[Notre Dame de Paris] Papal Way

"..."

Everyone was stunned by this sentence.Louis XI couldn't help but scolded: "What are you talking about, Anna? Brother Paul brought this..."

Louis XI really didn't know the inside story, and he really didn't think about it.And Ace clearly saw that when Louis XI frowned and scolded, the shock on the princess's face quickly turned to doubt, and a complicated look flashed across her face.Immediately afterwards, the princess lifted the hem of her skirt and bent down: "I'm very sorry, Father, I made a mistake."

Ace looked away thoughtfully.

The pope is not only a leader in religious concepts, but also a representative of the relationship between theocracy and secularism.Now that the Holy See has gradually been polluted by secular filth, there is a big difference in essence between a pope with strong state support and a pope like Sixtus IV who has been basically emptied.Louis XI was a powerful king, known as "Spider", who was good at conspiracy and feared war, and was deeply feared by the surrounding countries.If he can get his support, Ace's road will of course be much easier.

So before knowing that Louis XI was the biological father of Emerald, Ace did some investigations on the French royal family.Just like on the mainland of Maris, there is not only one royal family here. The throne of Louis XI seems to be secure, but in fact it is in jeopardy.If there is no strong enough king to take the throne after his death, or Prince Charles dies due to some accident, the last one to become king will be the forces of Bourbon, Orleans or Brittany who were feared and suppressed by Louis XI one.

Out of various considerations, Louis XI married his eldest daughter Anna to Pierre de Beauge, who was 21 years older than her, and the latter was one of the heirs of the Duke of Bourbon.Anna's appearance is of course very beautiful, and she is also the one who is most loved by Louis XI among all the children... And as far as it looks now, Anna does have the capital to be loved by Louis XI.

She has a pair of black eyes like her mother, and she is as beautiful as pearls; and her elegant manners, noble temperament and intelligent performance all add to her color.She is not tall, but she is very imposing, very Louis XI style.No matter where you stand at the moment, even if you are admitting your "mistakes", you will behave gracefully.

"I'm very sorry." She said sincerely, and nodded to Ace again, "I was rude."

She knows how to judge the situation, but she can't bend down... She may be talented in politics, but if she is the ruling princess, she is still not good enough.

Ace raised his eyes, met her gaze, and showed a forgiving smile.

Looking at this scene, Louis XI couldn't help feeling uneasy.He didn't know where his anxiety came from, but he instinctively resisted a certain possibility: "Why did you come here suddenly, Anna?"

"I was a guest at my sister's place and heard the news." Anna said calmly, "You won't stop me from listening here, father?"

Louis XI raised his eyebrows irrefutably.It didn't take long for Ace and his party to enter the palace before Anna rushed over... He decided not to talk about this topic anymore, but instead asked, "What about you, Brother De Paul? I've heard some stories vaguely, but Not sure about the details. Where did you find this...?"

The hermit briefly introduced the process of Ace's torture with a faintly proud expression, and the palace attendant added details beside him, proving that the hermit did suddenly think of going to the gallows, and presented it in an exaggerated and gorgeous way. The rhetoric described the scene of the "angel coming to the world" that he had seen with his own eyes.The king listened carefully, asking a few questions now and then.It can be clearly seen that his doubts are gradually being dispelled, and his eyes on Ace are a little more respectful and admirable.

The princess suddenly asked: "I heard a story, it seems that a month ago, an Egyptian murdered a captain?"

Ace said flatly: "No, on the contrary, I'm helping him."

The beautiful black eyes swept across Ace's face, and Princess Anna said sarcastically, "Help a devout believer go to hell?"

"He was seriously injured, and I am treating him." Ace said calmly, and the Eye of Horus began to absorb magic power, "...if I had met you five days ago, I would have been more than happy to heal your abdomen unwell."

Princess Anna's face suddenly changed color, surprise once again replaced suspicion.Louis XI asked in surprise, "Do you know medical skills?"

"God asked me to come to this world instead of Him in order to eliminate the suffering in the world." Ace raised his arm with compassion, and a ball of light suddenly appeared between his fingers, which randomly turned into dazzling lights and scattered in all directions.Everyone involuntarily covered their eyes, and when the light disappeared, they were pleasantly surprised to find that their bodies were much more relaxed!

For healthy people, it is just an inexplicable feeling, but for Louis XI who has been suffering from illness, this ease becomes very obvious.He couldn't sit still for a while, and strode towards Ace: "I heard that there is a French doctor among the Egyptians..."

"George is my pseudonym." Ace explained calmly, with neither sad nor happy expression, "A teenage Egyptian who treats a disease will not be believed by anyone; and a Frenchman blessed by God , will be trusted by his countrymen.”

"Indeed." Louis XI whispered, "I know better than anyone...then, Your Majesty the Son, my body..."

"Father!" Princess Anna interrupted, "Don't you think it's time to..."

The door suddenly opened, and an attendant came in and whispered to the king: "Your Majesty, Cardinal de Bourbon and the vicar of Notre-Dame, M. de Thielchape, begs you..."

Louis XI frowned unhappily: "What is he here for?"

The attendant was full of embarrassment, not knowing whether he was talking about Cardinal Bourbon or Claude Frollo: "...Probably because of an important matter..."

Louis XI snorted coldly, he didn't know what to think, and his brows stretched again: "Please come in."

The living room fell silent for a while.Not long after, the door was pushed open again.Cardinal Bourbon walked in through the door proudly, with a gorgeous cloak hanging behind him.And the one who followed him in was Claude who was still in a coma before Ace left!

Claude's face was pale, a priest's black robe tightly covered his chin to his toes, his blond hair was tied softly behind his head with a black ribbon, his ice blue eyes were unusually bright, his handsome face was as cold as an ice sculpture .In his hand he clutched a cross studded with green gemstones.From the beginning to the end, he didn't even glance at Ace.

On the contrary, the cardinal, after he came in, kept looking around the room, and after giving the hermit a warning look, he quickly turned his eyes on Ace: "I heard that something terrible happened in the city. ah!"

"You are very well informed, Cardinal Bourbon." Louis XI said coldly.

The cardinal didn't mind the sarcasm of his old enemy at all, and showed a kind smile: "Then, who is His Royal Highness the Son?"

"Are you blindfolded by the secular world, Your Excellency the Cardinal? Your Majesty is standing in front of you." Francis couldn't help but said.He had traveled all the way with the cardinal, and he was very disgusted with him.It was only because of the disparity in status between the two that he buried his complaints in his heart.Now that the cardinal clearly saw Ace standing here, the idiot also knew who the person who caused the holy miracle was, but he still turned a blind eye, which made him a little angry.

Unexpectedly, the cardinal didn't get angry when he heard his sarcasm, but showed a strange smile: "By the grace of God, I didn't see any holy son here, only the king's illegitimate son."

Ace raised his eyebrows slightly, but suppressed his expression again.He glanced at Claude, but the latter remained expressionless and didn't even look this way... He was so enthusiastic before, but now he is as cold as ice. Could it be that Claude didn't give up struggling, but fought The idea of ​​doing it once and then quitting?

His eyes gradually darkened, and Ace lowered his eyelashes playfully.

——He will let Claude see the situation clearly.

He has already reacted in such a short period of time and made corresponding countermeasures to prevent him from obtaining a higher position. What Claude's purpose is is actually obvious.He is not only admitting to Ace that he wants to be the pope, but also declaring war on Ace, using the power of the cardinal to force him to withdraw from the competition for the position of the pope and even the king.

But just as Ace didn't know how much power he had accumulated, Claude didn't know Ace's true strength.How much power Claude holds has no effect on Ace; and the stronger Ace's power is, the more he will be afraid of Claude... Even if Claude can prevent him from becoming the "Holy Son" However, it is impossible to make his strength disappear.The powerful alchemists on the continent of Maris may be able to do this, but in France, which is barren, backward and has no systematic alchemy system?

Ace's lips curled into a smile.Even if Claude has entered the gate of "truth", it is impossible to seal a mage who has come into contact with "rules"!

And Louis XI, who was questioned by two people about the issue of illegitimate children within a day, became annoyed.He glared at Anna, obviously linking the previous incident with the cardinal: "Are you here to condemn my private life, Cardinal Bourbon? You don't have to worry about the guilt of the Inquisition, I will not write to the Pope because your men have misjudged His Majesty Metatron."

Cardinal Bourbon seemed to have heard something very ridiculous, and said loudly: "Are you confused, Your Majesty the King? There is no mention of Metatron in any scripture! He is a Jewish invention and does not exist in It's true. Even if you want to give him an identity so that he can appear in the high society openly, why do you need to find such a reason? Anyone who sees him will understand his true identity!"

The cardinal said, pointing at Ace triumphantly: "However, in order to maintain the friendly relationship between the two of us, now I am willing to give up a chance to give you the possibility to realize your wish. As long as you are willing to make a blood relationship with him I will announce to the outside world that Ace Meraorda is the eldest son of the king, the son of Queen Charlotte of Savoy, who has been growing up in the church, and has only now returned to the French court!"

Louis XI was furious, his thin fists clenched with blue veins: "Cardinal Bourbon, do you know what you are talking about!?"

The Bourbon Cardinal said slowly: "Don't you understand? Well, let me explain to you again: I have seen through your plot to push your illegitimate son into the position of the Holy Son. It just so happens that I don't want the Inquisition to be suppressed by you, so I am willing to admit your illegitimate son and give him the glory of a prince."

Louis XI's eyes became bloodshot, and he was so angry at the cardinal's shameless face.Suddenly he let go of his fist again, and looked at Ace coldly: "Jesus' mother is Mary of Bethlehem, who are your parents?"

Ace sighed slightly, and said lightly: "I was abandoned in the wilderness and adopted by the Egyptians. Every woman is my adoptive mother, and every child is my brother."

His eyes were clear, and his emerald-like pupils looked at Louis XI without fear.Claude deliberately invited Louis XI here before, in order to make Louis XI think that Ace was on the side of the cardinal.However, he didn't expect that Ace had already cast a spell on him, and Louis XI would never remember that he had seen Ace at Claude's place... Otherwise, with the eyes of Louis XI Sharp, as early as the moment he appeared, he would be identified as specially sent by the cardinal.

He calmly accepted Louis XI's sizing up, and was satisfied to notice that Louis XI's expression gradually changed from cold questioning to surprise and guilt.Thanks to these jewel-like green eyes and the temperament cultivated on the continent of Maris, anyone who has seen the king will feel that he is like the king; anyone who has seen Paquette will not Doubt about the blood relationship between Ace and her... Presumably by now, Louis XI should have recalled something, right?

Louis XI did recall a certain night more than ten years ago, when the queen just learned the truth about the resignation of her personal maid, and quarreled with him in anger.He didn't want to stay in the castle anymore, so he rode to Lance City in a rage, and found a tavern to get drunk.Unexpectedly, when he woke up the next morning, he found himself lying on the bed of a prostitute.That beautiful but dusty face should have disappeared from memory after he left the cross, but it became very deep in his mind because of Claude who suddenly appeared in the room...

Louis XI's expression changed.For the sake of Doctor "George", he carefully checked the details of that team of Egyptians, and he knew that Claude could not have any connection with them. The abandonment that Ace said was indeed true.But if Ace is really his son, why was he abandoned?The jewelry he left behind is valuable, and anyone who sells it can get a lot of money; not to mention how rare it is for a prostitute to have a child of her own...

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Louis XI has already determined that Ace is his son.But why was his son adopted by a group of Egyptians, turned into an "angel" and appeared in Paris by accident... He turned his head and cast his eyes on Claude: "Do you have any blood tests?" Is there a way?"

No matter how powerful the cardinal is, it is impossible to invite God to test the blood relationship.The reason why Cardinal Bourbon is so sure is probably because of Claude.

Claude finally raised his eyes, and took a step forward holding the cross: "Drop the blood in the holy water. If it is blood, Jesus Christ will give us revelation."

The cross is turned over, and the sculpture of the crucifix refracts｜a shallow soft light.