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For the first time in Christian history, the Vatican officially recognized a prophet.

And that prophet was none other than me, Edward Marshall, son of William Marshall and the most skilled knight of the Templar Order, who claimed to have received the word of God.

The news spread across Europe with astonishing speed.

By the time I returned to the Angevin Empire, everyone, from nobles to serfs, had heard of it.

I tried to keep a low profile, but those around me wouldn’t let it go unnoticed.

Richard, in particular, organized a grand welcome event to announce that I was on his side.

In this era, where religion and politics are inseparable, my position now seemed to surpass even Richard’s. Unless he became king, Richard was merely the most likely heir to the throne.

Despite this, I maintained the demeanor of a diligent knight, never showing a hint of arrogance.

“Thank you for organizing such a grand event, even though I haven’t been away from the Vatican for long,” I said, bowing politely.

Richard approached me with a wide grin. Whether recognized as a saint or not, my demeanor and conduct remained unchanged. This consistency was what inspired trust in others.

Moreover, Richard, who was naturally susceptible to flattery, greatly enjoyed being celebrated in front of so many people.

“How could we not celebrate the return of Saint Edward Marshall? Ha ha ha!”

“Though the Pope has recognized me as a saint, nothing has really changed. I am still the same Edward Marshall, now and always.”

“Indeed, there’s something different about the words of a saint,” Richard said, pouring wine into my glass. Other nobles, taking their cue, began to approach as well.

“Greetings. I am Count Mathieu of Boulogne. I’ve heard much about you, Sir Marshall. It’s an honor to meet a prophet in my lifetime.”

“I am Viscount Ademar of Limoges. Meeting you is a blessing… I must offer a prayer of thanks…”

Those with genuine piety couldn’t even meet my gaze, as if they were laypeople receiving the Pope.

As the banquet continued, the tense atmosphere eased, but it soon took on the air of a revival meeting.

“Prophet, this is my eldest son, who will inherit our family. Could you bless him with a prayer?”

“This is my daughter. There’s a family considering a marriage proposal. Please bless her to have intelligent children in the future.”

“Could you pray for the health and peace of our entire family?”

Whoever said that Christianity’s prosperity gospel was unique to Asia clearly hadn’t seen its roots here.

“Well… I’ll pray, but remember, God wants you to strive with your own strength. Maintain an attitude of effort, not just reliance on prayer.”

“Yes, yes! Prophet!”

“Just your prayer is a great blessing!”

I felt like the leader of a cult, and it was more burdensome than joyful. I couldn’t understand how cult leaders enjoyed this.

I placed my hands on the heads of those seeking prayer and offered a blessing.

“May God’s blessing be upon all gathered here. I will now take my leave.”

After repeating a few prayer routines, I had nothing left to say. I signaled to Richard that I wanted to speak privately.

Fortunately, Richard understood and discreetly pointed to a nearby building before leaving the hall.

I followed, taking Alberic with me, and made my way to where Richard had gone.

Inside, Richard greeted me with open arms, his face slightly flushed.

“Welcome! Did you enjoy the banquet?”

“Thanks to you, I had a pleasant time. I’m glad to see you’re in good spirits.”

“How could I not be? The Vatican’s recognition of you means our plan is nearing success.”

Alberic, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.

“It would be wise to lower your voice, just in case someone is eavesdropping.”

“Thank you for your concern. But everyone here is loyal to me, so there’s no danger. The tide has already turned in our favor.”

Alberic seemed to agree, as he didn’t object. It appeared that the power dynamics in the Angevin Empire had shifted significantly while I was at the Vatican.

“Has His Majesty decided to abdicate?”

“No. Despite his disgrace, he clings to his position. But after the last incident, he’s lost the people’s support. Most of the empire’s nobles now back me, and those who don’t are unfit to join my ranks.”

“And yet, you’ve refrained from using force.”

“I wanted to. Honestly, I was ready to strike immediately. Even if war broke out, I was confident of victory. But Alberic advised me to wait for your return.”

Alberic gave me a knowing smile, having executed my orders well beyond expectations. I had feared that Richard might have already overthrown Henry II by the time I returned.

The absence of war was a significant advantage for me.

“You did well to wait. It’s important to have the right justification for such actions. We must apply pressure gradually.”

“What should we do first?”

“We need to establish that you, not the youngest prince, are the rightful heir to Aquitaine. If His Majesty refuses, then we can resort to force.”

“If he were willing to acknowledge that, we wouldn’t be in this situation…”

The Duchy of Aquitaine was one of the most important territories in the Angevin Empire. Richard was already designated to inherit it from his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine.

However, Henry II intended to pass it to his youngest son, John, which was a major source of conflict.

For Richard to become the true king of the Angevin Empire, he needed to inherit his mother’s lands.

Refusing to grant them was tantamount to saying he wouldn’t make Richard king.

“That may have been the case, but things are different now. I will vouch that you are the rightful heir to Aquitaine. If His Majesty refuses, you’ll have a legitimate reason to act against him.”

“Indeed. If the Vatican-recognized prophet Edward Marshall acknowledges me as Aquitaine’s heir, rejecting it would be defying God’s will. But… did God truly say I’m the rightful heir?”

“The rightful Duke of Aquitaine is indeed you, Prince Richard.”

That was the course of history, so I wasn’t lying. Even if left alone, Richard would eventually crush his opposition and ascend the throne.

I’m merely smoothing the process and securing my share of the rewards.

Richard, interpreting my words differently, seemed moved, his eyes glistening with emotion.

“Yes… Mother promised to pass the duchy to me. Though she’s currently imprisoned and can’t speak, I’m still the rightful heir.”

“Exactly. I’ll lend you my support.”

“Thank you. Having someone like you by my side is reassuring. At first, I thought you were an inflexible knight, being Sir William’s son, but the more I know you, the more I see your brilliance.”

“You’re too kind. In fact… I think it’s time to share a secret with you.”

“A secret?”

I checked the door to ensure no one was listening, then spoke in a hushed tone.

“Everything I’ve done so far has been according to Alberic’s plan. I’ve merely followed his advice.”

“What?”

“What…?”

Richard and Alberic exclaimed almost simultaneously.

Richard turned to the equally surprised Alberic.

“Why are you surprised?”

“Well, it’s just…”

“I decided to reveal this to you, not Alberic. But don’t you think it’s time you knew?”

“Uh… yes, yes…”

Alberic, perceptive as ever, nodded in agreement.

Richard looked between us, astonished.

“So… all your actions were orchestrated by Alberic?”

“Yes. Honestly, how could I, a mere knight, plan all this? When I first received the revelation, I consulted Alberic, the most strategic mind in our order.”

“Well… considering your experience and age, it’s a bit surprising how deep your schemes run. But was it really necessary to keep Sir Alberic’s plan a secret?”

“It’s easier for Sir Alberic to devise his strategies from a position that doesn’t attract attention. That’s why I haven’t mentioned it to anyone until now.”

“So, why bring it up now…?”

“Your Highness is destined to be the king of this nation. I believe there should be no secrets between us. Sir Alberic, you agree, don’t you?”

Alberic, catching my gaze, nodded stiffly like a malfunctioning robot.

“As… you… wish…”

“Thank you. So, Your Highness, is it alright if we start putting pressure on His Majesty as early as tomorrow?”

“Yes. When you corner an opponent, you mustn’t give them a moment to breathe. Thank you for trusting me and being honest. Now, I’ll go prepare for tomorrow’s grand event. You all should get some rest.”

Richard, his face still slightly flushed, bid us farewell and left the room.

Once his presence had completely faded, Alberic finally snapped back to his senses and raised his voice.

“M-Marshal, what on earth were you thinking, saying something like that?”

“It’s simple. I wanted to divert attention so His Highness wouldn’t focus too much on me.”

“Diversion…?”

“Highly capable allies often become targets. While I don’t expect that to happen to me, it’s still troublesome to be seen as too competent.”

This way, both the Pope and Richard would have no choice but to focus more on Alberic than on me.

That would allow me to move more freely behind the scenes.

“But won’t this make me more of a target than necessary…?”

“Sir Alberic, being targeted means you’re seen as capable. And as long as you’re with me, that perception will translate into political power for you. You do want the title of Count of Damartin, don’t you?”

“Well, technically, I’m more of a collateral line, so…”

“That’s why we should seize this opportunity to the fullest. Don’t worry. Everything is proceeding according to my… I mean, as planned.”

The uncertainty that had clouded Alberic’s expression vanished.

I chuckled softly and patted his shoulder.

“Let’s go, then. It’s time to claim what’s rightfully ours.”

Having secured enough religious prestige, it was time to grasp real power as a noble.

Thanks to the steadfast reign of King Henry II, there were plenty of lands ripe for the taking.

Thank you, Your Majesty. I’ll be sure to make the most of it.