It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 88: The Holy City Of Vespia

After letting the carriage run for a while, a building came into view ahead.

A building close to a huge church that could be recognized even from a distance.

Many white spires were visible, the outer walls were considerably high, and the gate was huge too.

Is that the largest city in the Papal Territory, the Holy City Of Vespia?

We passed through the large gate.

What appeared was a stone-paved road; looking at the people walking on the road, they were probably pilgrims or monks.

They were walking wearing hoods on their heads, black dresses, and necklaces with a diagonal cross on their chests.

There was no bustle like in the Royal Capital, and the white-themed cityscape had roads extending radially from the tall church in the center.

When I got off the carriage, the wind felt just a little cold.

Was it this different when there were no people?

No…

Looking up, there were many places in the shade because the sun was blocked by tall buildings.

Looking around, there were many shaded places besides here.

Even though it’s a large city like the Royal Capital, is it this different?

“Zeke-sama, this way.”

“Hmph. It seems those guys want to greet you.”

Debut and Garim pointed to the Royal Palace Knights.

By “those guys”…

When we walked over, the guys wearing armor more beautiful than the Royal Capital Knight Order lined up while floating cold eyes.

And one person who was the representative stepped forward.

“I am Defram Aureus of the Royal Palace Knight Order. We will be in charge of guarding the Saint who is present here.”

The knight with a splendid mustache quickly pointed behind him with his hand.

Then, clack… clack… someone walked forward slowly.

Semi-long blonde hair, gold eyes. Her height was about average, and her figure was thin but she had curves where she should.

Her face was also on the well-featured side, but.

What was this haggard feeling?

Yeah, it was the bad complexion and the eyes.

Under her eyes were deep dark circles and half-dead hollow eyes.

“Nice to meet you, I am Marina Refrain. I am serving as the Saint.”

She smiled faintly, but her lack of vitality was amazing.

“I am Zeke. Nice to meet you.”

When I held out my hand, Marina also put out her hand and shook it.

There was no strength in it at all, and if anything, it felt like it would break if I gripped it a little.

Was this person okay…?

While lightly greeting the Saint’s group, the church side’s knights confirmed it looked about time and let us inside the building saying “This way…”.

Led by the guide knight, we walked inside the church.

It was almost silent.

The occasional monks walked silently, and there were absolutely no voices of servants or soldiers, or voices heard from the kitchen like in the Royal Palace.

It was only to the extent that the clank… clank… sounds of armor were heard every time each Knight Order walked.

It was a tranquil space.

“It smells like herbs or something.”

“Hmph. Is that so? I can’t tell though.”

“You wouldn’t know since your nose is stuffed all year round.”

“Hmph. Debut, you wouldn’t understand a stylish smell like herbs anyway. It’s a misunderstanding.”

“What did you say!”

“Ahh… you guys keep quiet.”

Stupid conversation could be heard from behind and Rubert reproved them.

Yeah, it ruined the solemn atmosphere so I wanted them to shut up.

“From here on, only the Saint-sama and Prince Zeke…”

The guards were stopped in front of the room.

“It’s okay.”

I reassured the Knight Order members who looked anxious.

Probably, I thought I could handle it alone no matter what happened.

When we entered the audience chamber, two people were standing there besides the church knights.

“Prince Zeke, and Saint-sama. Welcome.”

The one who said that with a smile was the old man sitting at the very back.

He was smiling and looked kind but…

“Oh pardon me, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I am Razebio. I serve as Pope. Next to me is Cardinal Magnus.”

Heeh, Pope and Cardinal–wait, aren’t these people super important people?

Nn? Who was higher in rank, me the Prince or them?

“I am the Saint, Marina Refrain.”

She knelt on one knee, placed her hand on her chest, and bowed.

Well, following the person on the right, if I bowed politely there should be no problem.

I also knelt on one knee smoothly and placed my hand on my chest.

“I am the Prince of the Carlaan Country, Zeke Carlaan. I thank Your Holiness the Pope for your personal words of appreciation.”

“How polite… please stand.”

The Pope smiled broadly.

“You must be tired from the journey. We have prepared rooms for the two of you and your guards respectively. Please relax there.”

“Thank you very much.”

The room we were guided to was a pretty good room.

There were no flashy decorations, but whether it’s the candlestick or the water pitcher, everything was made of silver and the bed’s duvet was also soft.

I felt like sleeping just like this, but I guessed I couldn’t do that.

The room was a little separated from the Saint’s group, but over there they had the Royal Palace Knight Order, so they’d manage something.

More importantly–.

For the time being, I decided to talk to Rubert.

“I want you to tell me about the church.”

“You don’t know, Zeke-sama? You should be reading quite a few books usually.”

“I don’t know, there weren’t any books at all, and since no one explains it, I have almost no information.”

Because matters related to the Papal Territory were blatantly missing from the Royal Palace library.

Sebas also kept his mouth shut when I asked, so perhaps he was silenced by Father.

“……”

Rubert looked at Debut and Garim, and realizing that, the two signaled Ted and Quinn with their hands.

“There are no problems in the room. Then we will watch outside.”

“Hmph. If anything happens, those other than the lookouts will be in the room opposite.”

I saw the four of them go outside the room.

“Well, I don’t think they are eavesdropping, but just in case.”

Rubert shrugged his shoulders.

“So, starting from the conclusion, it has been 13 years since the current Pope took over. Quite a few nobles have died.”

“Oi oi oi.”

Isn’t that outrageous information right from the start?

“Also one royal. Although it seems they were quite distant from the royal line. Well, this is a story from about 50 years ago so it has nothing to do with the current Pope though.”

“No no, no no no. Even if you say it was a long time ago, that’s considerably bad, right. Didn’t it become a problem?”

“It became a problem, but since there was no evidence, it is recorded that a large amount of reparations and such were paid.”

Didn’t that mean as long as no evidence is left, human lives can be managed with money?

“Is the power dynamic stronger on their side?”

“It seems it was so in the old days, I don’t know about now. Isn’t it fine to say it’s equal? Because in the old days, the number of people who believed in God was overwhelmingly larger.”

“I see.”

If 50 years passed, did that kind of power dynamic also change?

“That said, if something happens, the ones who will testify are the people of the Papal Territory.”

“So it’s not guaranteed they will give correct testimony for our side, huh.”

I guessed I should consider everyone around me as enemies.

Or rather, why did Father send me to such a dangerous place?

Isn’t it very troublesome?

“Well, as expected I don’t think there will be poison put in the food, you know? Since we have a Saint here, poison can be cured after all.”

“…I want to hope so.”

“Your Holiness, please give me the order.”

Magnus knelt and lowered his head while clasping both hands.

The whispers of the two echoed in the quiet room.

The knights standing around faced forward without moving a muscle, each wearing full plate armor and holding a halberd with a spear or axe.

“I had the Saint come for my sake. Regarding the Prince, it will not be too late after hearing the report after Albert arrives.”

“However… setting aside the Saint, I hear the Prince is not a believer.”

“Hmph…”

Razebio walked one step, two steps while stroking the long white beard growing from his chin.

He raised his face and looked up at the void.

“If the Cardinal wishes to test him, you may do as you please. I will not be involved… but, God is watching. Even if that person undergoes a trial and meets with misfortune, that means he was not protected by God, was not chosen. It means God forsook him. It is merely that. Everything is…”

Hearing Pope Razebio’s words, Cardinal Magnus clasped his hands in front of his chest.

“As God guides.”