They are all characters I control.

But Claire is here, and Claire is not Lia herself, but is controlling Lia's body.

Claire didn't think the Earl of Orlando would tell Rosemary about his own existence—the unknown person who controlled Lydia's body.

However, Rosemary did not stop revealing her secret at this point.

"Of course, His Majesty Darian and the nobles welcomed me, after all, they did not want to be misunderstood as rebelling against the Church of Goddess."

"Besides, they also hope to use me or Bishop Augustine to suppress and oust Bishop Simon."

"In this way, I can also achieve my second goal, which is to find out about Bishop Simon and prepare for kicking him out of the Imperial Diocese later."

Rosemary's outspokenness and lack of hesitation earned Claire's admiration for her courage.

He sipped his black tea and took another look at Lia's aunt, Count Orlando's cousin, and Bishop Augustine's niece.

Although the Nolan family was somewhat foolish in the past, it seems that the new generation is quite outstanding.

"Oh? I see." Claire nodded, seemingly unfazed.

Actually, I wasn't that surprised; these are things that any intelligent person would do.

"Oh? So you don't even want to ask why Augustine came to this imperial diocese? Wouldn't that involve two bishops?"

Rosemary turned the question on Claire, tilting her head with an innocent look.

"Then why?" Claire asked.

"Because she was acting on behalf of the Holy Maiden, Isabelle did not explicitly object to her uncle becoming a candidate for the new archbishop, but she did raise the requirement that her uncle prove his abilities."

Rosemary's gaze remained fixed on Claire, her eyes fixed on her.

As if observing Claire's reaction, as if confirming something, Rosemary's gaze seemed to see through Claire's inner thoughts and soul.

Looking at the still calm Claire, she uttered her most fiery words.

"The reason why Lady Isabelle didn't directly refuse this time, but instead made a request to investigate, I think it must have been due to your suggestion, right?"

"Me?" Claire put down her cup and looked at the girl opposite her.

Rosemary tilted her head slightly, smiling like an angel, and said, "Isn't that so, Mr. Evil Emperor Claire?"

Chapter 54 Which bishop do you support?

The air in the study seemed to freeze for a moment.

Earl Orlando's hand, holding a teacup, froze in mid-air, his amber eyes darting back and forth between Claire and Rosemary.

The maid Anna stood to one side, her head bowed.

Even Lia, who was watching this scene through the system screen, held her breath.

[Lia: She...what did she say? The Evil God Emperor? Your guiding god, she said you are the Evil God Emperor?!]

Claire did not respond to Leah's comment.

He looked at Rosemary, whose delicate face wore an angelic smile, and whose clear, grey-blue eyes revealed no malice.

Although Earl Orlando had previously speculated that Claire might be the evil god emperor Claire.

However, the atmosphere at that time made it seem as if her words were being taken as a joke.

Now that Rosemary has said such things again, the atmosphere is not so relaxed, partly because she is a member of the Church of the Goddess.

Following her uncle, Bishop Augustine, Rosemary served as a priest.

Of course, he wasn't an ordinary pastor either.

Rosemary is the next bishop candidate. Whenever Bishop Augustine is promoted or retires, the position will be handed over to Rosemary, thus ensuring that Rosemary can inherit these connections and status.

The Nolan family's significant investment is aimed at elevating Rosemary.

It seems that Bishop Augustine is very cooperative.

Therefore, in the Nolan family's grand plan for rise to power, Rosemary currently holds a higher status and position than Earl Orlando, and her opinions naturally carry more weight.

Besides, everything Rosemary just said was an explanation of how she laid the groundwork for Bishop Augustine to get things done.

Paving the way for Bishop Augustine and gathering information, it wouldn't be funny to say at this point that Claire might be the evil god emperor.

Instead, they might genuinely join her in questioning whether Claire is truly the Evil God Emperor.

Bishop Augustine had just finished the 'Holy Council,' so could it be that he learned some clues during the 'Holy Council' and told Rosemary, leading Rosemary to such a conclusion?

Rosemary's attitude and gaze were very serious.

She didn't seem to have any unnecessary doubts or uncertainties about her words. This was the first time Claire's identity had been exposed so closely by someone other than when she was facing the Acting Saintess.

However, even Ophelia couldn't get Claire to acknowledge her identity.

Now, even facing the Nolan family, a family with whom she has a deep-seated grudge, Claire still has no intention of acknowledging her identity.

“Miss Rosemary, what are you saying?” Claire (Lia)’s voice was calm: “The Evil God Emperor? That madman who was killed by the Saintess more than a hundred years ago and also killed an archbishop? You think I’m him?”

Rosemary tilted her head.

"The Evil God Emperor is not dead. Mr. Claire, are you still going to play dumb now?"

"Oh? He's not dead?" Claire put down her teacup, asking with a look of surprise, "What evidence do you have that the evil god emperor isn't dead?"

Rosemary did not answer directly.

She turned to Earl Orlando and smiled slightly. "Cousin, you tell him. You've spent the most time with him, and you've discovered the most clues."

Earl Orlando put down his teacup and sighed. "You certainly know how to shift the blame."

She looked at Claire, her amber eyes devoid of their usual teasing and playfulness, filled only with seriousness.

“I remember Bishop Simon was planning to attend the 'Holy Council', right?”

“At the banquet that night, Bishop Simon contacted the Holy Council through a magical light screen, and everyone thought he was a shoo-in. Only you predicted in advance that he would not become the archbishop.”

Claire didn't say anything.

“The second instance was Isabelle’s attitude towards Leah, as she acted as the Saintess,” Earl Orlando said, raising his second finger and looking at Claire.

"The third clue is those new taxes."

"Ideas like healing magic insurance, burial taxes, and indulgences are not things that Lia could come up with, nor could ordinary nobles. But someone else did come up with them."

“Yes, more than a hundred years ago, the evil god emperor Claire implemented a similar policy in the empire.” Rosemary took over the conversation again, her beautiful and wise eyes fixed directly into Claire’s eyes.

This little nun gave Claire a sense of oppression akin to that of a charismatic saint.

Although she was younger than Earl Orlando, she was more intelligent and decisive.

Of course, it also stems from sufficient self-confidence.

"Unfortunately, it was rejected by the archbishop at the time."

"The changes to Acting Saintess Isabelle began a few months ago. Her new system, her new policies, and her increased attention to Miss Leah all came after that point in time."

"That time coincided with a change in the atmosphere within the Holy City. There was some conflict between the Acting Saintess of Discipline and the Acting Saintess of Prayer; it seemed like they were vying for something."

"Finally, the Shapeshifting Potion." Count Orlando delivered the final blow.

"Someone who knows so much about the 'Holy City,' and who may have directly helped propose those new 'Holy City' systems, could stir up trouble between the two acting saintesses, and ultimately still need the shapeshifting potion?"

This was a combination of internal and external forces, and Claire hadn't expected that the Nolan family would have members in the Church of Goddess.

Of course, most people wouldn't think that way.

However, Rosemary is clearly no ordinary person; this girl's mind is absolutely top-notch.

Claire remained silent for a moment.

"Based on this?" His voice was calm. "There's no evidence, it's all speculation."

“Yes.” Rosemary nodded. “It’s all speculation. But too many coincidences make it seem less like coincidences.”

"However, whether you admit it or not is not important."

“We will call you Mr. Evil God Emperor Claire in private, but we will never call you that in front of others.”

This is the same attitude Claire has towards Ophelia, the Virgin of the Commandments.

Regardless of Ophelia's opinion of him, he simply wouldn't admit it.

As for Rosemary, whether you admit it or not, she'll call you "Emperor of Evil Gods" or Claire.

"So, what's the point of all this talk?" Claire decided to get straight to the point.

"We would like to know if you support Bishop Augustine?"

Rosemary raised the question that concerned her most.

Others might think that Claire (Lia)'s attitude is unimportant; she's just close to Acting Saintess Isabelle, so how could she possibly control the Acting Saintess's opinion?

Rosemary clearly didn't think so. How Claire gained Isabelle's trust was not important; what mattered was whether Claire's existence was beneficial to herself and the Nolan family.

That's exactly why Claire's identity was revealed earlier.

The Nolan family naturally knew about their feud with the Evil God Emperor. Now that the Evil God Emperor had truly taken control of Lia's body, what was his attitude?

Even though he is currently trapped in the 'Holy City', his energy is much greater than it was a hundred years ago when he was the emperor of the empire.

Faced with such a direct question, Claire did not hesitate.

“Bishop Simon, I support Bishop Simon.”

Chapter 55 We're just cooperating.

Before Claire stood the Nolan family, the great noble family of the empire that he had destroyed when he was emperor.

However, the Nolan family's influence extends beyond the empire; they also maintain close ties with other countries.

Leveraging the resources and status of the former empire, the Nolan family's network of influence spans the entire continent, and even Claire, when she was emperor, was unable to completely eradicate it.

Even now, the Nolan family has not been able to regain their titles in the empire as they had hoped.

However, the Nolan family has never stopped expanding and developing other forces.

The woman before him, Rosemary, was an extremely important member of the Nolan family and the successor to Bishop Augustine, who was now nominated as a candidate for the new archbishop.

If Bishop Augustine succeeds in becoming the archbishop of the imperial diocese, the Nolan family will effortlessly regain its status as a super noble family in the empire.

Even the royal family will be trampled underfoot by the Nolan family.

Regardless of the struggle between Bishop Simon and the royal family, the Nolan family always emerged victorious.

However, at this moment, Bishop Augustine, who is supported by the Nolan family, has not yet become the archbishop of the imperial diocese. The variable is undoubtedly the attitude of the acting saintesses.

Only with the approval of the Acting Saints could Bishop Augustine have the opportunity to become the Archbishop of the Imperial Diocese.

Claire, who is currently controlling Lia's body, is the one who can influence the attitudes of the acting saintesses.

At this moment, Rosemary directly asked Claire who she supported and whether she supported Bishop Augustine. The answers to these two questions were quite important.

This is crucial to whether the Nolan family can return to the empire, a long-cherished wish that the Nolan family has held onto for a century since being destroyed by Claire.

Even so, Claire answered that she supported 'Bishop Simon'.

Claire's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear enough for Rosemary and Earl Orlando to hear clearly.

Rosemary's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air. A hint of surprise flashed in her grey-blue eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

She put down her teacup, interlaced her fingers on her knees, and leaned forward slightly, as if carefully examining an interesting collectible.

“Bishop Simon?” Her voice was still soft, but there was no impatience or unease in her tone.

"A man abandoned by the archbishop, publicly humiliated by the acting saint, and on the verge of losing his own diocese? You support him? Why?"

"Does Your Majesty still believe that Bishop Simon is qualified to become archbishop? Even so, does he still have the ability to gain the support of the other archbishops?"

"Even Bishop Augustine didn't have the support of all the archbishops. Bishop Simon's incompetence is already well known. Since Bishop Augustine has been chosen, it means that Bishop Simon has no hope at all, doesn't it?"

Claire leaned back on the sofa, her hands folded on her knees, her posture relaxed, but her gaze was anything but. "Because he's obedient."

Rosemary frowned slightly. "Be obedient?"

“Yes,” Claire said. “He’s stupid, he’s greedy, and he’s afraid of death. People like that are easy to use.”

Rosemary stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled.

The smile was faint, like snow melting in winter. "Mr. Claire, when you were emperor, did you select your ministers in this way?"