CHAPTER 536: -48- "NEW MOON HEADLINES" CHARLOTTE_2

For a time, the manor rented by Charlotte was almost trampled by nobles, and to meet these visitors, her smiling face had nearly stiffened, while Sebastian, who was responsible for signing the trade agreements, had been signing so many treaties that his hand had gone weak.

In less than three days, the Castel family had finalized trade agreements amounting to a total of eight million gold tanas, most of which were related to mithril and its associated minerals.

This was already more than the Castel Domain’s annual fiscal revenue.

However, Charlotte knew this was only the beginning.

The real big players were the great nobles of the kingdom.

After an audience with Louis V, an invitation to a salon by the Moon Guardian Duke also arrived, scheduled for the day after her formal investiture, and to be attended by the great nobles of the kingdom.

These great nobles were the ones Charlotte was most interested in because they controlled ninety percent of the transcendent materials circulating in the New Moon marketplace!

Striking a deal with these people would completely open up the transcendent trade in the Castel Domain. Having money and mines but no access to rare transcendent resources would become a thing of the past.

Of course, not all the nobles were there for the Castel family’s mithril.

During the three days waiting for her investiture, Charlotte also received numerous invitations to banquets and salons, the wording of which was full of admiration for Charlotte.

It was because the news of her giving up the religious offering of land had spread, and many mistakenly thought her vow of celibacy was also gone.

A beauty that could topple empires, the sole heir of a family, in possession of the largest silver mine in the New Moon, and the owner of the second-most prosperous domain on the New Moon Peninsula after the Lutecia region...

This was not a newly emerging lord of the kingdom; she was a walking jackpot. Whoever won her favor could not only capture the most beautiful pearl of the New Moon Kingdom but also gain vast domains and wealth, becoming the second-most powerful lord after the Duke in a single leap.

For a time, Charlotte’s suitors sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

This left Charlotte speechless and with a headache.

To those coveting her body and wealth, she politely declined every invitation, but that did nothing to stop the flurry of invites and love letters flying in like snowflakes.

It wasn’t until Charlotte put out the word once more, affirming that although she revoked the religious land offering, she still maintained her vow of celibacy and had decided to devote her body and soul to God, never marrying in her life.

With that, Charlotte finally enjoyed some peace.

While there were still some who disbelieved or hoped against hope, they were all ignored by Charlotte.

Suddenly, among Lutecia’s nobility, there was a mix of envy for the Valva Family, and Charlotte and the Castel family became the talk of every salon and banquet.

Evidently, under Charlotte’s declaration of celibacy, the Valva Family stood to gain the most, almost ensuring that if the Castel line ended, the Northern Land would very likely fall under the control of the royal family.

Even in street taverns, Charlotte of the Castel became the talk among the common folk after their meals.

However, Charlotte was somewhat surprised that the Church had little reaction to her refusal of the religious offering of land.

She was prepared for a priest to come knocking, but the only thing that came from the Lutecia Cathedral was a single comment made by the Great Priest to his fellow clergy:

"The future of the Northern Land lies in the hands of Her Highness the Saintess herself, whether it returns to the Church or to the King. It’s her right as the Lord to handle it, and the Church need not and should not interfere."

When this statement got out, the noble circles of Lutecia exploded once more.

Saintess!

The Great Priest of the New Moon Diocese had indeed referred to Charlotte of the Castel as the Saintess!

While there had already been many among the common folk who hailed the lady of the Northern Land as a walking Saintess on earth, the nobility had largely regarded this as rumor, even outright speculating it might be smoke and mirrors set out by the young Earl of the North herself.

But now... the highest clergy of the New Moon had openly acknowledged this reality!

Suddenly, Charlotte became the center of discussion once again in Lutecia, making headlines among noble salons, banquets, and even common taverns...

Charlotte was somewhat speechless, unsure if the Great Priest had lost his mind, or if this was simply his reaction to her rejecting the oath.

It was only because she had previously spoken with Louis V about her refusal to take on the role of Saintess that she managed to avoid a dispute with the Monarch.

Yet, what followed was even more unexpected for Charlotte.

Because the Great Priest of the New Moon, Charles, soon issued another statement:

"Charlotte de Castel is indeed the Saintess chosen by the Divine Lord, endowed with the Divine Lord’s protection."

"However, she has rejected the Church’s invitation and does not hold a formal position within the Church."

This statement added fuel to Charlotte’s already heated situation.

The nobles started relishing the drama, while the clergy were in an uproar.

A Saintess recognized by the Divine Lord refusing to serve as the Church’s Saintess?

What the hell was going on?

Had the Great Priest gone mad?

To say this was false, well, that statement came directly from the mouth of the Great Priest, the highest religious authority of the New Moon.

But to say it was true, wouldn’t that imply the Divine Lord was dissatisfied with the Church?!

This was challenging the legitimacy of the Church!

The clergy were dumbfounded, each one feeling like they were going mad themselves, until the Great Priest Charles issued an order that shook the clergy and astonished the nobility: