Chapter 177

Chapter 177

“Then should we climb over the wall?” Emily asked, brimming with enthusiasm.

Tu Nan glanced at the wall, which was as tall as three people stacked together, and gave her a polite smile.

“I was joking.” Emily burst out laughing, then pulled a token from her coat and waved it in front of Tu Nan. “I have the Family Head Token. They have to listen to me.”

Tu Nan’s gaze flicked across the token, and for a brief instant, her expression froze.

Even if she had no idea what the “Family Head Token” was, she could more or less guess its purpose from the name alone.

“The Duke just handed something this important over to you?” she asked tentatively.

Emily held the token up before her eyes and examined it carefully.

The token had been carved from a single piece of mithril, with the Charles Family crest engraved on it.

Emily put the token away and smiled meaningfully. “It really is important. Whoever holds this token is equivalent to the head of the Charles Family. Those Soldier guards recognize the token, not the person holding it.”

Tu Nan’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

“If it’s that important, then you’d better keep it safe. Don’t lose it under any circumstances,” she said solemnly.

“Of course.” Emily smiled.

She hopped down from the swing chair and reached out to tug Tu Nan along. “Let’s hurry to the Church. I’m actually pretty curious to see what it’s like.”
—
Emily had been right. Once she took out the token, the people guarding the gate did not make things difficult for them anymore.

The Church was known to practically everyone in the Royal Capital. It stood in the opposite direction from the Royal Palace, and the journey was not exactly short. A round trip would take roughly two hours.

The two of them sat inside the Carriage, and before long, Emily began to grow drowsy.

Tu Nan sat beside her, her mind circling back again and again to that Family Head Token.

What Maria lacked most right now was support. If she could get her hands on that token, then with the Charles Family’s military strength behind her, it would be more than enough to help Maria secure the Throne.

She glanced at Emily.

The girl had one hand propping up her head, her eyes tightly shut. Her breathing was long and even, as if she had already fallen fast asleep.

Tu Nan had seen it clearly just now. Emily had placed the token into a pocket at her chest. If Tu Nan was careful enough, stealing it did not seem all that difficult.

For once, Tu Nan hesitated.

The Carriage suddenly jolted.

Emily frowned and mumbled something, shifting slightly to the side. Whether by coincidence or by accident, the area over her chest was now perfectly exposed, making it incredibly easy for Tu Nan to make her move.

Tu Nan stared fixedly at Emily. At last, she slowly leaned closer-

Emily’s eyes flew open.

There was not the slightest trace of sleep in them. Her black eyes were like those of some wild animal, watching Tu Nan with sharp wariness.

Tu Nan’s hand, which had been holding a blanket to drape over her, paused ever so slightly.

When Emily saw what she was doing, the emotion in her eyes vanished almost instantly. In its place was a dazed expression, as if she had only just woken up.

She rubbed her eyes, yawned, and said lazily, “How did I fall asleep?”

“Probably because you went to bed too late yesterday,” Tu Nan said with a beaming smile. “I was worried you might catch a chill, so I was just about to cover you with a blanket.”

Emily glanced at the blanket in Tu Nan’s hand, then reached out, took it, and spread it over her legs. “How much longer until we arrive?”

“We should be there soon,” Tu Nan said, lifting the Carriage curtain to look outside.

The Church was far from the busy market district. There were very few voices outside now, so they were probably almost there.

Sure enough, before long, the Carriage swayed to a stop.
Tu Nan helped Emily out of the carriage.

She looked up at the building before her, a little surprised.

The Church occupied far more land than she had imagined. At first glance, it seemed no less grand than the Royal Palace.

At the center stood an enormous domed circular structure, flanked by four towering spires.

The Church was not ordinarily open to the common people. Only members of the royal family and nobles were allowed to visit at any time.

“Let’s go.” Emily took her hand, eager to head inside.

Compared to her, Tu Nan was much more cautious.

Xu Duoyi had warned her: this was a Rule location.

Tu Nan walked over to a stone tablet by the entrance.

[Those without faith may not enter the Church.]

“Those without faith may not enter the Church…” Emily leaned in as well, frowning in confusion. “Then what happens if someone without faith goes in anyway?”

“The gods will be angered.”

A voice sounded behind them.

Tu Nan turned around. A Nun in a habit was smiling at her and Emily.

“Are you two here to pray? Please, follow me.”

“And what happens if the gods are angered?” Emily asked as she followed behind her. “There are so many gods in this world. What if the one I believe in isn’t the god you worship?”

“So long as there is faith in your heart, the Church will welcome you,” the Nun replied with a smile.

Tu Nan had once been an absolute atheist. But after the Strange Tales appeared, the materialism she had firmly believed in for more than twenty years had been shattered, and she had no choice but to believe in those Weird things.

Even so, she still did not believe in gods. If she had to believe in something, she might as well believe in herself.

She followed the Nun into the Church with Emily.

The Nun led them into the chapel.

Tu Nan looked around, unable to help marveling inwardly.

Above their heads was a massive oil painting. Tu Nan stared at it for a long time, but the image always seemed blurry and indistinct. Before long, her neck ached terribly from looking up, so she had no choice but to lower her head and examine her surroundings instead.

Honeysuckle and all manner of plants were carved into the pillars around them. Sunlight streamed through the stained glass set into the chapel walls, casting countless glittering, colorful stars at their feet.

“You may pray here,” the Nun said softly.

“When the Queen and the others came before, did they pray here too?” Tu Nan asked in a low voice.

“It is the same for everyone who enters the chapel. The gods will hear your wishes and grant them,” the Nun said with a smile.

A strong sense of wrongness rose in Tu Nan’s heart.

“Any wish at all?” Emily asked from beside her.

“Yes.” A nearly fanatical piety appeared on the Nun’s face. “The god you believe in will grant your wish.”

It sounded like some kind of cult initiation speech.

“Thank you.” Tu Nan gave her a slight bow. “We’d like to pray to the gods without distraction. Would you mind leaving us alone for a while?”

“Of course.” The Nun returned the bow, and the expression on her face shifted back into the faintly artificial smile she had worn at the start. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” Tu Nan smiled as she watched her leave.

“Are you really planning to pray to the gods?” Emily asked.

Tu Nan shook her head. “There isn’t anything I want. What about you?”

Emily looked at her, her eyes curving into a smile. “There isn’t anything I want either.”