Chapter 2022 - 544: Things More Terrifying Than Humans_3

Looking at the bishop whose eyes were red from crying for the Kingdom, Theoden sighed gently and reached out to straighten his tilted hat.

"It seems... it's not just our Empire that has fallen; Saint Clement Cathedral is no longer that merciful and accommodating Holy Court."

The King's tone carried a hint of regret, as if lamenting the decline of that ancient church in the distance, yet the regret was not entirely evident.

At least he wasn't as emotional as the Bishop, without shedding a single tear.

"No need to be sad, Claude. The greed is the sin of the Pope and the Cardinals, I will not blame you, the innocent, for their greed."

In those seemingly merciful cloudy eyes, there was only a deep indifference that had long been anticipated.

Theoden was not surprised at all; he never expected the Holy City, far away, to spend money for the citizens of Roland City.

However, Claude's ridiculous performance art did not bother him; at least it brought him some good cheer.

Only by making the priests in Roland City understand that the priests in the Holy City had abandoned them would they unite more closely around his crown.

Hearing that His Majesty truly did not blame him, Claude's violently trembling shoulders finally slowly calmed down.

He sniffed and wiped the tear stains from his face with his sleeve haphazardly. Although he still looked embarrassed, there was finally a glimmer of light in his eyes.

"Your Majesty... what should we do?"

Having just stopped crying, Claude was reminded of those terrible rumors outside, and worry again crept up his brow.

"I've heard people outside saying... that the Royal Family's Vault is empty, not even a mouse would want to go in. Others say that by this time next year, we won't even be able to pay the guard's salary..."

Theoden chuckled, a sneer of contempt for the ignorance of mortals in his smile.

"What do they know."

There is always a group of self-righteous people in this Kingdom, who think they're remarkable after reading a couple of books, assuming they know everything. Just like that Baron Wickton type, constantly quoting books—his demeanor is irritating to look at.

And then there's his Finance Director, playing number games with him all the time, calculating how many copper coins a Roland City citizen can earn in a month, figuring out how much bread that equals to... Heh, one day when he's had enough, he might just send that mongrel off to Saint Sis to babble!

In the ancient Land of Knights, discussing the economy is a foolish thing to do; the power of the Devalu family doesn't come from those plebeians filled with the stench of copper, but from the Transcendent flowing in their veins.

The second rank is the master of the Kingdom, the rest are either the first rank, put on a high shelf, or the third rank who are used as tools for production.

Seeing the disdain hidden behind his cloudy eyes, Claude's shoulders couldn't help but slightly tremble, a trace of trepidation reappearing in his eyes.

"But Your Majesty..."

"Listen, Claude, there's no need to heed the noise of those ants."

Theoden reached out, gently patting Claude's shoulder, his motions soft and rhythmic, like soothing a frightened pet.

He lowered his head, leaning into the Bishop's ear, speaking in a voice like a leaky whistle.

"I am the King, you are the Bishop. We are not those merchants reeking of copper, those upstarts thinking poverty can defeat us, little do they know how naive and ridiculous their thoughts are... they will soon realize their foolishness, because our wealth has never been gold coins, nor silver coins and copper coins."

Claude swallowed hard.

"What is it then..."

Looking at this silly clown, Theoden smiled, spitting out a cold word.

"People."

...

The morning sun not only illuminated the dome of Saint Roland Cathedral but also passed over the curtains of the Colin Manor guest room, lighting up Erin's serene sleeping face.

Sure enough—

The bed at home is still more comfortable to sleep on.

Her slightly trembling eyelashes fluttered twice, and Erin, like a little lion waking from a sleep, stretched and yawned as she sat up from the bed.

Washing up.

Changing clothes—

Out the door!

Perhaps it was the "psychological counseling" Theresa gave her last night, or maybe it was the long-lost good night's sleep, but today she looked exceptionally radiant.

And when she was in a particularly good mood coming down the stairs, she happened to run into Miss Vivian who was also descending from upstairs.

"Good morning, Vivian."

Erin greeted her with a smile, that smile like moonlight sprinkled over a lake in the scorching summer.

However, what she did not expect was that Vivian, who was tiptoeing down the stairs, reacted like a startled rabbit.

"M-morning..."

She stammered a reply, then quickly lowered her head, with her fluffy purple hair covering just half her face, blushing like a fully ripe apple.

Without finishing a full sentence, she darted away nervously along the wall as if avoiding some plague.

"...?"

Watching Vivian leave suspiciously, Erin touched her own cheek in bewilderment and looked at the female knight behind her.

"Theresa, is there something strange on my face?"

Theresa, who had just emerged from the adjacent guest room, also appeared confused, scrutinizing Erin thoughtfully while pinching her chin, then shook her head.

"No, Your Highness. You are as radiant as ever today, perhaps Miss Vivian just hasn't woken up yet."

It's not that she hasn't woken up.

Miss Vivian doesn't sleep at night, the tributes offered by the players are never consumed, and neither are the novels from Thunder City.