Chapter 9 God's Punishment

Chapter 9

9.1

"Oh no, oh no—"

"Something happened in the temple!"

"Goddess Themis has brought down divine punishment!"

In the city of Oprunsi, news spread at a breakneck speed. The knights of the Knights Templar stopped training in confusion, and the citizens in the marketplace stopped trading in astonishment, all looking towards the temple in astonishment.

Something happened in the temple!

The goddess Themis, who holds the reins of fairness and justice, is the faith of most citizens of Oprunsi. In the center of the Temple of Themis stands a tall statue:

The statue of the goddess is carved from white rock. She holds a sword in her left hand and a scale in her right hand, rewarding and punishing good and evil, and distinguishing right from wrong.

As the god who holds fairness and justice, the statue's posture is solemn and dignified, without anger or smile, and there is only a clear and calm judgment in his eyes.

However, in the statue's calm eyes, two dark red tear marks flowed straight down -

Those were tears that looked like blood.

Very thin lines of blood snaked out from the corners of the statue's eyes, flowing down the face carved from white rock. The scene was so strange that it filled everyone with a great fear.

"Oh no! Something happened in the temple!"

"The goddess's statue sheds tears of blood!"

"It's divine punishment. The goddess has sent down divine punishment!"

When Euridsi and Lorenz arrived at the temple, a group of believers were already kneeling in the square in front of the temple.

The square was covered with dark clouds, and the sunlight was completely blocked by the dark clouds. The "Star Compass" flag of the Ebrard family and the "Nine Lights of the Sun and the Moon" flag of the royal family were rustling in the wind.

The crowd filled the entire square, like a reed with its back bent by the wind. Many believers rested their foreheads on the bluestone slabs, mumbling incoherent prayers, clutching the scales and swords emblems of piety. Tears welled in the eyes of some elderly people, their prayers intermingling with sobs. Fathers held their children, their voices trembling as they prayed to the gods to protect their infants from the curse. Even more devout believers held high the "Scales and Swords" banners, excitedly shouting:

"The statue is bleeding. It's the goddess warning us!"

"It is not the citizens who are guilty, but the magistrates who have failed to maintain pious virtues—it is the magistrates who have angered the gods!"

"Only when those in charge of public affairs are incompetent will they incur divine punishment!"

"Only by punishing sinners can the gods appease their wrath!"

“…”

Euridice looked at all this with a calm expression, but Lorenz, who was walking beside her, could feel that she was not happy.

Lorenz whispered, "You don't like your mother getting the citizens of Oplenci involved in these things, do you?"

Euridsi curled his lips. "She wanted everyone to witness the birth of the 'Sinner.' If the 'Sinner' angers all the citizens of Oprunsi and the believers of the goddess Themis, then even you, Count Lorenz, will be unable to save that 'Sinner.'"

Lorenz understood what she meant.

His expression turned bitter. "Mother was... on guard against me. She knew I would side with you."

However, if Euridsi stood against the citizens of Oplunsi, then even Lorenz would not be able to save her.

That's what the Duchess is for.

"What a brilliant plan," said Oridesi. "I'm now very curious about how she will pin this 'divine punishment' on me."

Lorenz looked at her, paused slightly, and hesitated to speak: "Tisi..."

Oledsi knew what he was going to say.

She walked up the stone steps in front of the temple, turned slightly sideways, and said with a smile: "I don't think you will forget what I just said so quickly."

Lorenz certainly hadn't forgotten.

Just now, Oulidsi said to him word by word, "Because of you, I have lost the ability to face danger alone. I have lost the ability to protect myself when someone tries to harm me."

She said: "The Duchess didn't dare to do anything to me only because of your presence, not because I was able to protect myself... As soon as you left, she killed me immediately."

She also said: "I must grow up to be a person who can save myself. I must be able to rely on myself to survive in this ethereal continent. I must protect myself from harm and have the ability to create the career and life I want with my own hands."

Therefore, this time, Euridsi has decided to face the crisis of "divine punishment" alone.

Lorenz looked at her worriedly, as if he wanted to say something, but Oulidsi gave him a cold look.

Lorenz had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

He lagged behind Olidesi by one step and followed her toward the temple. Olidesi walked calmly, and the hem of her skirt brushed lightly against the stone steps of the temple in the wind, making a slight "rustling" sound.

When the two entered the temple of the goddess Themis, everyone was already there:

The high priest of the temple, Joan, the administrator of Oprunsi, Adelaide, the judge, and - the Duke of Abrad and his family.

A faint smoke of offerings enveloped the entire temple; the temple gate was open, allowing believers to gaze upon the goddess's wrath and forgiveness, but no sunlight shone into the square, and everything was shrouded in a faint gloom.

The statue stood behind the altar, its scales and sword casting long shadows on the stone bricks. The curtains swayed irregularly in the wind.

On the high platform in the center of the temple, the high priest was wearing a gray-white priest robe, holding a scepter as God's agent in his hand, with a solemn expression.

On the left side of the high priest, Administrator Joan was wearing a dark green robe. His hair had turned a little gray. His hands were tucked into his cloak, and his eyes were lowered, so his expression could not be seen clearly.

Judge Adelaide stood beside Joan, her brows furrowed, her face unhappy, her left hand pressed on the code she carried with her, her knuckles turning a little white.

On the other side of the high priest stood Duke Abrad and his family:

The Duke of Luce wore a purple brocade cloak with the "Star Compass" family crest embroidered on the hem. His hands were placed on the scepter and staff, and his expression was steady. He was still the elegant and decent grand duke.

The Duchess wore a purple and gold long dress with her long hair tied up high. Her face was calm and indifferent, as if everything in front of her had nothing to do with her.

The person standing next to her, who looked the most relaxed, was Lucien Abrad.

Young, handsome, and with a lazy look, Lucien was wearing a rather extravagant long dress, only half-buttoned. The corners of his mouth were slightly raised, and he looked like he was enjoying a good show.

When Euridsi entered the temple, Lucien raised an eyebrow at her without hesitation.

And Oulidsi also smiled at him happily.

Then, she walked straight to the side of Judge Adelaide and stood there.

Lucien looked at her in surprise.

Not only Lucien, but even the old administrator Joan, who had lowered her eyes, raised her eyes and glanced at Euridsi.

After all, it was a clear-cut gesture:

Two officials appointed by the queen and three nobles of Oprunsi stood on either side of the high priest, forming two opposing camps.

As Lorenz's wife, Euridsi should have stood on the side of the Ebrard family, but she walked directly towards the judge Adelaide without any hesitation.

Lorenz, who was one step behind her, paused slightly.

Then he walked towards Oulidsi.

Lorenz and Euridsi stood side by side. A flash of anger flashed across the Duchess's eyes, while Euridsi glanced at Lorenz with a half-smile.

However, the Duchess's expression quickly returned to calm; she no longer looked at Euridice, as if she was certain that after the divine punishment, she would never cause any more trouble.

The temple's high priest took in all of this and said calmly, "All those responsible for Opulensi's public affairs have arrived. Now, let the judgment ceremony begin."

9.2

The "Ceremony of Judgment" was a theory proposed by the Empire's advisors after the coronation of High King Lucinda:

When those in charge of public affairs are guilty, the gods will punish them through celestial phenomena; only when sinners pray sincerely to the gods, accept the judgment before the gods, and judge themselves can the gods' wrath be appeased.

When those in charge of public affairs are guilty, citizens also have the right to demand "divine punishment", and thus the "prayer ceremony" came into being.

When the high priest said the word "judgment ceremony" calmly, the oppressive atmosphere in the temple sank slightly. The people present had different expressions.

The priest seemed unaware of the undercurrents surging among the people, or perhaps he did but didn't care. He stood on the platform and gently read the ancient words:

"Those who manage public affairs misbehave and commit moral errors, and the gods warn them with celestial phenomena, and holy images weep blood, and bring down divine punishment."

"If one wishes to appease God's wrath, the only way is for the sinner to confess himself, kneel before God, and accept God's judgment."

"Before the holy image, everyone kneels in turn and prays one by one."

“If the holy image sheds tears of blood, it is a sign from God – those who pray are sinners punished by God.”

After hearing this, Oulidesi finally understood:

The statue shed tears of blood, but people did not know who was the sinner being punished by God.

The blood and tears of the past have been washed away, and the high priest requires everyone to line up and pray to the statue in turn; if the statue sheds new tears of blood while someone is praying, then that person will be the sinner punished by God.

Euridice applauded Lady Beatrice in her heart.

It's amazing, she thought, using this method, I can accurately pin this blood and tears "divine punishment" on me alone, without implicating Lorenz.

Once her identity as a "sinner punished by God" is confirmed, the believers in the square will never forgive her.

While Euridice was thinking, the old administrator, Joan, walked forward without saying a word, knelt on one knee, and bowed her head in prayer.

The statue did not move at all.

Of course not, thought Euridice.

They weren't targeting him.

Judge Adelaide glanced at Oulidisi, seemed to be hesitant to speak, and finally walked forward silently and finished his prayer.

As a judge, Adelaide had witnessed countless crimes, and with her sharp eyes, she had already seen through the Abrad family's conspiracy and the target they were targeting. However, in this situation, she was unable to speak out any useful defense for Euridsi.

Adelaide returned to his seat, and Duke Luce Abrad stepped forward to offer his prayers, his gestures respectful. The statue did not respond.

Duchess Beatrice prayed gracefully, with the dignity of a noble, but the statue remained silent.

Lorenz looked at Euridsi worriedly, and Euridsi nodded slightly to him:

Go ahead.

Lorenz frowned slightly, but he had no choice but to follow Euridsi's instructions and complete his prayer with a heavy heart.

——The statue still has no vision.

And there was only one person left who was in charge of public affairs.

"Eurydsey Arquitas."

Mrs. Beatrice couldn't help herself and called her name: "It's your turn to pray."

Olidisi didn't look at her.

She looked at the holy statue of the goddess Themis in front of her, took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and walked forward.

Standing in front of the statue, Olidesi's body trembled uncontrollably.

She tried her best to suppress it so that she wouldn't show any excessive excitement.

It’s here, it’s finally here.

She knelt down before the statue.

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