When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 1141 "Criston and Eugénie"

With the Pope's decree in hand, the Tribunal for Truth quickly took action.

Horn always paid close attention to the public opinion front, but due to the limitations of his time and technology, he could not achieve the same level of control as later generations.

But his understanding of journalism is absolutely ahead of its time.

While kingdoms like Francia were using all sorts of nauseating oaths to force patriotism, Horn had long understood the importance of hiding political propaganda behind works of art and entertainment.

At the time, the bread and circus act was criticized by many elderly monks in Caxia County for being a way to win over the people, and even many members of the Church of the Father did not understand it.

But this measure has now found a real place to be put to use.

From traveling theater troupes during the Salvation Army era, to newspapers, and theaters in every town and city.

Telling them directly not to discriminate against people of different races is not very effective.

However, after watching a play, if one is moved by the plot, one will naturally feel dissatisfied with those who discriminate against people of different races and those who discriminate against people of different races.

Many monks and scholars believe that the old man, Sheng Sun, simply enjoys engaging in some nonsensical political grandstanding.

In today's Holy Alliance, peace and prosperity prevail, and people from all directions admire its virtue. Where is there any discrimination or division?

Only Horn and a few senior monks understood that it was precisely because of these so-called "political stunts" that there was no discrimination or division.

Those scholars are putting the cause in the opposite order of cause and effect.

Whether it was right or wrong, merit or demerit, can only be left for future generations to judge.

The "Bread and Circus" project fostered a strong sporting and theatrical atmosphere within the Holy Union.

There are theater troupes of all sizes and a number of established playwrights in various places.

In other words, Horn's idea has a basis and a realistic foundation.

However, the Cold Spring Castle daily newspaper still published lukewarm comments such as, "Can writing a play solve the Krabby Patty problem?"

The Holy Alliance actually tolerates this kind of noise.

If the ear canal is blocked, even other valid and reliable criticisms cannot be heard.

Horn didn't care about these noises.

He wrote the outline himself, and Vlteva, as the screenwriter, refined it.

Ultimately, with the help of the Truth Court's screenwriters and contracted writers, the play and novel of "Criston and Eugénie" were successfully written.

The novel portion was distributed to major newspapers, including the Windmill Place Art Newspaper, for publication.

As for drama, all major cities in the Holy Alliance have theaters and troupes, and some small-town theaters and traveling troupes can even receive subsidies from the Court of Truth and the Holy Church.

So soon "Criston and Eugénie" was staged in various parts of the Holy Alliance and quickly became a hit.

Thanks to the presence of Brotherhoods and Chekas in various regions, the play was soon staged sporadically throughout the Empire.

As for the response, after an initial period of silence, it has recently become unprecedentedly enthusiastic.

First, Art Forest magazine gave it high praise, and after nearly half a month of silence, it experienced a volcanic eruption of dissemination in the next half month.

In this story, Horn has truly captured the essence of the melodramatic tale of a poor boy and a rich girl from his past life.

The first part is the storyline of their initial encounter and disagreement.

The noblewoman Eugénie was terminally ill. Due to the war, she was separated from her guards, fell off her carriage, and lost her memory.

During their first meeting, the two argued over their values. The dwarf Crizo was beaten up by debt collectors, and Eugenie came to his rescue.

Then their relationship warmed up, with the young lady Eugénie experiencing the customs of the Holy Union, and Christon working to borrow money for Eugénie's medical treatment.

The two pretended to be husband and wife, supporting each other.

Thanks to the Saint Alliance's superb medical skills, the illness that the church had been trying to cure Eugénie for over a decade was slowly cured.

Not only did they promote the Holy Alliance, they also took the opportunity to discredit the Church.

The story unfolds through a classic sweet-and-bitter tug-of-war: the sweetness begins with the characters secretly liking each other, and then a misunderstanding is introduced at the end, leading to the angst.

The misunderstanding arises when two people are jealous, possessive, and insecure about each other, until one of them speaks the truth or realizes something, thus resolving the misunderstanding.

Then comes the sweet part.

Yes, the plot progresses entirely through coincidences, misunderstandings, and resolving them; misunderstandings are created for the sake of misunderstandings.

Then this cycle repeats itself. In Horn's context at the time, this old trick would definitely have been met with widespread criticism.

But in this era, this kind of plot is not only a completely new anti-plot, but also the result of a plot that has matured to its fullest extent.

A damsel in distress saves a hero, they pretend to be husband and wife, a cycle of sweetness and heartbreak... For many playwrights and imperial writers, this was the first time they had ever known that drama could be so captivating.

Many viewers became obsessed with it after watching it; the sheer absurdity of this melodramatic plot twist left a deep impression on them.

It's an experience that's both painful and joyful, allows for venting and discussion, and is completely understandable even for children—it's truly unforgettable.

"Criston and Eugénie" became a sensation throughout the empire in just one month, by the end of August.

Theater troupes across the empire urgently rehearsed and adapted their performances, quickly taking to the stage.

Even Charles VIII, who was far away in France, secretly went to watch a performance.

After watching it, he quickly became a fan of the show. Overwhelmed with the desire to share, he couldn't find anyone to talk to, so he actually invited the actress who played Eugénie out for dinner.

Lorenzo was heartbroken, tears streaming down his face. Charlie had actually been involved in an affair with a woman.

Although Charlie took the actress back to her place that very night, it was already a significant step forward.

As for the real-life figures depicted in the show, Halkin and Theodora also went to see them.

However, they couldn't stand it and ran away before they even finished watching it.

The reason is simple: it's not the two of them at all.

When the two met, Harkin was no longer a poor boy; he was already the director of the Holy Alliance's Commercial Division.

As for Theodora, she's not a love-struck fool; she's known for being shrewd and capable.

The two got together purely because of mutual admiration and shared interests.

There is definitely a bittersweet feeling, but it's not as exaggerated as in the drama.

After watching it, the two were so embarrassed that they both wanted to break up.

Meanwhile, a cry gradually echoed across the Holy Alliance and even the entire Empire: "What's next? Is there no next?"

"Criston and Eugénie" is divided into two parts.

In the drama, just as Eugénie was cured and discharged from the hospital, the guards finally found her.

In a chase scene in the rain, Eugénie chooses to follow her heart, deceives her father, stays in the Holy Union for Christensen, and starts a printing business.

So the two confirmed their relationship and supported each other. Christon's position rose higher and higher, and Eugénie's wealth increased.

Just when things seemed to be going well, the truth couldn't be hidden forever.

Upon hearing the news, the female lead's father, the Grand Prince of Shrimp Head Fort, rushed over, possibly intending to use his power to force the two to break up.

And then it ended. As for what happens next, please explore that story another time.

So people started asking, why is there only the first half? What about the second half? That's ridiculous!

It was only after asking that I learned that this drama was based on a real event!

The reason it's not continuing is simply because the real-life storyline hasn't been updated yet.

In other words, the plot of this show can actually be changed and manipulated?
It's worth noting that while fans of this drama enjoyed it, they were generally pessimistic about the ending.

How could a dwarf and a noblewoman, especially a noblewoman from Norn, possibly get together?
But now they actually have a glimmer of hope, though it's faint, it's not nonexistent.

As a result, a massive amount of public pressure, along with a flood of letters, completely weighed on the head of the Krabby Patty King.

A large crowd pleaded for the two men, hoping that the Krabby Patty King would show leniency.

Among them were even some high-ranking nobles, and even local dignitaries from Norn.

It almost wiped out his good reputation, which he had built up over decades, in an instant.

Even in Norn's hometown, the overwhelming support for him had diminished considerably.

In an instant, the Krabby Patty King was caught in a dilemma.

If he chooses to refuse the Holy Alliance's invitation and forcibly takes Theodora away, his son may cut off his living expenses, and his decades-long good reputation will be ruined.

If he chooses to accept the Holy Alliance's invitation and does not object to Theodora's relationship, firstly, he himself will not be able to get over that hurdle, and secondly, he will lose all face as a member of the aristocracy.

Neither leaving nor staying was a solution, and with the daily letters arriving, it wasn't long before the Krabby Patty King developed blisters all around his lips.

Fortunately, things finally took a turn for the better.

"You mean, Princess Carrie has arrived?" Spongi looked at the messenger with an uncertain expression. "Really?"

(End of this chapter)