RLAAQ - Chapter 16 < The Chosen One >
Refusing Love As A Queen
Hearing his footsteps, the Queen raised her head.
"I was just wondering if you would come,"
Adele said.
"After all, I just sent some of your brothers from the Knights to Wyhall Prison."
"What do you want from me?"
As soon as the words came out, the Archbishop felt regretful, and his words sounded like a young knight arriving for an appointment. After noticing this, his tone became cold and hard.
"They will make you pay."
Adele closed the book and stood up. She wasn't wearing her usual fancy clothes. Her pure white taffeta dress clung to her waist, outlining her lines like willow branches in early spring. The sunlight gilded her dress and hair with a light golden color, making them look like Saint Catherine on the cathedral dome.
Archbishop Rodri realized why he sometimes felt that the Queen gave him a sense of familiarity.
On the dome of the cathedral in Gelt, the capital of Roland, the famous painter Bielester spent three years completing a divine picture. On the murals, many dead saints gathered together to witness how God saved the world. Among them, Saint Catherine is wearing a white linen dress, and her face is as beautiful as a human being.
The Archbishop had not noticed it before, but his contact with the Queen during this period made him realize that the face of Saint Catherine on the mural was clearly the Queen in her Princess period.
This is not an unusual occurrence.
From the past to the present, painters always used the armor of Princes or members of the papal family as the model for many religious-themed creations. When the cathedral was being renovated, Adele had just ended her exile and was summoned back to the palace by her brother James. Judging from the time, it is indeed possible that Bielester met Adele, and his impression of her was left in the church mural.
"So, I want to know,"
Adele said,
"How much power do you have in the Knights of the Temple?"
"You can't even think of me betraying my brother."
The Archbishop replied firmly.
"I need your help, Rodri."
Adele said directly,
"Otherwise the turmoil will not subside." "
"You still dare to say such things to me?"
The Archbishop couldn't believe it.
"Do you think I will still believe you? After you took advantage of my kindness and massacred the Old God Sect?"
Yes, he was used. The vague premonition along the way was confirmed at this moment. She was indeed using him, and he actually acted like an idiot and was ridiculously worried about her safety.
"For God's sake!"
The Archbishop blurted out, unable to restrain his anger.
"I should have let them do it! Let you be burned at the stake."
"You know better than me what's going on! Why should I target them? I don't care if they hate me. Whoever is an enemy of Roland is an enemy of me. Assuming that you haven't forgotten that you are a Roland, then please answer me, is it me or them? Selling out Roland's interests?"
The Queen's tone also became tougher.
"Answer me! Rodri!"
"But you are also causing new turmoil and chaos. Do you want a new 'spiritual war'? Like the one in 1552."
The Archbishop asked.
1552.
The first large-scale conflict between Protestants and Old Christians broke out in the Roland Empire. It was later called the "Spiritual War." In the "spiritual war", many people were sacrificed on both sides and in the end, each had to take a step back. However, the hatred did not disappear but intensified.
Until now, the two factions have been at odds with each other.
"I said, I don't care if you believe in the new gods or the old gods, as long as you are Roland's people and follow Roland's laws."
The Queen said sternly.
"I want everyone to put down their hatred, and let those who believe in different gods. People can treat each other as brothers and sisters, don't you understand? It doesn't matter whether it's old or new! As long as it's friendly and belongs to Roland."
"You must be crazy, you're not even a heretic!"
Archbishop Rodri looked at the Queen as if she were the poisonous snake that seduces humans.
"Only the devil dares to say such words as you."
No one, no one can say such words. Faith should be pious and inviolable.
God is the only one. If not, how can mortals purify themselves of their original sin? How to redeem your soul? Even pagans have their own unquestionable God they worship.
"No, you are wrong."
The Queen's voice sounded like it came from a distant country.
"I am the chosen one."
"You are crazy."
The Archbishop stepped back.
"What if I can prove it?"
The Queen looked at him, her face overlapping with the saints on the church murals.
The wind blew open the curtains, and sunlight poured into this dusty room, sweeping away all darkness. The Queen's whole body was enveloped in a glow like molten gold.
Sharp, sharp, and aloof.
"Then..."
The Archbishop could barely hear his own voice,
"Prove that. Show me. "
***
Countless pointed iron spears pointed straight into the sky.
The tournament was not canceled due to the Queen's poisoning, but the time was changed. This is what the Queen and the imperial marshal meant - the royal family and the government. A brilliant performance was needed to sweep away the anxious atmosphere that had enveloped the capital since the July rebellion.
On the banks of the White River, ornate tents with the crests of various families were set up, and a variety of flags and emblems were dizzying. Young knights entered in the dust kicked up by the horses' hooves. They were wearing iron armor and sparkling in the sun. The ladies sitting on the high platform in costumes got a rare opportunity to look at them openly. The petals were sprinkled into the White River, corresponding to the reflection of the flag.
Everything would look great.
If it weren't for those lances, those heavily armed guards among the colorful flags.
"You're taking a risk. "
Prince Arthur sat next to the Queen and said softly amidst the cheers of the crowd.
Adele doesn't know whether it was intentional or not, but Prince Arthur wore a vermilion coat today, with the iris of the Royal Family of Root embroidered with gold thread. The neckline and cuffs are decorated with diamond-encrusted lace, and the silver buttons are shining brightly in the sun. This kind of dress is of course impeccable, but the problem is... The problem is that the Queen's dress is also vermilion.
Sitting on the other side, Count from Root Empire looked at them, unable to conceal his anxiety.
For those who didn’t know, he thought that Prince Arthur and Queen Roland were the couple who were about to get married.
This was not a safe signal, but that stick the thin sword passed across the neck took away the Count's courage. He seemed to have finally realized the other side of Prince Arthur who was ridiculed for "looking like a woman", the dangerous and vicious side, and he could only watch all this.
The Count could only look away.
At this time, the Count suddenly noticed a person not far away who seemed out of place with his surroundings. He was wearing a black monk's robe, his brows were like eagle wings, and his steel-blue eyes were looking at the Queen and Prince on the high platform with a bit of displeasure.
The Count thought for a while and recognized him as the youngest Archbishop in history, Rodri.
"I heard that you also prepared armor."
Adele evaded Prince Arthur's question lightly, half-hiding her face with the exquisite gold embroidered fan in her hand.
"Your brother once defeated twelve consecutive people in a tournament. Knight, no one can be his opponent, you must have been there at that time, right?"
"It is a bit unfair for you to do this. These days, I have not dared to pray for you for a minute or a second. Apart from you, there is no one else. Others occupy my thoughts. What about you?"
Prince Arthur smiled and stared at Adele intently.
"When you were with me, you still thought about my brother? I assure you, he is not as handsome as me."
His tone was a bit aggrieved and complaining, coupled with his handsome face like an angel, if she were an ordinary Lady here, she would definitely regret her gaffe.
Unfortunately, he met Adele Laurent. The beautiful and stone-hearted Queen Roland.
She chuckled and used her fan to push Prince Arthur's face, which was too close, farther away.
"Have you heard the recent rumors? They all said that I am fascinated by you and want to change my marriage partner. What about me?? The lovers in the legend line up along the White River all the way to the city gate. And you? You haven't had a marriage contract yet, unlike someone with a notorious reputation like me."
"Are they blind?"
Prince Arthur showed his disbelief
"Aren't I fascinated by you?"
Adele laughed and covered her face with a fan.
Prince Arthur, the "Prince of Sin" who is good at conspiracy, poison, and trickery, is willing to do this for her. Sometimes, he does manage to make himself extraordinarily likable.
After a while.
"Actually, if we form an alliance, there is no difference between a Prince and a King, right?"
He said slowly, the blue of his eyes looking particularly dangerous.
"This is the most touching thing I have ever heard."
The Queen put down her fan with a smile on her lips. Her tone was sincere, but she calmly navigated this dangerous topic.
At this time, there was thunderous applause in the venue.
The Queen cast her gaze over.
She saw a knight with a cold glow in his armor riding past. His cloak was as dark as the middle of the night, without any family crest on it. The enemy rolled to the ground behind him, throwing up a cloud of dust. The contest ended as quickly as lightning, because the black-cloaked knight was like a sword, killing his enemies the moment he took it out of its sheath.
The ceremonial official loudly informed everyone that this was his eleventh victory.
The onlookers cheered, and the noble ladies threw the flowers in their hands into the venue.
No matter what time, the winner is always worthy of worship.
Prince Arthur narrowed his eyes and recognized him as that damn civilian, Robert Dalton. Just as the ceremonial officer was about to name his next opponent, Prince Arthur suddenly stood up and interrupted him loudly.
"I will be this gentleman's opponent."
The nobles with a keen sense of smell exchanged glances with each other, while the common people who did not know the inside story only shouted louder for this more intense episode. Force and challenge, this is the charm of the tournament.
The ceremonial officer turned his attention to Dalton on the field. He raised the visor of his helmet and nodded expressionlessly.
The Prince left the table to put on his armor. When he appeared at the other end of the venue, the noble Ladies couldn't help but blush on their faces. General Dalton is certainly handsome, but his handsomeness is as cold and sharp as a razor blade. And Prince Arthur perfectly fits all the girls’ fantasies about Prince Charming.
Dalton walked around most of the venue.
Finally, he stopped in front of the Queen's high platform and bowed to the Queen.
"Do I have the honor to step onto the battlefield with your blessing? Your Majesty."
The Queen smiled slightly, stood up gracefully, and took a step down.
At this moment, another war horse arrived. Prince Arthur reined in the reins and also stopped in front of the high platform. As if he didn't see Dalton on the side, he stretched out his hand towards the Queen.
"Can you protect me?"
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