The bishop and the priest were talking in the office at the top of the temple.
Through the overlooking window, they could see the worshipers flowing one by one into the temple as the holy day arrived.
“These are the instructions of His Holiness the Pope.
We must support the believers in their support of the First Emir.”
“Isn’t it the case that the First Prince is actually more popular among the believers than the Second Prince?”
“Of course that's true...but...ah, I don't really know.”
The bishop let out a sigh.
“His Holiness did not clarify his words exactly, he only said that we should help the First Prince and there is indirect pressure coming from the First Princess as well.
We cannot ignore the current situation.”
The priest listened silently to the bishop's words.
“What is the need to get involved in political struggles to help the First Prince?
What do we gain from this?
Isn’t our role just to communicate religious teachings well to the believers?”
The bishop spoke in this way, placing his hand on his head with a sign of bewilderment.
But despite this talk, both bishop and priest were well aware.
The Church has been able to survive as the state religion in Valois until now because it has chosen its political side wisely.
So, this was just another way to maintain the church's influence.
But it would also mean that the Church chose the first prince, against the wishes of the current king.
It was an open fact that the current king's desire leaned towards the second prince.
So if the church announces its support for the first prince?
Then this would be a signal of the collapse of the close relationship that the palace and the temple had maintained until now.
It may even restart the power struggle between the church and the royal palace.
The priest could not understand what His Holiness the Pope meant by supporting the First Prince.
The bishop remained silent as he sipped the hot tea.
The priest looked at the bishop in this state.
As an ordinary priest, he had no ability to contradict the bishop's words.
Regardless of his personal desire, he had to follow the instructions of his superiors.
Regardless of the will of the people, what really matters to them is the will of the Pope.
“I understand, sir, I will do my best.”
“Welcome, it has been a long time since your last visit.”
“Yes.
I was a bit busy...”
When the priest greeted him in a friendly tone, the man blushed a little and scratched his head before going inside the temple.
The temple had begun to fill with believers without anyone realizing it.
The believers sat in their places in reverence, wearing their most beautiful clothes that they had taken out of their closets.
The chanting is over, and it is time for the priest to deliver the teachings.
He opened the book and started reciting poetry.
“Come on, look at the book here.
What does it say?”
With his loud voice that attracted attention, the priest began reading.
“The lost will not find eternal rest in Nate’s bosom, so watch, lest sin overtake you.”
Then the priest asked those present in a loud voice:
“O believers, what is sin?”
“Sin is unbelief.”
Believers answered from here and there.
“True, O believers, then who is pure?”
“One who maintains religious teachings.”
“This is true, O believers.”
The priest nodded.
Then he raised his finger pointing to the sky.
“Look, what was said about those who do not keep religious teachings?”
When the priest asked, the believers answered:
“He said they would fall into the sea of burning sulfur.”
“Right, look at this kingdom now.”
The priest raised his finger higher.
“Can we let those who do not believe or adhere to religious teachings rule this kingdom?
Can we let the people of this kingdom fall into the sea of burning sulfur?”
When the priest mentioned the phrases ‘he who does not believe’ and ‘he who does not observe religious teachings’, he emphasized them as if he were dotting the letters.
As he spoke, his voice became louder.
When he finished speaking, his face was red and excited.
The believers responded to the priest's enthusiasm in communicating the teachings, and answered out loud:
"No!
It can't be!"
As if the priest was waiting for this answer, he said:
"Then who should rule this kingdom?
He should lead this pure kingdom!
He who does not have a single blemish to be ashamed should become king.
Who is this person?"
People talked to each other but there was no answer.
The priest shouted out loud:
“Who is this person?
The saint’s son!”
The people finally understood what answer the priest wanted, so they responded in a loud voice:
“He's the first prince!”
“That's right, dear believers.
Let's build a kingdom that we will be satisfied with.
Let's build it together.”
"This is correct!"
“Son of the saint!”
“Son of the saint!”
The believers chanted, “Son of the saint.”
Delphine was passing by and watching this scene.
Next to her stood the archbishop, the highest-ranking man after the pope.
“A really nice speech.”
Her voice was laced with a slight laugh.
"actually."
Delphine was looking at the new temple being built next to the old one.
The new temple is scheduled to be built using the most modern architectural methods, to be grand and grand.
Not long after work began, work is still underway to dig the foundations.
However, since the work stops on the holy day, the earth is left excavated in different parts.
“I look forward to seeing the new temple completed as soon as possible.”
Delphine said as she looked around at the dug earth.
“You will see him soon.”
“When that happens, I would like to say a prayer first.”
“You will.”
The bishop smiled calmly.
At first glance, it seemed like a compassionate smile.
Under capital, everyone becomes merciful.
Delphine laughed inwardly.
“If you need anything else, please feel free to contact my department store at any time.
I recently made some big money from the cobalt stone business.”
Delphine winked with one eye at the bishop.
“I understand, Faithful Delphine.”
“Believer what?
Someone with shallow faith like me, just call me the director or you can simply call me by my name.”
The bishop replied with a smile:
“The size of your faith will be demonstrated by the size of this temple.
You have the largest faith in Leverne.”
“Really?
Well, if you say so, I won’t refuse.”
When they arrived in front of Dolphin's carriage, the bishop and she exchanged greetings.
“Then see you later, be at peace until we meet again.”
“Yes.
And you too, Bishop.”
When she got into the carriage, a woman inside spoke to her.
Without any surprise, as if this was a matter of habit, Delphine closed the carriage door.
Then the cart started moving slowly.
“What about the bishop?”
“He's already joined us so stop worrying.”
Delphine said with reprimand in her voice.
The carriage began to slowly circle around the city center.
"Thank you."
“You're welcome, how are you doing at night these days?”
“As it is.”
“Why don’t they quickly develop a sleeping pill with amazing effectiveness?
It will destroy all of our smooth, beautiful, light-colored skin.”
“It's already damaged, don't worry.”
Delphine gently moved the back of her hand to the other woman's face and passed it over her.
Thérèse seemed accustomed to this, so she left her hand motionless.
"What are you saying?
The only way to survive is constant care.
Let's pass by a department store a little on our way.
There are new cosmetics that have arrived."
“Not today, I went out today for something.”
“Please!
Stop working for a while.
You always have plenty!
Go to the department store today and just walk around.”
Delphine gathered Therese's hands together and held her in hers while continuing to look at her.
Finally, Thérèse nodded as if she had given up.
"Okay!
Let's go to the department store!"
The carriage stopped in front of the department store, and Delphine pulled Thérèse by the hand.
Therese was surprised to see that the store was packed with customers from the entrance.
“Miss Delphine, aren’t there a lot of people?”
“If so, you can do this.”
Delphine wrapped the scarf that Therese was wearing around her neck, covering her face.
Therese was dragged into the store in confusion.
The smells of colorful dresses, parasols, shoes, jewelry, and the scents of perfumes and essential oils mixed in made her dizzy.
Walking around like this in broad daylight was unusual for her.
“Come here, these are new cosmetics.
Try them.”
Delphine opened the cap of a slender glass vial containing a clear liquid, then put a little of it on Thérèse's hand and rubbed it.
“What do you look like?”
It smelled of forest perfume and field roses.
It was a refreshing smell.
“Doesn't it smell nice?
It's only made from field rose oil, so it's soft and good.
This is a gift.”
“Leave it, I will buy it myself.”
Thérèse refused with her hand.
“No need to put it down here.”
Delphine took her near the perfume counter.
“I will suggest something that suits you.
Okay, let me see.”
Delphine seemed to be thinking hard as she watched Thérèse's face and her hand under her chin.
“This will be good.”
What Delphine brought out was perfume in a dome-shaped bottle, bearing carvings of flowering tree branches and an angel statue.
“This gentle floral fragrance will suit you much better than strong scents.
Smell it.”
When Delphine sprayed the perfume, the scent spread as if a flower garden had been opened before them.
“This perfume is made with musk and jasmine.
Doesn’t it seem as if a field of pink roses is blooming before your eyes?”
“It really is.”
“This is also a gift from me.”
“Miss Delphine, this is too much.
I could buy something like this myself.”
“What are you saying?
I am the manager of this department store, are you richer than me?”
Therese could not respond to Delphine's words.
“Of course it's not like that, but...”
“Ah!
Then I have a wonderful idea!
Prince...”
Delphine was about to call him Prince, but she hastily corrected his nickname.
“You can choose a gift for your husband that you can buy yourself.”
“For my husband?”
"What do you think?
Isn't that a good idea?"
Therese thought.
She celebrated the prince's birthday every year, but she never gave him an inappropriate gift on an ordinary day.
A gift like this was… very special.
They were the kind of gifts lovers give to each other.
"Why are you thinking again?
What about perfume?
Your husband must have a favorite scent too, right?"
Delphine pulled Therese's hand.
The section they passed displayed men's perfumes after women's perfumes.
“My boss, welcome.”
The seller recognized Delphine and greeted her respectfully.
Fortunately, he didn't seem to recognize Thérèse, whose face was covered with a scarf.
“Yes, we are planning to give a perfume to a man.
What scents are popular these days?”
“For popular perfumes these days...”
The salesman took out several perfumes from the display cabinet as he spoke.
“First, there is this fragrance that can be used in any season that uses white musk and jasmine as main notes.”
When the seller sprayed the perfume, a sweet and soothing scent spread.
Therese suddenly saw his ghost sitting alone in the autumn sun.
But this smell did not suit him.
It was the most refreshing scent that suited him.
She forgot that she was rejecting Delphine's proposal, and focused on choosing a perfume for Denis.
As if realizing that she didn't like the first perfume, the seller quickly offered the next one.
“What do you think of this fragrance?
Inspired by the scent of leather, it uses labdanum, marjoram and cedarwood as main notes.”
When Thérèse smelled this scent, she remembered the feeling she had when she had touched his heart.
She thought the fresh woody scent would suit him, but when an unexpected scent made her remember him, Thérèse felt as if her face became hot red.
[Continued in the next chapter]