The entire Temple of Light received advance notice of the Pope's return the night before.

The welcoming ceremony was grander than any other ceremony held on the day Maggie returned.

Even Maggie stood in the welcoming procession, at the very front, alongside Father Barton and Archbishop Ford.

As the temple gates slowly opened, a tall and imposing figure appeared at the end of the road.

Maggie lowered her head as the surrounding sounds rose up, drowning out her not-so-loud voice.

"Welcome back, Your Holiness!"

Long live His Holiness the Pope!

When the figure stood no more than two meters away from the priest, his authoritative voice was heard.

"Get up."

As soon as she finished speaking, Maggie straightened up and finally saw what the pope looked like.

Surprisingly young, he looked like a dignified and solemn middle-aged man. If Maggie didn't know that he was older than the white-haired Ford, she would really mistake him for someone younger.

It seems that the library on the top floor of the Temple of Light truly holds secrets unknown to anyone.

It can even extend the lifespan of short-lived species to such an extent.

It should be noted that this pope's reign lasted until the time when the God of Light was still awake.

That's comparable to the lifespan of an elf.

But despite all this being so illogical as to raise suspicions, no one would question whether the Pope's existence was legitimate.

As Maggie was thinking to herself, she suddenly felt a gaze fall upon her.

She smiled and met the Pope's gaze with composure, Bergo Vance.

Dressed in pure white papal robes emblazoned with gold-stamped crosses, he was completely covered, with not a single inch of skin showing.

He held the holy staff, a symbol of power, and looked at her with a dignified expression and a scrutinizing gaze.

This was also Maggie's first time meeting the Pope. If it were the original owner of this body, she would never have met the Pope in her entire life.

As they looked at each other, Maggie could feel Ford's gaze also falling on her, as if confirming something.

Maggie cannot speak first unless the person in a superior position does.

So despite the somewhat awkward atmosphere, Maggie remained standing still, showing no fear.

This is also a test; if she shows timidity and unease, it would not be in line with the character a saint should have.

When dealing with the Pope and the archbishop, different strategies and methods must be used.

Just as there are things she can't hide from the priest, it's now difficult for her to hide everything from the Pope.

From the Pope's perspective, a saint who is slightly rebellious but still manageable and not to be feared is the persona that Maggie tailored for him.

After a long pause, the Pope nodded with an inscrutable expression and spoke.

"As the newly appointed Holy Maiden, she must abide by the temple's rules and dedicate all her faith to the God."

His words, which sounded like a warning or a reminder, echoed inside the cathedral.

To Maggie, it sounded strangely mocking.

"Thank you for your teachings, Pope."

Maggie lowered her eyes and nodded in agreement.

The Pope did not linger at the cathedral; he had many things to do and his time was precious, so he did not have time to waste here.

When Maggie looked up again, she only saw the Pope's robes sweep past her, his figure hurried, and everyone stood still to watch him leave.

A sacred welcoming ceremony can be quick or slow; it begins in the early morning and ends when the sun has only just risen.

Ford's gaze remained fixed on Maggie, who was meeting him for the first time since her return.

But Maggie noticed that his face looked a little dark, which puzzled her.

After the crowd dispersed, the priest gave Maggie a deep look and left, leaving only Ford and Maggie in the church.

Maggie didn't leave, wanting to hear what the archbishop had to say next.

Talking appropriately with the enemy can yield a lot of useful information.

After all... villains die from talking too much.

Not long after, Ford walked up to Maggie and spoke in a meaningful tone.

"It seems His Holiness the Pope has high hopes for Her Highness the Holy Maiden."

The strange remarks immediately aroused Maggie's vigilance, but she remained outwardly calm, as one must appear sufficiently composed in such a moment.

"That would be my honor."

Maggie's voice was gentle, revealing no emotion.

"Yeah."

Ford chuckled strangely, his aged voice carrying an indescribable unease that echoed through the church, the reverberation growing ever more eerie.

Since the last incident, Ford has stopped pretending to be hypocritical in front of her, probably because he felt it was pointless.

After the truth came out, he became even more direct in his speech.

Without waiting for Maggie's reply, Ford turned and left the cathedral.

Maggie was left standing there, trying to guess his intentions.

...

After the welcoming ceremony ended, Maggie returned to her room.

Several small creatures were floating in mid-air, staring at her in unison.

"You're back?"

Maggie pulled out a chair and sat down, offering a casual greeting.

Neither Little Ghost, Roy, nor Little Jellyfish had shown up for the past few days, and Maggie was a little worried, but they all had their own lives to live.

Seeing them reappear now is a relief.

"Um, are you alright?"

Roy nodded, glanced at the little ghost somewhat guiltily, and then asked Maggie.

"I'm fine. The temple is safer than outside."

Maggie sensed that they were hiding something from her, probably related to their disappearance over the past few days. However, the little ghost had always kept many things from her, so she was used to it and didn't ask any further questions.

After chatting for a while, Maggie mentioned the Duke's letter and then told the elemental spirits about her situation.

"You mean your father used your mother, his wife, to threaten you and his daughter?"

The little ghost was shocked after hearing the contents of Maggie's letter.

Although he didn't have a good impression of humans, he still found it very difficult to accept when he first heard about such a shameless thing.

"Yes, even more inhumane than I imagined."

Maggie had thought that by not approaching the Duchess, she wouldn't attract the Duke's attention, but now it seemed she had been delusional.

As the original owner's gentle voice flashed through her mind, Maggie's murderous intent towards her scumbag father intensified.

If her anger were a fire, the Duke would surely have been reduced to ashes by now.

"So you're planning to find a way to rescue her? I can help you check on the Duchess's situation."

The little ghost held its short arms, and DouDou's eyes were full of thought, like a little doll pretending to be serious.

"Yes, thank you for your trouble, but the rescue needs to be planned carefully. The Duke's mansion is now a den of dragons and tigers, and it will be too difficult to go deep inside."

Maggie rubbed her throbbing temples, feeling extremely upset.

Fortunately, she has a few people she can confide in and discuss plans with; otherwise, she would really be suffocated by being alone.