The rocking of the carriage stopped, and Lin Yan opened her eyes.
"Miss, we have arrived."
The side door of the carriage was opened, and Lin Yan saw a three-story church before her, with white walls inlaid with stained-glass windows.
A bishop, accompanied by several monks, was already waiting by the carriage.
"Good day, Madam. Welcome!" the bishop greeted her enthusiastically.
"Good day!" Lin Yan nodded.
"Your chambers are prepared, Madam. Please follow me," one of the monks gestured to a nearby knight.
"Madam, I believe you would like to visit the church. Please, come this way!" the bishop led Lin Yan towards the church entrance.
Lin Yan did not refuse and followed him.
Behind them, the knights and servants carried the luggage they had brought out towards the guest rooms behind the church.
Lin Yan was accompanied by only one servant and one knight.
After a brief tour of the church, the bishop had someone escort Lin Yan to her prepared chambers.
Although the chambers were not overly luxurious, everything within was clean and comfortable.
With the assistance of a maid, Lin Yan unbound her hair and removed her long dress. It was then that Lin Yan truly saw her own appearance.
Golden hair and blue eyes, her lustrous golden hair radiated a gentle glow, and her azure eyes were as clear as the deep sea.
Her fair skin was flawless, and her exquisite features, with their depth, were like a gift from God. *Read novels here.*
Lin Yan was aware that this body was beautiful, after all, the original owner was known as the "Rose Saintess" in the Holy See of Light.
She hadn't expected to be so stunning, as delicate and perfect as a Barbie doll.
Such beauty, combined with Lin Yan's exceptional affinity for the element of Light, meant that if she had continued as the Holy Saintess, she could have very well become a Cardinal or even the Pope of the Holy See.
It was no secret that she had the support of many nobles and royals, completely overshadowing the Holy Son of the same cohort.
During every blessing and procession, all eyes were fixed on her, as if there was no one else in the carriage but her.
This was likely why the Holy Son had insisted on removing her from her position as Saintess.
After changing into a loose robe, Lin Yan allowed the maid to comb her long hair.
"Angelina, this is the letter you asked me to write. Please check if it is suitable," a young maid brought over a letter.
Lin Yan glanced at it briefly. "Lisa, I trust your work, but I do not intend to visit Marquis Red Pine. After all, I am an exile, and it would be humiliating to seek an audience."
Lin Yan sighed softly and returned the letter to her.
"Then what are your intentions?"
"We will rest for a day tomorrow, and then depart the day after, taking a different route towards the Land of Chaos."
"Angie?" the maid standing beside her also looked concerned.
"I fear the journey ahead will not be peaceful. I smell the coppery scent of blood and hear the clash of weapons.
The path ahead may hold many who wish to take my life, so we must travel to our destination in secret."
"Angie, are you saying Lord Red Pine is also untrustworthy?"
"Everyone is suspect. There are no eternal friends, and he merely had old ties with my grandfather. To me, he is practically a stranger."
"I understand, Angie. I will rewrite the letter." Lisa understood Lin Yan's meaning and left with the letter.
After the maids had completed Lin Yan's basic skincare, she lay down on the bed. Although she had been sitting in the carriage, it lacked any suspension system.
Along the way, she felt as though her bones had been rattled loose.
The maids left Lin Yan's chambers, while the footmen re-inspected the carriage and fed the horses before returning.
The knights, after a simple dinner, also retired for the night.
"Your Eminence, this Saintess is truly beautiful," one of the monks remarked to the bishop after Lin Yan had parted ways with them.
"She was the former Saintess. But she is not someone you should covet. She is a daughter of a marquis, and her mother is the daughter of a duke with royal blood."
This rose of the Holy See had indeed captivated many, but the power behind her deterred any rash actions.
She was no ordinary girl; to harm her would mean facing the gallows.
"I didn't say anything," the monk replied sheepishly.
"Enough. Many matters are intertwined with her. It is best we do not get involved. Entertain her well, and once she leaves, she will be of no concern to us."
Although she was now exiled to the Land of Chaos, who was to say she couldn't make a comeback?
After all, hadn't that former emperor returned from exile and eventually ascended to the throne?
However, that emperor was a taboo within the Holy See, as during his reign, the influence of the church was suppressed, and the royal power became exceedingly concentrated, leaving the divine power gasping for breath.
Fortunately, he was a workaholic and died on the throne early. Had he lived longer, the Holy See would now be merely surviving.
"Right, you all need to be more discreet these days. Don't do anything that might startle this former Saintess. She is a flower grown in a greenhouse and cannot withstand storms."
The bishop's tone carried a hint of disdain for Angelina, the exiled former Saintess.
"We understand. We will ensure this Saintess leaves here feeling safe and at ease."
Lin Yan slept soundly. The next morning, after washing up, she donned her robes and proceeded to the prayer room.
Kneeling before the statue of the God of Light, Lin Yan prayed as she remembered. After finishing the long prayer, Lin Yan felt a gentle breeze brush her face.
Subsequently, she felt as though she was bathed in warm sunlight, or immersed in warm water, all fatigue vanishing.
Those behind Lin Yan watched the former Saintess kneeling before the statue in astonishment.
The servant and knight who had been caring for Lin Yan felt nothing unusual. Although the Light element seemed a bit more active today, it wasn't unprecedented.
However, the bishop and monks of the church were astounded. They finally understood why this woman had been the most renowned Saintess, and why the Holy Son had moved against her.
With such a God-favored Saintess, how could anyone notice the Holy Son?