Blood Holy Scripture: True Ancestor Charlotte de Castel
Chapter 461: -3- The Lingering Blood Demon Church

Chapter 461: -3- The Lingering Blood Demon Church

Since Sebastian had already settled the accommodations, Charlotte didn’t wait too long at her own jewelry store.

After meeting with the excited and somewhat incoherent manager of her family’s jewelry store, and smilingly listening to the report of the store’s development and the various difficulties encountered in Lutecia over the years, she, as a Lord, gave words of encouragement. She also promised to invest certain resources into the family’s commercial focus in the Royal Capital, then, surrounded by her attendants, once again boarded the carriage.

This time, the person leading the group was not Baron Sharon, but Sebastian.

Like the main cities of various human countries in Mireya’s world, Lutecia was also divided into Outer and Inner City Districts, with the Inner City centered around the Royal Castle, inhabited by a large number of Nobles, priests, and the rich.

The guard at the gates of the Inner City was even stricter than the Outer City District, but they did not give Charlotte any trouble.

Upon seeing the Castel family carriage, they recognized the Castel family crest at first glance. They let her pass without waiting for Charlotte to announce her identity.

Moreover, the officer in charge of the guard even saluted Charlotte’s carriage from a distance:

"Count Castel, welcome to Lutecia!"

This great difference in treatment surprised Charlotte, and it led her to further speculate about the political situation of the Royal Capital.

Unlike the crowded Outer City District, the streets of the Inner City seemed much wider and clearer, not because the roads had actually gotten wider, but because there were fewer people.

Of course, ’fewer’ was only relative. This was because the Inner City contained a large number of Noble Manors and villas, which meant a lower overall building density compared to the Outer City District and naturally a population difference.

Not to mention, the screenings to enter the Inner City were much stricter.

The Noble Manor Sebastian rented was located in the western section of the Inner City of Lutecia, on the artificial riverfront section of the Kena River that ran across the entire Royal Capital of Lutecia.

It was a manor of almost 20,000 square meters in area, known as Riverfront Street No. 7. It wasn’t very large, but as the saying goes, ’a sparrow may be small but it has all the vital organs.’ Its architectural style was completely different from Bold’s or Castel’s, predominantly of the West Yonette style, with towering spires, slender columns, and pointed arches everywhere.

Of course, according to Charlotte’s preference, she liked to refer to it as Gothic style.

Overall, the style tended toward the mysterious and solemn, especially in coordination with the overall blue-gray color scheme of Lutecia’s buildings, which added a sense of gravitas.

The landscaping was also very well done, including an exquisite fountain garden.

Through the garden, one could even see the towering spires and verdigris roofs of the distant Grand Cathedral of Lutecia.

Seeing the Ring Cross Holy Emblem at the tip of the spire, Charlotte’s heart stirred:

"Is this place... close to the Grand Cathedral of the New Moon Diocese?"

Sebastian gave a light smile and respectfully said:

"Not too close, but also not too far. It’s at a distance that’s not directly under the Church’s watchful eyes, yet not too far to stir undue speculation."

Upon hearing Sebastian’s words, Charlotte nodded slightly.

Indeed, from the perspective of the New Moon royalty and many Kingdom Nobles, her position as an emerging Lord and her relationship with the Church was probably quite delicate.

In a sense, the biggest reason for King Louis V’s tacit approval of the Third Prince’s coveting of Castel might be her stance toward the Church.

Charlotte could almost anticipate that the upcoming Central Conference and audience with the King would likely broach related issues.

"After I get settled, I might visit the Church first."

After thinking it over, Charlotte said.

She would play her role thoroughly, for she was ostensibly a devout Holy believer.

"Of course, everything at your wish."

Sebastian replied respectfully.

After surveying the manor, Charlotte stepped out of the carriage.

The servants and maids already dressed in Castel uniforms were waiting at the entrance, though not many in number, just over thirty.

"Count..."

Upon seeing Charlotte, they each bowed respectfully.

"Master, these are some servants selected from the store to manage the manor during this period. They have all undergone Magic testing and can be trusted," Sebastian informed her.

Charlotte nodded slightly and then signaled for the rest of the convoy to enter the manor.

Soon, the Knights and Attendants accompanying her were busy unloading supplies, and the manor buzzed with activity.

Charlotte went straight into the main building of the manor.

Like the exterior’s solemn and serious appearance, the interior decor of the manor also leaned towards being serious, with a color scheme that Charlotte favored: black, gold, and red. But while being serious, it was also luxurious, and one could even say quite stylish.

This was undoubtedly the result of Sebastian’s selection after considering her preferences.

"This manor... to which family does it belong?"

Feeling the smooth and heavy wooden spiral staircase inside the manor and looking at the hanging wall paintings that were clearly worth a fortune, Charlotte asked curiously.

"Back to you, Master, it belongs to the Anlo Family," replied Sebastian.

Sebastian said,

"Anlo? The de Anlo family?"

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

Sebastian nodded.

"The Anlo family..." Charlotte nodded slightly, pensive.

The Anlo family was one of the nine ducal families of the New Moon Kingdom, led by John de Anlo, the Moon Guardian Duke.

Charlotte was well acquainted with them; on her journey north to take her position in the Castel family, she had passed through the Moon Guardian Duchy and visited the Moon Guardian Duke. It was also at a banquet in the Capital Mansion of Anlo City where she first met Philip, the Third Prince.

However, as far as Charlotte knew, her meeting with the Third Prince had been coincidental, the Prince just happened to be passing through Anlo City on his way south to Bold.

The Anlo family itself was a branch of the royal Valva family and a staunch supporter of the Kingdom, with the Moon Guardian Duke, John de Anlo, being a confirmed supporter of King Louis V. Of course, by blood relation, he was also a cousin of His Majesty the King and his Directly Administered Domain bordered the royal lands.

In the struggle between the Second and Third Princes, he had always maintained neutrality and refused to take sides. Even in his dealings with the Church, he wasn’t as assertive as some of the hardliner nobles and was relatively more mild-mannered.

In other words, the Moon Guardian Duke was the gentleman of the Royal Party.

At this thought, Charlotte nodded slightly,

"Not bad."

Indeed, not bad.

The nine dukes of the Kingdom each took sides, and the Moon Guardian Duke happened to be those who were relatively more transcendent.

Renting a manor from another family might lead others to speculate whether the Castel family intended to take a side, but with the Anlo family, it was just right.

For this visit to the Royal City, Charlotte had no intention of getting involved in the political turmoil of the New Moon Kingdom.

Her aim was merely to solidify her position as a vassal directly under the Kingdom, pledge allegiance to the reigning King, dispel the King’s doubts about the Castel family, and, incidentally, visit the Church to inform them that the Blood Demon Church had an outpost in the Royal Capital, Lutecia.

The Blood Demon Church had become her enemy, and through a Blood Demon Priest, Charlotte knew that the organization had its own outpost in the Royal Capital.

However, this time Charlotte did not intend to deal with them personally; instead, she planned to turn the matter over to the Church.

Professional matters should be handled by professionals. Anyone could make a report, and alongside that, she could also see if she could get anything more from the Church.

Besides that, it was about opening up the transcendent resource trade routes for the Castel family, connecting with various Kingdom Nobles, making various small profits, and preparing to develop her own territory.

As for the fight for the throne, she did not care as long as it wasn’t the Third Prince.

And as for this, she believed that the Second Prince Party would surely take this opportunity to kick him while he was down; after all, they had facilitated the calling of the Central Conference.

What Charlotte needed to do was make sure she wasn’t used as a pawn by others in the process.

Thinking thus, Charlotte recalled her first experience upon entering the Royal Capital Lutecia, and asked nonchalantly,

"Sebastian, you mentioned earlier that there was an emergency in the shop, which is why you couldn’t greet me at the city gate. What exactly happened?"

Upon hearing Charlotte’s inquiry, Sebastian was slightly taken aback and respectfully answered,

"My lord, it was about the shop inspection."

"Shop inspection? What sort of inspection?"

Charlotte was momentarily stunned.

Sebastian replied with a bitter smile,

"To check for the presence of cultists."

Charlotte’s heart stirred,

"Cultists? Blood Demon Cultists?"

Sebastian nodded,

"Yes. A few days ago, a sacrificial event involving members of the Blood Demon Church occurred in the Royal Capital Lutecia. Though it was promptly stopped and the culprits were captured by the Diocese, it has caused quite a stir in the Royal City..."

"It is said that after learning of this, His Majesty the King was extremely enraged and ordered the City Guard Team and the Church to strengthen management, to uproot all the Blood Demon Church that were entrenched in the dark corners of the Royal City."

"With the imminent opening of the Central Conference, the internal vigilance in Lutecia has also been heightened, and all shops needed to be inspected, also to prevent the Blood Demon Church from taking this opportunity to cause trouble..."

"Our shop received special attention for exactly this reason, as one of the captured Blood Demon Cultists had once been an employee of our shop..."

Hearing Sebastian’s words, Charlotte’s eyes narrowed.

The Blood Demon Church, again the Blood Demon Church...

For her, this organization was truly like a persistent plaster, its shadow lingering no matter where she went.

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