The Rise of the Black Plain

While Gloria was getting used to the idea of starting to live with Minos, Abby, and Ruth, rumors were already circulating through the royal palace and the Black Plain Army headquarters.

After dozens of people had seen Minos carrying Abby and Gloria around as if ready to punish two daring children, those individuals soon began talking about the matter among themselves.

They obviously would not talk about the king's privacy with ordinary people, but with colleagues who knew how to keep secrets, they could not help but comment on the matter.

...

In the kitchen of Minos' residence, Wendi, level 50, a cook that Minos met on his first trip to Stone Island, talked to other female employees of that estate.

"Did you hear that story? Our region's Archbishop will live here!" A middle-aged woman dressed as a cleaning lady said this in a low voice, pointing her finger downward. 

"Oh? It looks like you're late, huh? From what I hear, His Grace was seen earlier carrying Archbishop Frost in his arms!" A young cook, the same age as Wendi, said this as she looked at this old acquaintance of Minos.

"What?" The middle-aged woman exclaimed. "So, that..."

"Yeah, apparently she's not just here for the Church, if you know what I mean..." 

Wendi then commented. "But isn't that a good thing? Now we'll have a high-level Spiritual Emperor on our side!"

"Hmmm." The two nodded.

"Besides, I have the impression that His Grace intends to take over this woman. Then the chances of an heir arising will be even greater!"

"After all, three is better than two!" Wendi commented with a smile on her face.

"Ah, I can't wait to care for princes or princesses..."

"Hmm, it will be so happy when children run around here." They continued to talk about this glorious future.

...

Meanwhile, Eduard was resting from his royal guard duties at the army headquarters while using this moment to train in this place.

But as he walked to a water fountain to refresh himself, Dumas and Humbert, both at level 55, arrived at his side, talking about the rumor circulating in the headquarters.

"His Grace is truly insatiable! I couldn't imagine even Archbishop Frost joining the royal harem..." Dumas commented while he had a look of admiration on his face. 'I wish I had the chance to take other women home... But, unfortunately, if I did this, my lady would rip my skin off!'

"Hmmm, the most impressive thing is that none of Their Graces seem to have a problem with it, not even Archbishop Frost. His Grace carried them to his house earlier, and they just accepted it, without much fuss..." Humbert remembered what he saw, catching Eduard's eye.

"What are you guys talking about?" Eduard could not stand his curiosity and asked.

"Captain Eduard!" The two made a gesture of greeting, and then one of them replied. "It seems that His Grace is getting involved with Archbishop Frost."

"Oh? That makes sense." Eduard remembered Minos' words earlier today.

"Does it?" The two asked at the same time since they were not sure of anything.

"Hmm, His Grace said that Archbishop Frost will join the royal family in the future, so that makes sense."

"Haha, I knew it!"

"Yes, but knowing the truth is much better than just our suspicions. Now we have a high-level Spiritual Emperor on our side!" Humbert commented with his eyes shining in excitement.

Dumas laughed and said. "Now I want to see what those damn Spiritual Saints will do against us, hahaha."

"Hehe, exactly." Humbert agreed. "I just want to see the face of our next enemy when he realizes we have the Spiritual Church on our side!"

Eduard listened to all this in silence, pondering the advantage of having Gloria on Minos' side. 'Even if she doesn't act directly for the good of the Black Plain, her very presence in Dry City is already a big positive.'

'If the region knows she is here, no Spiritual Saint will have the courage to come to our city with bad intentions!' He smiled, impressed with Minos.

'His Grace is the best! He turned a goddess like Archbishop Frost into his wife and still got a great advantage for the Black Plain...'

'Impressive!'

...

A few days later...

While the rumor of Minos and Gloria's relationship gradually reached tens of thousands of soldiers and government agents, news of this woman had also spread throughout the region.

In particular, each of the region's branches of the Spiritual Church had received a communiqué with the information that Archbishop Frost would now no longer administer the region from the Flaming Empire. Instead, she would do so directly from the Black Plain, her new home, Dry City.

With this, all newsletters previously sent to the capital of the Flaming Empire would now have to be destined for Dry City. But not only that, with Gloria in the region, each member of the Spiritual Church already felt an added weight on their shoulders.

After all, being in the region, she could quickly reach any church branches and exercise her dominance.

Previously, the branches in this region had a lot of freedom, which made possible the corrupt acts before the war on the Black Plain. But now, with Gloria in the region, the local bishops would have to think twice before acting similar to their predecessors...

Thus, most local Church members did not take this news well!

...

Athela Temple, a branch of the Spiritual Church in the northern region of the Central Continent...

In this place where most of the decisions of the Church in the region came from, some of the Bishops of this post were gathered together as they talked about the notice that had just arrived.

"Will Archbishop Frost truly live in the region?" One of the least unsure about this information asked while he had a strange expression on his face.

"It seems that will be the case, Bishop Scott." One of these people said in a tone that showed his negative impression of the matter. "I just don't understand why she is doing this."

"Is she by any chance giving up cultivation, giving up her career? What is there in this region for someone of her level?"

"Good question..." A woman, someone who had joined this post after Gloria's past actions in the region, said. "Perhaps she was sent here by her superiors in the Flaming Empire?"

"Impossible!" Another of them commented. "As far as I know, Archbishop Frost signed an agreement with the king of the Black Plain, so it can only be on account of that."

"How would the Flaming Empire branch have any interest in our region? Of course, things have improved greatly in the last few years, but still, we're not much..."

Another woman there then said. "Perhaps she is having an affair with Minos Stuart?"

"What?"

"What nonsense is that?"

"Impossible!"

"Where did you get this madness from?" Several of them exclaimed their opinions against such a hypothesis.

She shook her shoulders and said. "I have heard that the king of the Black Plain is extremely handsome. But, on the other hand, his talent is the greatest in the entire region. Besides, there is this agreement between the two, and previously, Archbishop Frost seemed to want to favor his territory, months before his forces gained the upper hand in the war."

"So maybe..." 

"That better be just a theory..." The elder there swallowed his saliva in concern. "Archbishop Frost is already quite decisive in her actions..."

"Over four years ago, many of our brothers were killed by her."

"Hmmm." Several there nodded in agreement as they remembered the past tragedy.

He then continued. "But compared to Minos Stuart, she is extremely gentle and harmless."

"So, I hope Archbishop Frost is not having an affair with Minos Stuart. Otherwise, she might be influenced by that fellow, and even the Church's actions could be focused on just helping Black Plain!"

"It would be chaos and great danger to us all if that happens!"

Gulp!

Several saliva-swallowing sounds reverberated through that area as the men pushed such an idea out of their minds, but the women there feared that this was indeed their reality.

'I saw King Stuart at the Church camp years ago... Besides being handsome, I remember the way Archbishop Frost looked at him...'

'That was no ordinary glance!'