Michael hurriedly helped Tyler up, just about to say something when, all of a sudden, the knight beside him seemed to go berserk. He instantly pressed his hand against the hilt of his sword, took a heavy step forward, and coldly glared at Tia.

"Filthy undead creature!"

Seeing that the knight was about to strike, Kenley immediately stepped forward to shield Tia."She is my servant! Sir Knight, I ask for your mercy!"

This instinctive act instantly won Tia's favor. She hadn't expected Kenley to stand up for her like this. Before the bishop himself, he actually had the courage to block a knight's sword for her.

At that moment, Auber sneered maliciously."Honorable Sir Knight, do not listen to him. He is nothing but a lowly peasant, surely bewitched by that vampire whore. Please, Sir Knight, eliminate the vampire and save the people of the Cain Empire!"

"That damn noble scum!" Kenley cursed inwardly. He hadn't expected things to escalate this way—he had only shot Auber a cold glance earlier, yet Auber had responded with such venom. Kenley was filled with fury.

Of course, he didn't voice his anger. Instead, he quickly said,"Sir Knight, do you see the slave collar around her neck? She is my personal property, not some undead creature that has bewitched me. She will never harm anyone! By the Holy Mother above, I swear it!"

"A race abandoned by the Holy Mother—what right does a lowly peasant like you have to swear on her behalf?" Auber continued to fan the flames.

Finally, Tia couldn't stand it any longer. She spoke up,"I can prove my loyalty to my master. If I have ever bewitched him, if I have ever turned him into a slave of darkness, then I am willing to be burned at the far shore of the Mirror Lake, forever cast out from this world!"

"A filthy undead like you dares to—"

"Enough!"

At that moment, the bishop finally spoke. His voice was not loud, but it carried an overwhelming presence that instantly silenced everyone.

In an instant, the situation was brought under control. The knight still gripped his sword tightly, and Auber continued to glare coldly at Kenley's group. Only Tyler remained motionless, his eyes curiously fixed on Kenley and Tia.

Kenley was, of course, familiar with Bishop Michael. Back when he played as a low-level paladin, he had encountered him more than once. He had always found this benevolent old man quite likable—at least, that was how it was in the game.

The bishop stepped forward and examined Tia with curiosity.

"You just mentioned the far shore of Mirror Lake?" he asked.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Tia didn't understand why the bishop would bring that up, but she obediently nodded.

"That is from the Murphy version of the Holy Scripture. The Church of Light now uses the Grier version, where Mirror Lake has been renamed Dream Lake."

The bishop was actually discussing holy scripture with a vampire. Everyone exchanged glances, their faces filled with confusion.

"I see, I see... I apologize, Bishop, Tia was unaware. Please forgive me," Tia said as she quickly performed a standard noble curtsy to express her apology.

Upon seeing this gesture, Michael's eyes immediately brightened. "The royal etiquette of the East Coast! Which country from the East Coast do you hail from?"

As expected of the well-traveled and knowledgeable bishop, he deduced Tia's general origins simply from the etiquette.

Tia's eyes darkened, but she still answered truthfully, "The Kingdom of Gaefi."

"I see... You must have been turned into an undead during the Fourth Epoch, when the Dark Lord invaded the East Coast. Poor child, may the Holy Mother share her love with you, just as she shares it with me. May the Mother's grace bless you," Michael said, taking his silver scepter and gently tapping Tia's shoulders. Instantly, a beam of holy light enveloped Tia.

"Bishop..." The paladin immediately took a step closer to Michael, obviously puzzled.

Michael raised his left hand and made a stop gesture. "I have my own judgment."

"Understood..." The paladin stepped back.

At that moment, Tia was completely bathed in the holy light. It felt just as serene and comforting as when she had undergone the Holy Servant ceremony with Kenley. Tia felt an overwhelming sense of calm and peace.

Surprisingly, Tia didn't feel any pain in the holy light but instead wore a contented expression, fully enjoying the sensation.

"This... This is impossible... It's supposed to be an undead... One abandoned by the Holy Mother..." Auber's face twisted in disbelief.

The previous paladin was also stunned, almost thinking he had seen things incorrectly.

Only Michael and Kenley weren't surprised. Noticing Kenley's expression, Michael became curious about the source of his confidence but refrained from asking.

After Tia finished receiving the holy light, Michael smiled warmly. "You are still in the embrace of the Holy Mother. Congratulations, my child. This is a small gift from me to you. I hope it can guide you in the corridors of the future."

With that, Michael fumbled in his robe and took out something. This item made Auber's eyes bulge out, and the tailor, Tyler, was left speechless. The paladin was even more aghast—he never imagined that the bishop would go this far for an undead.

Tia was completely taken aback. As an undead, she had long been separated from the living, despised by the world and shunned by life itself. How could such kindness happen to her?

It turned out that the gift Michael presented was called the "Proof of Devotion." This was a gift only truly devout followers could receive from the church. No amount of money from nobles, merchants, or adventurers could buy it; only genuine believers were worthy of such a gift.

"Bishop, I can't accept this!" Tia said in a panic, shrinking back awkwardly.

"Take it, child. As Princess of Gaefi, I understand you, just as the Holy Mother understands you. I love you, just as the Mother loves you." Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked—everyone except Kenley.

She was a princess?!

Auber couldn't believe it—this undead being was a princess? And she had just received a blessing from the bishop without being burned to death?

The paladin was also shocked. He had just tried to strike down an undead who, as it turned out, had been royal in life! On the continent of Odr, even dead royalty were not to be treated lightly.

This revelation involved the history and secrets of the human race, and at this moment, the paladin felt utterly ashamed, with no place to hide his embarrassment.