The Duke's visit to the temple was not only to see Maggie, but also, as a believer of the God of Light, to make church offerings for the temple.
To put it bluntly, it's a donation.
It is perfectly normal for the Zephnea family, as one of the most prestigious noble families, to make contributions to the Temple of Light.
Even other nobles, including commoners, would occasionally make offerings, demonstrating both their faith and their kindness.
The Temple of Light requires a large amount of money to operate every day, not only within the temple itself, but also through its many affiliated almshouses, welfare homes, and charitable hospitals.
This is one of the reasons why there are more and more believers in the God of Light. Many poor people who could not survive have received help from the temple.
It is substantial, not vague and ethereal.
As the Holy Maiden of Light, Maggie's daily work includes tasks such as visiting orphanages to care for orphans, but Maggie is mostly away on the go and doesn't have the opportunity to go.
Of course, the temple did not entirely fail to benefit from this; some members of the Holy Knights and the Mage Order were orphans selected from the orphanages.
All that remains for them is mindless loyalty to the temple. They have no parents, no attachments, and they still grow up under the temple's tutelage, receiving immense glory and a promising future from it.
Even the most mindless devotion to the God of Light is reasonable in Maggie's eyes.
As for nuns, priests, and clergy, they are generally selected from among the noble families and work in the temples; only a small number are orphans.
Maggie didn't need to think to guess that although there weren't many orphans with exceptional talent, there were some. Nurturing them into outstanding paladins and mages would be very beneficial to the unity of the temple.
However, for nuns, choosing someone of noble birth is just right, as it not only helps them win people's hearts but also eliminates concerns about potential problems.
Maggie had to admire the Pope's methods; every step was perfectly timed.
Not only did they bestow blessings, but they also reaped all the benefits.
The reason why the Duke of Zefnia's invitation to offer gold coins was so large was because Maggie was once a daughter of the Zefnia family.
The priest personally received the Duke beneath the statue of the God of Light and bestowed upon him the Blessing of Light.
This is why the Duke said to demonize the Duchess in front of everyone, because there would be many nuns and priests attending the ceremony today, including Maggie.
Maggie walked towards the temple gate, and on the other side of the corridor was the Duke, who also wanted to go to the statue.
The two met at a crossroads, and in the instant their eyes met, Maggie knew that the Duke had not given up his desire to frame her.
"Dear Father, good day."
Maggie maintained basic politeness, nodding to greet the Duke.
The Duke, however, did not appreciate the gesture. Instead, he snorted coldly, his voice low and threatening.
"It's not too late for you to change your mind."
Maggie smiled slightly, a perfectly timed look of bewilderment in her eyes.
"Father, what are you saying?"
Perhaps Maggie's unyielding attitude was too infuriating, for the Duke's face suddenly darkened. However, he did not continue to make a fool of himself, but instead turned and walked away with a hint of anger.
It seems they don't want to hear her continue.
Maggie watched the Duke's departing figure with a smile on her lips. She didn't rush to catch up with him, but instead slowly and deliberately straightened her skirt before walking forward with elegant steps.
When Maggie arrived at the temple, under the statue of the God of Light, a number of nuns and priests had already gathered around. Father Barton was standing not far away, talking to the Duke about something.
The Duchess stood at a distance from the Duke, with Nesser and Haron on either side, adopting a protective stance.
The moment they saw Maggie appear, their gazes immediately turned to her.
Maggie didn't have time to look at the two people; she merely glanced at them before looking away, because her angel had already given her a signal—a signal that she could act.
It seems that El has already eliminated the potential threat to the Duchess.
Maggie stepped forward and walked to Father Barton and the Duke, a perfect smile on her lips that was strangely similar to Harlan's. The sunlight shone on her face, as if it were covered with a filter, making her breathtakingly beautiful.
However, neither the priest nor the duke appreciated Maggie's beauty; they merely nodded to acknowledge her arrival.
"Your Highness, you will need to put some thought into today's blessing of light, for one day this task will be entrusted to you."
Father Barton spoke with a meaningful tone, as if he were a high-ranking leader about to entrust Maggie with an important task, especially in front of the Duke. In Maggie's view, this was most likely an attempt to demonstrate the temple's high regard for her.
It's normal that if nobles develop a better impression of the temple, they'll get more gold coins.
Unfortunately, Maggie believed that the current Duke didn't really want to hear those words.
Sure enough, as soon as the priest finished speaking, Maggie noticed that the Duke's expression stiffened almost imperceptibly, but he quickly returned to normal.
Maggie's sarcasm grew stronger. Seeing that such an excellent daughter was not being used by him, he must be extremely anxious.
Old Deng.
She silently complained to herself.
Time passed quickly, and before long, the sun had reached directly above the statue of the God of Light, signifying the official start of the blessing ceremony.
A ritual similar to baptism, in which Father Barton prays for the Duke, dressed in special attire and performing a complex set of gestures, accompanied by a soft white light that envelops both the Duke and Father Barton.
Maggie watched this scene quietly, her heart calm and undisturbed.
Actually, it wasn't surprising at all. She would have been more surprised if the Duke had tested positive for demonic substances today.
Everything proceeded smoothly without any unexpected events. The white light gradually faded, and both the priest and the duke reopened their eyes.
Next up is the Duchess.
Maggie glanced silently at the Duchess, who seemed a little nervous, and silently prayed for her as well.
The priest may have simply performed a ritual to ward off illness, but Maggie's blessing came purely from her heart; she wished this kind mother eternal health and freedom from worries.
Whether intentionally or not, the Duke deliberately walked up to Maggie and brushed past her.
Only the two of them could sense that the atmosphere had instantly become tense, and the moment that would decide the outcome was about to begin.
On the surface, they are an absolutely biological father and daughter, but in reality, they are a fierce confrontation between a daughter whose soul has been transported to another world and a father whose body has been possessed by a demon.
Oh, and there's also a mother who knows nothing about it.
They are truly a loving family.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com