At the sight of the pope, a chill ran down her spine and her whole body began to tremble.

The violent situation from just a few weeks ago dominated her mind.

Pope Prononce, looking at Belladonna who was becoming increasingly fearful, asked in a low voice.

“Hm? Speak up. Will your holy power return if you lose your voice again? How about we test it right now?”

“…Ack, ugh…”

She let out a painful sound. She felt her breath shortening and her vision gradually darkening.

This, this is…

Just before she was about to lose consciousness, Pope Prononce released his grip.

Freed from him, Belladonna couldn’t stand properly and collapsed in place, coughing.

She felt as if the space around her was spinning.

“…Tsk.”

The pope, looking down at her with indifferent eyes, turned his body.

He approached an old cabinet attached to the wall and opened a drawer in the middle.

With a creaking sound, a sharp dagger was revealed.

“How about cutting your vocal cords completely? So you can never speak again for the rest of your life.”

“…”

“Even if you don’t regain your holy power, it might be better that way. It’s certainly better than making unnecessary noise in front of the believers.”

Belladonna forcibly gathered strength in her trembling body and looked up at the pope turning towards her.

That, bastard…

Prononce crouched down in front of Belladonna sitting on the floor and met her gaze.

The sharp tip of the dagger he was holding pointed towards her.

“Hm? What do you think, Holy Maiden? Thanks to some recent studies, I know exactly where to cut to make you lose your voice while keeping you alive.”

“…”

“What’s with that look? Did you think I would let you go if you revealed that you lost your holy power?”

The pope smiled. His smile was infinitely benevolent, but extremely cruel.

Belladonna glared at him with tears welling up in her eyes.

Choking and threatening your own daughter? An uncontrollable anger surged towards him who dared to do such a thing.

The pope, who had been staring at her intently, opened his mouth again.

“I’m curious about one thing. Does your husband know about this?”

Belladonna couldn’t answer and looked down at the dagger touching her neck.

Although the pope holding the dagger didn’t move at all, Belladonna’s body kept trembling, causing the sharp blade to cut her skin.

She felt blood seeping from the wound and trickling down her neck.

“You clearly used your holy power at the emperor’s birthday celebration… For what reason did you regain your voice?”

It was even more unbelievable that genuine curiosity could be felt in his voice.

This madman…

“Answer me, Belladonna.”

His blade dug a little deeper into Belladonna’s skin.

Belladonna closed her eyes tightly and opened her trembling jaw to speak.

“I… don’t know.”

“Have you tried to restore your holy power?”

“I tried to do it like before, but it didn’t work properly.”

Pope Prononce stared at her as she answered.

He seemed to be judging the truthfulness of her words.

“I see… Well, I don’t desperately need your holy power anymore anyway.”

Finally, after continuing to examine Belladonna, he spoke.

“It’s not like before when I had to struggle for power among the cardinals vying for the pope’s position, and although the number of believers has decreased quite a bit, it’s not at a problematic level.”

“…”

“Of course, our papal state needs a new figure. Since you married that country bumpkin knight, the effect of our Holy Maiden has been gradually fading. The papacy can’t function without believers, you know.”

The voice of Pope Prononce, who had been continuing to speak, softened.

He withdrew the sword that had been pointed at Belladonna.

Only then did Belladonna release the breath she had been holding. Her trembling exhale fell to the floor.

“I’m looking for a new person with holy power. In other words, I’m trying to discover a second Belladonna.”

A second Belladonna?

The image of Tina came to mind. From what she had confirmed, Tina was a child with some healing power.

Fortunately, it seems the pope hasn’t discovered that ability yet…

The thought that Tina could have really fallen into the pope’s clutches made her feel dizzy.

We’ll have to keep hiding that ability carefully from now on…!

“If I can’t find one, I’ll create one myself.”

Create one…?

Belladonna frowned upon hearing the pope’s muttering that followed.

After serving God for so many years, does he really think he’s become a god himself? How can he create someone with holy power?

But before her doubts could deepen, Pope Prononce stood up and said,

“If people realize that you’ve regained your voice and lost your holy power, they’ll think you’ve been abandoned by God.”

“…”

“So keep it hidden until the end.”

At his threatening gaze, Belladonna nodded instead of answering.

“Soon I will open the doors of the papal state and summon the lord of Gribrata here. You said your voice is working well now, so you’ll have to persuade that bastard well.”

He approached a full-length mirror hanging on one side of the room and began tidying his disheveled cassock while looking into it.

His nonchalant and natural behavior, as if nothing had happened, was so absurd it was almost laughable.

“Belladonna. There are three things you need to properly obtain. A definite divorce paper, substantial alimony, and his signature on a restraining order promising never to approach you again. Understand?”

“…”

“Sigh, I don’t know if you realize how great the losses to the papal state have been, having to keep the imperial knights here for a few more days because of you.”

His tone really seemed to be blaming her.

No, that’s because you’re too extravagant…!

She wanted to shout immediately, but the dagger still in the pope’s hand caught her attention.

Belladonna clenched her fists, feeling powerless at her inability to say anything.

“Ah, remember that if he brings an unsatisfactory amount, the door to that woman’s room won’t open.”

“…”

“That arrogant bastard, I heard he received quite a lot of wealth along with his territory from His Majesty the Emperor. It’s too large an amount to receive just for making a name for himself in war and beheading a few important people. Such a country bumpkin probably doesn’t even know how to use money properly.”

He turned around after tidying his clothes.

“Don’t just sit there stupidly, get up now. Follow me.”

Belladonna stood up, steadying her wobbling legs.

Watching her, he handed her a dirty cloth.

“Cover your eyes with this. Come now, our Holy Maiden specializes in backstabbing, so now you must go to backstab your husband?”

“…”

“I’ll give you one day. End things completely with him within that time.”

Escalion…

Belladonna, who had been silently looking down at the cloth he handed her, turned her gaze.

She had no idea what state Scarlet might be in behind that tightly closed door.

Thinking of her, she couldn’t waste time like this.

Biting her lower lip, Belladonna raised her hand and took the cloth the pope held out.

She spread out the dirty cloth, covered her eyes with it, and tied a knot at the back of her head, then nodded.

“Let’s go, then.”

“Come in.”

“Huh? Why are you opening the door right away for once?”

Greyham, standing at the entrance of the papal state, asked with a puzzled face.

He had come here expecting to have an exhausting standoff with the knights guarding the entrance, but it was strange that they immediately moved their spears away after confirming his face.

“His Holiness the Pope has given permission.”

“What is that cunning old man plotting now…”

As Greyham muttered, Escalion beside him looked at them with irritated eyes.

Now that they’ve taken Belladonna too, have they finally decided to talk?

“They are waiting inside.”

One of the knights guarding the entrance spoke.

Escalion looked down at them with threatening eyes, then walked into the papal state following the path they had cleared.

Greyham also moved, following behind him.

However, in front of him, the knights once again moved their long spears to block his way.

“Huh? What’s this?”

Greyham blurted out as his path was suddenly blocked. Escalion turned his head and said in a low voice.

“What are you doing?”

“His Holiness the Pope has only given permission to Sir Escalion Diete. Others cannot enter.”

“Are you joking? We’re together!”

Greyham raised one arm and pushed the knight forcefully as he spat out the words.

At the small commotion, the surrounding imperial knights rushed out in a group.

“You cannot enter!”

“Are you trying to intimidate me with numbers? Do you think that will make me flinch?”

Greyham lowered his upper body and placed his hand on the sword at his waist.

As he was about to draw his sword against the imperial knights, the knights behind him held him back.

“Vice Captain, please calm down!”

“The lady and Miss Scarlet are still held captive inside. We should avoid causing a big disturbance!”

“Aish, damn it!! Is there nothing we can do properly in this Astanya!!”

Greyham cursed, remembering Belladonna and Scarlet, and stomped his foot in place.

He sighed and threw words at Escalion across from him.

“What should we do, Captain? How about sending them the paper decoded by the magician? Then they’ll immediately become our allies.”

Escalion turned his eyes to look at the imperial knights.

Even if he showed them the evidence he had, the knights were people who couldn’t move without orders from the emperor or pope anyway.

Moreover, with Belladonna and Scarlet still captive, there was no need to unnecessarily provoke the knights.

“Wait outside. I’m curious what their intention is in calling just me in.”

“It’s obvious! He clearly thinks it would be a threat if many of us go in together, so he wants to meet with you alone inside the papal state where everyone is on his side. He doesn’t know that you alone are much better than several ordinary knights. What a fool.”

“I’m going in for now.”

Leaving the muttering Greyham behind, Escalion turned around.

Whether alone or not, that wasn’t what was important.

What mattered was dealing with the pope and getting Belladonna and Scarlet out of this damn place, that was all.