Great Confusion

While Münhart stripped Thomas of his priestly robes, Christoph gathered up both official documents.

“Now let’s switch them. With the reply letters and lists the last delegation brought, it was more than enough to prepare imitations of the same paper, handwriting, and signature.”

“The seal impression is the biggest problem, though.”

“That too is no issue. It will be perfect. Would you like to see it?”

Christoph stepped outside and retrieved a scroll from the pouch tied to his horse.

Morten and Fynel, receiving it, let out exclamations of astonishment.

It was the same paper used by the cathedral, with identical handwriting and Kraf’s signature beneath it.

“I’ve brought wax, so we can melt it and impress the seal right here. Care to read the contents? Though, it’s nothing but lies you already know.”

Morten and Fynel read the document.

Alongside greetings, it stated that the invasion of the Grandelvald Duchy, proclaimed by Christoph at the New Year’s ceremony, had been formally adopted by the Ducal Council, and that the Nastrand Grand Cathedral would “fully” agree with and support the Duchy’s decision.

It further claimed that in the near future, the Duchy of Nastrand would sign a non-aggression pact with Fjorland and a military alliance with Bjoern.

[Thus, we await the wise judgment of the Grandelvald Duchy and its Cathedral on this matter. – From Kraf, faithful servant of the Lord.]

“This is, quite literally…”

“A strong warning that the Grandelvald Duchy will be left isolated. And also a declaration that the Nastrand Grand Cathedral supports this war. As you know, this was Mother’s best idea.”

“Indeed, if things proceed like this, the Nastrand Cathedral will…”

“…become a liar. A colossal one. And the Grandelvald Duchy will fall into great confusion.”

Münhart had his head shaved by Fynel to resemble a priest.

He donned Thomas’s robes, tucked a fir branch into his belt, and mounted his horse with the credential papers and the forged document in hand.

Christoph, Morten, and Fynel came outside to see him off.

“Nothing special. Just act very busy, hand this document to anyone at the Grandelvald Cathedral, and return at once. In a sense, it’s like a ‘notice of severance,’ so it will look natural. There’s no need to receive a reply.”

“Understood.”

“Then I leave it to you.”

Following Morten’s instruction, Münhart gave a respectful salute from horseback before turning his steed.

“Open the gates!”

At Fynel’s command, the bewildered guards—still staring at Münhart dressed as a priest—hurriedly opened the gates and removed the wooden barrier.

Through the gap, Münhart rode out at full speed.

“Now, one very big task remains.”

Christoph looked at Morten and Fynel.

“I’m best suited for this part. Leave it to me, and within a few days, I’ll have it ready in our favor.”

Fynel nodded, as if entrusting it to him.

It was the moment Thomas’s fate was sealed.

A few days later.

The Grandelvald Duchy was thrown into an uproar.

They had already heard through several messengers that the Duchy of Nastrand had declared its intent to invade. But having this confirmed by a flawless “official document” carried an entirely different weight.

Münhart’s document was handed to a priest who happened to be outside the gates of the Grandelvald Grand Cathedral, and it was immediately delivered to High Priest Runsted.

Runsted was deeply shocked by both the discourteous delivery and the contents. He immediately reported the matter to Duke Bedgrid, Lord of the Duchy.

“Hm…”

The descendant of the Norger people, known for his serious nature, brushed back his golden hair and sighed.

Runsted showed him the “official document” from the Nastrand Grand Cathedral, then sat quietly, awaiting his response.

After much deliberation, Bedgrid finally nodded, as if resigned.

“Of course, we must prepare accordingly. But High Priest Runsted, forgive me for daring to question those who act in the Lord’s name… how could a national cathedral so actively endorse such a conflict?”

“My Lord, I too do not understand it. With due respect, the Cathedrals of all Nordheim’s duchies have always closely cooperated for mutual peace and prosperity. However…”

“However, what?”

“I mean no slight to the High Priest’s honor, but it seems that High Priest Kraf may be using this war to vie for Fjorland Cathedral’s leadership over the Nordenheim parishes.”

“Is that even possible?”

“I believe it is. In the end, humans are ever weak before power.”

“The letter says they will sign a non-aggression pact with Fjorland and a military alliance with Bjoern. This clearly intends to isolate and swallow our Grandelvald Duchy. Do you think the other Cathedrals would simply condone this?”

“……”

Runsted could not answer immediately. Bedgrid looked at him in frustration and spoke heavily.

“Could you inquire how the other Cathedrals view this matter? In such an issue, I would like guidance from their High Priests.”

“I will. That was my intention upon returning.”

The meeting ended there.

Bedgrid immediately summoned the commanders of the knightly and lancer corps, ordering them to strengthen the borders and prepare defensive troop formations and training.

It had been many long years since a full-scale war had broken out between duchies in Nordenheim.

The territorial dispute over Estderin, which Nastrand had long claimed, was in truth a matter of whether the border was drawn at the mountains or the river; the actual gain in land was not significant.

If that was the real trigger of this conflict, Bedgrid was even willing to concede both the river and the mountains, recognizing the border at the range as Nastrand claimed.

But if Nastrand was claiming lands won by his ancestors long before he was born, there could be no acceptance of that.

“A fight brought to me must be met.”

Bedgrid gazed firmly at his shield and sword, hanging beside the throne.

Joachim personally visited the cathedrals of Bjoern and Fjorland, delivering the letter Kraf had given him without issue, and gave a brief report on the situation in Nastrand to the best of his knowledge.

Each Cathedral was deeply shocked by the news of war, but since the spark did not immediately threaten them, they breathed a sigh of relief and expressed willingness to cooperate with the Nastrand Grand Cathedral to prevent the war.

On the afternoon of the same day, just as Joachim left his last destination—Fjorland Cathedral—another priest appeared, carrying a fir branch that signified official duty.

The guard at the cathedral gate made the Sign of the Cross and politely inquired about his business.

“I am Tilke of the Grandelvald Grand Cathedral, bearing a letter from High Priest Runsted. I seek an audience with High Priest Guiom.”

After confirming the official warrant and sealed letter from Runsted, the guard escorted him directly to High Priest Guiom.

Receiving Tilke in his office, Guiom spoke with suspicion.

“It seems today is unusually busy for this cathedral. This morning a messenger came from Nastrand Grand Cathedral, carrying a letter from High Priest Kraf.”

“Nastrand Grand Cathedral? Those insolent—oh Lord, forgive my foul mouth! In any case, what did those foolish brothers deliver?”

“Foolish? What do you mean?”

Frowning, Guiom accepted the letter from Runsted that Tilke produced.

As he read, Guiom’s expression hardened.

“What is this? Nastrand Cathedral declaring its active support for their duchy’s war? But that priest Joachim told me earlier that they were working to stop the war!”

“That is not all. Please read further, High Priest Guiom.”

Guiom continued reading.

“Good heavens… a non-aggression pact with our Duchy, and a military alliance with Bjoern? How can this be believed when we, the Cathedral, were told nothing of it?”

This time it was Tilke who was shocked.

“Do you mean Fjorland Cathedral knew nothing of this pact?”

“Not a word.”

“Then does this not mean that, except for our Grandelvald Duchy, the rulers of each duchy are plotting behind their Cathedrals’ backs?”

“Impossible! The Duchy of Fjorland and its Cathedral have built bonds of trust stronger than any other.”

“And yet, we at Grandelvald Cathedral received precisely such a ‘notification’ from Nastrand Cathedral.”

“Strange. No… impossible. How could servants of the Lord endorse war and territorial expansion?”

“Which is why we implore your wisdom to help prevent this war, High Priest Guiom.”

“What can we do? Very well. Let us at least unite the Cathedrals first. As for our Duchy’s affairs, I will look into them more closely.”

Tilke crossed himself broadly in gratitude.

The same scene played out in the Duchy of Bjoern.

Nastrand Cathedral’s new stance completely contradicted the earlier letter they had received, and when Grandelvald’s envoy revealed that Bjoern would supposedly enter a military alliance with Nastrand, High Priest Grishnak of Bjoern, like Guiom, fell into deep confusion.

Thus began the outline of the grand scheme devised by the Duchess, Christoph, Morten, and Fynel.

All three cathedrals came to distrust Nastrand Grand Cathedral, believing it duplicitous. Their previous bonds were shattered, and the other three began closer exchanges with one another.

In short, this suspicion was the signal flare that Nastrand Cathedral was drifting apart from the other three.

Furthermore, each cathedral began to suspect its own duchy was hiding something from it.

Thus the long-standing bond between Church and State began to unravel.

The Cathedrals’ challenges and demands for answers left each duchy baffled. In truth, Nastrand had never proposed any non-aggression pact or alliance, yet the Cathedrals had already accepted it as “fact,” making it impossible to provide a clear response.

Even repeated assurances that no such proposals had ever been received failed to convince the Cathedrals.

The very foundation of balance was shaking.

And from far away, Duchess Unsette of Nastrand watched it all with great delight.