They are all characters I control.

After the communication ended, Lia immediately went to Earl Orlando to explain.

"Wine?" Earl Orlando was in his study dealing with letters when he heard Lia's words and looked up.

A hint of confusion flashed in the amber eyes of the worldly-wise count: "What does the Acting Saintess want wine for? And in such a hurry? We just talked about this yesterday, didn't we?"

“I…I don’t know…” Lia shook her head: “She only said to hurry up, but didn’t say why.”

"Strange, isn't that notebook the more important one?" Count Orlando put down his quill, leaned back in his chair, and tapped the table lightly with his long, slender fingers.

"Never mind, we can't fathom the thoughts of the Acting Saintess."

"Last time you said she wanted Imperial Beer? Brewed with malt, honey, and hops, and with water from the capital?"

“Yes, that’s right!” Lia nodded vigorously.

Actually, it wasn't really her who said it, but the 'God of Guidance' who said it.

“That’s not cheap.” Earl Orlando laughed. “But since it’s on behalf of the Holy Maiden, we have to prepare it no matter how expensive it is.”

"But we don't need to do anything; we can just go to someone else's house to get it."

"Take it?" Liya looked at her aunt in confusion.

“That’s right, I don’t have that kind of wine here, but the wine you’re talking about has plenty of it with people who are more powerful than me.”

Count Orlando grinned, revealing the cunning smile befitting someone who had disguised herself as a man and infiltrated the power circles of the new empire.

"Then, where do we get it?" Lia blinked her innocent eyes.

"Although it's a bit troublesome, we can consider going to find..."

Before Earl Orlando could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door.

The maid Anna came in.

Seeing that Leah and Earl Orlando seemed to be discussing something, she still gave her report that she had to interrupt them.

"Your Excellency, Miss, Bishop Simon has sent someone."

Count Orlando and Lia exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

To be fair, that bishop wasn't exactly friendly to them either; not to mention that Bishop Simon directly usurped the new tax written by the evil 'Lia'.

When questioned by Isabelle, the bishop also lost the opportunity to be promoted to archbishop.

Whether Bishop Simon harbors resentment towards them is hard to say.

After all, the opportunity for promotion was lost—a promotion that she had been hoping for for half her life. It was ruined because of the similarity between the new tax written by the evil 'Lia' and Lady Isabelle's 'new system'.

It would be difficult for anyone else to keep up, right?

Isabelle is clearly protecting Leah, which is why Leah is able to stay peacefully with Earl Orlando. What is this bishop doing here now?

"Did you say what we came here for?" Count Orlando asked Anna.

"The messenger said that His Holiness the Bishop would like to invite Miss to the church." Anna's expression was somewhat subtle: "He said... he wants to thank Miss in person for her 'help' at the last dinner party."

Lia was taken aback: "Help? What did I help with?"

Earl Orlando chuckled.

"You didn't help him before, but now I can help him and restore his image as the acting saintess Isabelle. I want you to put in a good word for him, so I'm thanking you in advance."

There aren't many people who can get Bishop Simon to flatter them so directly; Leah is the first.

Throughout his time by His Majesty Darian's side, Earl Orlando had never seen Bishop Simon so humble, begging from others like this.

Who would have thought that Bishop Simon would meet his end today?

"What should we do? Should we help him?"

Lia cautiously inquired of Earl Orlando, as she was also calling upon the 'God of Guidance'.

But the 'God of Guidance' did not reply.

"She's probably sleeping," Lia thought.

“Of course I can help him,” Earl Orlando said with a smile, looking at Lia.

"However, before that, he also wants to give us a little help. By helping us, he is also helping himself."

Lia blinked. "Your Excellency, you mean..."

"Didn't he invite you to the church?" Count Orlando turned around, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "Then of course we'll go."

"By the way, tell him that the Acting Saintess urgently needs a batch of Imperial beer, and ask if he can help."

"Will this work? He's a bishop, do you think he'll agree to this?" Leah's eyes widened. Was she trying to take advantage of the bishop?

“It’s precisely because he’s a bishop that he has the means.” Count Orlando walked over and patted Leah on the shoulder.

As the heir who is destined to carry on the family's legacy, Lia is still too inexperienced.

“There’s a teleportation array in the church, which can send things directly to the Holy City. Instead of us trying to figure it out, we should let Bishop Simon do the work.”

"He's trying to curry favor with the acting saintess, so he won't refuse."

Lia nodded with some skepticism.

Half an hour later, accompanied by Earl Orlando and his maid Anna, Leah arrived at the cathedral in the capital by carriage.

The church looked more solemn than it did at the last dinner.

The white stone walls gleamed softly in the afternoon sunlight, and the stained glass windows depicted murals of goddesses descending to earth.

Two rows of knights in silver armor stood at the entrance, and they all bowed when they saw Lia get off the carriage.

Bishop Simon personally greeted him at the door.

He was dressed in a purple bishop's robe, wearing a tall crown, holding a scepter, and wearing a gentle and courteous smile.

Unlike his smug yet disgraceful demeanor at the last dinner party, today he seemed more like a warm and hospitable host.

“Miss Liya, welcome, welcome.” He bowed slightly. “Last dinner was rushed and I was unable to properly entertain you. Please allow me to do my best to be a good host today.”

"Your Excellency, you are too kind," Lia replied somewhat awkwardly.

Count Orlando stood behind Leah and said calmly, "Your Excellency is extremely busy, and it is truly an honor that you have taken the time to entertain us."

“Not at all,” Bishop Simon stepped aside. “Please come in.”

At this moment, Bishop Simon was completely devoid of the arrogant attitude he had shown towards Marquis Rost earlier. In front of Lydia, he was practically a servile servant.

Lydia felt somewhat uncomfortable seeing Bishop Simon like this.

However, Leah was not satisfied; instead, Count Orlando took her place and enjoyed being served by Bishop Simon.

Chapter 13 The Bishop's Kind Face

At the invitation of Bishop Simon, Leah and Earl Orlando walked through the tall archway into the church sanctuary.

Lia gazed at the huge mural on the church dome depicting the descent of the goddess, and the dappled sunlight filtering through the stained glass windows.

The air was filled with the scent of incense and candles, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

For Lia, who was not a member of the Goddess Church, seeing such a scene was just as shocking as when she went to the royal palace.

No one expected that there was another "royal palace" besides the one where His Majesty Daryan resided, indicating that the Church was living quite comfortably in the new empire.

At least until the arrival of the Acting Saint Isabelle, Bishop Simon's position was unshakeable.

Bishop Simon led Lydia and the others through the main hall to an elegantly decorated reception room.

"Please sit down." He sat down in the main seat and gestured for the maid to serve tea.

Leah and Earl Orlando sat down on the sofa opposite them, with Anna standing behind Leah.

"What has Miss Liya been up to lately?" Bishop Simon asked casually, picking up his teacup. "You know, I've always wanted to meet Miss Liya. Her talent is something I, a mere bishop, greatly admire."

Look, this is how people of status and position speak.

Earl Orlando tried his best not to let his facial expressions betray his true thoughts.

Everyone knows that Bishop Simon forcibly seized Lydia's proposal at the banquet.

If the new tax had been proposed by Leah from the beginning, then Bishop Simon wouldn't have been questioned and suppressed by the Acting Saintess Isabelle.

To put it bluntly, this is all the result of Bishop Simon's excessive greed and desire for everything.

Now Bishop Simon is saying it's out of respect for Periya's talent? How shameless, but it's also in line with Bishop Simon's high position.

"I, I..." The still-naive Lia was unable to understand the deeper meaning in Bishop Simon's words like Earl Orlando did.

When Bishop Simon praised her, she didn't know how to respond and subconsciously looked at Earl Orlando.

Earl Orlando could only indulge his niece, who still needed much nurturing, and answered Bishop Simon's question on her behalf.

“Miss Lia has recently been preparing some things for the Acting Saintess.”

Dealing with old foxes is too troublesome; it's best to get straight to the point.

"Oh?" Bishop Simon immediately caught the key phrase: "Acting Saintess? Is it Lady Isabelle?"

“Yes.” Count Orlando put down his teacup, his tone flat. “You should know that Miss Lia has been in contact with Lady Isabelle.”

"His Majesty Darion also summoned Lia a few days ago, and Lia also contacted Lady Isabelle in front of His Majesty."

"But Lady Isabelle doesn't like too many irrelevant people, so the contact ended abruptly."

"Finally, yesterday, Lady Isabelle contacted Miss Lia again, entrusting her to prepare a batch of Imperial beer."

After speaking, Earl Orlando looked at Bishop Simon, who was listening intently to every word he had said, and smiled slightly.

The information that needed to be released has already been released, and stirring things up is necessary.

His Majesty Darian and Bishop Simon are neither good people to the Nolan family; they cannot allow the two powerful figures who control the new empire to get along too harmoniously.

Of course, now that Bishop Simon was in front of him, Count Orlando had to "take care" of him again: "Although this Imperial beer looks ordinary, since it is for the esteemed Acting Saintess of the Goddess Church and the ingredients have been carefully selected, it naturally requires caution. Miss Lia is quite worried about it."

Bishop Simon's eyes lit up.

"Imperial beer? Hmm, I suppose Lady Isabelle is quite concerned about the current living conditions in the new empire. Indeed, it requires careful preparation." He put down his teacup, his obese body leaning slightly forward as he looked at Count Orlando and Lia.

"However, that's quite a coincidence."

"What a coincidence?" Earl Orlando feigned ignorance.

"To be honest, there happens to be some beer stored in the church's underground cellar," Bishop Simon said, trying to sound casual and not too obsequious. "It was left by the previous bishop, and he's never been willing to touch it."

"Really?" Bishop Simon wanted to see the look of surprise on Lia's face.

Earl Orlando continued fishing: "Really? Wouldn't that be inappropriate, having Bishop Simon, the Church's Bishop, offer something to the Acting Saintess of the Goddess Church?"

Isn't this just like transferring money from one hand to the other?

Besides, who gets the credit after this thing is presented?

Should we put a note on this beer that it's from Bishop Simon?

“No problem, I just admire Miss Leah’s wisdom and talent, so I gave her a small gift.” Bishop Simon understood Earl Orlando’s meaning and said with a smile.

"As for how Miss Lia wants to handle this little gift, that's Miss Lia's business and has nothing to do with me."

“That is truly a gift from Bishop Simon. Leah will remember Bishop Simon’s help.” Count Orlando accepted it without any hesitation.

"It's alright, it's alright, these are minor issues. Helping others is the mission of our Goddess Church."

Bishop Simon's smile was genuine; he was truly relieved.

Although it would be too difficult to directly obtain the forgiveness of the acting saintess Isabelle.

Therefore, one can turn to the next best thing: gaining Liya's favor. Getting close to Liya can also help Bishop Simon regain support within the Church of the Goddess.

"Then... I'll have to trouble you, Your Excellency." Lia didn't know much; she only knew that she could complete Isabelle's mission.

Although the child is a little slow-witted, he still knows how to say thank you.

“No trouble at all.” Bishop Simon stood up. “I’ll have someone fetch it right away. Miss Leah, please have a moment.”

After he finished speaking, he turned and walked out of the reception room.

Leah breathed a sigh of relief and lowered her voice to Earl Orlando, "Your Excellency, how did you know there was Imperial beer in the church?"

Looking back now, it seems that Earl Orlando had a way of fulfilling Isabelle's request before.

“I don’t know.” Earl Orlando picked up his teacup and took a small sip. “I’m just betting he’ll say he does.”