Chapter 168: The Devout Vanas
"Your Majesty, you need ample rest. If this continues, your body will collapse before the country is restored," a woman in her forties, wearing a black and white maid's dress, said with a worried expression in the royal palace of the capital city of the Kingdom of Guinness.
Behind the large desk in front of her, Vanas, wearing a noble black, waist-cinching, close-fitting lace long dress, supported her forehead. After stamping a document, she said, "Deliver this permit to Army Commander Becky and have him immediately go to the armory to requisition enough gunpowder to support the frontline defense."
The head maid took the document. "I'll have someone deliver it now. You need to rest."
Vanas's complexion was currently very poor. Due to prolonged lack of sleep, she had deep dark circles under her eyes, and irregular eating habits had made her face thin and pale.
The originally very beautiful and noble queen now gave off a somewhat gloomy feeling.
Vanas slowly stood up and moved her body, lifted her skirt, and walked out from behind the desk piled high with documents. She turned her head to look at the time and found it was already one o'clock in the morning.
"Hmm, it's time to rest," Vanas nodded slightly.
The head maid was immediately overjoyed. After first having her confidante deliver the document, she immediately supported Vanas to the temporary bedroom next door to prepare for rest.
"You need a medicinal bath to relieve your fatigue," the head maid said caringly, first helping Vanas remove the pure gold crown inlaid with gemstones.
Standing in front of the mirror, looking at herself, who resembled a female ghost, Vanas slowly clenched her hands hidden under her sleeves.
A few months ago, she was the recognized Flower of the North among many northern kingdoms, the Pearl of Guinness, the object of pursuit for princes from countless kingdoms and even nobles from great empires.
It was no exaggeration to say that the line of her suitors at that time could stretch for several hundred meters.
But now, a few months of torment had made her completely unrecognizable; only some shadows of her former self could be seen.
"If you had agreed to Prince Sako's suggestion, you wouldn't be so tired," the head maid said with a pained heart.
Vanas, upon hearing this, had a hint of stubbornness in her blood-red eyes. "If he simply wanted a marriage alliance, it wouldn't be a problem for me to marry him. But he wants our country to become a vassal state of their country. That is absolutely impossible! I have my own persistence, and besides…"
Saying this, Vanas's face showed a hope that was completely inconsistent with her current situation. "I have already found our path to salvation."
The head maid couldn't bear to look. Since a strange dream six days ago, Her Majesty the Queen's spirit had become somewhat abnormal. She often couldn't help but reveal some smiles at the corners of her mouth and also said some words that others couldn't understand.
She knew that the Queen's spirit might have collapsed somewhat due to excessive pressure, and those behaviors were a way of releasing stress.
Under the head maid's gaze, Vanas stepped into the bathtub. Feeling the warm water nourishing her body, Vanas felt an indescribable comfort throughout her body.
In the hazy steam, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
"Great Master, when will you summon your servant again?" Subconsciously, Vanas prayed with anticipation.
For the past few days, despite being incredibly busy, she would set aside two hours each day for the most devout prayers, offering her faith and longing to her Master.
Two hours was not long for other believers, but for her, she only slept for two hours each day.
Just as she was praying, she suddenly felt a wave of grey mist appear.
Then, a female knight riding a huge spirit wolf, holding a longsword, with a chain around her waist, appeared before her.
This attire looked somewhat familiar.
"Vanas Guinness, your devout faith has won my Lord's pleasure. Now, with endless gratitude, honor, piety, and adoration, step into my Lord's divine kingdom with me."
The moment she heard these words, Vanas's eyes widened, her face filled with a blissful divine light.
She felt at this moment as if a desperate person had seen the gates of heaven open for her.
Like a concubine who had suffered all kinds of humiliation and suddenly received the emperor's favor, her heart was filled with endless joy, excitement, gratitude… The gloom of several months was swept away. In an instant, she seemed to have returned to those noble years when she was cherished by countless people.
"Thank you! Thank you, supreme Master, for giving this humble servant this opportunity." Vanas, held up by the female knight with one hand, clasped her hands together, her heart filled with adoration and piety from the bottom of her heart.
Passing through layers of mist, in a daze, Vanas once again arrived in the dream world.
However, this time she found herself not on the previous warship, but in a mysterious world filled with mist and tombstones.
She carefully looked around. In the mist, she saw huge spirit wolves walking leisurely, countless icy blue specters wandering and playing, and neatly arranged patrolling guards.
Although the entire world gave off an incredibly strange and gloomy feeling, there was more of a sense of solemnity and holiness.
"The Lord of Death and Storm, the One True God of the Secluded Valley and the Abyss, it's normal for Him to have such a divine kingdom. I mustn't make a fuss."
Following behind the female knight, Vanas constantly admonished herself in her heart.
At this moment, the female knight in front said coldly, "You are not yet qualified to have an audience with my Lord. If it weren't for my Lord's mercy last time, you would have died countless times already."
"Thank you for the Lord's mercy and magnanimity," Vanas said with extreme piety.
She had experienced this personally. If it weren't for the Lord's intervention, those spears would definitely have pierced her to death.
The female knight continued, "Originally, your piety was not enough to move my Lord to bring you to this divine kingdom. But my Lord will not abandon any of His people. Summoning you this time is an exception. You must be grateful, do you understand? Mortal."
"Yes! I understand! Please rest assured, I swear by my ancestors, the Guinness family, from now on, for generations to come, will serve the Lord of Death and Storm, the One True God of the Secluded Valley and the Abyss, and will forever regard Him as our sole faith."
The female knight nodded with satisfaction upon hearing this. "Let's go, Lord Apostle is waiting for you."
"Lord Apostle?" Vanas was somewhat surprised.
The female knight explained, "Lord Apostle is the existence who walks in the world on behalf of our Lord, the Pope and founder of the Church that serves our Lord. Do you really think your trivial matters require our Lord to handle them personally?"
Vanas trembled upon hearing this and hurriedly shook her head. "I dare not! This servant dares not!"
Very satisfied with Vanas's performance, the female knight said no more and continued to lead the way.
After advancing for about ten minutes, outside the magnificent temple, the two stopped.
The female knight stepped forward and said respectfully, "Lord Apostle, Vanas Guinness has arrived."
Vanas hurriedly followed, "Humble servant of my Lord, greets Lord Apostle."
"Rise. You and I are both children of our Lord; there's no need for such formality," a gentle, pleasant voice, carrying a hint of warmth and kindness, came.
This voice instantly soothed Vanas's trembling heart. She thought to herself, "Judging by the voice, this must be a mature and steady sage."
Thinking this, she raised her head, and then she was stunned.
Silas, wearing a luxurious black robe trimmed with gold, asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Child of the Lord?"
Vanas, who had received a good education since childhood, instantly came back to her senses and said respectfully, "Nothing, I just feel that Lord Apostle is much more handsome and dashing than I imagined."