The Courtesan

Chapter 81

KALVIN

“What do you mean? Are you trying to circumvent the case?”

“I am not such a dishonest man. Look, I have proof.” I raised a folder of handwritten documents on the practices of the church that were considered illegal. I had Susanne pick them up for me.

“And if we’re truly speaking of this, the church is riddled with problems. Since when did the land of the free think it was okay to burn people just for not adhering to some bogus rules made by a bogus god that we barely have proof that he exists?”

“Blasphemy!”

“Blasphemy? Do not hold me to your ridiculous standards. In an ordered society with a constitution and rules, you have committed too many crimes to be let off the hook. Which is why, from now, I propose the church of light be fully controlled by the royal court.”

“What about our dead brethren? Do you not care about them?”

The witnesses murmured again and I could see a shred of hope on Pope Alcard’s face. He opened his mouth to defend himself but I was determined to crush their very spirit.

“150 letters of complaints just in the last year alone of how badly treated the lower guards in the church are. I have them all right here. You call them your brethren yet you hardly care for them. The priests of Ivrah have a penchant for mischief and have had countless reports come against them from the women of Ivrah. All of these are crimes by the court standard. Now that you have determined to have yourself held by the court’s standard, you will not back out now, will you?”

I enjoyed the way color drained from the faces of those belonging to the church. I turned to my Father.

“I am finished with my defense. If there are any more complaints, I will accept them with grace.”

“... This is a case far bigger than we imagined. It threatens our national security and as king, I must respond to it. So, the case will be adjourned. Pope Alcard will be imprisoned and tried on a later day by the court. The church is henceforth under the strict supervision and authority of the church. This is my verdict.”

“The court agrees with the verdict of his majesty,” the whole court says. If I have ever heard a pig squeal in a higher pitch, it sounded just like Pope Alcard as he was being taken away. Susanne bolted after me when we finally left the throne room and tackled me to the ground.

“You arse! You had me shaking in my seat only for you to do that! How dare you?”

“So, this is your way of saying I did well?”

“Bloody hell, I never knew you were that eloquent.”

“I will take that as a compliment.”

“Ahem! Susanne, please get off the crown prince.”

“Oh, sorry aunty.”

Susanne got up and helped me up. She shied away from my mother and my siblings who were, simple put, more chaos than even she could handle.

“My dearest son…” my mother started with a big smile, placing a hand on my shoulder. She squeezed and brought me down once more.

“Mother is very proud of you. You won that case by a landslide.”

“Mother… you’re… hurting… me.”

“Mother just hopes that in future, you will not do reckless things like these again and you will inform your mother about everything.”

“Okay… okay… I will! I will!”

“That’s not an apology, son.”

“I’m sorry ma’am!”

“There you go.”

When she let go of my arm, it was completely numb. As expected of the brute I called my mother. If she held on longer, she could’ve broken it.

“Now that you’ve won the case, the church won't stay silent. They’ll throw everything at you.”

“I’ve already come up with a plan to pacify them. A way to circumvent the church’s popular methods of extortion.”

“And that would be?”

“Giving everyone an equal chance to enter the employ of the church and get paid as much as the other noble members of the church. Now that the number of people serving in the church has been drastically reduced, they have vacancies we would help them fill because we have the heart of goodwill.”

“You are a scary child.”

“Oh, thank you mother.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“I know.”

“... Fine. I already said I would support you so go ahead and do whatever you want. Oh and, I hope this isn’t your way of getting out of your engagement?”

“Mother, you still trust the church after what has happened today?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth young man. Even if it kills me, I will get you married!”

“Be careful mother, whatever you say can be used against you in the court…..ow!”

“Let’s go, children. Your brother needs more time to get his bearings.”

While my mother and siblings walked away, I could feel steam rising from my head. Susanne stared at me with pity, shaking her head.

“You know she would hit you yet you still insist on annoying her.”

“How is telling her the truth annoying her?”

“... I just can’t with you. When are you going to tell her about your lover?”

“When the time comes.”

“When is that?”

“If it comes, you will be duly informed.”

“... Whatever. Just be careful. I’ll be watching out for you.”

“Alright. Then, I have a proposal.”

“What is it?”

“Do you want to go to Rhonda with me?”

“Do you not have a conscience?”

“Oh, pardon me then. Let’s go together next time ”

“Why are you going to Rhonda?”

“To see the Saintess.”

“... You’re strange.”

“Not as strange as you. I’ll be leaving soon. If you change your mind, feel free to meet me in the stables tomorrow morning.”

“I won’t change my mind.”

Susanne either didn’t have firm will or just liked me a lot because she showed up the next day ready to go.

“You said you wouldn’t change your mind.”

“This is not of my free will. They asked me to keep an eye on you.”

“Who?”

“I cannot say.”

“Alright. Let's go go go.”

“... What a child.”