Cersei waited and waited until that afternoon before she finally saw Sister Molle again.
The nun spoke directly, "For your matter, Saint Matthew risked entering the Red Keep today and personally met with Euron. The High Septon suggested transferring you to the Great Sept of Baelor to practice alongside the ascetics—"
"I'm willing!" Before the nun could finish, Cersei cried out excitedly. "Mercy of the Mother, mercy of Saint Matthew, I'm willing to go to the Great Sept. I want to drink vegetable egg soup."
Sister Molle looked at her with pity and shook her head. "Euron is unwilling."
The smile on Cersei's face froze. After a moment of shock, she said angrily, "On what grounds is he unwilling? The High Septon personally intervened. What marriage cannot be dissolved?"
"He said he does not believe in the Seven, and told Saint Matthew not to interfere in the royal family's internal affairs," the nun replied.
"Saint Matthew is an angel who has comprehended the true essence of the Mother's great compassion. He must not easily give up on saving me, this lost little lamb," Cersei pleaded.
"The High Septon will certainly not give up lightly," Sister Molle said.
"Right, we can't give up. Gather the Warrior's Sons and the Poor Fellows. Let a hundred thousand troops bathe the Red Keep in blood!" Cersei exclaimed excitedly.
Sister Molle was horrified. "Mercy of the Mother, what a sin! How can you say such evil words?"
"Fine, mercy of the Mother. We won't kill everyone. Just eliminate Euron, then rescue me so I can take charge. That should be enough to suppress the rebels in the Red Keep," Cersei declared boldly.
"The Church cannot participate in power struggles. This has become the foremost commandment for us clergy.
Political authority belongs to the king and the people. Faith belongs to the Seven and the Church.
The Seven's only requirement of their followers is that they themselves become better," Sister Molle said sternly.
"Ah, when I was Regent Queen, it would have been great if you had been this honest," Cersei sighed.
She ran to the newly opened glass window, looked at the seven rays of holy light above Visenya's Hill, and shouted, "Merciful Saint Matthew, please show the same ruthlessness you used when you made me walk the streets. Use the Mother's divine palm to eliminate Euron!"
"Saint Matthew hasn't returned to the sept. He is currently at the Red Keep, attempting to convert Euron," Sister Molle said.
"What?" Cersei turned back in confusion.
"Saint Matthew pities Euron's descent into hell and wishes to guide the demon into sanctity."
"?????" Cersei's face filled with confusion.
After a while, she came back to her senses and cautiously asked, "Did you say that correctly? Saint Matthew pities Euron?"
"Euron has been bewitched by an evil god and struggles in hell. He is experiencing the greatest suffering in the mortal world," the nun said.
"Madness!" Cersei said with a twisted expression.
"Your days of ascetic practice have been wasted. You have not grasped even a trace of the Mother's path of compassion," the nun scolded.
"I am clearly the one suffering, yet you pity Euron and blame me for not understanding compassion?" Cersei retorted angrily.
Old Sister Molle sighed. "You murdered the High Sparrow. Does that not count as a grave injustice to the Church?"
"It was Euron's idea," Cersei said weakly.
"Your crimes are monstrous. You have caused immense suffering to the people of the Seven Kingdoms. Yet we, who suffered under your persecution, have not abandoned you. We have given you mercy and chances for redemption many times.
Euron's crimes are actually less severe than yours. Why can you not show him mercy and persuade him that though the sea of suffering is boundless, turning back leads to the shore?"
As soon as she finished speaking, just as Cersei showed hesitation and contemplation, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from the stairwell outside.
Soon, they heard Sister Alanting shouting breathlessly, "Bad news! Bad news! Saint Matthew tried to persuade Euron that the sea of suffering is boundless and turning back leads to the shore, but Euron stabbed him with a sword!"
"What?" Sister Molle's old eyes nearly popped out of her long face.
"Euron actually dared to harm Saint Matthew?" Cersei cried out in both shock and delight. "Quickly go to the Great Sept and summon the Warrior's Sons. Bathe the Red Keep in blood and avenge the High Septon!"
If Euron had stabbed Saint Matthew, he was doomed.
If Euron died, she could take control again.
Wonderful!
"The High Septon isn't dead," Sister Alanting said, leaning at the doorway and panting.
"Didn't you say Saint Matthew was stabbed?"
Cersei could not hide her disappointment. Her earlier excitement made the disappointment even greater.
"Saint Matthew would not die from a single stab," Alanting glared at her and shook her head.
"Blessed be the Mother. Saint Matthew is an angel. He possesses powerful holy healing and resurrection abilities. He may not even die," Sister Molle said with a long sigh of relief.
Then why were you screaming so miserably?
Cersei cursed inwardly and asked, "What exactly happened? Would Euron stab Saint Matthew over just a few words?"
"It was all because of you," Alanting sighed as she looked at her. "Saint Matthew advised Euron to be kind, to lay down his blade, and convert to the Mother.
Euron said Saint Matthew was speaking irresponsibly, unable to understand his pain."
Sister Alanting briefly recounted what had happened in the council hall of the Red Keep.
Euron received Saint Matthew while seated on the Iron Throne.
Saint Matthew had not come solely for Cersei. More importantly, he sought to have Euron open the city gates so the clergy could lead refugees and civilians south, or cross Blackwater Bay to Tidal Island.
Euron initially refused and demanded that the Church cooperate with the Iron Throne in resisting Stannis outside the city.
Matthew handed Euron the Dragon Queen's letter and said directly, "Stannis will certainly attack the city within a week. He will not care about the civilians beneath the walls.
The city is already severely short of food. The Iron Throne cannot provide relief, and public resentment is boiling over. Riots frequently break out in the streets.
King's Landing is on the verge of collapse under the siege.
Last night, I displayed a miracle to the believers. Now the entire city knows of the plan to 'head south to survive.'
If you prevent them from leaving, you will not need to wait for Stannis to attack. An uprising of at least three hundred thousand people will erupt immediately. Can you withstand that?
Moreover, behind the believers stand the Church, thousands of armed clergy, the Dragon Queen of Dragonstone, and the Mother in the heavens. Which of these can you withstand?
Those leaving are only starving refugees. Most of the clergy and armed forces will remain in King's Landing to resist the White Walkers. This brings only benefits and no harm to the Iron Throne."
Randyll Tarly and others advised from the side. Hearing the cheers of tens of thousands of beggars outside the Red Keep walls calling Saint Matthew's name, Euron realized the situation was untenable and grudgingly agreed.
As long as the Church swore that the Vale's army outside would not seize the opportunity to attack, he would allow Saint Matthew to take away the willing civilians and refugees.
After settling this major matter, Matthew began attempting to convert the great demon Euron.
"The High Septon tried to persuade Euron to abandon power and convert to the Mother?"
"No wonder Euron stabbed him. He would never give up the Iron Throne," Cersei said with a strange expression.
"Euron is indeed greedy for power, but the reason he stabbed Saint Matthew was because of you," Sister Alanting said.
"What about me?" Cersei asked in astonishment.
"Saint Matthew advised Euron not to torment you any further and to let him dissolve your marriage. Euron spoke harshly and even threatened the High Septon. If he dared interfere in your personal affairs, he would send him to meet the Mother," the old nun said angrily.
"Lock Euron up. Make him repent. Let him atone as an ascetic!" Cersei cried excitedly.
The old nun shook her head. "Saint Matthew has comprehended the true essence of the Mother's compassion and is willing to sacrifice himself to convert the demon.
If his death can bring you peace and calm Euron's heart, he would willingly die. And so Euron drew his sword and pierced Saint Matthew's heart."
In truth, Euron should not have acted so impulsively. But Saint Matthew's gaze was filled with compassion and love, like the gentle look one gives a lost child. Instead of converting him, it ignited a nameless fury within him.
Euron swore to the Storm God that never in his life had he hated someone as much as he did in that moment.
Who do you think you are, looking at me like that, as if I were a child? I am the greatest boss in the Game of Thrones.
Then, in the court, he boldly drew his sword. Under the shocked gazes of countless officials and nobles, he thrust it straight through Saint Matthew's chest.
Saint Matthew neither dodged nor flinched. Even with a sword through his heart, he did not frown. Instead, he looked at Euron, whose face was twisted and eyes bloodshot, with even greater pity and sympathy. An indescribable sorrow emanated from him, and even Euron himself was shaken, his hand gripping the sword trembling uncontrollably.
"Has the resentment in your heart been dispelled?" Saint Matthew asked gently.
He did not die. Even with blood flowing from the wound in his heart, he did not die and could still speak.
"Step, step, step!" Euron's face turned pale. Frightened by an inexplicable aura, he staggered back three steps, pulling the blade from the wound and bringing out a spray of hot blood.
At that moment, Sister Alanting left the hall and rushed to the Queen Dowager's tower.
"To dare attack Saint Matthew, Euron's sins are unforgivable!" Cersei exclaimed excitedly.
"If converting demons were that easy, the Mother's compassion would not be so precious," the nun sighed.
"Since Saint Matthew is still trying to convert Euron, why did you run here shouting as if the High Septon had died?" Cersei asked irritably.
Sister Alanting glared at her, then turned to Sister Molle. "Euron is stubborn beyond redemption. I fear the Iron Throne will ultimately come into conflict with the Church. Go pack your belongings. We must be ready to leave at any time."
"Is it that serious? Would Euron dare act against us?" Sister Molle asked in shock.
"The Red Demon is about to attack the city. The Red Keep will be the main battlefield. Sooner or later, we will have to return to the sept for refuge," Alanting said.
Only then did Cersei realize that the nuns were leaving not because of a shift change, but because they were abandoning their supervision of her.
"If you leave, does that mean I'm free?" she asked ecstatically.
"Have you not found peace and tranquility through your ascetic repentance? You speak as if the Church is restraining your freedom.
We have worked so hard to help you redeem yourself," Sister Molle said with grief.
"I can repent to the Mother while enjoying fine meals and living in a luxurious and comfortable castle," Cersei said righteously.
"If you do not restrain the desires of taste, smell, and touch, how can you purify your mind and let your soul reach the heavenly shore?" Sister Alanting said seriously.
"You old women haven't even mastered holy healing. What right do you have to lecture me?" Cersei said impatiently.
Sister Molle's face flushed red, her eyes filled with regret.
But Sister Alanting raised her hand, igniting a warm and bright holy light. "Last night, while listening to Saint Matthew preach at the pulpit, Mesent, Unia, and I gained insight. We have received the Mother's blessing and have become priests."
"I shouldn't have stayed here wasting time with you," Sister Molle complained, looking at Cersei.
"Bad news! Bad news!"
As soon as Mesent was mentioned, she arrived. Like Alanting before, she shouted while panting, "Euron has gone mad. With one strike, he cut off Saint Matthew's manhood."
(End of Chapter)
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