Gospel of Blood

Chapter 414: Substitute

Chapter 414: Substitute

Charlotte had no idea that the Starfall Royal Family had set their sights on her.

After attending the banquet and arranging a meeting place with Yurst for the next day, Charlotte left the Roman Palace.

Upon returning to her inn, Charlotte immediately received a report from her accompanying maid. The black dragon maid, Eudoxia, had returned and was waiting for her in the room.

Charlotte’s heart stirred. This must be an update on the tracking and positioning of the magic device.

She nodded, instructed her servants not to disturb her, and then returned to her room.

“Eudoxia.”

Charlotte greeted the black dragon, who was staring blankly at the wall’s decoration.

As soon as Eudoxia saw Charlotte enter, she quickly rose and saluted.

Charlotte nodded slightly and asked.

Eudoxia nodded.

“Yes, while the palace banquet was ongoing tonight, I further investigated in Roan City and discovered that the positioning of the magic device had responded again.”

Charlotte’s heart moved.

“Where exactly?”

Eudoxia shook her head.

“That’s what I wanted to report to you. The location changed again. Initially, it was in the city’s church, then it disappeared for a while, reappeared near the square’s altar, and finally, after the banquet began, it appeared in the Roman Palace.”

Charlotte was surprised. She raised an eyebrow.

“It changes locations? Really?”

Eudoxia nodded and added.

“However, the last position the magic device sensed was in the Roman Palace, and from the start of the banquet until its end and even after I left, the location did not change again.”

“Through comparison, I found that the location change seemed to coincide with the movements of the Roman Royal Family. When the location was at the church, it was precisely when the Royal Family visited Roan Church, when it was at the square, it was during the Royal Family’s rehearsal at the altar, and when it was at the palace, it was during the banquet hosted by the Royal Family…”

“I suspect that this location is tied to a member of the Royal Family.”

“However, the Roman Palace is heavily guarded with powerful protective magic. Despite my suspicions, I did not investigate further.”

“Linked to someone in the Royal Family… Prince Henry? Or perhaps a noble accompanying him?”

Charlotte pondered.

She thought for a moment and then contacted a certain black cat, who was socializing with the receptionists and maids in the inn’s lobby, through the servant contract, commanding in his mind.

“Nice, come up and see me.”

In the lobby, Nice, performing for the receptionist and maids, suddenly stiffened and paused.

“Nice, what’s wrong? Keep going!”

The inn maid asked with starry eyes.

Facing the expectant gazes of the maids, Nice regretted. He forced a smile and sighed.

“Dear ladies, Nice has urgent matters to attend to. I’ll come back to entertain you once I’m done.”

“Oh… that’s the treatment for someone favored by their superiors!”

Mumbling some ambiguous and bewildering words, Nice, with a pompous expression, darted upstairs.

Waddling his plump body, he eagerly trotted up to the second floor.

Pushing open Charlotte’s door, Nice immediately donned a fawning smile, arched his back, raised his tail, and meowed as he scampered to Charlotte.

“Meow, meow, meow! Great Lady Charlotte! You called Nice? I’m here!”

However, upon noticing that Charlotte wasn’t alone and that Eudoxia, aware of his true identity, was present, Nice’s expression froze.

Awkwardly clearing his throat, he stopped being ingratiating and instead assumed a serious demeanor.

“Ahem, oh, I see Eudoxia is also here.”

Eudoxia glanced at him with a strange expression, seemingly surprised that the most talented Legendary mage in the human world had such a side.

Nice, feeling uncomfortable, looked away.

Seeing Nice still embarrassed by the social situation, Charlotte chuckled. She beckoned him over.

“Nice, come here. Eudoxia has some new findings.”

Under Charlotte’s direction, Eudoxia quickly recounted the details about the magic device’s positioning.

After hearing this, Nice furrowed his brows, deep in thought.

“The location moves?”

He pondered for a while and then speculated.

“Interesting. Could it be that someone has turned it into a device for opening a different space?”

“Oh? What are you thinking?”

Charlotte asked calmly.

Nice carefully chose his words, respectfully replying.

“Lady Charlotte, I have confidence in my magic device. If there’s a response, then the entrance to the sealed space of the Roman Sword, or more precisely, the entrance to the Ancient Temple, must be somewhere in Roan City!”

“As for why the location keeps changing, one possibility is that the pathway between the Ancient Temple and the present world has been made into a kind of ‘door’ magic device.”

“And this ‘door’ must be carried by someone.”

At this point, seemingly realizing something, Nice clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, it looks like… the Roman Royal Family intends to do more than just a recognition ceremony.”

“I attended such ceremonies centuries ago. The Roman Sword’s projection appears to purify the bloodline of Roman descendants, no one needs to enter the sealed space.”

“Now that a ‘door’ has appeared, could it be an attempt to break the seal?”

Charlotte’s heart stirred.

“You mean, the Roman Royal Family has plans for the Roman Sword itself?”

“That’s possible, though quite bold.”

Nice replied.

Charlotte was pensive. She thought for a while and asked.

“Will this affect the Nez Clan’s plans and mine?”

Nice shook his head.

“Hard to say. Rumor has it that the Roman Sword is a very proud divine sword, valuing strength above all. Even mythical beings struggle to catch its interest.”

“In the past, the Blood Demon Archduke tried to subdue it after the half-elf hero Romanus fell but was only met with mockery. Hiding in its own space, it is the master of that domain, untouchable even by the Blood Demon Archduke.”

“I think… even if the seal is broken, the Roman Royal Family might only face humiliation.”

“Let alone, it’s uncertain whether they can open the sealed space.”

“However, who knows what trump cards the Roman family holds. After all, they are the descendants of Romanus.”

“Even so, opening the seal likely has to wait until after the recognition ceremony is completed. Without recognition, they can’t hope to enter the Roman Sword’s sealed realm.”

Listening to Nice’s analysis, Charlotte nodded.

“I see.”

To be honest, after hearing all these descriptions, she was quite curious about the Roman Sword. If the seal were truly to be broken, perhaps she could join in the excitement.

No, it would be best if the sealed space could indeed be opened. This way, it would be easier for her to obtain the Faceless Statue.

However, her power still couldn’t compare to even the half-awake Blood Demon Archduke, so subduing the Roman Sword was out of the question.

“Lady Charlotte, if you also wish to enter the sealed space, you’ll have to wait for the Roman family to break the seal. Since they are prepared, I think they have some degree of certainty. You will also be participating in the ceremony, so once the space door opens, I believe you will be able to establish a connection and pass through it quite easily.”

Nice analyzed.

Charlotte nodded slightly.

“I know.”

She glanced at Nice.

“Tomorrow, you will accompany me to the secret chamber agreed upon with the Nez Clan for the ceremony.”

Nice’s smile froze.

“Meow! Lady Charlotte! Can’t I not go? Yurst will definitely be there! Nice doesn’t want to see him!”

Nice jumped up in shock, shaking his head hurriedly.

Charlotte glanced at him.

“Your secrets are already exposed, so why fear losing face?”

Nice: …

“Lady Charlotte! Can’t I still act as your substitute? Nice has rich experience as your substitute. Last time when you were asleep, no one could tell the difference!”

“Meow! Surely you wouldn’t trust the substitute prepared by the Nez Clan? They don’t know you well, so their acting wouldn’t be convincing!”

Charlotte glanced at him.

“But the Roman family doesn’t know me well either. Even if it isn’t convincing, they probably wouldn’t notice.”

“Besides, I’m having you follow me to make things more convenient. After all… you know more about the Ancient Temple than I do.”

Nice felt a bit proud at being acknowledged by Charlotte but became dejected when he realized it meant running into Yurst.

Charlotte continued.

“However… you make a good point. I am indeed not entirely confident in the Nez Clan’s substitute, but it’s not about how convincing the substitute is. It’s about whether they can hold their ground.”

“Since this involves the Roman Sword, there are many variables. Even as a substitute, they must have the ability to handle crises.”

Nice’s interest was piqued by Charlotte’s words.

“Meow! Does that mean you already have someone in mind?”

Charlotte nodded slightly.

“Exactly.”

She then used the blood servant contract to communicate with a hapless member of the Shedite Clan, commanding both mentally and verbally.

“Albrecht, come see me immediately.”

Moments later, the window in the room opened by itself, cold winds blew through, and eerie black mist gathered from all directions, concentrating in the center of the room.

The black mist continued to condense, eventually forming a human shape.

It was the Third Dark Apostle, Albrecht, who possessed both demonic and bloodborne attributes.

Eudoxia and Nice also noticed the figure that suddenly appeared in the room.

Eudoxia’s eyes narrowed, instinctively baring her teeth and taking a defensive stance, black scales faintly appearing on her body—a natural reaction to sensing a strong presence.

Nice wasn’t much better.

When the black mist appeared, he was momentarily stunned, and when he saw the figure’s face, he jumped up, hiding behind Charlotte.

“Meow?! The Third Dark Apostle… Albrecht?!”

Charlotte was a bit surprised.

“You know him?”

“Meow! How could I not? He’s been a regular on the Crescent Kingdom’s wanted list for centuries!”

Nice said warily.

Of course, his wariness didn’t last long because he soon realized how respectful the figure was towards Charlotte.

No, from the beginning, he had been summoned by Charlotte…

Under Nice’s astonished gaze, Albrecht respectfully knelt on one knee, performing an ancient bloodborne salute.

“Great Countess of Castell, your humble servant Albrecht has come at your summons.”

Nice: …

He looked at Charlotte, then at Albrecht, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Oh my…

When did the True Ancestor manage to steal the Blood Demon Archduke’s most trusted aide?

This was the Dark Apostle!

And not just any Dark Apostle, but the Third Dark Apostle of the Blood Demon Cult, the one with the longest tenure! Was it… because of the recent turmoil in Lutecia?

Charlotte noticed the wariness from Eudoxia and Nice upon Albrecht’s arrival.

She nodded slightly.

“Rise, these two are also my followers and know my true identity, so there’s no need to worry.”

Hearing Charlotte’s words, Albrecht relaxed a bit.

He hesitated, then cautiously asked.

“Your Majesty, what do you require of Albrecht?”

“Albrecht, how skilled are you in illusion magic of the Mental Path and transformation magic of the Wild Path?”

Charlotte asked.

Albrecht thought for a moment before honestly replying.

“Quite proficient, though not as advanced as the veteran members of the Szellem and Vadallat clans, but still superior to most Legendaries.”

Charlotte was satisfied.

“Good, that will suffice.”

“Your Majesty, is there a task that requires a disguised identity?”

Albrecht asked.

Charlotte nodded.

“At tomorrow’s Ancestral Recognition Ceremony, I need you to attend as my substitute.”

“My other follower, Eudoxia, will accompany you for assistance. She is a black dragon, nearly unbeatable below Legendary level. If anything unexpected happens, she will step in. Do not act recklessly unless absolutely necessary and break your cover.”

Albrecht hesitated, glanced at Nice and Eudoxia, then nodded and obediently said.

“I understand.”

“Additionally… take this with you.”

Charlotte continued.

She then activated the Gospel of Blood’s ability to summon a demon using ?Demon Summoning?.

With the operation of the blood divine power, she gently waved her hand, causing a sinister red magic circle to appear on the ground, radiating crimson light.

Albrecht and the others couldn’t help but be astonished. Especially Nice, who widened his eyes at first glance.

“A… a demon summoning circle?!”

Albrecht was taken aback, seemingly realizing something, his expression complex and increasingly fearful.

Magic surged, causing a gust of wind within the room.

As everything settled and the red light faded, a mid-tier demon with wings and a body resembling a constantly shifting shadow appeared before them.

It was a shadow demon.

It bared its fangs and claws, growling at everyone, but upon receiving a calm glance from Charlotte, it immediately quieted down, trembling and prostrating before her.

“Tomorrow, I will also be participating in the ceremony and will temporarily shut down our mental communication. Take it with you, and use it to contact me if necessary.”

Charlotte instructed Albrecht.