Under everyone's watchful eyes, Zhaoyun reluctantly took a step forward.
“Your Majesty, I meant no offense,” she paused briefly, then bowed slightly. “It is only that Your Majesty possesses such magnificent and noble grace, like beauty beyond this mortal world. That was why I lost myself for a moment. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness.”
Listening to the lady-in-waiting's translation, Lu Li's expression turned slightly odd.
He could naturally understand what Zhaoyun was saying, but wasn't this lady-in-waiting's translation a bit off?
Zhaoyun had merely intended to compliment his appearance and apologize, but whether the lady-in-waiting had misunderstood or done it deliberately, she directly translated it into Zhaoyun admiring him deeply and wishing to become a glorious knight.
Though, as for becoming a knight... it wasn't impossible.
Lu Li pondered for a moment, then gave a slight nod. “I understand.”
Seeing this, the lady-in-waiting smoothly translated it as: “His Holiness has granted your request.”
When these words reached Zhaoyun's ears, it became: “His Majesty forgives you.”
And so, completely bewildered, Zhaoyun was tossed into Saint Clement Academy.
She likely never imagined that her very first step as a hostage princess would be attending school to study.
Of course, whether Zhaoyun would ultimately stay depended on the outcome of negotiations between the Secretariat and the Dayong delegation.
In truth, Lu Li himself leaned toward forming an alliance with Dayong; after all, an alliance was mutually beneficial.
After the initial meeting with the Dayong Dynasty's delegation concluded, Lu Li held a simplified Secretariat meeting with the Cardinals.
“Your Holiness, the Dayong Empire does not require our military assistance, but they hope that the supplies available for trade will include rare extraordinary resources such as red mercury,” Julia said.
The Cardinals present seemed somewhat doubtful that Dayong possessed the strength to quell its internal rebellion. Although Ambassador Zhang Lan had not revealed much information, these elders were all shrewd and experienced, capable of easily inferring far more.
Furthermore, the delegation had set sail half a year ago; by the time they returned, whether the Dayong Dynasty would even still exist was another matter entirely.
Lu Li understood what was on their minds. Selling extraordinary items and resources could only be regarded as an investment; simply measuring the value of such goods in gold and silver was undoubtedly a losing proposition for a vast state.
Therefore, they had to ensure that whatever was given up would yield far greater benefits in the future.
Thus, a heated discussion erupted among the gathered officials.
Only Cardinal Lorenzo Phoenix voiced fierce opposition to the alliance. However, this was understandable—as the director of the Logos Foundry, her sensitivity toward extraordinary resources far exceeded everyone else's.
Yet, Lu Li himself held a much deeper insight into the matter.
“Everyone, may I say a few words?” He cleared his throat lightly.
The noisy Secretariat instantly fell silent, every eye turning toward the young Pope.
As for His Holiness, everyone present had witnessed his accomplishments over the nearly full year since his coronation and had long recognized his authority. Nevertheless, the vast majority of them did not believe he could exert his talents in diplomatic affairs as well.
Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Lu Li spoke slowly. “That Third Princess, Yun Zhao, is likewise of legitimate Dayong imperial lineage.”
Those present found nothing unusual in these words; after all, as a princess of Dayong, she was naturally of imperial blood.
They waited for Lu Li to continue, but Julia realized his implication in an instant.
“Very well. The meeting ends here,” she said, standing up with a calm voice.
The Cardinals had yet to hear the Pope's full explanation and looked at one another in confusion.
Strictly speaking, her action was somewhat overstepping her bounds, but Lu Li didn't mind. After all, it wasn't the first or second time.
Once everyone had dispersed to attend to their duties, Julia led Lu Li into a small dark room.
This was a confessional specifically built by the Secretariat. Not only was it extremely private, but its soundproofing was also exceptional; no matter what happened inside, not a single sound could be heard from the outside.
“Why did you bring me here?”
Lu Li was somewhat puzzled. He had no sins to confess.
“Your Holiness, in the future, please only say such things to me in private.”
Julia looked at Lu Li. She understood that His Holiness was by no means that kind of ruthless person; he was merely bearing responsibilities that shouldn't belong to him at an age when he should have been living far more freely.
Thus, he forced himself to be cold, forcing himself to speak such black-hearted words.
Yet only Julia understood just how gentle he truly was. His occasional coldness and heartlessness were nothing more than a disguise, for his mercy was a goodness granted far beyond what was deserved.
With that heartfelt smile of his, he clearly loved every mortal soul in this worldly domain equally.
Therefore, Julia wished to protect this hard-won purity—or rather, she had been born into this world precisely for this reason.
“Huh?” Lu Li tilted his head, a look of confusion in his eyes.
“If the Dayong Dynasty falls, Princess Zhaoyun will lead her knights back to her homeland to reclaim everything that belongs to her,” Julia spoke, her face calm, though her voice carried a trace of coldness.
Lu Li nodded slightly, but the confusion in his eyes remained.
Seeing this, Julia slowly lowered her eyes and reached out to tidy his slightly disheveled collar.
“Your Holiness,” she said softly, “you are the Pope. There are certain words the Pope cannot say, as they would tarnish your image.”
Julia had originally not intended to say these things to the youth, but she hadn't expected him to grow so quickly, encountering things that shouldn't belong to him so soon.
In that instant, Lu Li understood.
It was a problem that seemed simple yet complex, complex yet simple.
In layman's terms, it was a matter of ideal significance versus practical significance.
Julia wanted him to be a person who could not possibly exist.
And as long as he existed as such, the radiance of the Holy State would spread to every corner of the Western Continent.
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