Well, in the meantime, the eve of the festival has arrived.
　Tomorrow is Pentecost, the biggest festival for Messianics.

　It's also Nia's birthday.

　Well, ......, but in a little while it will be the New Year. Hopefully next year will be better too. ......

　Hercule looks out the window.
　It was snowing today, just like the day when Hercule met Nia.

　In the garden, you can see Carolina, Lunalie, Scheherazade, and Nia having a snowball fight.
　...... Aside from Nia, what about the three of them as adults and noblemen?

　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.

　It's cold out there. I can't go outside. Hey, Ciffany.
　I'm stuck at .......
　Don't move. You'll get cold if you move.

　Hercule had his own personal servant on his lap.
　She was a human with black hair, black eyes and big tits.

　She is a human with black hair, black eyes, and big tits, and her appearance is second to none.

　Hmm, it's cold. ......
　Do you want to put some wood in the fireplace?　Either way, we'll have to move.
　It'll be cold between the time you put the wood in and the time you come back.

　The fireplace is not that far from the sofa where Hercule and Cifanie are sitting.
　It's only for a short while, but Hercule can't seem to stand it.

　It looks like he was just flirting with Cifanie, not saying that he was cold.

　"Kun Kun ......, did you change your perfume?
　"Oh, yes. ...... Did you like it better before?
　I like this one. How can I dislike your body odor in the first place?

　I don't see how I can dislike your body odor in the first place," said Hercule as he ran his tongue along the nape of Cifanie's neck.
　Cifanie's body shivered.

　"Oh, um, ......, Your Majesty?
　"I've done my business, and my dear wife is busy with a snowball fight.

　Hercule then put his hand on Cifanie's dress.
　With his right hand he unbuttoned her breasts, while with his left he stroked her thighs.

　When they were both burning hot, ......


　"Your Majesty, the Emperor has a visitor. May I be excused?

　The guards' voices came from outside.
　Hercule looked very unhappy and then let go of Cifanie's restraining hand.

　Cifanie hurriedly got off Hercule's lap and straightened her clothes.

　"You may come in.

　Hercule said. ......
　The door opened and two men came out.

　The man on the right stepped forward first.
　He wore a white monk's uniform and was clean-shaven.

　He was in his mid-forties.

　"I am Patrick Alagna, president of the Reclamation Society. My name is Patrick Alagna. I am here today by order of His Majesty the Emperor.

　The next man on the left stepped forward.
　This man also wears a white monk's uniform, but looks a little shabbier than Patrick. ......

　He looks to be in his thirties.

　"I'm Giuliano Branca. My name is Giuliano Branca. I am here today by order of the Emperor.

　Hercule greeted them with a smile.
　The sullen look on his face earlier was a lie.

　"Thank you for coming, Lord Alanya. Blanka. Please, sit down first.

　Hercule motioned for them to sit down on the sofa.
　As soon as they were seated, Cifanie brought tea and refreshments and placed them on the table.

　The head of the brotherhood frowned when he saw this.

　"Your Majesty. Such an expensive item is against the teachings. I'm very sorry, .......
　"Hmm ...... but if you don't drink it, it will be thrown away. Isn't that more against the doctrine?　Isn't it sinful to waste the food that God has given us?

　The president of the brotherhood thought that he was right and drank a cup of tea from .......
　He put the tea in his mouth.

　His expression became calm, as if he had enjoyed the tea after all.

　Now, ...... while the three of you are peacefully drinking tea and making small talk, let me explain about the convent and the monastery.

　A convent is an organization or group of people who live together in the ethics and morals of Messianism under the approval of a high priestess (medium).
　Each one of them is a monastery, and when they are united, they become a convent.

　That is the basic understanding.

　There are several types of monasteries, but the two monasteries invited by Hercule are the Reclamation Monastery and the Brothers' Monastery, both of which were established recently.

　The main activity of the cultivators is to refuse to donate land, to cultivate the land with their own hands, and to share their skills with farmers. 　
　The main base of their activities is the Kingdom of Fullerling, where they are currently spreading the three-plot farming system to farmers in the kingdom.



　The Order of Brothers denies the keeping of property and has no personal possessions other than clothing. ......
　They live on almsgiving, and their main activity is to spread the teachings of Messianism.

　What both of them have in common is that they basically regard luxury as an evil and they are very devoted followers of Messiahism.

　I love what you're doing!　You're doing a great job!" The Order of the Holy Monks, on the other hand, is .......

　Hercule praised the Order of the Reclaimed and the Order of the Brethren, while disparaging the Holy Order.
　The Holy Order is the largest and most powerful congregation in the Messianic world today.

　It has a centralized organization with branches all over the world.
　The current generation of mediums, Millenia, is from the Order, and Cecilia is also a member.

　Its activities are aimed at overcoming the restraints and domination of secular power, criticizing the corruption, corruption, and simony of the bishops, and increasing the authority and power of the mediums.

　In other words, she is the natural enemy of Hercule.
　However, he has a vast manor and is difficult for Hercule to deal with.

　The only thing Hercule could do was to tax their manors in the Lemurian Empire, but he could not block their activities. ......
　But even so, Erkül has not given up his right to ordain, so the battle is still in Erkül's hands for now.

　As I mentioned earlier, the Holy Order has a vast manor and great economic power.
　In other words, they are rich.

　The Messiah's guru, the Son of God, said that rich people go to hell. ...... Well, he didn't say that directly, but he did say that it is difficult to go to heaven.
　In Messianic ethics, poverty is a virtue, while luxury and splendor are vices.

　However, if you actually visit a monastery of the Holy Order, you will find that it is so gorgeous and ornate that you will say, "Wow!
　A poor, debtor aristocrat would be much poorer and live a more monastic life.

　For this reason, they are subject to criticism. ......
　The Order of the Reclamation and the Order of the Brothers were born to oppose and condemn such monasticism.

　In accordance with the theory that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, the Order of Reclamation and the Order of the Brothers are on the side of Hercule.

　They are happy when they are praised, and sympathetic when they are criticized.
　When the sensitivity of both the president of the Reclamation Monastery and the president of the Brothers' Monastery has increased, ......

　Hercule got right to the point.

　"Well, I have a favor to ask you both.

　Hercule said with a serious face.
　Sensing the change in Hercule's mood, they both straightened up.

　You've heard of my recent conquests of the Taurian peninsula and islands. I would like you to be active there. Of course, I will spare no effort to support you.

　There are many infidels and heretics in the Taurica Peninsula and the islands taken from the Kingdom of Chelda.
　Hercule wants to encourage them to convert to Orthodox Messianism.

　Also, I would like to ask the ...... cultivators to help us cultivate the Taurica Peninsula. It is a land of great sobriety, but the ...... agricultural technology is still in its infancy, and the land has not yet been cultivated.

　The Taurica peninsula and the Kumania plain in the northern part of the peninsula are fertile lands known as Chernozem.
　It is very suitable for growing wheat, and Hercule wanted to cultivate it as the second largest breadbasket after Misr, but it would be difficult for the state alone. 　
　It would be costly and time-consuming.

　However, it would be costly and time-consuming.
　It is cost effective.

　However, considering that Hercule's power in the Lemurian Empire is so great that even the Holy Monastery has not been able to get them to recognize the right of non-exportation, it is quite possible to make the cultivating monks pay taxes.

　In the worst case, they could just confiscate it with difficulty.
　He did not say what he really meant.

　I would also like the brotherhood to strengthen its missionary work in the kingdom of ...... Fars, the eastern countries beyond that, and the southern countries south of the province of Misr. We will spare no effort to support you.

　Of course, we will spare no effort to support this missionary work. ......
　Of course, this missionary activity also includes the implication that we should conduct espionage.

　Well, as for the Kingdom of Fars, we can't do that since the treaty with King Sasan VIII forbids such activities. ......
　I would love to have information about the nomadic Kuro Thorn, the Sindhira region, and the Silk Country.
　I also want to expand Messianism.

　The two men pondered Hercule's proposal for a while.
　The first to speak up was the president of the Reclamation Order.

　...... Our aim is to live in accordance with God's teachings, uninfluenced by worldly powers. Your Majesty and we are on the same page, and we would have preferred to ask you to help us with our activities inside the Taurica Peninsula. Just go to .......

　After a few moments of hesitation, he said, looking at Hercule's face.

　As I said before, our doctrine is to live without the restraints of worldly power. Of course, we abide by the laws of Lemuria, but ...... we are not His Majesty's vassals. We do not necessarily obey His Majesty's orders, and we cannot accept His Majesty's will in any of our personnel matters. If you agree to that, we would like to operate on the Taurica Peninsula.

　In other words, don't tell us what to do in return.
　In other words, don't interfere in return.

　Hercule nodded.

　"Of course I understand. But you must abide by Lemurian law. You will also obey the laws of the Church, and if any of you ...... are guilty of any crimes, which is not something we like to think about, you will be handed over to us, and we will investigate. These are the minimum requirements for operating in the Lemurian Empire. Other than that, you are free to operate as you please.

　The Church Law is the law that governs the activities of the Church and the payment of taxes. ......
　Monasteries and convents also have their own rules and regulations.

　Well, they are basically the same as churches: ......
　They are exempt from taxation to the extent that they are necessary for the operation of their activities, while they are subject to taxation if they make more profit than necessary.

　Of course, the president of the Reclamation Society understood this.

　He nodded his head.

　The next speaker was a brother monk.

　You know that we forbid the holding of private property as a rule," he said. ...... What exactly is your support?　I can't give you any monetary support. ......

　In response, Hercule smiled.

　I know, of course, I know. Of course I understand. But we do need a base of operations, don't we?　And clothes. I'm also thinking of issuing ...... a pass with my, Julianos's, coat of arms.



　Satisfied with Hercule's reply, the president of the brotherhood nodded.

　I see, ......, so I will ask you to do the same.

　He also accepted the help from Hercule.

　The enemies of the three are the same, and their interests are aligned.

　Thus, ......
　The Order of the Reclamation and the Order of the Brothers were to act as Hercule's hands and feet.

　Later on, the brotherhood would play an active role in the Kingdom of Foulds, the southern countries, and the accomplishment of certain missions in the Land of Silk. ......
　The Order of the Brethren would go on to accomplish many things, but that would come a little later.


______________________________________________________________.
　Dear Cecilia

　Dear Cecilia

　Happy birthday to you.
　You are now fifteen years old. ...... Were you twelve when we first met?　I'm surprised it's already been three years.
　And ...... that we haven't seen each other for three years.

　Now, have you opened your birthday present yet?
　Well, I'm not going to tell you what's in it because you might not have. ......

　It's a gift from me.
　I hope you can understand what I mean.

　Sincerely.

　Your guardian, Hercule Yulianos.

　P.S.

　I think it's time for you and Nia to make up, don't you?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

　Mmm. ......

　Cecilia frowned as she read the last part.
　Of course, Cecilia knew that she had to make up with Nia.

　But ...... she didn't want to apologize first.
　It was Nia who was at fault.

　Of course, I don't think I'm wrong in any way, but I thought I was saying the right thing .......

　I thought I was saying the right thing, but it was Nia who started the fight.
　Cecilia thought it was only right that Near should apologize first.

　Now, let's get back on track. ......
　Cecilia put her hand on the box that Hercule had given her, feeling her heart beating fast.

　It was the first time she had ever received a gift from the opposite s*x.


　And he's the one that ...... you've always wanted.

　From Cecilia's point of view, Hercule is ...... a very good politician and soldier, even if he thinks a little differently.
　He is a very good politician and soldier.
　I've admired him for a long time.

　I have always respected him, and we have exchanged letters, and I have learned that Hercule is a very good man of letters.

　Hercule was the only one who could communicate with Cecilia in a proper theological way.
　In addition, he has philosophical and literary knowledge that Cecilia does not have.

　It's interesting, so you should read it: ......
　I once received some books from her, and they were really useful books.

　The books on Pagan philosophy, written hundreds of years ago, were especially wonderful. 　
　I was afraid to read them at first, but after I finished, I realized how narrow-minded I had been.

　There are things that can be learned and useful even from pagan knowledge.

　Respect turned to admiration, and admiration turned to adoration, and then to love.
　Although they hadn't seen each other for three years since their first meeting, ......
　This is why Cecilia's feelings for Hercule have grown stronger.

　However, ...... she herself is unaware of this.
　She was also unaware that her distrust and discomfort with Nia was due to jealousy.

　Now, untie the ribbon and open the box: ......
　The first thing that came out was a card.

　"Dear Cecilia, I give you this. It's how I feel.

　Cecilia carefully placed the card on the floor and then picked up the gift.
　It was a ......
　It was a teacup.

　And two of them.

　What it meant was: ......

　"Let's meet again and drink tea. ...... Your Majesty, you remembered me.

　Hercule remembered that Cecilia was not a coffee drinker, but a tea drinker like him.
　That's why he gave her two cups. ......
　Cecilia interpreted.

　"Your Majesty ...... I would like to meet you.

　Cecilia pressed the teacup to her chest with great care.