Chapter 19: Celesthalis - The Spear of Divine Accord
Lathel shook his head and said, "The conflict between the Church and the nobility is inevitable, but what we really need... is conflict between the believers and the common people."
Upon hearing this, Catherine immediately smiled at Lathel and asked, "Lathel, do you think the Church will oppress the commoners?"
Lathel stroked his chin, pretending to think, and replied, "Mother, the Church preaches love and tolerance—they wouldn’t do something like that."
"However, we still need to be careful. The Church’s followers are fanatics, willing to risk everything to do horrifying things."
"We must prioritize the safety of our people—especially you."
Catherine laughed in satisfaction, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Don’t worry. I’m strong—no one can harm me."
"But... Lathel, are you truly confident about winning that duel?"
Lathel sighed and shook his head. "Mother, even if I can’t win, I’ll do my best not to lose too badly."
"Lathel, if you can’t win, then there’s no need for you to join such a pointless duel. I can protect you." Catherine gently stroked his face.
Lathel shook his head. "Mother, there are things I need to do. Even if I know I’ll lose, I still need to face it."
"Besides, this is the royal family’s honor at stake. If I win, our family’s reputation will soar, and Theobald’s influence will drop significantly."