"Pa!"
The ruler ca down heavily on the palm, producing a crisp sound.
Yet the tall girl didn't utter a single sound, as if she felt no pain at all.
The nun, who had a soft heart, initially wanted to check if her hand was hurt.
But seeing her indifferent expression, the nun beca even angrier.
"Oh my, such a tough girl, making it seem like I'm bullying you?" Nanny Lelisa, the teacher, spoke, and everyone in the class at Joan of Arc Castle Girls' School lowered their heads.
Nanny Lelisa, who considered herself a lady, was incapable of scolding them.
But her sarcastic remarks left them feeling extrely uncomfortable.
"Tell , why were you late for almost half the morning? Do you want to send a carriage for you?" Nanny Lelisa circled her, "Do you think you're the Autocratic Duke?"
Moliat, or rather Jia Li, said nothing and remained silent.
Nanny Lelisa returned to the podium, "I know you co from a noble family, it's obvious.
But you're attending a school established specifically for us girls by His Majesty Horn, the Saint Son Pope, and Her Highness Jeanne.
Your family put in a lot of effort to send you here, didn't they?
I don't care what connections your family has with the Holy chanism Court Education Committee; you're here to be educated, and you must follow the rules.
Go outside and reflect on your behavior!"
Without much ado, Jia Li turned and walked out the door, standing like a sentinel at the entrance.
Inside this monastery-turned-school, everyone resud reciting the beautiful odes from the Ancient Aier Era.
After the rise of the Holy Path in the Thousand River Valley, one major agenda was to revive the culture of Ancient Aier.
Thus, unlike other areas' classical education, the Holy Alliance's education adopted many translated ancient texts from the El Empire.
Standing at the door, Jia Li slowly lifted her head, gazing at the cloudless sky.
It was already March, and following a previous exclusive interview in the Canal Report, it's estimated that the Holy Alliance had barely secured its position.
Although she was unwilling, she knew she had no choice but to accept this reality.
In the foreseeable future, she would have to part ways with the identity of the Autocratic Duke.
However, Jia Li clearly understood that the title of Monarch of Thousand River Valley was just an empty shell.
"Hmph!" Jia Li snorted softly, muttering to herself, "Those who wield the real power, whether called the Autocratic Duke or Pope, it makes no difference."
After an almost bloodless winter night and nearly two weeks of house arrest, she was persuaded by Horn to go to school.
Initially, Jia Li was adamant about not attending, viewing it as an insult from Horn.
However, before departure, Horn made an agreent with her—not to reveal her identity, not to use the breathing technique, and not to cheat using mind reading.
If she could achieve a passing or above score in Joan of Arc Castle Girls' School, Horn would give her a holy position in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The so-called Ministry of Internal Affairs is a newly proposed institution, directly under Horn, much like the Cheka Hall.
According to the vision Horn outlined for her, this institution would include prison managent, operations of the Trinity Education Team, and the Military Police Agency.
Additionally, certain Mountain Knights, including those from One River and other areas, after vetting and re-education, would form the Inner Guard Army.
This Inner Guard Army would be responsible for guarding strategic locations, riot control, and cri fighting.
Regarding cri, this especially refers to disciplinary issues among holy personnel, including corruption and issues of conduct.
The Military Police would handle investigation and case filing, the Ministry of Internal Affairs would handle interrogation, the Inner Guard would make arrests, and finally, the Judgent Court would prosecute in the Holy Union Court.
As for political issues like formalism, excessive enforcent, negligence, and passing the buck among holy personnel, these would fall under the jurisdiction of the Cheka Hall.
If the Holy Alliance were to expand its territory in the future, the Inner Guard Army would also need to be stationed locally to suppress separatism.
This offer, Jia Li indeed found tempting.
This authority is almost on par with the level of an Imperial Cardinal, and she could also legitimately control part of the military.
She initially thought she'd be sidelined and placed under house arrest by Horn for two or three years until the noble forces were almost entirely cleared out before she could resurface.
Thinking of this, the conversation between the two of them that day resurfaced in Jia Li's mind.
"Aren't you afraid the noble forces will make a coback by letting return so soon?"
"Afraid, but whether you're here or not, the devil will make a coback, just with a different guise.
The Holy Father once said that when judging sinners, one judges the sin, not the person, because the ultimate purpose of judgent is redemption.
The purpose of sending you to school is not to make you submit or judge you, but to redeem you."
It's likely that he made this up casually; Jia Li didn't believe it.
He's certainly aware that he can't entirely control all the power in Thousand River Valley on his own and needs her help, so he concocted a clumsy excuse.
In her heart, Jia Li mumbled; her feelings toward Horn were extrely complex.
On the softer side, Horn was too much like her father, making Jia Li feel a sense of closeness involuntarily.
On the harsher side, Horn could harshly strike Jia Li through ruthless political ans, and then lure her in with concessions.
This ti, she dared not think Horn was too naive again. The bloodless winter night was vivid in her mind.
Given the chance to make a coback this ti, she absolutely must not make the sa mistake.
Moreover, the battle on the front line isn't easy to fight; perhaps in less than three months, she would be called back to the front line.
After all, besides her and the absolutely loyal Herman, no one else could command the Mountain Knights.
"Jia Li? Jia Li?"
Jia Li was still imrsed in her fantasies when she heard a gentle voice swirling around her ears.
She turned her head but saw only the empty corridor.
It was only when soone tapped her waist that she looked down and saw a petite nun less than 1.6 ters tall.
Even though Horn had established a few girls' schools, allowing so girls to attend school and beco literate,
the social customs of the Holy Alliance had not yet beco open to the point where won, especially those from the middle class or higher, could freely show themselves in public.
Changing concepts and customs isn't the work of a day, so even in girls' schools, students still had to wear nun uniforms.
But this suited Jia Li perfectly, preventing her witch's illness from spreading.
"What's the matter?" Jia Li asked indifferently, looking at the little girl.
"Class is over. Why are you still standing here? Aren't you tired?"
Only then did Jia Li realize class had ended. She turned around to leave but was stopped by the petite girl.
"What's the matter?" Jia Li asked again.
The girl cleared her throat and puffed out her nonexistent chest, "I am the class monitor Kusvania, and Nanny Lelisa asked to supervise you to complete the morality coursework."
"I don't need any morality scores," Jia Li scoffed dismissively. That standard was ant for wives, which she didn't need to follow.
"But you'll fail if you don't."
"All my subjects have full marks, and I'll still fail?"
"If your morality score is failing, you'll fail even if you have full marks in other subjects..."
"What?" Jia Li, who had started to walk away, abruptly turned back, "What kind of bullshit rule is that?"
The petite nun frowned, "No swearing. That will also deduct morality points."
Taking a deep breath, suppressing the indignation of being bullied while down, Jia Li asked patiently, "How many morality points do I have left?"
"Sixty... including the curse you just said, you're already failing..."
Jia Li's eyes turned dangerously sharp, while the petite nun's hair stood on end as if she had seen a tiger: "Fighting will also deduct morality points. I am the daughter of a knight!"
Recalling her three agreents with Horn, Jia Li forcibly suppressed her anger, "I was wrong earlier. Can the swearing not count?"
"No," Kusvania shook her head, "An agreent is an agreent. I was appointed by Nanny; I cannot change it because of... you, what are you doing? I'm not easy to push around either!"
Looking at the cat-like fluffing up little nun, Jia Li held back her anger, "Is there any way for to regain my morality points?"
Only then did the little nun breathe a sigh of relief, "You need to attend an additional confession class at noon, which Nanny Lelisa asked to take you to."
...
Walking on the path to the confession classroom, Jia Li was still cursing under her breath.
Horn must have known she would make mistakes, so he deliberately sent her here.
Did he really think Horn was out to redeem her? This was more about grooming her as a wife and forcing her to submit, wasn't it?
Along the way, Jia Li got a lot of information about this class from Kusvania.
So-called confession class was actually a group sharing of one's misdeeds and self-reflection.
After the reflection, they sang the gratitude hymn of Saint's Grandson, and that was it.
For the sake of morality points, she was compelled to attend, but she would never submit!
With her neck straightened, she entered the confession classroom, where three to five nuns were already waiting.
The old Nanny seated at the head had a kindly visage, smiling as she nodded at the two.
Once everyone arrived, Jia Li found a corner seat, prepared to feign sincerity and bluff her way through.
Wasn't it just acting? She could fool them to tears.
Once everyone was gathered, the old Nanny stood up and took out a copy of The Truth Report.
"Before today's confession, I will first read an article to praise our great sun, His Majesty Saint's Grandson Horn."
The listening Kusvania imdiately straightened up, waiting quietly yet expectantly.
Jia Li spat quietly to herself.
"...This article, or rather news report, is published in the latest The Truth Report, titled—The Great Victory at Malunpo, 100,000 enemies annihilated!"
"What?!"
Jia Li leapt up from her chair.
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