In the end, Gabriel covered the paper and began explaining verbally. He should have just done that from the start.
"The owner of the body Lady Jeremiah is currently using is a knight named Azazel Astaroth. Everyone thinks he's a Holy Knight, but Sir Azazel is actually Bishop Malik's personal bodyguard."
Isn't a knight of Bishop Malik essentially a Holy Knight? Jeremiah's current outfit and Gabriel's attire were both pure white and looked quite similar, though?
"What's the difference?"
"To officially join the temple as a Holy Knight, a ceremony is required."
Apparently, to be recognized as a member of the temple, whether as a priest or Holy Knight, everyone must undergo a baptism ceremony.
"Baptism ceremony?"
Gabriel explained that the baptism ceremony involves wounding someone with a holy sword, then pouring holy water to heal them, demonstrating that they receive Rachel's blessing. The more one is loved by God, the faster the wound heals—meaning the holy water works effectively. The better one's recovery ability, the more superiors take notice, leading to faster advancement.
"Some exploit that fact to play tricks."
Since the person wounded by the holy sword is the one holding it, it's apparently easy to manipulate things. The method involves procuring blood beforehand and spraying it at the right timing to create the illusion of having suffered a much larger wound than the one actually inflicted.
Since the wound is actually shallow, recovery is quick when holy water is applied, so using this method allows one to appear more capable than they truly are.
But why does he know this so well? Don't tell me Gabriel also manipulated things for quick promotion...? Is he not the male lead who became Knight Commander on merit, but someone who obtained that position through such corruption behind the scenes? No way. The male lead wouldn't do that. I trust our Gabriel.
I decided to focus on Azazel instead of Gabriel.
"Azazel is..."
"Yes. He did not undergo the ceremony. Holy water would be problematic for him, so he likely avoided it intentionally. He wears clothes as similar as possible to Holy Knights' attire, and since he's Bishop Malik's confidant, people would naturally mistake him for a Holy Knight."
Then is Azazel also cursed? He wouldn't have participated in the baptism ceremony because holy water doesn't work on him. Wait. Bishop Malik didn't give holy water to Ryder, but she's been using Azazel who's in a similar situation as her confidant? That's complete hypocrisy. Mrs. Toten would be furious if she heard this.
By the way, holy water doesn't work on Azazel either—it's not like curses are trending, so I don't know what god is going around cursing people so freely. So much for a merciful and equal Sun God.
Well... gods in romance fantasy novels were never going to be equal anyway. I could tell from how the temple treats nobles exceptionally well while discriminating based on status, chasing money, and not providing proper welfare for the poor. Above all, the fact that the mastermind is Bishop Malik is proof that the temple is corrupt.
But wouldn't revealing this damage Bishop Malik's image somewhat?
"If the truth about Bishop Malik's knight is revealed, won't it crack Bishop Malik's reputation?"
Perhaps thinking along similar lines, Jeremiah asked with rounded eyes. Seeing her make cute gestures in Azazel's body while asking playfully in a low voice created an incredible sense of dissonance. It seems like it'll take quite a while to adapt...
Gabriel shook his head.
"Unfortunately, it won't deal a significant blow to Bishop Malik."
"Huh? Why is that?"
"Do you know how Bishop Malik obtained her current reputation?"
"I heard it's because she's frugal and devout."
That's how the rumors spread, but knowing she's the mastermind now, I only feel that she did excellent image-making. I can't escape being treated as a villainess no matter how hard I try, so how did she manage that? Is this the difference in level between a mastermind and a villainess? The image of Bishop Malik sneering about my standards came to mind, so I pushed it out of my head.
Gabriel continued explaining.
"Bishop Malik was one of the key figures in the heretic massacre over twenty years ago."
Apparently, Bishop Malik rose to the position of bishop because her contributions at that time were recognized. Considering that most bishops are elderly people with white hair, and Bishop Malik is still middle-aged, one can see how unprecedented this appointment was.
How great must the contributions have been for someone who was a nun at a monastery in the borderlands to rise to the position of bishop? Bishop Malik had no doubts about God, so she didn't hesitate to kill, and she didn't flinch from torturing heretics—meaning many people must have died.
"Even if Bishop Malik brings in a personal bodyguard to the temple, no one has ever stopped her."
Bishop Malik hated heretics more than anyone, and the heads of heretics she beheaded were countless. Having risen to a high position by staining her hands with blood, she naturally gained many enemies. So if Bishop Malik brought in outside personnel for her safety, no one would suspect her intentions.
"The reason for using outside personnel is likely to assign tasks that would be difficult to order the temple's knights to do."
"Like trying to kill me..."
Remembering the moment Azazel attacked her, Jeremiah placed her hand on her stomach.
"Besides them, there are at least dozens more who follow Bishop Malik from the shadows, like Viscount Hwikel."
"Viscount Hwikel...?"
That Viscount Hwikel who had wide connections and loved schmoozing, whom I used as a bridge to talk to Duke Hosakin?
"Yes. Viscount Hwikel reportedly gave the dagger to Count Rohanson. I met with Count Rohanson and confirmed it. It's suspected that Viscount Hwikel delivered the sword after receiving a request fee from Bishop Malik."
To think the source of the dagger the count brought was actually Bishop Malik. I barely held back the urge to grab my neck and collapse.
Bishop Malik really was the mastermind. I was merely playing on a board she had set up. Thankfully, I managed to save Jeremiah.
"What exactly... is Bishop Malik trying to do?"
At Jeremiah's question, Gabriel paused in silence before quietly speaking.
"A reenactment of the past I just mentioned."
"The past..."
"Yes. The heretic massacre."
Gabriel's words left both Jeremiah and me dumbfounded.
No, why would a bishop want to commit a massacre... Then she's not just a mastermind but the final boss...
"Bishop Malik's goal is the temple's revival. Do you remember the magic circle on the ballroom floor on the day His Highness the Crown Prince passed away?"
"No. I was too confused at the time..."
Jeremiah tried to recall but shook her head, unable to remember. Since she had swapped with Tenebrei at that time and it was actually Tenebrei who danced with the Crown Prince, it made sense that she wouldn't know.
"Bishop Malik drew that magic circle? Why?"
"So that the magic circle would remain in people's memories."
What could be more shocking than the death of the empire's only Crown Prince?
Moreover, it happened on the victim's birthday, and the culprit was designated as his own daughter, who was then stripped of her royal status and had a warrant issued for her arrest. The entire empire would be in an uproar. Few events could have such impact.
Furthermore, the appearance of a magic circle that had vanished 20 years ago made it even more sensational. 'A heretic used magic to control the princess and make her kill the Crown Prince.' What better comeback story could there be?
Rumors would spread that far, and among them, people interested in magic circles would sprout like bamboo shoots after rain. Whether real sorcerers had returned wasn't important. It just needed to be known as such in the world.
"Bishop Malik is staging a play. She is a faithful believer who eliminates enemies for God..."
Gabriel's gaze fell on me.
"And Lady Evangeline would be the enemy."
Just as a hero needs a demon lord to shine, the temple needed a foundation to rise again. I can only marvel at the mastermind's skill. Look at her, being the final boss while pinning everything on me. Then were all those vicious rumors in high society also spread by Bishop Malik? Insane. Bishop Malik's schemes are no joke...
Jeremiah, who had been listening quietly, also felt utterly hollow upon realizing Bishop Malik's motives.
"Then my father was murdered because of that? To spread the magic circle? Because he was hostile to the temple? Because he was an obstacle to Bishop Malik...? Just for that, just for that reason?"
Tears welled up in Jeremiah's eyes. However, Gabriel didn't comfort Jeremiah; instead, he didn't hesitate to remind her of the cruel reality. Given that Gabriel also fell for me at first sight, perhaps he has a bit of a brainless romantic side—which might be why he seems to treat Jeremiah more poorly now that she's in Azazel's body compared to when she was in her own body. Did he pick the wrong body for Jeremiah...? I was briefly regretting this when Gabriel added another reason.
"There is another reason I can guess."
"Another reason?"
"...To strengthen imperial authority."
"...What?"
"His Majesty the Emperor was an illegitimate child. His Majesty killed his half-siblings who were above him and ascended to the throne. At the time, many people criticized him as a usurper who committed filial impiety, disparaging his legitimacy and his duty as emperor. When Lord Laudes, Jeremiah's father, ascended to the position of Crown Prince, the opposition was fiercest."
"Surely not..."
"They were revealed as heretics and purged."
It happened before I possessed this body, so strictly speaking, it's something I don't know, but I nodded as if I vaguely understood. It wasn't a rare story. Once someone ascends to the throne, they claim legitimacy, strengthen imperial authority, and slaughter all opposing factions.
Rather, it was strange that Jeremiah hadn't known until now. Jeremiah seemed to have been raised very sheltered, and apparently, there was no need to teach a princess about the Emperor and imperial family's dirty laundry.
And there was a similarity between the Emperor's past and what Jeremiah experienced, in that both used the temple's backing to kill their own blood relatives—half-siblings and a twin sister.
Gabriel slightly lowered his eyes. Shadows formed beneath his long eyelashes. His uniquely blue eyes sank deep, circled by a cold light.
"It seems Bishop Malik has already chosen the next emperor. The fact that Princess Tenebrei is connected to the series of incidents... perhaps Princess Tenebrei's will was involved in His Highness the Crown Prince's passing."
Jeremiah, shocked by Gabriel's words, stared blankly before barely managing to speak.
"Tenebrei..."
Jeremiah fell into deep thought for a moment, then opened her mouth with determination.
"You two intend to stop Bishop Malik and Tenebrei, correct?"
It wasn't about stopping them—Bishop Malik picked the fight first. Jeremiah, who had been murmuring her twin's name, fell silent briefly before making a great resolution and speaking.
"I will help however I can."
"Thank you, Lady Jeremiah."
Gabriel answered readily, as if he'd been waiting for this.
Despite currently being in Azazel's body, Jeremiah looked remarkably like Gabriel. Perhaps it's unavoidable since they share the same blood?
Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in my head.
Come to think of it, Gabriel is actually royalty, isn't he? And not just any royalty, but the one who surpassed the handsome golden-haired imperial grandson Oratorio to become first in the line of succession. And we're going to fight against Bishop Malik and Tenebrei. Doesn't that mean we're unintentionally fighting over the throne?
I could roughly guess how the story would progress from here. The novel would probably end with Gabriel becoming emperor.