When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 1142 The Gamble on the Galloping Horse
At the end of August, the damp mountain wind swept pine needles across the rough granite walls of the Vicente Pass.

Beyond the pine needles, behind the vast expanse of dark green forest, one can see the snow-capped peaks of the mountains.

The sunlight is reflected by the ice and snow, and looking at it for too long can even hurt your eyes.

This villa is a typical mountain villa, with thick round logs nailed together with square nails, and a corridor in the middle for the hunting dogs to sleep in.

Heavy oak beams protrude from the house, with several strips of dried smoked meat and a basket of pine cones hanging from them.

Behind the dense array of ceramic wine bottles on the windowsill was the expectant face of the Krabby Patty's King.

Upon hearing the creaking sound of wheels, he immediately rushed to the door.

"Lady Carrie! We've been waiting for you!"

His Highness Prince Sibangqi was about fifty years old, with some gray hair, which he meticulously combed back.

When he smiled, the lines at the corners of his eyes squeezed together, but the smile didn't reach his eyes, and his palms were slightly damp with sweat.

"It's been a long time, Mr. Spongi."

With her hands behind her back and a nod, Carrie walked past him into the living room, her gaze sweeping across the space.

A huge deer hide hung on the wall, its eyes inlaid with gemstone beads from Norn.

On the table were ceramic teaware and silver cutlery, and next to the tea tray were several crumpled copies of Pravda.

The king has been breathing on the newspaper quite often these past few days.

“Lord Spongi certainly knows how to choose a location.” Carrie removed her hood, her tone flat. “This mountain resort villa is certainly peaceful.”

Spongi chuckled twice and gestured for her to sit in the armchair by the fireplace: "You flatter me, sir. It's just a temporary place to rest."

You must be tired from your long journey, how about having a glass of malt liquor first?
The snow from the mountaintop is just what you need to beat the heat.

As he spoke, he winked at the servant standing beside him.

The servant hurriedly brought forward with a silver pot, and as the amber-colored wine was poured into the cup, it was still steaming with fine icy mist.

Carrie didn't take the glass: "No need for that. Now that everyone's here, let's get straight to the point and save everyone from worrying."

Sibangqi paused, then reluctantly put down his wine glass: "What does Your Highness mean?"

The curtain was lifted, and Theodora and Halkin walked out side by side.

Theodora was wearing a light blue wool dress, her eyes were a little red, it was hard to tell whether it was from missing someone or feeling wronged.

Halkin was still wearing the smallest size of the Holy Alliance monk's dark blue uniform. Sensing that Theodora was in a bad mood, he even raised his hand and patted her waist to comfort her.

"Papa," Theodora called softly.

When Si Bangqi saw his daughter like this, his face immediately darkened. He was about to speak when Carrie raised her hand to stop him.

“My Lord, please don’t speak yet.” Carrie’s gaze fell on the two of them. “Theodora, Halkin, put your hands up.”

Both of them were taken aback for a moment, then realized what Carrie meant.

The two exchanged a glance, Theodore stretched out his right hand, while Halkin extended his left.

On their hands was a silver ring inlaid with a transparent gemstone.

A blush immediately rose from Sibangqi's neck to his entire face: "You two are engaged?"

"Yes, Father, we hope you can come and bless our wedding."

His pupils contracted slightly as he stared intently at the two rings; Si Bangqi almost fainted.

He had originally thought that Carrie would talk to him about business first, about a collaboration on the cannery, but he didn't expect her to be so direct right away.

I get it. This is forcing him to accept this marriage that he absolutely refuses to accept.

But he's a King, after all, and the Krabby Patty family is a prestigious clan. They even used despicable means to ruin his reputation before...

He opened his mouth, but it felt like his throat was stuffed with cotton, and he couldn't say a word.

But his eyes were fixed on Harkin, as if he were about to spit fire.

“Father, Halkin and I truly love each other,” Theodora finally couldn’t help but say. “What difference is there between dwarves and humans?”

"Shut up!" Spongi slammed his hand on the table, making the silver teaware clang. "I'm your father! I'm not dead yet, it's not your place to talk to me about love!"
"A dwarf, a minor official of the Holy Alliance, is he worthy of the noblewoman of our Krabby Patty family?"

Halkin took a step forward, shielding Theodora behind his head.

He raised his head, staring directly at Sibangqi, his tone undisguisedly firm: "Your Majesty, this is no longer the era where bloodline determines status, and the Holy Alliance is no longer a nation of nobles."

Otherwise, Leia would still be ruled by Prince Condé, and the bloodline would certainly have been eliminated.

“Elimination… Hahahaha.” Sponge suddenly stood up from his chair, his chest heaving violently. “My Krabby Patty family has been passed down for a thousand years. I, Sponge, am the High Lord of Norn!”
"You're just a dwarf, your family has been around for so many years, and you dare to talk to me about the times and obsolescence?"

As he spoke, he suddenly lunged forward, grabbed Theodora's wrist, and clenched his fingers tightly: "Come with me! Back to the Krusty Krab! I refuse to believe you can't survive without this dwarf!"

Theodora struggled, her wrists aching from being gripped so tightly: "Papa! Let me go! I'm not going back!"

Halkin reached out to pull her, but Carrie slowly stood up and blocked Sponge's way.

Carrie's gaze was calm as she looked at Spongi's hand, which was gripping her daughter's: "Mr. Spongi, let her go."

When Spongi met Carrie's gaze, his heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously loosened his fingers.

He swallowed hard, his cheeks twitching as he threatened, "Your Highness Carrie, this is my family matter."

The business with Saint-Germain and the Krabby Patty can continue, and I can also agree to the cooperation with the cannery, but this matter..."

“Of course I won’t interfere in your family affairs, but there’s one thing you need to understand,” Carrie interrupted him, “Theodora and Halkin are both citizens of our Holy Alliance.”

According to the laws of the Holy Alliance and the rules of personal jurisdiction, citizens have the right to free love, and no one has the right to interfere—including you, their father.

“Citizen?” Spongi’s eyes widened as he looked at Theodora in disbelief. “You…you’ve become a citizen of the Holy Alliance?” Theodora bit her lip and nodded. “Papa, I’ve been a citizen of the Holy Alliance for a long time.”

I have a workshop and a business in Saint Union. I like life here and don't want to go back.

Spongi was trembling with rage, raising his hand to slap Theodora across the face: "Bullshit, you're a Norn!"

Theodora closed her eyes, but the expected pain did not come.

The hand that Spongi had swung down froze in mid-air, as if pressing a pause button.

He thought of his deceased wife, and the suffering his daughter had endured because of him over the past decade or so, and looked at his daughter's pale face...

In the end, he still couldn't bear to part with it.

He abruptly withdrew his hand, breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently.

Halkin stepped in front of Theodora again, glaring at Spongi: "Your Excellency, I have no intention of insulting you or being your enemy."

No offense intended, but if you insist on taking her away from me, then I can assure you—

One day, I will use my influence in the Holy Alliance to take her back.

"At that time, I will repay your family tenfold for the contempt and insults you have inflicted upon us today."

"Influence?" After a moment of stunned silence, Si Bangqi scoffed. "Who do you think you are? What influence could you possibly have?"

“Please trust in my abilities.” Harkin straightened his back, his tone filled with confidence in the future. “If nothing goes wrong, I will soon become the Permanent Secretary of the Holy Cassini, and in ten or twenty years, I will at least be able to obtain a cardinal position.”

Spongi's expression changed, then hardened again: "So what if he's a Cardinal? Does the Holy Alliance dare to start a war with Norn?"

Does Norn have food, minerals, people, and seaports?

"Norn is rich in resources and has everything."

Harkin curled his lip: "Then the Holy Alliance's attack on or modification of Norn is inevitable."

"Are you threatening me?" Spongi rolled up his sleeves and pointed angrily at Halkin's nose.

“My Lord, you know in your heart that Norn is rich, but can you really use it?” Harkin countered. “Transformation or war, that is your choice.”

“I choose war,” the Great Khan said, his neck stiff. He deliberately avoided looking at Carrie, as if afraid he wouldn’t be able to say it.

Harkin let out a long breath:

"This is my advice to you as your son-in-law—can't you see the rise of the Holy Alliance? Can't you see the booming development of the clockwork industry? Can't you see the wave of the alchemical revolution?"
Before long, the Holy Alliance's railways will spread throughout the empire like a spider web.

The gunners of the Holy Machine Court could reach the Crab Roe Fortress in just three days, not to mention the steel war machines they were developing.

At that time, if I can exert influence.

For Theodora's sake, I won't kill any of you.

But I will raze the Krabby Patty to the ground and destroy your family's thousand-year-old legacy.

Spongi was stunned, then burst into laughter: "Even if you become a cardinal, is the Holy Alliance as powerful as you say?"

Don't be ridiculous. France also said it wanted to rise up, but what happened?

Didn't they still get hit hard by Ryd's head and then spend decades settling down?
Does your Holy Alliance have the same foundation as France? Does your Holy Alliance have the same resources and population as France?

What does your Holy Alliance have? Just a clockwork revolution? No matter how powerful the machines are, can they defeat humans?

"The Holy Alliance's clockwork mechanism can now make iron chariots faster than galloping horses."

The alchemical techniques of the Holy Alliance can now cure diseases that were previously incurable.

The believers of the Holy Alliance are creating an unprecedented era with their own hands!
How can you know without seeing it for yourself?

The living room suddenly fell silent; no one spoke, only the mountain breeze stirred the curtains by the window.

Spongi stared at Halkin, his eyes filled with complex emotions—anger and disdain.

He tried to appear resolute, but his rapid, unconscious blinking gave him away.

After a long while, Spongi suddenly sneered and turned to Carrie: "Ms. Carrie, for your sake, could you be my witness? I want to make a bet."

Carrie raised her eyes: "What are we betting on?"

"Didn't you say that the Holy Alliance's clockwork motorcycles could beat warhorses?" Spongi's gaze swept over Halkin and Theodora, his tone slightly provocative. "Fine, I'll take your bet."

If a wind-up motorcycle really does outperform a warhorse, I'll give Halkin another ten years.

Ten years from now, I will personally come to the Holy Relic Court to take Theodora away.

If by then, you, Halkin, can truly become a cardinal and have the ability to stop me, then I will accept your marriage.

But if not…

“I won’t gamble with my lover!” Harkin immediately interrupted him, his tone resolute.

"I'll bet you."

Theodora suddenly stepped forward, walking from behind Halkin to the front, and looked directly at Spongi.

Her tears had dried: "Dad, Halkin and I will bet with you together."

Spongi was clearly taken aback by his daughter's words, and his expression froze.

He immediately lost face, his tone turning cold, even seeming slightly aggrieved: "You really believe in this dwarf? You believe your Holy Alliance can win?"

Theodora lowered his head, exchanged a glance with Halkin, and the two of them suddenly laughed at the same time.

Then, they both raised their heads: "We believe in His Majesty the Holy Grandson, and we believe in the believers of the Holy Alliance."

(End of this chapter)