"Irene, it's me. If you are in a hurry, open the door. ”

When it was gray, Count Grugrew knocked on Irene's door.

As soon as he opened the door, he found that Ireen was still wearing the dress she wore at the ball, and she maintained a good makeup. I couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

Glancing around the room, he found that Irene's bedding was neat.

"You didn't sleep all night?"

"Not yet, not sleepy. Irene's face looked a little haggard, but she still forced a smile: "Uncle Gruglu, please come in." ”

Turning around, she walked into the room.

Count Gruglu hurriedly followed, and said eagerly, "Irene, there is something particularly important that I must tell you at once. ”

"What's the matter?" Irene sat down on the couch.

Count Gruglu also sat down on the sofa next to him and said nervously, "The situation is more urgent. You can also see yesterday's anomaly, and the king clearly has a plan. I sent someone to investigate, and found that the king's recent dealings with the church were so close that they clearly went beyond the normal administration of government and the preparations for the welcoming ceremony. I think there's something wrong with that. Did the King mention anything to you yesterday?"

You go on. Irene looked at Count Grugrew with her tired eyes open.

"Okay. Count Gruglu was stunned for a moment, but continued: "Another piece of news, four days ago. There was news that because of the unusual movement of troops in the Kingdom of Allen, the king ordered the Duke of Donguis to send his troops to the border, but ...... The Duke of Tangis refused. ”

Irene nodded slightly, motioning to listen.

Count Gruglu continued: "This should be fifteen days ago to be exact, but it was blocked by the royal family, and it was not exposed until four days ago, and it was not confirmed until the day before yesterday. The prestige of the royal family has fallen to an all-time low, far lower than we thought. The king is now in desperate need of support. I think he must have been in close contact with the church to gain support. After all, the church is the most prestigious right now. However, it is not possible for the church to interfere in government affairs. So, I think the most likely way for a king would be to start with Gray, or from you. ”

"You have a good analysis. Irene smiled and nodded.

Count Grugrew was stunned again, seemed to sense something instantly, and hurriedly asked, "The king has already had a showdown with you?"

Irene lowered her head slightly, pursed her lips and did not answer.

Count Grugrew hesitated and asked, "I was going to come with Gray just now, but there was no one in his room. Where did he go?"

Taking a deep breath, Irene raised her head and whispered, "He went to church." ”

"Going so early?"

"Yes. As soon as the dance was over last night, the church people came. It's timed. Today was Sunday, and they invited Gray to do the service. At the same time, meet with the bishop before the service. ”

"Then why are you...... You are the object of Gray's pledge of allegiance, and the church should invite you. ”

"I'm not feeling well. ”

Count Grugru's eyes widened and he stared blankly at Irene. The sense of foreboding has grown.

After a moment of silence, Ireen said, "Don't worry, I've asked Gray to take Shelley with me." ”

"Why do you use the word 'rest assured' when 'let Gray take Shelley'?" continued Earl Grugru.

Irene didn't answer.

Count Gruglu was completely anxious, and suddenly stood up and said, "What did the king tell you?"

......

At this moment, the Lion King's Capital is the Pierce Cathedral.

The magnificent, white-washed Pierce Cathedral is the second largest building in the Lion King's Palace. And even more precisely, it should be the ensemble and not the building.

When the morning sun rises, the intricate sculptures on the surface of the building reflect the markings of different shades of gray. There is a sense of solemnity and sophistication.

A flock of white doves flew through the sky.

Gray looked up, staring blankly.

The sound of the bell spread to every corner of the Lion King's capital.

The towering bell tower looks down on the people of the lion king like a god, and the thick wall pattern exudes a sense of inviolable solemnity.

At the base of the bell tower, is the huge domed main building. Almost every corner of the façade of the entire main building is covered with angel sculptures, painting one myth after another. Stories are interconnected, metaphor after metaphor.

Every wall here is a work of art, and even the most discerning person will be amazed by its magnificence.

The two annexes of the same style on either side are slightly lower, but also in the same style. Cumbersome and solemn beauty. The rows of huge round stone pillars resemble the rows of giants guarding the Holy See.

The façade is a wide curved sixty steps, with a platform every ten steps, and on each side of the platform is a statue of a holy angel holding a weapon. There are twelve statues in total. These are the twelve captains of the Holy Angels of Heaven.

At first sight, Gray was stunned.

"Wow...... The churches here are completely different from those in the White City!"

"It's not just about praying and praying. At the same time, he is in charge of the teaching affairs of the whole diocese. It takes a lot of people, and the place must be big. Catherine whispered in Gray's mind.

"Isn't the Holy See greater?"

"Of course, hopefully one day you'll be able to check it out too. ”

"Can't I go anytime?"

"No, you can't. Others can, you can't. Paladins and high-ranking clergy must obey the Pope's arrangement. Until the Pope has a new arrangement for you, your activities will be limited to the Kingdom of Isaac. ”

"Okay......" Gray replied disappointed.

Dismounted, Gray and Shelley walked up the stairs under the guidance of the papal see.

There was a person waiting for them on the first platform, it was the priest of the private church of the Behill family in the White City, who respectfully drew a cross on his chest and saluted, "Lord Paladin, my name is Dean, do you remember me?"

"Yes, Mr. Reverend, you enlightened me!"

"No, you enlightened me. Dean made a respectful "please" gesture sideways, then walked ahead and began to climb the stairs with Gray and Shelley.

Gray whispered, "But I didn't." ”

"That's because you don't know. Priests can only influence others through words, but paladins can influence others through actions, and there are many more people than we do. That's probably the meaning of the paladin's existence. It was your bravery that made me rediscover myself. ”

"Really?"

"Of course it's true. 'The moment you charged, you were alone, but after a moment, a miracle came. The Holy Spirit is always watching over us. All darkness is just a test of the Holy Spirit's heart. If we have the courage to fight it, then the Holy Spirit will be there for us. That's what you told me. ”

"Oh, yes? I thought I wasn't very competent. ”

"No, you are very competent. The entire kingdom of Isaac is there for all to see. ”

"I also thank you for telling me the truth of 'from the heart', without which I could not have become a paladin. ”

"Ahem......" Dean smiled awkwardly, "Every philosophy of life has been written in the Bible early, but the people who read it are different, and the insights they get are also different." I watched it and chose to run away. You, on the other hand, have become a paladin. The Holy Spirit is indeed fair to everyone, and it is our own choices that lead to different outcomes. ”

"What is 'from the heart'?" asked Shelley in a whisper.

Dean burst into a dry laugh.

The black cat whispered in his armor, "Don't talk nonsense, it's best to ask Catherine first for every word." ”

"Oh. Gray replied quietly.

......

"The king wants to turn Gray?"

Irene nodded lightly and said, "That's what he said." ”

Count Grugru's eyes flickered, and he seemed to understand something instantly, and said in a low voice, "We must stop him!"

"I didn't promise him, but I'm not sure Gray would. After all, Gray ......" Lowering her head, Irene took a deep breath and said, "You know, he believes in the Holy Spirit and wants to be a great knight. If it was the king's will, I can guarantee that he would not agree. But if it's the church, I'm not sure. ”

"In that case, you still let him go to church alone?" snapped Count Grugru.

Irene replied softly, "It's up to him to choose, isn't it? The king was right when he said something, the Duchy of Besil was too small to accommodate a single paladin. Isaac's kingdom may be his stage. We are not in a position to ask Gray. ”

"You have an oath to him!"

"But I don't want to bind him with an oath. He's given me enough, and he doesn't owe me anything. Even, I owe him, but I can't pay it back. ”

In the room, two people looked at each other.

Count Grugrew was already trembling with rage, but Ireen was incredibly calm.

After a while, Earl Grugrew could only manage to calm himself down, holding his forehead and asking, "Is it true that the king still asks for the dissolution of his engagement to Shelley?"

"Yes, I don't agree to that either. ”

"We could lose him forever. ”

"These two conditions seem to be tied together. Irene took a deep breath and said, "The king wants to transfer the title of Gray and dissolve the marriage at the same time. The same is true of the church. It was an agreement between them. So, today I didn't go. I know that they will definitely talk about it today. I don't want me to be there and put any burden on Gray. But I let Shelley go, perhaps...... If she is present, the church will give due consideration to the personal wishes of the paladin, and if Gray agrees to the transfer, it will also intervene with the king to try to cancel the conditions for the annulment of the marriage. After all, this is not that important to the church. It's up to him. ”

Count Grugrew seemed to want to say something, but he opened his mouth, but he never said it.

......

Stepping up the highest steps, Bishop Anthony III finally appeared in front of Gray.

The bishop went out to welcome the king, and in the entire kingdom of Isaac, only the king had this treatment.

Gray bowed his head respectfully and hammered his breastplate hard, "Hello, my Lord Bishop. ”

The bishop reverently drew a cross on his chest and saluted: "Hello, our paladin. Welcome to your arrival. ”

According to the order of the Holy See, the two of them are equal.

The Bishop seemed a little surprised to see Shelley following Gray but not Irene.

"What about Lord Beshir?"

"Irene said she wasn't feeling well. ”

"What about this ...... Miss Shelley, right?"

"Yes, Ireen said let me bring Shelley to see her. After all, I'm a paladin and will probably come here more often in the future. Should let my future wife know where I work. ”

"I see. The bishop nodded silently, turned around silently, and made a "please" gesture.

Led by the bishop, Gray and Shelley walked into the cathedral together.