Chapter 154: The Frivolous Villain
This was a world where theocracy reigned over monarchy.
The reason why the Glory Empire was the most powerful among the many surrounding kingdoms was because the Holy Temple of Light had stood in the capital of this empire for over a thousand years.
The Hosley family had controlled the power of the Glory Empire for even longer.
The supreme leader of the Holy Temple of Light, the Grand Archbishop of Light, was over two hundred years old, a frail and elderly man.
The current emperor was Hosley XVI, and the Grand Archbishop of Light had already risen to power as early as the reign of Hosley XII.
Due to his advanced age, the Grand Archbishop rarely handled affairs anymore, and the highest authority of the entire temple had fallen into the hands of two cardinals.
Over the past hundred years, several cardinals had come and gone within the Holy Temple of Light, and one of the current two, Cardinal Peruth, was the youngest and most gifted of all.
He was only in his twenties, but his profound accumulation of magical knowledge had already surpassed that of the other cardinal. He was widely recognized as a priest deeply favored by the God of Light.
Compared to the other cardinal, Cardinal Croft, who was in his fifties, the gentle, considerate, and cheerful Cardinal Peruth was far more beloved, especially by the ladies and nobles of the capital.
Each day, the area in front of the Holy Temple of Light bustled with the carriages of nobles, most of them coming to seek an audience with Cardinal Peruth in the hope of receiving his blessing.
Whenever Cardinal Peruth listened to the confessions and doubts of believers in the confessional, the number of carriages was so great that they blocked the entrance of the temple.
On the day Yu Mo finished attending the old baron’s funeral and came to the Holy Temple of Light to receive his blessing and baptism, he found himself stuck outside the temple.
The servant Harry, having grown used to the sight, explained to him, “These are all noble ladies coming to confess to Cardinal Peruth.”
He guessed that his new master, having been away from the capital for years, might not be aware of this, and whispered, “It’s said that Cardinal Peruth is very handsome, so most of the noble ladies who claim to come for confession are really just eager to see him.”
“Many noble young ladies, after seeing Cardinal Peruth, wish they could marry him. Unfortunately, the holy priests cannot marry. Otherwise, how happy he would be!”
Harry, the servant, looked full of regret, as if he were the one bound by the religious rule against marriage.
“How much longer do we have to wait?” Yu Mo asked from inside the carriage.
“By noon, we should be able to go in,” Harry replied. “Cardinal Peruth finishes hearing confessions by then, and the ladies will start leaving.”
The nobles, concerned about appearances, preferred to sit in their carriages for hours rather than walk a few extra steps.
But Yu Mo stepped out of the carriage without hesitation.
From the corner of the street to the grand gates of the temple, it was quite a distance, yet Yu Mo walked calmly under the gazes of many.
Whispers came from the carriages beside him, and the servant, who hurried to catch up, seemed slightly flustered, but Yu Mo paid no attention. He soon reached the temple entrance.
Entering the temple, its white-bricked floors stretched out before him, and the space inside was vast. Few nobles had the privilege to park their carriages within. The crowded scene outside was invisible here.
Only priests in plain white robes walked around, along with young children raised here to learn the ways of the temple.
Knights in gleaming silver armor stood on either side, exuding a powerful presence that discouraged any disturbances.
The temple was enormous. From the entrance to the inner buildings, it was another long walk.
Fortunately, it was a cloudy day with no sun.
Although he could now use magic to suppress his sun allergy, Yu Mo had been avoiding sunlight since childhood, and intense sunlight still made him uncomfortable.
When the light was too bright, Yu Mo would see blurred shadows before his eyes.
As he stepped into the grand cathedral, the servant Harry, who had been following him in silence, finally showed some initiative. He hurried ahead, smiling at the priest who was receiving visitors and said, “My master has inherited the baron title and has come to the temple to receive the blessing and baptism. Could you please make the arrangements?”
He discreetly handed over a small pouch of silver coins.
The middle-aged priest glanced at Yu Mo and frowned slightly at the sight of his black hair and eyes, but his attitude remained polite enough, thanks to the coins.
After confirming Yu Mo’s identity, the priest said, “Priest Layton has time today. You can find him in the back.”
A mere baron was of little importance in the Holy Temple, so the blessing and baptism were typically conducted by an ordinary priest.
A younger priest led them toward the back halls, also casting a couple of curious glances at Yu Mo’s black hair and eyes but said nothing to him.
As they walked down the corridor leading to the courtyard, Yu Mo suddenly heard the sound of girls’ laughter.
In the garden of the courtyard, noble young ladies, dressed in gowns more vibrant than the flowers, gathered around a man.
The tall man they surrounded had familiar golden hair, shimmering like sunlight, and wore a tall hat symbolizing the sun, along with a red sash embroidered with a golden sun—marking him as a cardinal.
The girls’ faces were flushed, and they spoke to him with admiration in their voices.
“Lord Peruth, will you be in the confessional today? I have been so confused recently and really need you to listen.”
“Lord Peruth, I came early today just to see you. Could I be the first in line later?”
“Lord Peruth, I’m so happy to see you! At the palace banquet last time, you even helped me find my lost necklace. I wonder if you still remember?”
“Lord Peruth…”
So many chattering young girls spoke at once, yet he was able to hear each one clearly, responding to every single one without favoring anyone.
“Yes, I will be waiting in the confessional to ease everyone’s minds and soothe their worries.”
“Of course, coming so early must have been tiring. Please be sure to take care of yourself.”
“Of course I remember. That necklace was as beautiful as your eyes.”
The man, with a constant warm smile like the sun, seemed to radiate light, his honey-colored eyes softly curved, gazing at everyone with deep affection.
Yu Mo glanced at him briefly, surprised to see that this so-called villain appeared so frivolous in his daily life.
But it had nothing to do with him.
Before he could look away, Peruth, surrounded by flowers and admirers, suddenly turned and met his gaze. For a moment, their eyes locked.
Yu Mo gave a slight nod, and Peruth’s smile immediately widened. He said something to the noble girls around him, then slipped away from them, walking toward the corridor where Yu Mo stood.
The young priest leading Yu Mo bowed his head in respect. “Lord Peruth!”
“And who is this?”
“This is the newly appointed Baron Cecil, here today for his blessing and baptism.”
Peruth looked at Yu Mo and suddenly said, “We meet again. Do you remember? You helped me last time.”
Judging by his sincere expression and radiant smile, no one would believe he was lying.
“It was just a small matter. It was my honor to assist you,” Yu Mo responded, playing along.
Peruth chuckled softly. “Since we share such a connection, why don’t I give you the blessing myself?”
The young priest leading them looked surprised, casting a jealous glance at the new Baron Cecil.
Typically, only counts could receive a blessing from a bishop. For a cardinal to personally offer a blessing, one usually needed to be a duke.
This baron was really lucky!
“Then, go ahead and wait for me. I’ll prepare and be there shortly.”
The temple had various blessing rooms, ranging from large to small. Normally, a baron would only use the smallest one, but since Cardinal Peruth was personally giving the blessing, they naturally had to use the largest.
Yu Mo was led into the magnificent blessing chamber, adorned with radiant magical lights. Inside, several priests and praying believers couldn’t help but whisper as they stared at his black hair and eyes.
Thousands of years ago, black hair and eyes were considered signs of demons, and people with such traits were burned at the stake. Though those beliefs had faded over time, they were still met with disdain.
“How could someone like that enter such a sacred place?” one praying noble muttered in disgust.
The leading priest quickly explained, “This baron knows Cardinal Peruth, and the cardinal will be performing his blessing and baptism.”
“Oh, I see. Since he knows Cardinal Peruth, there must be a good reason for the cardinal’s actions.”
Everyone’s expressions softened, and even the noble who had spoken earlier fell silent.
In this place, no one dared question Cardinal Peruth’s authority.
Yu Mo slowly rubbed the ring on his thumb, which bore the seal of the Cecil family.
He had thought about how to stand out in noble circles and make them stop criticizing his black hair and eyes. He hadn’t expected Peruth to step in and help.
With Peruth’s involvement, the effect was undeniably better.
But why would Peruth help him?
Now dressed in his cardinal robes, Peruth looked even more dignified.
He passed through the crowd of reverent believers and stood before Yu Mo to perform the blessing ceremony.
The ceremony was lengthy, requiring the use of several advanced light magic spells.
“Blessings” weren’t just spoken words—they had real benefits.
They healed illness, strengthened the body, and dispelled fatigue.
The special treatment, reserved only for dukes, left the watching believers feeling envious.
Yu Mo glanced down and saw countless eyes filled with jealousy and admiration.
Finally, as the ceremony was nearing its end, Cardinal Peruth leaned down slightly and placed a light kiss on Yu Mo’s forehead.
Yu Mo heard gasps of surprise from the crowd below, while Peruth, with a compassionate expression, said, “May the Light watch over you.”
Yu Mo: “…”
He knew well enough that this part of the ceremony only required a light touch on the forehead with a finger—there was no need for an actual kiss.
With a serious expression, Peruth addressed everyone, “I want to tell you all that as long as you believe in the Light, you are children of the God of Light. There should be no prejudice based on appearance.”
“Black hair and eyes,” Peruth said as he reached out to gently touch Yu Mo’s black hair, “are also loved by the God of Light.”
The priests and believers present looked deeply moved and full of belief.
Only Yu Mo felt something was off. It seemed like Peruth’s fingers were still lingering in his hair, almost reaching his face.
Taking the opportunity, Yu Mo bowed, causing the hand on his forehead to miss. “Thank you very much, Lord Peruth.”
“Don’t mention it. I understand better than anyone that your heart is devoted to the Light,” Peruth replied with a smile, extending the back of his hand.
This was also part of noble etiquette. Nobles took pride in contact with holy figures, and during a blessing ceremony, being allowed to kiss the back of a holy person’s hand was a way to express favor.
Yu Mo looked up and noticed the playful glint hidden behind Peruth’s benevolent, solemn demeanor.
Without much expression, Yu Mo lifted the offered hand. His own hand was cold, while Peruth’s was very warm. He gave a light, symbolic kiss to the back of Peruth’s hand.
As expected, he heard Peruth’s soft chuckle.
“After the ceremony, could I ask Baron Cecil to stay for a while? I’d like to catch up with you.”
No matter what role Peruth was playing when he said those words, Yu Mo couldn’t refuse.
He pondered over Peruth’s series of friendly gestures. Had he noticed something special about him? Was he trying to recruit him as a subordinate, or was there another, more hidden motive?
