Gospel of Blood

After reaching an agreement with Count Stafford, the meeting that would determine the future of the Starfall Kingdom came to an end.

Both parties were satisfied, especially Count Stafford. He had arrived in a hurry with a worried expression, but now he looked relieved and his mood had lifted.

Charlotte personally saw Count Stafford off from the Count’s mansion. Before leaving, Count Stafford hesitated, then turned back and said gravely.

“Your Majesty, on our journey to the Starfall, we must act quickly and move secretly. Therefore, you might need to bring as few followers as possible. What do you think…?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Charlotte nodded.

“I understand. Rest assured, I won’t bring too many followers.”

Only then did Count Stafford breathe a sigh of relief.

“Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. Then… I will come to the mansion again tomorrow morning to escort you.”

“No need for such formalities. Just wait for me at the dock tomorrow.”

Count Stafford was slightly stunned, then respectfully nodded.

After bowing to Charlotte once more, Count Stafford left the mansion.

As soon as he departed, the black cat Nice, who had been eavesdropping outside the drawing room, shot out excitedly, his round face filled with eagerness.

“Lady Charlotte! Lady Charlotte! Tomorrow, tomorrow I…”

Charlotte looked at him and instantly knew what he wanted.

“Do you want to come along?”

“Meow meow! These past few months while you were away, I didn’t dare to wander off, fearing I’d be kidnapped again like last time and disrupt your plans. I’m almost sick from being cooped up for months!”

Nice said.

Just as Nice finished speaking, a flash of sword light ppeared, and the clear, youthful voice of the Roman Sword rang out.

“Me too! Me too! Great… um… Master Charlotte, I’ve been cooped up for so long too! I want to go to Starfall as well!”

Charlotte looked at the cat and the sword, nodding.

“If you want to go, then go. Also, check if Yurst has left. If he’s still in Northport, ask him if he wants to come along.”

Since it was a journey to Starfall, the Roman Sword had to be brought along. Nice… could come too.

After all, they were preparing to deal with the Nez Clan, and this well-informed cat might be helpful.

As for Yurst, since he was also going to Starfall, traveling together might make it easier for her to meet the Nez Clan.

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“Yurst? Got it! I’ll send him a magic message right away!”

Nice nodded quickly.

He was long accustomed to Charlotte’s preference for having others run errands rather than contacting her followers directly, despite being a “God.”

“And tell Sherry to prepare what I need for the trip, as per the usual specifications for my low-profile visits.”

Charlotte added.

“Huh? The usual specifications for low-profile visits? Lady Charlotte, are you really planning to go without any guards?”

Nice was surprised.

Charlotte shook her head.

“We’re going to negotiate with the Nez Clan. The extraordinary knights of Castell are too weak. They wouldn’t be helpful in real dangerous situations and might even need protection. Better not bring them.” ℞

“As for the escort, I already have a good candidate in mind, with decent strength…”

“A good candidate?”

Nice was puzzled, then suddenly became alert, looking around before asking.

“You… have other ‘followers’?”

Before Charlotte could answer, a light laugh sounded behind Nice.

“Hehe, a great being like Lady Charlotte certainly has other followers more suited to her stature.”

It was Albrecht.

The black bat swarm dispersed, revealing him in his mercenary attire.

His silent appearance and voice startled Nice, causing all his fur to stand on end.

He leaped up and instinctively hid behind Charlotte, peeking out cautiously.

“It’s you? The Third Dark Apostle of Shedite? When did you come to Castell?”

The Roman Sword immediately recognized Albrecht.

Albrecht nodded slightly to the Roman Sword, smiling.

“Long time no see, Sir Roman. I came to Castell at Lady Charlotte’s summons to accompany her.”

The Roman Sword suddenly understood.

“So you’re the follower Lady Charlotte mentioned!”

It floated beside Albrecht, familiarly patting his shoulder, and said with an air of seniority.

“Not bad! You’re quite strong, good enough as a guard!”

“Ah, really, if only those Nez Clan members were as sensible as you. The era of archdukes and princes is over. Now that Lady Charlotte has returned, they should wake up and submit sooner.”

“After all… being Lady Charlotte’s follower is the greatest honor! Unlike those Nez Clan fools who don’t recognize their true master, they will end up as blood servants if they anger Lady Charlotte to the end!”

The Roman Sword chattered away, forgetting that it too had been “forcibly contracted.”

However, it wasn’t merely “bootlicking” Charlotte after becoming her artifact, it had indeed benefited from the arrangement.

Although it was nearly driven mad by the constant prayers of Charlotte’s followers when it served as the faith network’s core, it also gained a lot of divine power from them.

Besides, Charlotte wasn’t harsh on it either.

Hearing Roman Sword’s words, Albrecht’s expression stiffened slightly. He forced a smile and said,

“You… you’re right.”

Seeing Albrecht’s appearance, Nice didn’t say much, but a sense of vigilance arose in his heart.

Her Majesty, the True Ancestor… Recently, hasn’t the number of new followers been increasing a bit too quickly? Yurst was one thing, but then there was the black dragon, and now even a Legendary Dark Apostle had submitted to her…

And now, she was going to Starfall to become the queen… Hiss… It feels like the space left for me is getting smaller and smaller!

Nice was suddenly alert, a sense of urgency bubbling up inside him, fearing he might be surpassed.

No way… This can’t go on!

Even though he was the only one who could truly be Her Majesty’s pet, the only one qualified to impersonate her after she slept, he had to stay vigilant to avoid being replaced!

The seats on this ship to the highest honor were limited at the bow, and Nicholas couldn’t let himself be pushed out! He needed to work harder to prove his worth!

Nice, lost in thought, almost forgot that he too had been forcibly contracted as a servant.

Half an hour later, Yurst finally arrived after receiving the message from Nice through magical communication.

That guy… hadn’t actually left.

“Countess Castell, are you leaving for Starfall tomorrow?”

Yurst asked with a delighted expression.

Then he saw Albrecht standing next to Charlotte.

Yurst’s smile froze immediately.

Though Albrecht had changed his attire, he hadn’t disguised his appearance, still looking the same as he did at the Roman banquet. Yurst recognized him instantly.

“Ah, Count Yurst, long time no see.”

Albrecht said with a forced smile.

Yurst swallowed and forced a smile.

“Al… Albrecht, hello?”

…

The next morning, Charlotte embarked on her journey to Starfall.

She didn’t bring many people, only Albrecht disguised as a mercenary, Yurst posing as a knight, the black cat Nice, the chattering Roman Sword, and the maids Sherry and Reina to take care of daily needs.

As for why she brought Reina… it was mainly on a whim.

Charlotte was very interested in the seer mentioned by Count Stafford, and also in some rumors about the Nez Clan that she heard from Yurst.

She wanted to verify a few things among the Nez Clan during this trip.

When Count Stafford saw Charlotte’s small entourage at the dock, he was taken aback.

He had suggested that Charlotte bring as few people as possible, but he didn’t expect her to bring so few.

However, when he saw the nature of Charlotte’s companions, he quickly became numb.

Heavens knew, except for the two maids, he couldn’t gauge the depth of anyone else, not even the talking pet cat!

Especially the tall, thin mercenary. Although he didn’t exude any aura, he gave off a strange pressure, making Stafford’s protective artifact heat up slightly as if warning him.

Count Stafford dared not underestimate them.

That must be a powerful individual concealing his aura!

“Your Majesty, everything is ready. We can board the ship now.”

He bowed to Charlotte, his manner even more respectful. Charlotte nodded slightly.

She glanced subtly in a certain direction, chuckled softly, and then gracefully boarded the three-masted warship flying the Starfall’s flag.

After everyone boarded, the ship hoisted its sails and set off northwest.

Outside the dock, at a window of a two-story building.

A figure hidden in the darkness put down his spyglass, watching the ship flying the Starfall’s flag sail away.

He turned, walked to the table, injected magic into the crystal ball on the table, and said in a deep voice.

“Elder, they have departed.”

“Yes, that’s right, I saw her. Charlotte de Castell is on the ship.”

…

Charlotte embarked on her journey to the Starfall Kingdom.

Meanwhile, far to the north in the Northern Grand Duchy, Sebastian finally brought Castell’s envoy group to the capital of the North—Winterfort.