CHAPTER 533: -47- THE SPLIT OF THE CHURCH

Charlotte’s interaction with Louis V was quite smooth.

Obviously, this monarch, who was determined to strengthen centralization, did not want to give the Northern Land an uncertain choice and was eager to enhance royal authority without resorting to any cunning strategies.

The summons was both a threat and an enticement.

Charlotte had no objections to foregoing her oath to pledge allegiance to the New Moon King.

In a way, this was a development she was pleased to see.

Not to mention that Charlotte’s promise to the Holy Royal Court had been nothing but an empty check from the start, and her conflict of interests with the Holy Royal Court was far greater than with the current Louis V.

Charlotte wanted to develop her own faith in the Northern Land, which would inevitably cause friction with the Church.

If the Church’s influence in the Northern Land had continued to decline, it would have been fine, but if Charlotte got too close to the Church and they decided to strengthen their influence in the Northern Land by sending more priests to "assist," it would be troublesome.

Charlotte, already a "demigod," was prepared to covertly spread her faith in the Northern Land. Once she began to propagate her faith on a large scale, it would inevitably harm the interests of the Holy Royal Court, and interference from the Church was almost inevitable.

But if she leaned towards the royal family, it would be different.

Indeed, if she wanted to preach in the Northern Land, she would indeed conflict with the Church, but the conflict and disagreement between the New Moon Royal Family and the Church were currently even greater than hers.

Even if Charlotte spread her own faith, she wouldn’t do it openly at this stage. As long as the Holy Royal Court didn’t notice, she could proceed covertly.

However, Louis V’s intent to weaken the clergy’s power and strengthen royal power was well known.

The Holy Royal Court was the largest religious force on the Mireya Continent, and the Holy Royal Court’s high-tier clergy and legendary clergy were numerous, but its control over the nations of Mireya was not as strong as imagined.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be occurrences like the Bloodline covertly dominating Coria Kingdom under its tacit approval or a thorn like Louis V directly challenging the clergy’s authority.

Continuing to cling to the Church would make her a thorn in the side of the New Moon Royal Family, and the Church might very likely send more priests to the Northern Land to strengthen its influence or to "support" her.

But if she leaned towards the king...

To win her over, the royal family would not only bestow many benefits but also serve as her shield against the Church.

Not to mention anything else, just the appointment of a single priest would probably provoke a more intense reaction from the royal family than from Charlotte herself.

Charlotte might not even need to act herself; the royal family might step in and block it for her.

This was quite likely.

After all, Charlotte was viewed as a devout Holy Believer, even carrying the spontaneous title of "Saintess."

Even if she had disagreements with the Church, the royal family would definitely guard against her getting too close to the Church, foreseeing a possible resolution to any conflicts.

You see, if the royal family could win her over, so could the Church.

As for leaning towards the royal family, Charlotte wasn’t worried that the future centralizing hammer might fall on her.

Louis V was indeed an ambitious monarch with far greater control over the New Moon Kingdom than his predecessors.

But compared to the "Sun King" from history who successfully centralized power, he faced far more problems and difficulties.

Stronger noble forces, a Church with real power, and the actual existence of a God behind the Church.

These were all challenges he had to face.

Not to mention Louis V’s age.

The Star Moon War had been on and off for over eighty years, and it had been over a decade since the last ceasefire.

That was over a hundred years in total, and Louis V was already in his seventies.

In the Mireya world, Transcendents’ life spans were no different from ordinary people’s; even with great power, age would still lead to death.

Even if Louis V was legendary and long-lived, according to the average lifespan in Mireya, he wouldn’t have many years left.

A dozen years at most, but Charlotte did not think that a dozen years would be enough for Louis V to keep all the nobles under his control.

Nobles weren’t easy targets; if pushed too hard, they also would rebel.

Louis V’s hope to establish an "Absolute Monarchy" in the New Moon Kingdom using his own strength had a very low chance of success; it was possible that his successor might achieve it.

But that would require his successor to continue his policies and possess no less talent than him.

But that was no longer Charlotte’s concern.

In the end, Charlotte wasn’t truly loyal to the king; she was only shifting the pressure from the Church, additionally seeking a shield and a scapegoat for herself.

A dozen years... Charlotte estimated that she might truly become a god in the real sense.

The meeting ended successfully, and it was noon.

The cheerful Louis V invited Charlotte to stay for lunch at the New Moon Palace.

This was also another significant difference between Mireya and Blue Star in the medieval period; in Blue Star, nobles of a similar era ate two meals a day, and commoners even just one, but here, three meals a day had long been the norm for nobles.

Charlotte did not refuse Louis V’s invitation.

The luncheon at the New Moon Royal Family was quite lavish, even more luxurious than at the Castel family.

And the taste was excellent, after all, the chefs were the finest selected from across the kingdom, and the freshest ingredients were magically transported directly from various regions.