This Kingdom Needs a Coup

Throughout history, humans have been obsessed with immortality and eternal youth.

Living forever without aging or dying.

The methods were diverse.

Elixirs, mercury, drugs, diets, training, and so on.

With tens of thousands of attempts, every imaginable method was tried.

But among them, the most brutal was undoubtedly the pinnacle: **blood**.

Blood has long been considered the essence of human vitality.

Thus, many thought of taking the blood of the young and healthy to gain strength.

A prime example is Elizabeth Bathory of 16th-century Hungary.

A woman who bathed in the blood of hundreds of young maidens.

Like Qin Shi Huang, she believed the blood would rejuvenate her skin, though it had no real effect.

A more refined method was blood transfusion.

Receiving blood from a young, compatible donor to boost health and delay aging.

Surprisingly, this is still common in the 21st century.

It’s said to improve blood circulation and overall condition.

–Squelch!

“Ahhh!”

“Please endure. It will hurt a bit.”

So, what’s happening in the Holy Kingdom now?

Vampirism.

Instead of applying or injecting blood, they drink it to absorb its essence.

But they don’t do it elegantly like vampires.

They lack the physical ability, nobility, or self-control to do so.

How could they have dignity or honor when they harm the Saintess for their own pleasure and well-being?

They simply cut the Saintess’s arm, collect her blood in a glass, and drink it.

“Oh, the divine power bestowed by the Goddess…”

Though barbaric, it was surprisingly effective—more so than any other method.

The divine power within the Saintess, chosen by the Goddess, is infinite.

It permeates every cell, turning each into a vessel of immense divine power.

“Thank you, Saintess. With this, I’ll have energy for tomorrow… Oh, has she already fainted?”

So, what happens when an ordinary human drinks it?

Simple. Rejuvenation, increased divine power, and a cure for all ailments.

It restores the body to its prime.

No elixir or potion in the world could compare.

Though the effects fade as the blood is digested, the Holy Emperor doesn’t care. He just needs to keep drinking.

Like milking a cow or goat, the Saintess is drained daily.

All for the fleeting happiness and health of one greedy man.

A precious livestock in human form.

That is the Saintess’s current plight.

“Her duties are done. Take her back to her room.”

“What about her meals?”

“Feed her well, as usual. Meat, fish, plenty of nutrients. She needs to replenish her blood.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Drained of blood, the Saintess was led to her private room by her guards.

A so-called private space, but in reality, a prison with iron bars and dozens of locks.

* * * * *

“…How many times has it been now?”

On a hard bed.

The Saintess, who had just regained consciousness, sat in the spot where she had fainted, her arm bandaged and soaked in blood.

“One thousand? Two thousand? I’ve lost count.”

She was chosen as the Saintess at the age of six.

Now, at twenty-two, sixteen years have passed.

Taken from her parents, she was brainwashed by the Goddess Cult, trained, and forced to heal the wealthy.

Every night, she had to offer her blood to the Holy Emperor.

Just enough not to break her body.

Even slaves centuries ago weren’t exploited like this.

At least they only had to offer labor, not emotional labor and blood.

“How long can I endure this?”

Though uneducated, she knew the human body couldn’t withstand such abuse.

Only the divine power within her kept her alive.

A normal person would have died long ago.

“Maybe if I could just go mad…”

She resented the divine power that protected her mind.

If she could lose her sanity, her soul might escape this hell.

But no matter how much she suffered, her mind remained intact.

“Goddess, is this the world you wanted?”

She looked up at the sky through the iron bars.

The full moon shone down on her.

“Priests who care nothing for morality, the Holy Emperor who exploits me for profit, and the old Emperor who endlessly craves blood. Is this truly your vision?”

She clasped her hands and knelt, praying to the sky.

But there was no answer.

As it had been for years, there was nothing.

“You chose me as your Saintess. You gave me your divine power. Then tell me, answer me.

The Holy Kingdom is rotten. Those who claim to serve you are greedier than any noble. They chase pleasure and wealth, not the afterlife. How long will you let this go on?”

She pleaded, complained, and resented.

She poured out her emotions, ignoring proper prayer etiquette.

Taken from her parents, beaten, forced to learn strange knowledge, and never allowed to make friends.

Worshipped by strangers, forced to live as a symbol of faith.

Deprived of ordinary joys, she was condemned to live as a puppet until death.

“Why did you burden me with this? If you’ve made my life a living hell, at least take responsibility.”

But there was no answer.

As always, even now.

“If you won’t answer, then I have my own thoughts.”

She clenched her teeth so hard that blood dripped from her mouth.

This one-sided conversation had happened hundreds of times. Her faith had sustained her, but she had reached her limit.

After sixteen years of serving a silent deity, she was done.

“Goddess, no, Keter. I will no longer serve you in faith.”

She dared to speak the Goddess’s true name, an act punishable by divine wrath.

But no punishment came. There was no sign of it.

As if the being she sought had never existed.

“You’ve abandoned the world and me. Now I’ll live for myself. I’ll use the divine power you gave me for my own sake. I’ll no longer be exploited. I’ll seek my own happiness, my own life.

I’ll no longer obey the Holy Emperor. I’ll take revenge on all who exploited and tormented me. Perhaps the Goddess Cult will fall because of it. But so what? To me, they’re nothing but enemies.”

She unclasped her hands and spread her arms, shouting at the sky.

“If you have any objections, show me! Send me a divine message, curse me, do something! Otherwise, I’ll take your silence as consent!! Is that alright with you?!”

Again, there was no answer.

Her body remained unharmed, her divine power intact.

After a moment, she laughed bitterly and threw her rosary aside.

“…Ha. I was a fool to serve such a being.”

Though she felt empty and wronged, she couldn’t just sit still.

Time was too precious to waste, even if her mind was breaking.

“I’ll escape. From this country.”

She picked up the spoon that came with her meal.

Though fragile, if she reinforced it with divine power, it might be useful.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Ullanor.

“Alright. From now on, we infiltrate the Holy Kingdom. Once we cross the border, speak only their language or not at all. Got it, you brats?”

“”Yes, Sir!!””

Karolus was leading the infiltration.

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