Chapter 19
“So what do you think we should do?”
Sensing the slight softening in Stano’s tone, Leticia knew this was an opportunity. “I can see you won’t give up. Fine, I really don’t have a way to stop you anyway. But could you at least stop walking and go back to the village first before we talk?”
She glanced around—and nearly jumped. She had already left the village! The distant road was clearly visible.
How long had it been?!
Leticia felt a chill run through her. Luckily she had managed to stop this brat’s suicidal behavior in time, or else the consequences would have been unimaginable...
“Heh, bamboo pole, I know what you’re thinking.”
Stano sneered. “You just want to stall me so you can figure out a way to stop me, right?”
Damn it, why is this brat so stupid when he should be smart, and so sharp when he shouldn’t be?!
“No, I’m just saying, can’t you at least explain the situation first...”
Leticia was already feeling drained. People always said taking care of children was exhausting—well, today she had gotten a taste of just how exhausting it really was!
“Yesterday I was impulsive, but think about it—who are you? A noble family’s young master, not even from the Intis Kingdom. And me? Just an ordinary commoner. You may not think much of it, but to me, this could mean disaster!”
Leticia tried reasoning with him. “I understand wanting to save someone, but being reckless like this won’t save anyone—it’ll only get you killed!”
Enough to make someone choke with anger.
“I know that already!”
Stano roared, his voice full of frustration, as if torn apart by countless thoughts. “Bamboo pole, do you know what stake execution is?”
“Stake execution? What’s that?”
So far she had only heard of fire execution, and even then only by sound—she had never seen it herself.
As for stake execution...
Did this world also have its own version of Vlad the Impaler’s legends?
Leticia amused herself with the thought. Maybe the Impaler’s power surpassed even Christ’s? Otherwise, why was God’s name absent here, yet Vlad’s punishment methods had spread?
“Hmph, figured you wouldn’t know.”
Stano’s tone dropped as he explained stake execution in detail. “My uncle is facing exactly that. If he’s caught, he’ll likely be subjected to execution.”
“...”
Leticia was shaken.
Though she had already realized the Church’s madness, a year of study under Priest Marshall had made her forget his crazed fervor during that Witch’s fire execution—because he otherwise behaved with such universal love.
The Church’s punishments really came in endless varieties, each crueler than the last.
Strip away that divine glow, and they were nothing but a terror organization!
“Your uncle really caused a huge mess.”
Leticia muttered softly. “Though... though I don’t know much about this, once the Church is involved, it rarely ends well, right?”
“I know. But so far, there’s been no word of an official order from the Church, so I think there’s still a chance...”
Stano said. “If my uncle is fully exposed, it won’t just be him. My nation—and even my family—will suffer.”
Well, wasn’t that just wonderful news...
Leticia almost rolled her eyes. If this brat suffered a setback, she would actually be happy to see it.
“Tell me, aren’t you also a believer? Why don’t I sense your devotion?”
From his words earlier, this brat seemed rather dismissive of the Church.
“Hmph, no point hiding it from you. For noble warrior families, relations with the Church are always delicate—unless it’s an army directly under the Church’s control.”
Stano said bluntly. “Everyone knows—we expand territory and win battles, while the Church’s doctrine emphasizes peace.”
True enough...
In Leticia’s original world, the struggle between royal power and divine authority had been fierce, sparking countless bloody conflicts.
Here, divine authority wasn’t an empty shell. Royal power was suppressed, but still retained some initiative.
In other words, this brat was rebellious at heart, huh?
Leticia hadn’t expected him to reveal so much. But then again, he was still just a kid, without much depth or caution—unable to keep secrets. Which was fine.
“So since you’ve already thought it through so clearly, why are you still doing this?”
“Then let me ask you—if your Uncle John was about to be executed, and before it happened you had the chance to save him, would you save him or not?”
“...”
Leticia fell silent.
“Besides, I know that deep down, you’re not exactly an obedient person either.”
Stano said lightly. “That grave you built—who was it for?”
“Huh?!”
Leticia was startled. Back then, she had pitied that Witch who had been reduced to nothing but ashes. Thinking it might bring her some merit, she had quietly gathered some scattered ash, buried it, and stuck a twig in as a makeshift grave marker.
Even that had been noticed by this brat?!