Blood Holy Scripture: True Ancestor Charlotte de Castel
Chapter 44: -41- Bold Duke

Chapter 44: -41- Bold Duke

"Viscount, my servant seems to be having some trouble, please allow me to see what has happened."

Charlotte gracefully bowed to Bruno and then walked towards the grand entrance of the Duke Mansion.

A fair number of nobles had already gathered in front of the Duke Mansion.

Most of them watched Casimodo and Nisi, who was held up by the Starry Knight, with curious, disdainful, or schadenfreude expressions.

A few young nobles who wanted to show off attempted to step forward to help, but were quickly stopped by the elders of their families, who shook their heads and motioned for them to be silent.

After all, in the Bold Duchy, the surname is Bold.

Attending a birthday banquet, naturally, enough respect should be given to the host, even if the host is merely a gatekeeping knight.

Trying to sneak a pet inside was an utterly disrespectful act.

"What’s going on?"

Seeing Charlotte approach, the gathered nobles made way for her.

Casimodo, as if finding a pillar of strength, hurried over and said in a helpless whisper,

"Master, pets are not allowed inside the Duke Mansion. I tried to persuade Lord Nisi to wait in the outside pet area, but he adamantly refused to go there and wanted to sneak in..."

"And then... he was caught by the knight at the door."

Pet area?

Charlotte paused.

Reflecting on Nisi’s demeaning yet slightly proud demeanor, she could somewhat understand why he wouldn’t want to stay in the pet area with the real cats and dogs.

However...

Charlotte slightly furrowed her brows, glancing at Nisi, who was caught by the scruff of his neck:

Can’t you speak for yourself? Can’t you explain?

Nisi looked pitifully innocent, his eyes also carrying a hint of grievance:

Explain what? Declare that I belong to the Church? That Lord Nisi of the Church has become someone’s pet—do I still have a face to mingle in the Church circles?

Charlotte swept her gaze around, then her eyes turned colder,

Then just stay quietly in the pet area, and don’t cause me any trouble. I’ll talk to the people at the Duke Mansion in a little while and bring you in.

The Black Cat’s eyes suddenly became frantic:

Not that! To stay with those stupid cats and dogs, not even for a minute! I’d rather die than do that!

The human and cat communicated through looks, effortlessly.

It must be an additional ability granted by the Servant’s Oath.

Seeing Nisi’s pitiable face, Charlotte sighed inwardly but eventually decided to help him, planning to settle accounts with him later.

However, just when she was about to explain to the gatekeeping knight, Bruno’s sharp voice came through:

"Eh? Isn’t this Lord Nisi? Osama, have you lost your mind? Put Lord Nisi down right now!"

Hearing Bruno’s words, the Starry Knight looked at the black cat in his hand, hesitating:

"But... pets can’t..."

"Idiot! Lord Nisi is a big shot in the Church, recently commanded by the Church to protect Miss Charlotte around the clock! Put him down immediately!"

Bruno glared as he spoke.

"A big shot in the Church?"

"A... cat?"

"But isn’t he wearing a pet collar around his neck?"

"Wait, the name Nisi, that does sound familiar from the Church..."

The surrounding nobles murmured, their gazes filled with surprise and curiosity.

Nisi: . . .

The cat’s face fell instantly.

It’s all out. The fact that he is affiliated with Church couldn’t be kept secret...

He could almost foresee the laughing faces of those bastards in the Church after hearing that he had been treated as a pet of the heir of Castel!

Heaven knows, these days at the manor, he deliberately avoided those priests every morning!

All for nothing!

Though, admittedly, he indeed became the pet of an ancient Evil God...

But a pet of an Evil God, and a pet of a little girl, those are not the same!

Yet... he couldn’t reveal the secret.

Nisi’s feline face was full of complexity.

Hearing Bruno’s words, the Starry Knight still seemed hesitant, but glancing at the black cat in his hand, he ultimately set it down.

"Lord Nisi! Are you alright?"

The fat butler asked ingratiatingly, bending over to the black cat.

Seeing his identity revealed and the deed done, Nisi no longer pretended, but he sighed helplessly and then lifted his head proudly:

"Mmm... no harm, this Starry Knight is indeed a true knight."

"Meow! Master Cat was just testing whether he was diligent or not."

He proudly puffed out his chest, like a leader inspecting the local area.

"A talking cat!"

"A transcendent creature!"

The surrounding nobles’ eyes suddenly lit up.

Seeing more and more nobles gather, Nisi quickly coughed lightly and shrunk his barely visible fat neck, trying his best to hide the collar that Charlotte had specifically put on him days before as a punishment for peeping at a maid bathing:

"Alright, the misunderstanding is cleared up, so please hurry inside and stop blocking the door."

Saying this, she quickly slipped into the Duke’s mansion behind Charlotte, as if she was afraid of being seen by acquaintances.

"Hehe, Miss Charlotte, let’s continue inside. The Duke might be getting anxious waiting for us."

Bruno said cheerfully.

After he spoke, he took the lead toward the inner palace.

Watching his velvet ball-like figure receding, Charlotte’s gaze became focused, and she fell into deep thought:

Lord Nisi had said that only Dean Lawuer of the Church Hospital and Captain Kara of the Bold Demon Hunting Institute knew about his actions, even explaining coincidentally meeting her the night he was abducted.

How then did Bruno, the steward of the Duke’s mansion, know that Lord Nisi had been with her all this time, and that it was arranged by the Church?

Her gaze swept over the fat steward’s perpetually smiling chubby face, Charlotte temporarily suppressed the questions in her heart and followed with a smile.

As for Casimodo, who was not a noble, and "the guest from the Church," Nisi, they were guided by the servants. One was arranged in the servant’s area, and one cat was directly taken to the reception area.

The Duke’s mansion was much larger than the Castel family estate.

In terms of style, it had less luxury than that of the Castel’s but more solemnity, stemming from its history as a former fortress.

After passing through countless corridors, Bruno finally stopped in front of a fan-shaped door guarded by knights.

He stepped forward and knocked reverently on the door:

"Duke, Miss Charlotte is here."

"Let her in."

An aged voice came through the door.

After that, the knights reached to open the door, and Bruno gestured respectfully:

"Miss Charlotte, please."

Charlotte took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Beyond the door lay a spacious study, with tall bookshelves filled densely with countless books, like stars.

In front of the bookshelves stood a carved oak desk.

An elderly man dressed in a black noble robe and wearing a wig sat at the desk, writing.

Sensing Charlotte’s entrance, he put down his quill and slowly raised his head.

That was a very aged face, looking perhaps in his sixties or seventies.

Deep wrinkles and age spots covered his face, but his blue-gray eyes were bright and authoritative.

Andre de Bold.

The current Duke of Bold Duchy, one of the nine dukes of the New Moon Kingdom, a Third Tier Blazing Sun Knight, and also one of the members of the New Moon Kingdom’s cabinet, holding the title of Military Chief.

Although he appeared to be in his sixties or seventies, he was actually only fifty.

His appearance was so aged because he had been severely injured several times in the intermittent Star Moon War that lasted more than eighty years between New Moon Kingdom and Falling Star Kingdom, and excessive Divine Arts healing had taken a toll on his body.

Of course, his numerous military achievements also accrued significant prestige within the kingdom.

Unfortunately, a severe injury in his youth had also cost him his ability to reproduce.

Aside from his early-born daughter, Eleanor, who was engaged to the Third Prince of the New Moon Kingdom, his progeny consisted only of his illegitimate son, Laino.

Looking at the old man before her, Charlotte quickly recalled all the relevant data she had studied.

She took a deep breath, elegantly and correctly performed a vassal’s curtsy, and then respectfully said:

"The Lion of Bold, the wise Lord, Charlotte of Castel extends her profound respects to you..."

"May your glory, under the divine radiance, forever illuminate the lands of Castel."

The Duke of Bold calmly watched the respectful young girl, his blue-gray eyes flashing with appreciation.

He nodded slightly and said with a smile:

"Rise."

Charlotte stood up after the courtesy, and the Duke then pointed to the chair in front of his desk:

"Sit."

Charlotte gathered her dress and sat down, and soon a servant brought a crystal glass filled with milk, respectfully offering it to her.

Seeing the girl’s slightly surprised expression, the old Duke chuckled:

"I heard that during your stay in the Church Hospital, you particularly liked to drink these, so I prepared them in advance."

After speaking, he scrutinized the young girl, unable to restrain his sentiment:

"After many years, you have grown up, such a beauty, already the brightest gem of the New Moon Kingdom."

"Looking into your eyes, I can feel that the experiences of this period have made you grown a lot."

Charlotte was silent for a moment, letting out a soft sigh:

"People, always need to grow."

This time, she didn’t resort to acting coy.

Because she knew that in front of a person like the Duke of Bold, acting coy without prelude was meaningless.

"Yes...people always have to grow."

The old Duke nodded in agreement.

Then, his expression became serious:

"Charlotte, do you know why I specifically summoned you here this time?"

Charlotte’s heart stirred, and she slightly bowed her head:

"Please, indicate your will."

The Duke of Bold didn’t immediately explain but instead stood up and looked towards the map of Bold Duchy behind him, saying meaningfully:

"As the heir to Castel, how do you view the current state of Castel?"

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