TSMMT Ch 143

Negotiations

Dianna rose to her feet. Golden radiance beamed down like sunlight despite the absence of any visible light source.

[Priest] "This is indisputably the pure energy of the deity..."

Someone muttered in dazed bewilderment as every priest fell to their knees.

Watching them, Dianna stifled a silent chuckle. She remained utterly bewildered.

Was it this easy?

Is a deity a dog's name? No, wait…. was Tarascus actually a messenger?

Gazing at the flowers showering down like snow and piling upon her head and shoulders, Dianna shouted inwardly for the deluge to stop. They clearly lacked a sense of moderation.

Perhaps sensing her annoyance, the petals fortunately ceased falling.

The Pope narrowed his eyes at Dianna with a pained expression, more accurately, a look of agonized regret.

A miracle had unfolded directly before the Pope's eyes. Had Dianna Brienne been a powerless commoner, he would have dragged her off on the spot to declare her a saint.

[H. Priest] "I indisputably felt divine power. Indisputably."

High priests near the Pope muttered repeatedly while lower priests nodded in agreement. Dianna caught sight of familiar faces among them, the very individuals who had judged the Dance of Talli in Panborough.

They stared at Dianna with solemn expressions before looking toward the Pope and whispering amongst themselves. Regardless, the dragon's assistance proved immense.

The Pope offered a smile.

[Pope] "Queen, quickly... rise and step forward. Was there any need to abstain from food to such an extent?"

[Dianna] "..."

[Pope] "Overwhelmed by my duties, I failed to extend proper courtesy to one who received a divine answer."

He continues making excuses about being busy even now.

[Dianna] "Not at all. I merely fulfilled my duty as well."

Offering a faint smile, she countered the Pope's words. He repeatedly implored Dianna to take sustenance, and after declining several times, she eventually accepted at the opportune moment.

Supported by priests, she finally stepped out of the prayer room.

Two days had stretched into nearly three. Dianna observed the retinue waiting in the corridor.

Lady Kragel, Adelheit, Lady Eirick, and the knights. Everyone stared at her with astonished faces.

It had been barely two and a half days. Poor souls endured such hunger routinely, making all this fuss feel excessive... Reflecting on it, memories of Mirva starving her in the past surfaced.

Guiscard had considered her foolish back then as well. Yet a far more critical factor existed now: while she had merely starved briefly back then, she had abstained from sleep entirely this time. Drained of nourishment and sleep for days, her body ceased functioning the moment her tension dissipated.

Dianna slipped into unconsciousness. Yet even as darkness claimed her, a single thought lingered: she longed to see Guiscard.

---

Dianna opened her eyes. Spotting the pristine white ceiling, she bolted upright. There was no time for delay.

[Leonie] "Your Majesty!"

Lady Kragel and the maids rushed forward, clinging to her on the verge of tears.

Steadying her hazy vision, Dianna spoke quickly.

[Dianna] "Make haste with preparations."

[Crowd] "..."

[Dianna] "I must meet His Holiness immediately."

Just as Dianna declared her intention and rose—

[Ionia] "Lie still."

Turning toward the cold voice, Dianna spotted Ionia. Staring at her with a complex expression, Ionia released a sigh.

[Ionia] "I knew you possessed a frail body, but we can hardly clean up a corpse here."

[Leonie] "Wait!"

As Lady Kragel prepared to step forward, Dianna held her hand to restrain her.

[Ionia] "There was no need to act so foolishly either. You could at least have taken a sip of water."

[Dianna] "..."

[Ionia] "Prepare yourself at a leisurely pace. His Holiness has halted his sacred duties and is waiting for you."

Ionia tossed those words over her shoulder before departing.

Watching her leave, Lady Kragel gnashed her teeth.

[Leonie] "Her tone is utterly obnoxious. Was she always like this?"

[Dianna] "Leave her be. She isn't bad at heart."

She offered a faint chuckle, prompting Lady Kragel to release a frustrated sigh.

Dianna nourished herself with thin rice gruel brought by the maids. Though dizzy for a brief moment, her hunger strike had not been prolonged.

Since sleep deprivation was the primary culprit, having slept allowed her to walk properly.

Delaying day after day was unacceptable. Dianna disciplined her thoughts.

---

[Pope] "I am relieved to hear Your Majesty's health has recovered."

Just as Dianna had expected, the Pope was an old man well into his twilight years. His eyes were clouded with age, and while his beard was neatly trimmed, his unruly sideburns and thick brows gave him a slightly disheveled look.

[Dianna] "Not at all. Thanks to Your Holiness' concern, I have recovered. Thank you."

The Pope glanced at the individuals beside Dianna, a flicker of distaste crossing his eyes as he observed the Lodbrog retinue.

[Pope] "Queen, I wish to speak directly with the First Devotee and Queen of Lodbrog."

[Dianna] "..."

[Pope] "It would be best to converse with the other visitors after our crucial discussion concludes."

Dianna had expected such a tactic. She signaled the Lodbrog retinue. While several stepped back in understanding, she dismissed Lady Eirick and Rosalia when they attempted to linger until the end.

[Dianna] "Let us waste no further time."

As attendants stepped back, the Pope spoke with a smile.

[Pope] "Your Majesty must have endured great hardship in a foreign realm."

[Dianna] "Rather than hardship, it was difficult."

She offered a courteous response to his ritualistic greeting.

[Pope] "Handling barbarians is hardly a simple task."

Just as she prepared to offer a polite follow-up, her brow furrowed slightly. Unfiltered contempt for Lodbrog was glaringly evident on his face.

[Pope] "Let us be honest between ourselves, Queen. I understand you were forcibly abducted and married against your will."

[Dianna] "..."

[Pope] "What a regretful matter. Had you sought rescue from me, I might have intervened personally."

No.

She had been naive in the past, but knew better now. Even had she begged, the Pope would have ignored her. He would never openly antagonize a military powerhouse like the Lodbrog Kingdom merely for a single noblewoman.

Furthermore, Guiscard's mother, Herya, had been a princess of Panborough, granting him a legitimate claim. Thus, he had absorbed Panborough without major turmoil, and the Holy See had no desire for the wolf's ferocious fangs to turn against them.

In truth, the Holy See had to tread carefully as well. What was the reason Herya had been branded a witch? Duke Brienne and the Holy See's priests had played a decisive role in her execution.

Rallying neighboring and allied nations to attack Lodbrog was no simple feat for the Pope either. Among the allies were nations with strained ties to Panborough or the Holy See.

Forming an alliance with them to shed blood against Lodbrog was a net loss. In short, Dianna had lacked the value to warrant the Pope's intervention.

Watching him utter empty lip service, Dianna spoke coldly.

[Dianna] "I stand as the mistress of Lodbrog. Don't utter such words. They displease me. Furthermore, Your Holiness knows full well that the Lodbrog Kingdom is no longer barbarian."

The Pope merely chuckled at her sharp rebuke. Dianna considered him slightly twisted. Considering the incident with Ionia, he was a thoroughly untrustworthy negotiating partner.

[Pope] "May I speak first?"

She nodded at his request.

[Pope] "Dissolve your marriage and come here. You have manifested divine miracles twice now and are fit to be proclaimed a saint."

[Dianna] "I am well aware that I am no saint. Don't make such assertions."

As she offered a hollow smile, the Pope pressed on.

[Pope] "I can annul your marriage to a barbarian entirely. I will even permit you to marry whomever you wish."

[Dianna] "..."

[Pope] "Did you not starve yourself for the sake of Lodbrog's populace? Should the Queen return to us, I will open our granaries and treat them abundantly. If you care for them, is coming to me not the proper course?"

He continued, smiling like a sly fox.

[Pope] "At most, the negotiation card Lodbrog brought is purchasing grain at a premium. After all, you have no intention of embracing faith, as it would undermine the foundation of your kingdom. Let us make this simple."

He is correct.

Revius' proposed strategy had been to purchase grain at exorbitant prices, accompanied by precious gems.

Observing the veteran politician rather than a man of faith, Dianna spoke.

[Dianna] "No. I never intended to purchase grain at a high price in the first place."

[Pope] "...What did you say?"

[Dianna] "Why should we pay money to acquire something that isn't worth such a price?"

She deliberately projected an aura of supreme confidence. Witnessing the Pope's expression shift, she swallowed down her pounding heart.

[Pope] "Your joke goes too far. I am not merciful toward barbarians."

Wrath flushed his face. Dianna let out a faint chuckle.

[Dianna] "Fafnir's appearance must have caused quite a dilemma, has it not?"

[Pope] "..."

[Dianna] "I hear you suffer immense headaches due to the staunch Protestant faction pushing for reform. On top of that, Fafnir—supposedly a divine messenger—suddenly attacked humans."

[Pope] "..."

[Dianna] "A significant number of believers were among the victims, and several temples were destroyed."

An attitude bordering on mocking the deity. People whispered that it was a sign of corruption. Furthermore, unlike the Old Church, which was closed and obsessively revered scripture, the New Church was inclusive. This meant the New Church's interpretation, that the dragon might not be a purely benevolent 'divine messenger', had been proven correct.

How damaging must that have been to the Pope?

[Dianna] "As you mentioned, I received divine revelation."

She offered a smile. Once again, the dragon's assistance proved invaluable. Speaking as if amused, she gestured toward the Pope.

[Dianna] "What if I told you I know the location where the 'Primal Temple' lies buried?"

A tremor of shock swept across his face. Though a seasoned politician, how could he maintain composure when the most tantalizing bait dangled directly before him? Bloodshot intensity filled his eyes.

[Pope] "There?! That place has remained undiscovered for a thousand years! Do you expect me to believe such a claim?!"

[Dianna] "If you can't believe me, take those you trust and excavate it first."

Observing her unwavering face, the Pope hesitated. Yet Dianna read the undisguisable greed in his features.

[Pope] "Where is it?!"

[Dianna] "What I desire, along with grain support, is Your Holiness' formal recognition."

[Pope] "What? Recognition... before anything else?"

[Dianna] "The Lodbrog Kingdom will be recognized as a civilized nation by Your Holiness, allowing us to trade freely with allied nations that lift their blockades."

[Pope] "How could we with those barbarians?!"

[Dianna] "Should I share this location with the Cardinal heading the New Church instead? Priest Akra and I happen to be acquainted."

She spoke gently. The Pope's eyes wavered. She was playing him in the palm of her hand.

She spoke with an easy composure.

[Dianna] "Refraining from referring to my people as barbarians and treating them with contempt. Let us begin our discussion from there."

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