.
Anyway, other nobles harming the North would mean invading us outright or meddling to hike our taxes...
The first was impossible, the second...
...Unlikely, but if it happened, I'd beg the Pope.
Can't yield to threats.
Hit back boldly.
"Retaliation."
I stepped toward her.
Standing face-to-face, our height difference was stark.
Caught off guard, Aselina furrowed her brow.
"How dare you."
I emphasized each word.
"Speak of retaliating... against us Northerners?"
"..."
"Fine. Try it. But..."
I leaned in until our faces nearly touched.
"...Think carefully who'll be handling the 'fallout' then."
"Tch."
Our gazes locked in suffocating silence for tense seconds.
"Excuse me."
I slowly turned and walked away.
Thump, thump, thump...
Praying my pounding heart stayed hidden.
It'll... be fine, right? She won't actually retaliate?
Damn. Why is it this intense from the start...
I already worried if I'd survive the assembly.
"..."
Aselina Radain watched Robertus's retreating figure with cold eyes until he vanished.
"That confident, arrogant attitude... I see. He won't be easy to sway."
Yet surprisingly, she looked satisfied.
"Good. That's how it should be. If he'd accepted my offer on the spot, I'd have been disappointed. It would've meant he was too stupid to even weigh the pros and cons."
Unlike the late Palthion, Robertus Bilheim knew politics.
"And he didn't buckle under my threat—instead, he countered boldly."
She knew her threat was baseless bluster.
And Robertus's response had pierced right through it.
"Immense power chosen by the Holy Sword, a cool head for analysis, overflowing confidence... I want him by my side even more, Lord Robertus."
Aselina imagined the advantages if he took her hand.
"If he publicly endorses me, Loretta would be..."
Loretta, her rival for Saintess.
Comparing achievements, Loretta—as head of the nuns—had only worked in the Holy Capital, while Aselina's knightly feats were unmatched.
"...I need legitimacy."
But she lagged in legitimacy.
Odd at first glance.
The Pope's adopted daughter losing on grounds?
"Why... are you backing Loretta, Mother?"
Unexpectedly, the current Pope supported Loretta.
The Pope wouldn't publicly endorse, but her private meetings with Loretta were common knowledge.
Rumors swirled that Aselina was being sidelined.
—You're not suited to be Saintess.
Recalling Mercadie's firm words, Aselina bit her lip.
"...I'll prove you wrong. No matter what."
Robertus, Duke of the North and recipient of the Pope's public backing.
To sway the Pope and gain legitimacy, she needed him.
"I'll make you mine, no matter what, Robertus Bilheim."
Aselina turned, plotting her next move to win him over.
After parting with Aselina, I headed to my assigned quarters.
"Wow..."
I marveled at the opulent interior.
Far better than my room at the mansion.
"The capital really is on another level..."
I checked my personal items set up by the servants, then sank into a chair to catch my breath.
I wanted to strip and dive into that bed...
Knock knock.
—My lord. It's Eline. I've come to prepare your banquet attire.
"Haa..."
Sadly, the schedule wasn't over.
I checked my outfit.
A tight black three-piece suit.
Eline got the size right, but I'd never worn formal wear, so it felt awkward.
"Whew..."
I sighed, gazing up at the massive red doors before me.
They led to the banquet hall.
Before the assembly, this social gathering built camaraderie among participants.
Inside swarmed nobles of at least baronial rank.
"...Okay. Let's do this. The Duke of the North's society debut."
I steeled myself and placed my hand on the door to the banquet hall.