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When Sophia arrived at the reception room door, she didn’t immediately enter. Out of habit, she spread her Qi Sense and soon detected familiar presences, causing the corners of her mouth to curl up.

“Oh, everyone’s already here before me.”

As she opened the door and entered, she saw the entire group she had traveled with gathered in the reception room. Karl Hector Meyer, Brantley Somz—the second son of this household—and her disciples, Conra and Maria, were all seated around the table. Sophia smiled at the sight.

Her gaze soon drifted to the head of the table.

“My apologies. As a guest, I’ve arrived late to the host’s invitation.”

“Not at all. You’re right on time. The tea is just about ready, so I’d say you’ve arrived perfectly.”

The man who responded to Sophia’s apology from the head seat was impeccably dressed. He appeared to be in the late stages of middle age, gradually approaching his senior years. Despite his age, his face still bore a healthy complexion, and his voice carried strength, clearly indicating a robust figure both physically and mentally.

Sophia immediately recognized him as Rasmus Somz, the current head of the Brantley family.

His well-honed aura and the spell waves surrounding him, flowing like the second movement of a symphony—slow and steady—were unmistakable. If she couldn’t recognize him with this in front of her, her eyes might as well be useless ornaments.

Sophia offered a faint smile as she looked at the dignified figure of the man who had once been the chief court poet and chancellor of the Kingdom of Dane.

“Well, then I won’t refuse your kindness.”

As Sophia took her seat, servants began bringing in teapots and plates of pastries. Soon, the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries and the subtle, refreshing scent of properly brewed tea leaves filled the reception room.

Conra and Sophia unconsciously licked their lips at the scent of the pastries, their throats twitching, while Karl Hector Meyer and Brantley Somz, despite their composure, began to feel their hunger stir.

Meanwhile, Rasmus, seated at the head of the table, paid no attention to the surroundings, focusing solely on the person sitting before him.

‘So, this is the Paladin of the Church Order? She’s certainly no pushover.’

Just as Sophia had observed Rasmus, he too had been sharpening his senses to gauge her the moment she entered the room.

If there was one thing Rasmus had learned during his time as the chief court poet and chancellor of the Kingdom of Dane, it was that in all matters of diplomacy, strategy, finance, and military affairs, nothing was more important than understanding people.

When he first heard that his second son, Brantley, had returned as part of the Nun Knight’s entourage, his first thought was, ‘A troublesome thorn has attached itself.’

Historically, when spiritual power grew strong, secular power tended to wane.

For power to truly manifest, it required authority to back it and a populace that obeyed its commands. When a king’s decree was issued, and those below obeyed without question, secular political power could exert its true force.

However, when spiritual power grew strong, this process became far more complicated. The people, who once obeyed the king’s commands without question, now began to weigh and judge those commands against another standard—spiritual authority.

Ultimately, the continent’s power brokers had been compelled to recognize the Church’s ‘Paladins,’ supernatural enforcers, which made the Church’s influence an uncomfortable presence for secular nobility.

Even in kingdoms like the United Kingdom of Svea or the United Kingdom of Norge, where the Church’s influence was minimal, the northern nobility often mocked the situation of continental nations, viewing the Church as nothing more than an inconvenient thorn.

Yet, the Kingdom of Dane had willingly accepted the Church organization because it aided the kingdom’s centralization and civilization.

Frankly, while the Baltic coastal nations mocked the continental powers for their fluctuating attitudes toward the Church, the continental nations were undeniably civilized kingdoms, while the Baltic nations were little more than a loose confederation of tribes and city-states.

Mocking the continental nations for their lack of unified secular power only made the Baltic nations look like barbaric chieftains in the eyes of the continent.

Thus, for the Kingdom of Dane, accepting the Church to reform the state was far better than stubbornly clinging to petty secular power struggles.

Moreover, even if they accepted the Church, there was some expectation that its influence wouldn’t take root as deeply as in other regions.

This expectation of the Dane royal family proved somewhat accurate.

In truth, the indigenous faiths of the Baltic coastal nations were quite strong. Even the Kingdom of Dane, which had accepted the Church, was no exception, and the royal family was pleased to use the Church’s power to suppress the indigenous faiths.

That is, until Sophia de Chazel arrived.

‘Honestly, the Paladin is a different story…’

A figure with the martial power and authority to shake the world, a high-ranking member of the Church. Even a king might not dare to elevate himself in her presence.

Frankly, the Paladin’s power itself wasn’t something the Kingdom of Dane needed to worry about. Even if the Templar Knights and Nun Knights under the Paladin’s command were granted transcontinental, supernatural authority, it was based on an implicit agreement among continental nations. It had little to do with the Kingdom of Dane, which stood somewhat apart.

However, at this moment, Sophia was the highest-ranking member of the Church organization implanted in the Kingdom of Dane. This meant,

‘She could effectively receive ducal-level protocol.’

Moreover, as a Paladin, her martial power was undoubtedly formidable. After all, the Paladins were created to handle evils and calamities beyond human resistance.

Considering that power always accompanies martial strength, the emergence of a superhuman from the Church could significantly bolster the Church’s influence within the Kingdom of Dane.

Even if she showed no intention or action toward exercising power, merely demonstrating her martial prowess before the public would undoubtedly increase the Church’s influence among the kingdom’s populace.

For Rasmus, a former chancellor and head of a prestigious family that had supported the kingdom, this was an uncomfortable development.

Naturally, his words became somewhat sharper.

“So, what brings the Church’s sword to our humble family, and what business brings you to this remote corner of the kingdom?”

The pointed remark, dripping with thinly veiled irritation, instantly chilled the room’s atmosphere.

Even Rasmus himself was taken aback by his own words, inwardly clicking his tongue.

‘Damn, has it been too long since I’ve been in the field? I’ve made an uncharacteristic slip.’

In the past, if someone had spoken so carelessly, he would have immediately smacked the back of their head and twisted their beak. But now, he had done it himself, and Rasmus felt a wave of self-loathing and frustration.

Sophia, reading Rasmus’s inner turmoil with her transparent gaze, didn’t press him. Instead, she calmly waited before bluntly stating her purpose.

“I’ll be direct. It seems I’ll need your help this time.”

Following the head of the family’s prickly reaction, Sophia’s straightforward approach, despite the sharp response, threw the reception room into chaos.

“Uh, Father?”

“Ah, no, Lady Chazel…”

Brantley, Karl, Conra, and Maria were all equally unable to keep up with the situation. The atmosphere was entirely different from what they had expected, and they struggled to find the right words to mediate between the two.

The servants, meanwhile, desperately tried to blend into the background, pretending not to notice the strange tension as they busied themselves with tea and pastries.

However, Rasmus, hearing Sophia’s words, felt his mind clear.

Worry, anxiety, regret, and self-reproach inevitably narrow one’s vision and lead to fragmented thinking. If not for her timely and direct approach, he might have continued making poor judgments in his muddled state.

Realizing this, Rasmus felt a hint of gratitude toward Sophia de Chazel and opened his mouth to speak.

“My help, you say…? What could I possibly offer to someone of your stature? Though I am the head of this household, the Somz family is merely a lineage of court poets. And though I once served as this kingdom’s chancellor, that’s all in the past. I’m now just a mere commoner.”

Though his tone still carried a hint of sharpness, it had softened considerably. The others in the room blinked in confusion, unsure of what was happening.

Brantley, however, who had long been versed in noble etiquette and diplomatic discourse, sensed that his father’s response, while still prickly, contained a willingness to engage. He cautiously let out a sigh of relief.

‘Phew, that’s a relief. It seems both Father and Lady Chazel are willing to talk properly. That was close…’

For Brantley, a conflict between Rasmus and Sophia would have been a clear problem.

Who was Sophia de Chazel? The master of formations who had turned his world of spells upside down in an instant. That she was a renowned Paladin and Nun Knight of the Church meant little to Brantley, who sought the truths of spellcraft.

After going through the trouble of inviting her to their home, only for his father to nearly start a fight, Brantley gritted his teeth in frustration. Of course, from Rasmus’s perspective, Brantley’s complaints were nothing short of audacious.

“Hmm, then I won’t refuse your kindness.”

As Sophia took her seat, servants began bringing in teapots and plates of pastries. Soon, the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries and the subtle, refreshing scent of properly brewed tea leaves filled the reception room.

Conra and Sophia unconsciously licked their lips at the scent of the pastries, their throats twitching, while Karl Hector Meyer and Brantley Somz, despite their composure, began to feel their hunger stir.

Meanwhile, Rasmus, seated at the head of the table, paid no attention to the surroundings, focusing solely on the person sitting before him.

‘So, this is the Paladin of the Church Order? She’s certainly no pushover.’

Just as Sophia had observed Rasmus, he too had been sharpening his senses to gauge her the moment she entered the room.

If there was one thing Rasmus had learned during his time as the chief court poet and chancellor of the Kingdom of Dane, it was that in all matters of diplomacy, strategy, finance, and military affairs, nothing was more important than understanding people.

When he first heard that his second son, Brantley, had returned as part of the Nun Knight’s entourage, his first thought was, ‘A troublesome thorn has attached itself.’

Historically, when spiritual power grew strong, secular power tended to wane.

For power to truly manifest, it required authority to back it and a populace that obeyed its commands. When a king’s decree was issued, and those below obeyed without question, secular political power could exert its true force.

However, when spiritual power grew strong, this process became far more complicated. The people, who once obeyed the king’s commands without question, now began to weigh and judge those commands against another standard—spiritual authority.

Ultimately, the continent’s power brokers had been compelled to recognize the Church’s ‘Paladins,’ supernatural enforcers, which made the Church’s influence an uncomfortable presence for secular nobility.

Even in kingdoms like the United Kingdom of Svea or the United Kingdom of Norge, where the Church’s influence was minimal, the northern nobility often mocked the situation of continental nations, viewing the Church as nothing more than an inconvenient thorn.

Yet, the Kingdom of Dane had willingly accepted the Church organization because it aided the kingdom’s centralization and civilization.

Frankly, while the Baltic coastal nations mocked the continental powers for their fluctuating attitudes toward the Church, the continental nations were undeniably civilized kingdoms, while the Baltic nations were little more than a loose confederation of tribes and city-states.

Mocking the continental nations for their lack of unified secular power only made the Baltic nations look like barbaric chieftains in the eyes of the continent.

Thus, for the Kingdom of Dane, accepting the Church to reform the state was far better than stubbornly clinging to petty secular power struggles.

Moreover, even if they accepted the Church, there was some expectation that its influence wouldn’t take root as deeply as in other regions.

This expectation of the Dane royal family proved somewhat accurate.

In truth, the indigenous faiths of the Baltic coastal nations were quite strong. Even the Kingdom of Dane, which had accepted the Church, was no exception, and the royal family was pleased to use the Church’s power to suppress the indigenous faiths.

That is, until Sophia de Chazel arrived.

‘Honestly, the Paladin is a different story…’

A figure with the martial power and authority to shake the world, a high-ranking member of the Church. Even a king might not dare to elevate himself in her presence.

Frankly, the Paladin’s power itself wasn’t something the Kingdom of Dane needed to worry about. Even if the Templar Knights and Nun Knights under the Paladin’s command were granted transcontinental, supernatural authority, it was based on an implicit agreement among continental nations. It had little to do with the Kingdom of Dane, which stood somewhat apart.

However, at this moment, Sophia was the highest-ranking member of the Church organization implanted in the Kingdom of Dane. This meant,

‘She could effectively receive ducal-level protocol.’

Moreover, as a Paladin, her martial power was undoubtedly formidable. After all, the Paladins were created to handle evils and calamities beyond human resistance.

Considering that power always accompanies martial strength, the emergence of a superhuman from the Church could significantly bolster the Church’s influence within the Kingdom of Dane.

Even if she showed no intention or action toward exercising power, merely demonstrating her martial prowess before the public would undoubtedly increase the Church’s influence among the kingdom’s populace.

For Rasmus, a former chancellor and head of a prestigious family that had supported the kingdom, this was an uncomfortable development.

Naturally, his words became somewhat sharper.

“So, what brings the Church’s sword to our humble family, and what business brings you to this remote corner of the kingdom?”

The pointed remark, dripping with thinly veiled irritation, instantly chilled the room’s atmosphere.

Even Rasmus himself was taken aback by his own words, inwardly clicking his tongue.

‘Damn, has it been too long since I’ve been in the field? I’ve made an uncharacteristic slip.’

In the past, if someone had spoken so carelessly, he would have immediately smacked the back of their head and twisted their beak. But now, he had done it himself, and Rasmus felt a wave of self-loathing and frustration.

Sophia, reading Rasmus’s inner turmoil with her transparent gaze, didn’t press him. Instead, she calmly waited before bluntly stating her purpose.

“I’ll be direct. It seems I’ll need your help this time.”

Following the head of the family’s prickly reaction, Sophia’s straightforward approach, despite the sharp response, threw the reception room into chaos.

“Uh, Father?”

“Ah, no, Lady Chazel…”

Brantley, Karl, Conra, and Maria were all equally unable to keep up with the situation. The atmosphere was entirely different from what they had expected, and they struggled to find the right words to mediate between the two.

The servants, meanwhile, desperately tried to blend into the background, pretending not to notice the strange tension as they busied themselves with tea and pastries.

However, Rasmus, hearing Sophia’s words, felt his mind clear.

Worry, anxiety, regret, and self-reproach inevitably narrow one’s vision and lead to fragmented thinking. If not for her timely and direct approach, he might have continued making poor judgments in his muddled state.

Realizing this, Rasmus felt a hint of gratitude toward Sophia de Chazel and opened his mouth to speak.

“My help, you say…? What could I possibly offer to someone of your stature? Though I am the head of this household, the Somz family is merely a lineage of court poets. And though I once served as this kingdom’s chancellor, that’s all in the past. I’m now just a mere commoner.”

Though his tone still carried a hint of sharpness, it had softened considerably. The others in the room blinked in confusion, unsure of what was happening.

Brantley, however, who had long been versed in noble etiquette and diplomatic discourse, sensed that his father’s response, while still prickly, contained a willingness to engage. He cautiously let out a sigh of relief.

‘Phew, that’s a relief. It seems both Father and Lady Chazel are willing to talk properly. That was close…’

For Brantley, a conflict between Rasmus and Sophia would have been a clear problem.

Who was Sophia de Chazel? The master of formations who had turned his world of spells upside down in an instant. That she was a renowned Paladin and Nun Knight of the Church meant little to Brantley, who sought the truths of spellcraft.

After going through the trouble of inviting her to their home, only for his father to nearly start a fight, Brantley gritted his teeth in frustration. Of course, from Rasmus’s perspective, Brantley’s complaints were nothing short of audacious.

“Hmm, then I won’t refuse your kindness.”

As Sophia took her seat, servants began bringing in teapots and plates of pastries. Soon, the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries and the subtle, refreshing scent of properly brewed tea leaves filled the reception room.

Conra and Sophia unconsciously licked their lips at the scent of the pastries, their throats twitching, while Karl Hector Meyer and Brantley Somz, despite their composure, began to feel their hunger stir.

Meanwhile, Rasmus, seated at the head of the table, paid no attention to the surroundings, focusing solely on the person sitting before him.

‘So, this is the Paladin of the Church Order? She’s certainly no pushover.’

Just as Sophia had observed Rasmus, he too had been sharpening his senses to gauge her the moment she entered the room.

If there was one thing Rasmus had learned during his time as the chief court poet and chancellor of the Kingdom of Dane, it was that in all matters of diplomacy, strategy, finance, and military affairs, nothing was more important than understanding people.

When he first heard that his second son, Brantley, had returned as part of the Nun Knight’s entourage, his first thought was, ‘A troublesome thorn has attached itself.’

Historically, when spiritual power grew strong, secular power tended to wane.

For power to truly manifest, it required authority to back it and a populace that obeyed its commands. When a king’s decree was issued, and those below obeyed without question, secular political power could exert its true force.

However, when spiritual power grew strong, this process became far more complicated. The people, who once obeyed the king’s commands without question, now began

 

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