Gospel of Blood

“Lady Charlotte.”

Eudoxia bowed slightly to Charlotte. While it wasn’t overly respectful, for a dragon, it was quite an acknowledgment.

Charlotte nodded slightly in return. She gestured for Sherry to bring Eudoxia her favorite iced lemon drink. After a moment of hesitation, Eudoxia took the drink and sipped it before speaking.

“I’ve been in Roan these days using the magic device provided by Sir Nicholas to search for the palace you mentioned.”

“Today, when I heard you had arrived in Roan, I thought it was best to meet you.”

“As for this attire… I recently detected signs of Blood Demon Cult activities in the city and didn’t want to be recognized by them, so I disguised myself a bit.”

Blood Demon Cult activities?

Charlotte’s interest was piqued.

Does this mean that among the over a thousand bloodbornes she sensed, some might not be from the Nez Clan but members of the Blood Demon Cult?

After pondering, she said,

“I’ll handle the Blood Demon Cult. You mentioned you were looking for the Ancient Temple in Roan these past days. Have you found any leads?”

Eudoxia hesitated before replying.

“I… am not sure.”

“I’ve been in the Roman Duchy for over a month, searching almost the entire duchy according to Sir Nicholas’s potential coordinates, including Roan City, without finding any trace of the Ancient Temple.”

“However, two days ago, when I came to Roan City again, the magic device provided by Sir Nicholas suddenly reacted.”

“But when I tried to investigate further, the reaction disappeared again.”

“Still, I’m certain it wasn’t an illusion because, over the past two days, the device has reacted several times, only to quickly disappear each time.”

“For this reason, I’ve been investigating in Roan City these past few days and ultimately discovered that it seems related to the festival preparations in the Roman Duchy.”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

“The Ancestral Recognition Ceremony?”

Eudoxia nodded.

“The humans here seem to call it that. In the past few days, they have set up altars in the city square and conduct ceremonies periodically. Each time a ceremony is held, the magic device reacts.”

“I tracked it during these periods, and the closest instance was this morning, with the final location being the Roman Palace.”

“However, since it only happened once, I’m not sure if the positioning is accurate.”

The Roman Palace? What a coincidence.

Charlotte was a bit surprised. After some thought, she nodded.

“I understand. I’ll be in Roan these days, so continue to track the device’s reactions and contact me immediately if you find anything.”

Despite being a relic left by the True Ancestor of Blood, the Ancient Temple was often shielded by highly advanced magical barriers, making it undetectable. Only a genius mage like Nice could create a device capable of detecting it. Ｒ

Even Charlotte, with her Gospel of Blood, couldn’t sense it without the device.

Eudoxia bowed and prepared to leave.

“Wait.”

Charlotte called her back and summoned Sherry.

“Check on how Nice is recovering.”

Though Nice had vomited severely on the boat, Charlotte had her doubts.

His body, being artifact-crafted, shouldn’t succumb to seasickness so easily.

It seemed more likely that he was avoiding traveling with Yurst, given their history. Having been exposed once, Nice might be hiding to avoid Yurst’s teasing, which happened every time Yurst visited the North.

Shortly after, Sherry returned with news that aligned more with Charlotte’s suspicions.

“Sir Nice is not in his room, but according to the servants, a black cat wearing a noble black hawk collar was seen playing with maids in the hotel lobby.”

Charlotte: …

“Bring him to me.”

She frowned and addressed Eudoxia.

Soon, Nice, tail tucked and limbs flailing, was brought in by Eudoxia. Nice looked energetic, not the least bit seasick. Charlotte gave him a half-smiling glance.

“Seasick?”

Nice swallowed hard.

He laughed nervously, eyes darting, but upon seeing Charlotte’s stern look, he dropped the act and looked at her with wide, pleading amber eyes.

“La… Lady Charlotte…”

“Enough with the act. Get to work.”

Charlotte instructed Eudoxia to release Nice and informed him of her findings.

Hearing Eudoxia’s report, Nice shifted from his playful demeanor to a thoughtful one.

“Hmm? My magic device reacted to the Roman festival preparations?”

Charlotte sensed his contemplation and asked.

“Nice, do you have any ideas?”

Nice rubbed his chin.

“Ideas… Well, not exactly ideas, but this situation seems to align with some of my previous hypotheses.”

“The Roman family’s Ancestral Recognition Ceremony is quite famous, becoming a grand event celebrated every few years. I’ve always been intrigued by the Roman Sword.”

“From what I know, every time they hold the ceremony, they summon the Roman Sword days in advance, this summoning lasts several days, bringing it out of the subspace.”

“I’ve searched for the Ancient Temple within the projected coordinates in the Roman Duchy without success, often doubting my model’s accuracy. But now, it seems there might be a stronger force concealing it.”

Speaking of this, Nice chuckled.

“Hehe, the alternate dimension where the Roman Sword sleeps was not created by the half-elf hero Romanus. By that time, Romanus had already fallen. I’ve always been curious about which mythical being created the alternate dimension for the Roman Sword, but now it seems… it might be the Ancient Temple we’re looking for!”

With that, Nice put on a rather ingratiating smile and said to Charlotte.

“Congratulations, Lady Charlotte, congratulations! You have taken another step on your path to supreme power!”

Charlotte: …

Damn, why does this feel like an eunuch congratulating the emperor?

Especially since Nice is chubby, has a squeaky voice, and yet his original voice is hoarse. His sycophantic gestures make him seem even more like an eunuch!

A complete cat eunuch!

However…

What a coincidence. She was just thinking about finding the Ancient Temple and the Faceless Statue, and now, by attending a ceremony, she stumbled upon it. Should she say she’s lucky, or does it feel like there is some kind of predestination at play?

“Heh, this is quite normal, Lady Charlotte. A slumbering God often leaves behind means for their resurrection, and these means often gather around the God in various forms after their awakening.”

“Lady Charlotte, although you have not regained your memories, you are still that one. It is perfectly normal for the Ancient Temple to reveal itself one after another after your awakening!”

Nice said, shaking his head as he addressed Charlotte’s doubts.

Then, he glanced at Charlotte and added.

“Of course, Nice thinks that you don’t need to regain your memories. Compared to the you described in history, Nice prefers the current you…”

Charlotte didn’t comment on Nice’s words.

Regain memories?

Although everyone believed she was the resurrected True Ancestor of Blood, and after experiencing time travel, she also thought she might have traveled to the past to become the True Ancestor of Blood, there was always a nagging feeling in her mind that the True Ancestor of Blood described in history was not her.

But that’s not something to share with others.

The True Ancestor of Blood has secrets, Charlotte has secrets, and even the Gospel of Blood still holds many secrets that Charlotte has not uncovered.

Even in its damaged state, its functions exceed those of many true artifacts. The Gospel of Blood is definitely not just the Bloodborne’s supreme artifact.

But regardless of everything, the Gospel of Blood is undeniably hers.

At the same time, she herself does not seem to be a vessel for the resurrection of the “True Ancestor of Blood” or an object for possession.

The reason is simple: if she were, then as early as when she fused with the first Faceless Statue, the real “True Ancestor of Blood” could have “resurrected”, instead of allowing her to continue absorbing the blood divine power.

After all, the divine persona is not unchanging. As long as Charlotte continues to absorb the blood divine power, condense the divine flame, and mold the divine persona, she will one day, like those lucky ones in history, replace the “True Ancestor of Blood” and become the real True Ancestor of Blood.

“Lady Charlotte, now we must attend tomorrow’s ceremony! Even if it’s just for the Ancient Temple! Wait, isn’t there a banquet in the palace tonight? I strongly recommend attending the banquet too! We might discover some clues in advance!”

Nice said excitedly.

Charlotte nodded slightly.

That’s exactly what she had in mind.

After asking Nice about the magic device’s response, her door was knocked on again.

This time, it was Viscount Roman-Four and several other Northern nobles.

These nobles were famous in the North for their trade origins. One of Charlotte’s purposes in bringing them along was to facilitate extraordinary trade with Roman.

It was also a way to gain deeper insights into the Roman Duchy. After all, if everything goes well, perhaps in a few months, she will no longer be the Countess of Castell but the Duchess of Roman.

Upon seeing Charlotte, the nobles bowed in unison. They exchanged glances, and their eyes fell on Viscount Roman-Four, who bowed to Charlotte and said solemnly.

“Countess, many of us have received invitations from the Starfall Royal Family to attend the banquet at the Roman Palace tonight. We came to ask about your plans.”

Hmm? So many people were invited?

Charlotte was a bit surprised.

She thought for a moment about Nice’s analysis and sensed Albrecht’s movements, and seemed to ponder.

After a brief consideration, she narrowed her eyes, nodded, and smiled.

“Then… let’s all attend.”

“I am quite curious to see what the palace where the founder of Roman once lived looks like.”

…

Time passed quickly.

Before long, night fell, and it was time for the banquet at the Roman Palace.

Charlotte changed into an elegant white noble gown, her golden hair styled into a graceful noble curl.

Surrounded by Northern nobles, she boarded a carriage and headed to the Roman Palace for the banquet.

The Roman Palace was not far from Charlotte’s inn, just across a square.

When Charlotte arrived at the palace, the Castell emblem immediately attracted many eyes.

No matter what, Charlotte was a significant noble. Even in the Starfall Kingdom, she was bound to attract attention.

Not to mention her titles such as “Uncrowned Saintess recognized by the Crescent Archbishop” and “the most beautiful and wealthy young lord of the Crescent Kingdom.”

The Roman Palace did not seem grand but rather historical, more like a castle than a palace.

When Charlotte’s convoy stopped in front of the palace, the servants and stewards, having received the news, warmly welcomed them.

Their enthusiastic attitude seemed more like welcoming a major local lord than a foreign noble.

And when Charlotte entered the banquet hall, she finally understood why even the barons in her entourage received invitations.

No other reason—the banquet, by the standard of a crown prince, was quite underwhelming.

It’s not about the conditions. In fact, the banquet was well-prepared, with excellent environment, facilities, and food.

The problem lay in the attending nobles.

Charlotte was surprised to find that despite being a crown prince’s banquet, the attending major nobles were few.

She, as a Northern Countess, was among the most prominent attendees.

The reason even barons received invitations was probably to fill the numbers!

Many Starfall nobles likely declined the invitation, which in itself indicates their stance.

Although there is no conclusive evidence about Prince Henry’s origins from the Nez Clan, rumors can spread. Many nobles might not say it, but they probably believe his lineage is flawed…

Charlotte thought to herself.

Accompanied by Eudoxia, she entered the venue inconspicuously. As for Nice, although pets were not allowed, he was ultimately let in after demonstrating his ability to speak and his “human-like” intelligence.

It was still early, and Prince Henry had not yet arrived.

Charlotte casually picked up a juice from a servant’s tray, took a sip, and considered whether she could discreetly explore the palace. But she suddenly felt an uncomfortable gaze.

Charlotte frowned and looked in the direction of the gaze, seeing a nobleman in a black suit leaning against a pillar, holding a wine glass and looking at her with interest.

Though somewhat concealed, Charlotte’s “man’s intuition” sensed the unrestrained and greedy look in his eyes.

Their eyes met, and the nobleman first showed a hint of surprise, then smiled.

He finished his wine, placed the empty glass on a servant’s tray, and walked gracefully towards Charlotte, bowing elegantly and saying warmly.

“Beautiful lady, you are truly adorable. May I invite you to dance?”

Charlotte: …

Although he had changed his appearance and aura, through the connection in her mind, Charlotte recognized his identity.

The one hitting on her… was none other than the Third Dark Apostle, Albrecht, who had somehow ended up here in Roan!