I Must Investigate

Father Demetri was horrified by the realization he had come to. He did not wish to believe it. He did not wish to believe that both the church and the royal family had made such an immense blunder!

How was such a thing even possible? Given how all those who knew Lady Felicia had spoken so unfavorably about her. Including members of her own family! She was described as a cruel woman who killed her own mother and repeatedly tormented her adopted sister out of jealousy. 

Saintess Helena was taken into the Del Montague family by the Grand Duke since he desired a daughter to replace the abomination he fathered. Unfortunately, that placed her at Lady Felicia's mercy. The holy child was abused so much despite the Duke, her mother and the Duke's own son trying to take care of her.

Even after Lady Felicia was engaged to the Crown Prince she did not stop acting out of spite and envy. Ultimately, she earned the scorn of her fiancée, Marquis Liam, the rest of the royal family and everyone else who ever met her when she was attending public functions with her aggrieved family.

She was nothing but an endless source of shame for the Grand Duke.

Demetri recalled how even the Pope and many of the clergymen could not hide their distaste for her. Despite being men of faith who always welcomed all kinds of people into church, they could not get past her unrepentant cruelty towards the Saintess. 

We all believed her soul was unsalvageable.

Finally, the jealousy broke something within her mind and she tried to murder Saintess Helena. For that she was given capital punishment and burned alive. The lady had tried to plead her case, but the evidence of guilt was all consuming. Hence, she was set aflame.

That was it. The evil one was dead. Now the empire should prosper.

So what was this vision the Goddess had given him? Who was the Saintess? Was it both the Del Montague daughters? 

Or was it only Lady Felicia and Lady Helena was an imposter? Had the Pope lied about her? That does seem in line with his character. Proclaiming a false Saintess would help him cement his authority. Does this mean Lady Helena's magic is not from the Goddess either? 

Has he been playing us for bigger fools than I ever imagined?

We are doomed! That much was made clear.

Goddess Kartara has cried blood. The same blood which flowed through the veins of her Saintess. Whom we executed!

A betrayal and a blasphemy! Of the highest order!

Demetri's entire body started trembling and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

The punishment...when will it come. Has it already come? He could not sit here and allow these thoughts to fester in his mind. He had to inform the others. He couldn't go around telling everyone since it would put him at odds with the Pope----wait! Didn't the Pope say that he would reveal the reason for the red tears during the sermon today? 

Had he also realized the same thing? Did the Goddess sent him a vision as well? But if she did then that would mean he supported the execution of a Saintess. As a Pope there is no way he could admit to something like that. The people would turn on him and he would be executed.

But what was he planning to say? If he lies then all my suspicions are confirmed. If he deliberately killed the real Saintess then that can only mean that he's working for the Demon Lord! That's who he gets his magic from.

And he must have given Helena her magic from the same dark entity!

She is the witch!

Not Lady Felicia!

Did we glorify an imposter who practices demonic magic? Is the man in charge of the church a demon worshipper in disguise?

Goddess! How do I even tackle such corruption? I'm already walking on a tight rope. And the real Saintess is dead. If she were still alive I could ask her to help me unmask the Pope. 

Demetri fell to his knees and covered his face with his hands. Tears of bitterness and remorse overwhelmed him.

I need to gain access to Saintess Felicia's records. I need to know everything about her supposed crimes. If the Goddess chose her then that means she was never guilty to begin with. She was not some hateful demon.

Was it all lies? Was she truly slandered into execution? Was she given any chance to explain herself before she dragged off to the dungeons and brought out to be executed?

Everyone shouted her down. And she cursed at us quite vehemently when she died. Not just us but the entire empire.

But why did she only mention that she was a Saintess on the pyre?

Did she intentionally hide her identity?

Changing and washing up as if in a race, Demetri ran out of his chambers with his face still wet.

I must speak to the Del Montague family today! Especially the father!