Chapter: 708
Thanks to the wedding, the Emperor’s worries vanished, and the Livnoman Imperial Family grew even stronger. If you were to pick the biggest beneficiaries of the wedding, Livnoman would surely be at the top of the list.
Following closely behind, the other major beneficiary of the wedding was, without a doubt, the Gurt Marquisate led by Baron Tannian. Already the only Marquis of the North and the sole priest of the Eternal Blue Sky faith, Baron Tannian had now cemented an in-law relationship with the Imperial Family.
Especially the media hype that spread across the North and the entire Empire just days before the wedding further elevated Baron Tannian’s authority.
“The ancestor of the Gurt clan was one of the first priests who led the Eternal Blue Sky faith and established its fundamental doctrines. It’s only natural that Baron Tannian, who descends from that bloodline, assumes the position of priest through the generations.”
While the nobles inspected wedding gifts, Gerhardt, who had faced hardships in the North, was also making strides.
Gerhardt made the effort to elevate Baron Tannian’s distant ancestor into a “pillar of faith,” which would bring a tear to anyone’s eye. It was akin to saying he was the descendant of Apostle Peter or Apostle John—who could possibly ignore that immense authority?
Thus, in just a few days, Baron Tannian became the “son-in-law of the situation and the guardian of faith,” and…
—“Let the entire continent rejoice and bless the union of the kin loved by the sun and the kin who serve the sky!”
The day after the wedding, as Baron Tannian was conducting a thanksgiving worship service, the voice of the Eternal Blue Sky reached him.
Admittedly, it was a bit different than planned. Initially, the idea was to make Baron Tannian someone capable of communicating with the divine before the wedding, but concerns arose that this could distract attention from the ceremony. If Baron Tannian’s authority shot up right before the wedding, the presence of the bride and groom might fade into the background.
So, the timing was adjusted to immediately after the wedding. The ceremony could continue to be splendid, and the newlyweds could receive all the attention, while Baron Tannian’s smile would stretch from ear to ear at just the right moment.
“Indeed, the only priest serving the sky is Baron Tannian! Ever since the fall of the apostate, faith that had been crumbled has once again revived in the age of Baron Tannian, and the faith that had been scorned as heretical has now been recognized!”
“The self-proclaimed high priest who claimed the title ‘apostate’ ultimately led to the downfall of faith! It is Baron Tannian, the heir of this bloodline, who is the true guardian of faith!”
And this is what resulted. The nomads of the North were ecstatic about the priest blessed by the Eternal Blue Sky, and they were equally thrilled for the Marquis who had heard the voice of God. Even before the heat of the wedding had died down, a new spark began to ignite.
‘Definitely effective.’
—Right? I’m a bit of a deity myself. The people seem to love it when I casually say something to the priest.
Although the chill from that voice was palpable, I decided to overlook it this time given the substantial efforts from the Eternal Blue Sky.
No matter how much I dressed up Baron Tannian’s lineage, and even if he gained a connection to the Imperial Family, over time that splendor would undoubtedly fade. However, if the incumbent priest could communicate with the divine in real-time? That’s a shock that won’t fade until Baron Tannian breathes his last.
—Ah, it seems Gerhardt’s attention is also being diverted to Baron Tannian. People still respect him as a scholar, but no one sees him as a prophet anymore, so relax!
‘What a relief.’
Really, that’s quite a relief. If the native 100% residents start showing interest in nomadic faith, that’s one thing, but being treated as a prophet in nomadic faith? That’s a bit troublesome.
If things go too far, there could be a faction that yells, “What do the natives know about prophecies!” Then, the newly revived faith under the Eternal Blue Sky might split in half and perish. Such a division could lead to a splinter group appointing a new priest.
‘That can’t happen.’
Right, that’s something I must avoid at all costs. A group that would not tolerate a native priest would likely be ultra-conservative and would emphasize nomadic traditions and identity. This would reduce the Empire’s influence in the North.
If the faith in the Eternal Blue Sky became hostile toward the Empire, they would have likely resorted to such division long ago. But Baron Tannian, a deeply rooted priest, is one of my faction members. So why would he ever do something like that?
‘Do reach out to me every now and then. If it’s too frequent, it’ll lose its grandeur… maybe once or twice a year?’
—Don’t worry! I’ve been a deity for ages, I can manage that!
With such a confidently casual statement, I nodded calmly.
Well, given that a deity has lived thousands of times over my lifespan, I’m sure he’ll manage just fine.
‘Hmm…’
—Hmm? What’s up?
‘I was just thinking it would have been perfect if I could provide a divine artifact during such times. If only it wasn’t something Kagan was using…’
Unfortunately, the divine artifact I had was one that had decimated the Imperial army. Could anything be more disappointing than that—
—Shall I make a new one?
‘What?’
What did you just say? What are you going to make?
—Well, divine artifacts are just things that carry divine power and are related to the deity, right? If I whip something up, it could qualify as a divine artifact.
I wanted to retort but couldn’t find the words. Honestly, he wasn’t wrong.
Even a regular bowl could become a historical artifact after centuries, and items used by the founding patriarch should be preserved by later patriarchs. Even something ordinary could become a treasure the moment it holds meaning for the observers.
‘…Can you really make one?’
—Of course! Now that faith is restored, a divine artifact should be a piece of cake!
His overly confident answer left me thinking, “Sure, that’ll do.”
*
Five days had passed since the wedding.
And in that five days, several incidents shook the North.
‘My father-in-law must be quite busy.’
I chuckled lightly while sipping on some plum wine.
Since the wedding, my father-in-law started receiving the adoration and interest of the nomads of the North while hearing the voice of the Eternal Blue Sky. Now, he had even received a divine artifact granted by the deity. What a delightful and astonishing event it was.
Of course, it was a bit unexpected that the divine artifact of the nomadic faith came in the form of a set of balanced scales,
—For you to walk the fair path as a guardian of faith without leaning to one side.
It was a concept that made perfect sense, thus everyone welcomed the new artifact.
As people looked forward to the just and fair actions of the priest, with a scale granted by the deity. Even I, a native, felt my heart race at the thought—the nomads would feel even more elated! My father-in-law, who suddenly became the manager of a divine artifact, was probably quite pleased as well.
“Ainter, I’ve tidied up all the gifts sent by the Ducal families.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Shati.”
Just as I thought of my father-in-law, who wore a permanent smile, I put down the plum wine at Shati’s words.
Truth be told, I would have liked to arrange the gifts together, but Shati insisted that as the hostess, she needed to handle such matters herself. She even inexorably sat me down instead of allowing me to accompany her to the storeroom.
A bit of a bummer, but what could I do? If the hostess and future Marquise insists on her rights and responsibilities, I have no choice but to comply.
“Here you go.”
Shati quickly handed me a list.
It was a record of gifts from five Duchies that attended the wedding and graced the occasion. Each of these gifts was thoroughly detailed.
‘They all sent amazing stuff.’
Upon seeing the list, I couldn’t help but smile.
The Iron-Willed Duke sent a weapon forged by the legendary blacksmith of the Valenti Duchy. The Vice Duke presented platinum artifacts resembling the silver hair of the Hablem Duke, the Marcilio Duke contributed magic tools created by the former Servette Duke, and the Gold Duke sent a national treasure from the Jerano Kingdom—how he even procured it is still a mystery.
Lastly, the Wise Duke sent…
‘Alcohol.’
He sent an array of liquors. Not just any spirits, but a selection of rare ones distilled from various regions across the continent.
While it was a gift that stood out sharply from the usual offerings, it was undeniably something the Wise Duke would send. To send liquor was a significant commitment given his previous behavior; there hasn’t been anything more touching than that in recent times.
“There shouldn’t be a shortage of alcohol for a while.”
At my joke, Shati chuckled softly.
No, it wasn’t just a joke; there’s a hint of truth behind it. Neither Shati nor I consumed much alcohol, so even a couple of bottles could last us several decades.
“By the way, I also organized the gifts from the three nations; would you like to see them?”
“Oh.”
At her words, I sighed unconsciously.
The three nations she mentioned were Armain, Yuben, and the Holy Kingdom. Even though we might not see each other again after graduating from the Academy, those friends from beyond the borders made sure to send gifts for this wedding.
I felt truly grateful. Even after several years since graduation, even with the wedding being sudden, they sent their gifts so quickly. I’d be weird not to feel thankful in such a situation.
Yes, thank you so much. It’s just…
“That must have been hard to manage. Thank you for your effort.”
“It’s nothing. It’s all because of their kindness; we must return the favor.”
Shati didn’t deny her fatigue; seeing her demeanor made me smile wryly.
The gifts from my three friends were indeed magnificent and extravagant. Would I ever receive something like that again in my lifetime?
‘They didn’t even coordinate on this?’
Rubbing my neck softly, I recalled the gifts and the handwritten letters from my friends.
[We can’t just congratulate you on your wedding plainly! You must have plenty of money, so we sent you things that can’t be bought!]
Rutis sent the “Hestine’s Lance,” crafted by a great knight who defeated the colossal beast ruling the mountains near the capital during Armain’s founding era. Given that Hestine is treated like a founding hero in Armain, it’s truly a one-of-a-kind gift I could never buy with money.
[There’s no place better suited for beasts to thrive than the North. I hope this gift contributes to the North’s prosperity and diversity.]
Lather sent unique creatures—strange beasts with long snouts and skinny necks. Even the Crown Princess, who happened to catch a glimpse of them, couldn’t help but plead for one for herself.
These beasts will probably increase in number, and as Lather said, diversify the specialties of the North. It’s a bit bewildering, but I’m grateful nonetheless.
[Since I heard you held the wedding under the blessings of the heavens, I offer you the grace of the sun.]
Finally, Tannian sent… a wooden piece stained with the blood of the first Pope, who was martyred at the hands of heretics.
Fortunately, this relic isn’t the only one; the blood of the first Pope has been on several other items too.
Yet, who would have thought the future saint would just send a relic like that so casually?
‘Erich is the most normal one.’
Remarkably, it turns out that the most straightforward and typical gift came from the Marquisate.
The pastry club is indeed the place where all the geniuses hang out.
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