Inheriting a Lost Bloodline, My First Task is to have heirs?!-Chapter 666 - A Generous Dowry (Part 2)

After a few minutes, the winding corridors finally ended and we saw the hidden set of stairs leading to the second floor where the saintess is supposed to stay. It turns out according to the pope, there is a larger set of stairs that are two flights high that leads to the third floor of the temple which the public thinks was the second floor. It seems that the saintess’ quarters was constructed as a hidden floor from the start.

Once we are inside the drawing room, we all took our preferred seats and relaxed for a bit as we have been walking and climbing the stairs for several minutes. Clarence comfortably sat next to me, leaning his head on my shoulder. He looked sleepy as he has yawned several times since he sat on the soft cushions.

The pope shook his head with a smile on his face and told me that his grandson hasn’t been sleeping well these past few days because he was too nervous. He wakes up very early in the morning making sure every task to maintain the pristine look of the temple is completed. He then sleeps a bit late praying to the goddess to keep me safe and that I arrive quickly.

As I looked at Clarence who was leaning beside me, I saw that he has already fallen asleep. His soft, even breathing is the only thing I can hear from him. I kissed his forehead to deepen his sleep further so that the pope and I can have a conversation without reservations.

Once Clarence is asleep, I slid him down and laid his head on my lap comfortably. I conjured a blanket from my storage and placed it on him. I also snapped my fingers to keep the room in a comfortably cool temperature.

All those things happened in a span of a few seconds under the close observation of the pope who looked stunned and at the same time, nervous. I smiled at him in response and simply made myself sit even more comfortably on the sofa.

This time, I used a more formal, colder tone towards the pope since it is just the two of us. I told him that I hated the fact that he already told most of the members who I am even before I accepted the position of the saintess. I warned him not to decide things for me in the future since I won’t be nice next time.

The elderly man nodded quickly, looking guilty about what he just did. I know he had a lot of questions but I wanted to get things straight once and for all.

I said nonchalantly, "I am not the goddess Lumienere but as per my parents, we are related by blood which is the reason why I looked very similar to her. If you have not realized it, I am not human. You can call me a mystique or a deity even and my ancestors helped to create the planet itself. As for your goddess, it was my great grand aunt who have already went to the realm of the gods."

I can hear the audible gulp that the pope made upon hearing everything I said. His mouth was open in shock but he couldn’t muster to say any word or any sound. He just stared at me with wide eyes as if trying to see if there was even a hint of a joke or a lie on everything I said but I just looked back at him with an indifferent face.

The room stayed quiet as I waited for him to recover from the truth bomb that I just dropped on him. The old man is currently breathing erratically as if he was so happy about what he just discovered and was excited to share it to people that he trusts.

Since he looked more happy than shocked now, I finally spoke and asked, "Do you have a map as to where the ends of the territory of the church ends? I need it to know how I will go about my next plans."

The pope honestly said that they do not have a specific person that is adept at making maps so they current only have the floor plan of the temple itself and the immediate vicinity. As for the forest areas that is still part of the territory but they were totally blind since they only ever let the paladins roam the periphery to hunt and forage.

I looked at the pope with a smile and said in a nonchalant manner, "I’ll do all the mapping. As for the ends of the territory, do you have an idea where exactly it is? I think this place could use a high wall to keep everyone safe, don’t you think?"

The pope immediately accepted the favor since I am practically doing it for free and I was the one who offered to do it in the first place. I may have to do the mapping on my own though because doing it with a bunch of paladins and foragers would slow me down a lot.

I looked at the map that the pope gave me and it seems like their territory is huge so I really don’t understand why no one is farming for food or animal meat. If they sold or leased the land to people who will willingly move here or even ask them to pay a reasonable amount of tax as well from living here as citizens, it will be so much easier to keep this whole religion running.

The area is currently sitting on top of a carved part at the mid point of a tall mountain. I can make a proper set of steps to go up and down the mountain so it is easier for everyone travel up and down. I can just protect the path with a barrier, easy peasy.

Since there is a mountain range at the back protecting this place, my only job is to place a wall on the remaining areas facing the forest that is unprotected. I know that it would be kind of over the top and an overkill but I will still give this whole place a barrier as well, the same one that I gave to the academe, the Athanoviya Palace, the magic tower, Sklavryet and everywhere else that one of my husbands and their families are living in.