Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 156

Arendt added, looking around at his frozen superiors.“High Priest Theodore is a human being before he is a priest. Of course he may make mistakes in judgment, and when someone in power makes a bad decision, he must do his best to correct it.”

“…It’s even more absurd because it’s not a wrong statement.”

After a long moment, Kendrick burst into laughter.

Arendt’s heart-stopping rhetoric was always backed up by a sound basis.

That was the biggest reason why he was annoyed with that guy.

A unique voice that made it impossible not to listen carefully continued calmly.

As always, the apprentice knight’s story began with a sophistry, but in the end, everyone ended up being convinced.

Cantares, clutching his forehead, groaned in pain.

The other captains were in a similar condition.

They wanted to shut the mouth of the apprentice knight who kept crossing the line, but there was something else that really bothered them…

Deep down in their hearts, they were beginning to agree with him.

Diana let out a deep sigh.

“I understand what you are saying. But as you know, it is not easy. If we act rashly, it may cause more trouble for us. Please! Sir Arendt, stay still. We will try harder.”

“That’s trustworthy.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Diana’s fists began to tremble at the bland tone.

But as always, Arendt was just plain shameless.

They had to suppress the urge to punch the apprentice knight in the face as he looked at them as if to say, “What are you going to do?”

Arendt returned to his room, flopped down on his bed, and fell into deep thought.

It was good that the captains and the Crown Prince were aware of the problem. However, it did not seem like it would lead to a solution.

Even putting aside religious beliefs, status, and everything else, the most disturbing thing was the position that High Priest Theodore held within the empire.

‘The balance of power is not right.’

The Crown Prince and the Knight Captains.

Even those people alone could be considered powerful, but the opponent was the High Priest.

‘I didn’t know it would be this bad.’

He never expected that the High Priest would just sit there in the temple and dismiss their opinion with a single letter.

He thought at least the High Priest would do something, like call for a meeting or give them a change to persuade him.

If things continued like this, they wouldn’t be able to move easily either.

If war breaks out… yes, it would be different after a civil war breaks out and the empire becomes a sea of ​​fire, just like in the novel.

Arendt’s goal was to prevent the stage he stood on from ending up like that. But until the empire was completely turned upside down, it was clear that the High Priest would continue to act like that.

With a single gesture from the innermost part of the temple, he would try to sweep away everything he did not like out of sight.

First, that High Priest had to be dragged out.

As long as he hid behind the name of God, this situation would continue to repeat itself.

And Arendt knew one way to do this.

The Crown Prince and the captains knew about it, but… it was such an outrageous thing that they couldn’t even consider it.

“…No way.”

Arendt, who had been pondering for a while, suddenly sat up.

Now was not the time to be picky.

Count Stadler and Llewellyn have already started moving, so the temple would soon sense the situation.

If that were the case, not only would the investigation be hindered, but they might even be threatened.

‘I barely managed to get into a position that fit my role, I can’t stand it.’

He couldn’t waste any more time.

He took out a piece of paper and pen, wrote a short note, and then summoned his attendant.

“Call Seton. It would be better if Enoch and Rosie came too.”

“Yes, I will bring them right away!”

The servant who had been waiting ran out in a hurry, and soon after, three people ran into the dormitory.

Arendt, who brought them into the room, first placed a few shiny silver coins on each of their small hands.

Arendt spoke plainly to the children whose eyes widened.

“I have a favor to ask, but it might be a bit difficult. If it’s done wrong, you might get in big trouble. Is that okay?”

“Is it very difficult?”

When Rosie asked, blinking her round eyes several times, the apprentice knight simply nodded.

“If it’s difficult, it’s difficult. If it’s easy, it’s easy. We have to move as fast as possible. How about it? Will you help me? If it succeeds, I’ll double the money I gave you today.”

The three looked at each other as if trying to gauge each other’s mood.

But the worries didn’t last long.

“I will do it!”

“I will do it!”

“Just leave it to me! You don’t have to pay me double the money!”

Arendt smiled and gave a few folded sealed notes to the children who were talking together.

“I want you to deliver these unnoticed. If you get caught, tell them I ordered you to do it.”

“Who should we give them to?”

Seton asked, swallowing hard.

Arendt waved for them to gather closer and then quietly told them.

The servants looked dumbfounded for a moment, as if they didn’t understand what he was saying… After a while, their faces all turned pale.

The mission, which was more daunting than they had imagined, fortunately seemed to have been successful in some way.

That night, Seton returned the reply to Arendt with a pale face.

“Thank you for your hard work. Was everything okay?”

“Yes? Yes… but…”

To the still confused Seton, Arendt handed him the pouch containing the money he had promised.

“I’m glad you are okay. You should share it fairly with the other two.”

“I, I, I handed it over personally! It just so happened that…”

Seton, who had received the bag of money by chance, suddenly came to his senses and started talking nonsense.

“He checked it right there…”

“How did he look?”

“He looked good…”

“Okay then. You better get going.”

Arendt waved his hand.

It was clearly a dismissal.

It seemed as if he wanted to tell more about the incredible adventure he had had that day, but Seton kept his mouth shut, bowed his head in goodbye, and quickly left the room.

After the door closed, Arendt opened the note Seton had given him.

The first thing that caught his eye was his own handwriting.

And then he saw the answer added underneath.

The concise phrase was exactly what he was looking for.

It was already quite late, work for the day was over, and the dormitory was starting to become quiet.

Arendt jumped up, put on his coat, and quickly ran outside.

As he left the dormitory, someone he had never seen before was waiting for him.

“I came to pick you up. Let’s go.”

Just as he was about to pause in surprise at the unexpected welcome, the person who had spoken began to walk quickly.

Arendt, who had been watching the guide walk away, followed him.

“…”

“…”

There was no conversation at all.

Although the palace was almost deserted even at night, the man chose only deserted places to guide Arendt without being noticed by anyone.

Arendt, who had been following along, soon realized that he had come to a garden he had never seen before.

There was hardly any sign of servants around, and all that could be seen were beautifully arranged trees and flowers, and a fountain quietly spurting water from one side.

As Arendt looked around, the man spoke for a second time.

“If you go inside, you will find it.”

And then he just stood there as if he didn’t want to go any further.

After looking around the unfamiliar place for a while and nodding to the man, Arendt walked along the road alone, step by step, into the interior.

Unlike the other parts of the palace where everything was extravagant, this place had a simple yet comfortable atmosphere.

The sound of water trickling from the fountain, the neat and tidy plants, and the simple sculptures and decorations that were different from the outside.

After walking a little further, a brightly lit greenhouse came into view.

It seemed like a space created so that one could enjoy the garden from inside even when it rained.

“Ha…”

Was this correct?

The moment Arendt saw the figure in the greenhouse, he had a brief moment of doubt.

But his worries didn’t last long.

It was already spilt milk… There was only one person who could break the deadlock right now.

Arendt walked briskly to the front of the greenhouse. Then he knocked on the door, and there was an answer right away.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

As he opened the door and went in, the fresh smell of grass and warm warmth hit him at the same time.

An old man, leisurely enjoying tea and snacks at a table, smiled at Arendt as the soft light from the candles enveloped the greenhouse filled with plants.

Arendt placed his hand on his chest and bowed politely.

“Arendt von Eckhart of the Third Knights Templar greets His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Sit comfortably. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to talk to you for a long time, but I didn’t think you’d be the one to initiate a conversation like this.”

Emperor Philip Al Caerleon, who waved his hand leisurely, burst into laughter.

“This is my garden, so I sent my aide to meet you. He must have been a bit blunt, so the journey must have been long. Please forgive him. He didn’t seem too keen on meeting you separately either.”

“I think it’s a natural reaction. When His Majesty meets the troublemaker of the Knights Templar in person, it’s only natural that he would object.”

“You are too harsh on yourself. Sit down.”

Arendt did not refuse the emperor’s invitation and sat down across from him.

The Emperor’s face was more visible under the light.

He looked a little younger than when they had met at the previous event. Arendt guessed that it was probably because he was in a comfortable space.

Although the passage of time could not be avoided, there was a subtle playfulness and passion in his deep, blue eyes.

“Isn’t that too much for the young servants to do? I heard that they almost got scolded by the guards for lingering around my office. When I went out to check on them because it was so noisy, they were already on the verge of tears.”

“I’m sorry for causing a fuss, but I thought it would be better than coming to you in person.”

“Yes, that’s right. If you had come looking for me, my aide would have probably chased you away.”

It was never easy to face the Emperor, the master of the Holy Empire, Caerleon, face to face.

Normally, it would have been difficult to even approach the residence.

However, if they were still young and were the Crown Prince’s direct servants, and if they were servants that ‘that’ apprentice knight ‘Arendt’ was particularly interested in and cared for, then the story could be a little different.

At least they wouldn’t be kicked out for no reason.

“Anyway, I’m once again surprised. I’ve always wanted to have a conversation like this, but you’re just as brash as I’ve heard. The Crown Prince is so flustered. I didn’t raise him to be such a weakling.”

Hearing that, Arendt decided to take some time out from his busy schedule to show off a little trick for the Emperor, who had given him his time, leaving behind even his aides and minimal escorts.

More politely than when dealing with Cantares, but much more casually than when nobles stand before the Emperor:

“I can’t help it, since I’m so talented. And His Highness the Crown Prince must have grown up well in the palace, so he can’t help it.”

“Puhahahaha! If you say so, aren’t you also raised with a lot of pampering? You’re the precious second son of Count Eckhart.”

The Emperor burst into laughter again, as if the chosen line had been correct.

“It’s nice to have a comfortable conversation after such a long time. Yes, I heard that you like to trade, so I’m sure you came to me because you wanted something too.”

Still smiling, the monarch of a country touched the corner of his mouth.

His blue eyes, similar to those of Cantares, formed a crescent shape and looked straight at Arendt.

“What does a puppy that hasn’t even fully grown yet dare to ask of the master of the Caerleon Empire?”

Arendt took a short, deep breath inwardly.

They say that if you want to put out a big fire, you have to start a fire across from it.

So this was a counter-tactic. An attempt to pull the great snake known as the High Priest out of its burrow.

Arendt paused for a moment, then raised his head and looked straight at the Emperor.

“As you said, I have a favor to ask of you, Your Majesty.”