A saintess? She's just a bad woman.

Page 36

As the two women emerged from the fitting room, the sales clerk gave them a somewhat subtle look, then whispered:

"I'm sorry, gentlemen, if you really can't resist, I actually know some love hotels... I can recommend them to you."

Brenda's expression was also very strange.

Although Renee's voice was very soft and she didn't make much noise, she was right next door, and given the time that had passed, everyone naturally understood what had happened.

Fortunately, once Santa Karina took out her wallet, paid for all the clothes she had put in the fitting room, the shop assistant immediately forgot about the incident and beamed with joy.

Cleaning is nothing compared to commissions and wealthy patrons. If she could have a patron like Saint Karina every day, she'd be willing to turn every fitting room into a hotel and clean it every day.

The clothes cost a total of sixty-three silver coins. Saint Karina generously gave her a gold coin, which was equivalent to a hundred silver coins, saying that the rest would be a tip for the shop assistant.

You should know that her base salary is only thirty silver coins, and the rest depends entirely on commissions. What Saint Karina mentioned is equivalent to one and a half months' base salary for her.

"Welcome to visit us again, sir/madam."

The shop assistant personally escorted the three to the door with a sweet smile, and the way she looked at Saint Karina was like she was looking at a walking gold bar.

73. An Invitation from His Holiness the Pope

Next, Renee, acting as the guide, led Santa Karina and Brenda to visit various locations in the town.

Tonight is the time for parting. Renee, as the "mole" planted in this cult-controlled area and the nominal new bishop, is different from Saint Karina, who is a saint. She must maintain the Church of Eris and promote it.

Upon returning to the capital, Saint Karina faced a new problem: the Pope of the Church of Order wanted to see her, claiming that she had sealed away the evil god Eris for the church.

It's ridiculous, isn't it? In the midst of the disintegration of Lorian, a nation that has converted to a new god and worships a god of order, neither this church nor their god has appeared. Yet, when it comes to resolving the crisis caused by the god's authority, they righteously proclaim their past.

What kind of sparks will fly when a saintly woman who believes in the Old Gods and a pope who holds power and status collide?

"Don't go."

Saint Karina resolutely refused.

Brenda's pleas were one thing, but without a tiny bit of compensation, she wasn't going to get involved.

"Really not going? I'll agree to anything you want."

Brenda naturally disliked this opportunistic Church of Order, but the Pope's strength was unfathomable; he was said to have reached the level of a demigod, even stronger than Saint Karina at her peak.

Although the other party probably wouldn't bother with a "living fossil," that is, a "Holy Maiden of the Nation," Saint Karina should be safe.

As for the resurrection, Brenda was certain that Saint Karina was a living human being, not an undead or someone who had been possessed. No one could imitate that kind of annoying person, and Saint Karina's strength and memories did not show any obvious amnesia or gaps that would cause her power to drop drastically.

As for her resurrection, Brenda attributed it to a miracle, because if it weren't for Saint Karina's resurrection, the Lorian Empire would have been gone half a month ago, falling to the map as the territory of the demons or other countries.

And she, Brenda, Ernest XV, will become the last emperor of the Lorian Empire, and also the last ruler of the fallen kingdom.

"Hmm, if Your Majesty would be willing to make me milk tea, I might be willing~"

Santa Karina stared at the large, round, and bright headlights with ill intent, while Brenda understood almost instantly.

"I...I didn't do that."

Although Brenda was no longer a virgin, she did not engage in any inappropriate behavior with any man beyond shaking hands; even skin contact and polite handshakes were done with gloves on.

“I have a secret method that eliminates the need for having children; Your Majesty can do so if you wish.”

"This……"

Brenda was moved; of course she didn't want to, it was so shameful.

However... it is not a wise move to defy His Holiness the Pope of the Church of Order.

The nobles and people of the Lorian Empire worship the God of Order. Although the Church remained indifferent during the nation's crisis, Brenda could already imagine the country's foundations being shaken if the Church were to intervene and launch an attack at this time.

Brenda would have more confidence if she could win over the Church of Order and get the Pope on her side to fight against the nobles.

"But...it's okay..."

After some hesitation, the young emperor finally nodded in agreement.

"However, we cannot pay you in advance this time; we can only do so after you arrive."

However, Brenda still resorted to delaying tactics.

Saint Karina could understand the other party's shame. Anyway, the Lorian Empire wouldn't leave, the palace wouldn't leave, and the young emperor was still there. She wasn't worried at all that the young emperor would run away.

"Of course, Your Majesty, I will not go back on my word."

Saint Karina was really looking forward to the Ernest family's traditional specialty—milk tea. Ernest VII used to make her milk tea often, and she would often wake up with a lingering fragrance in her mouth, which showed that she had been drinking tea for a long time.

In sight, the snow-capped mountain peaks melted at body temperature, but the water flowing down the snow-capped mountains was not a clear liquid, but a milky white liquid, like milk.

goooo...

Saint Karina couldn't help but swallow when she thought of that taste; the lingering fragrance seemed to still haunt her, making her yearn for it to this day.

"Your Holiness, the coachman is ready for you. If you wish, please set off now."

Brenda knew that Saint Karina was thinking all sorts of lewd and indecent things, so she unceremoniously told her to leave.

The carriage was already waiting at the palace gate. Saint Karina was traveling alone, without anyone else in tow.

With their combined strength, Hero and Melissa were no match for the Pope. Moreover, both of them had special identities; they were not human but of another race. Melissa's sensitive identity, in particular, absolutely could not be discovered.

When one is unable to offer any help, their identity becomes a burden and a shackle.

"Your Holiness, please get in the car."

The coachman was a young female knight with fair skin and a beautiful face; her light silver armor gleamed in the sunlight.

She seems quite capable; being a coachman is definitely a waste of her talent.

Completely different from the image of the elderly coachman that Saint Karina had in mind, his skin was without any wrinkles, and he did not look like a commoner who was tired from traveling. His age was also completely inconsistent with his appearance.

The carriage wasn't the one Brenda had given her for her trip to the Santa Marta Sea last time. This carriage was black, with a tall, handsome white horse pulling the reins in front.

However, to reflect royal luxury, most of the carriage body was gilded with gold, especially the roof and four wheels, which were mainly carved and crafted from gold with exquisite craftsmanship, and also used valuable diamonds.

The carriage door bears the national emblem of the Lorian Empire. Pushing open the door reveals an exceptionally luxurious interior, with curtains made of fine brocade adorned with elegant patterns of lilies, thistles, and roses.

The cushion is made of precious gold thread, and a precious stone, the "national treasure stone" of the Lorian Empire, is specially inlaid under the cushion.

This carriage is much more high-profile than the previous one; using this vehicle for travel certainly makes one appear more distinguished.

In addition to the coachman, the young Emperor Brenda also assigned her a squad of female knights who would accompany Saint Karina's carriage to ensure her safety during her travels.

Most importantly, it was all about making a grand display.

This meeting is to meet His Holiness the Pope, the supreme leader of the Church of Order on Earth. A grand ceremony is necessary, even though this meeting is only an invitation, a private invitation from the Pope to Saint Karina, and has no other political nature.

74. A dilemma

"Ccrunch."

This is the sound of wheels rolling over the stone pavement. The sun is shining too brightly outside, and Santa Karina feels a bit stuffy inside the car.

She couldn't help but think that this place was so luxurious and decorative that it completely neglected practicality. The road was a busy main thoroughfare, and with her robe soaked with sweat, Saint Karina felt unusually heavy.

The main roads of the capital were lined with trees to provide shade for pedestrians and to alleviate the high temperatures in areas with heavy pedestrian and carriage traffic. However, due to the chirping of insects and cicadas, Saint Karina did not feel any relief from the heat; instead, she was unbearably hot and on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

She had no choice but to cast a cooling spell on herself to barely dispel the feeling of the sweltering heat.

Sometimes the pomp and circumstance are truly unbearable, and the long journey only forced Santa Karina to put on a brave face.

She toiled every night, with Melissa and Helo taking turns, especially Helo. This mermaid princess said that there were only pools and baths on land, no ocean, and she usually liked to soak in the ocean of Saint Karina, calling it returning to her homeland.

In reality, they were all experiencing the joys of separation and the pain of being taken advantage of without restraint. Their muscles had been aching for a long time, and now they would feel sore even with the slightest exertion.

As the carriage swayed and rocked, Saint Karina felt as if she were in a rocking car, and drowsiness gradually crept in—this was the negative effect of venting those indescribable and unspeakable details.

The curtains inside the carriage were drawn, mainly because Saint Karina didn't want others to see the saint looking so slumped over, sitting groggily, and drowsy.

The image of the Holy Maiden of the Defender of the Nation should remain that of a powerful hero.

And so, maintaining a state of light sleep and short naps, she just wanted to quickly end this torturous state, drink the milk tea that the little emperor had made for her, enjoy the seawater nourishing the mermaid princess, and then use the Shadow Domain in her nighttime combat lessons to enhance the excitement of the battle.

"Ccrunch."

The carriage continued forward for about an hour before finally slowing down and preparing to stop.

A female knight's cool voice came from outside the carriage, "Your Holiness, we have arrived at the sanctuary of the Church of the God of Order."

The sanctuary, unlike the small churches in various places, is the central location of the church in each capital city. The clergy stationed here are powerful, and it is difficult for ordinary people or even noble private armies to break in.

However, the Church generally does not participate in secular struggles, but only supports the royal family. The only exception is when facing foreign powers, in which case they will choose whether or not to participate in the war.

In truth, Saint Karina was also puzzled, questioning the Church of Order's blatant disregard for propriety. Didn't they fear the plight of other nations with the same faith, fearing a similar fate?

"Okay, thank you for your hard work."

Saint Karina was not overly polite; those in positions of power do not need to constantly thank the knights.

"By the goddess above, may the sun of Lorian shine upon you forever, Your Majesty!"

After exchanging some pleasantries, she took the hand offered by the female knight and got off the vehicle.

As we approached the entrance to the sanctuary, the clergyman clearly recognized Saint Karina. Perhaps it was at the Pope's behest that Saint Karina was treated with respect. Her demeanor was warm, with a humble smile on her lips, as if Saint Karina were not a saint of the Eternal God Church, but rather a saint of the Order God Church, which she herself believed in.

"Greetings, Your Grace. Your beauty is like that of a six-winged seraphim beside God, outshining even the sun. His Holiness the Pope is waiting for you. Please follow me to the meeting place designated by His Holiness the Pope."

"Well, lead the way."

Although Saint Karina was surprised by the other party's attitude, she did not delve into it. She suppressed these doubts and waited to meet "that woman" soon—His Holiness the Pope of the Church of Order—before investigating further.

Before she left, Brenda had told her that this Pope was from her time, meaning he was a "monster" who had lived for over five hundred years.

After all, he is a demigod, and theoretically, he could live for thousands or even tens of thousands of years without any problem.

Like gods, if they are not killed, they will not die. The aging that accompanies natural growth is no longer relevant to demigods or gods.

Although Saint Karina was only at the tenth rank at her peak, far from being a god, and even some distance from being a demigod, she was only in her twenties at the time and had been "sleeping" for over five hundred years.

If she hadn't died young, reaching the level of a demigod wouldn't have been a problem.

In fact, she was unaware of the outside world. If she were to tell her about suddenly waking up from the coffin more than 500 years ago, Saint Karina would definitely laugh and treat it as a joke.

Following the clergy who were leading the way, we found that the structure of the sanctuary was different from that of the Eternal God Church. The first thing we noticed was the murals, which celebrated the great achievements of the God of Order and the miracles and mighty power that God displayed.

There are also differences in decoration. Although most religions express the sacredness of a church through lavish and holy means using a lot of money, there are still many differences in the details.

Different doctrines lead to different things being revered as sacred by church members.

The ceiling is made of colorful stained glass, and as you pass through the foyer, an incredibly luxurious crystal chandelier shines through the stained glass, emitting dazzling colors that are enough to dazzle the eyes.

Saint Karina, stepping on an expensive carpet, first passed through this area, then, guided by clergy, she meandered through various twists and turns before finally arriving at the legendary meeting place designated by the Pope.

Unlike the main temple, this appears to be the Pope's private palace. Brenda said that this mysterious Pope was usually busy with political affairs and did not only reside in the Lorian Empire, but also traveled to other countries with gods of faith and order, where sanctuaries were also established in the capital.

Apart from the relevant personnel, other clergy members generally only stay in the main shrine and do not go to this side shrine, because His Holiness the Pope does not allow it, so they are not qualified to go there.

Deep within the side hall, there was naturally a bathhouse, equally lavishly decorated.

St. Karina couldn't help but stop when she saw the carved double doors that weren't completely closed and from which wisps of white steam rose.

She didn't have the courage to push open the door to what was clearly a bathhouse. Although the three people here, including the Pope who was probably bathing inside, were all women, Saint Karina didn't know the Pope's personality. What if she was the kind of woman who was particularly traditional and said that Saint Karina had seen her body and therefore had to take responsibility for her? Saint Karina wouldn't be at a loss, but she might be in big trouble.

She couldn't possibly defeat His Holiness the Pope, and even if she tried to escape, she was bound to fail. The Unsealing Stone could only temporarily restore a portion of her power, and the restoration was for a very limited time.

75. Bathing beach

"Should I wait for His Holiness the Pope in front of the gate?"

"My orders are to take you directly inside, Your Holiness."

The priest's expression, "Please don't make things difficult for me," silently blocked Saint Karina's retreat.

The source of her confidence in doing this is obvious to anyone who sees it.

"But this is a bathhouse. Does your Pope have a habit of meeting female customers at bathhouses?"

“This… Your Excellency, this should be your first time.”

"The first time?"

Saint Karina was shocked. She was not happy just because the Pope of the Church of Order treated her differently and gave her special treatment.

On the contrary, she was guessing that the other person might be a pervert who was lusting after her body.

After all, in the eyes of the other party, her current identity is no different from that of a paper doll; her only advantage is her physical appearance.