kingdom of nations

Chapter 17 The Rise of Venus (Part )
When the morning light shone on the sands of Calvary Hill, as if shining on a piece of golden grains, Cesar walked out of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

At some point, countless people gathered in the small square in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, on the long and winding stairs, and in the streets. Even if the people at the back couldn't see Cesar, they could be reminded by the laughter and shouting and cheered together. Everyone was talking about the boy's name, praising his piety and virtue. Some even swore that just now, an angel with brilliant holy light landed in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, completely ignoring the fact that it was the time when the sun should have risen.

Longinus remembered the day Cesar arrived at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre vividly. After all, it had only been forty-five days prior. Back then, only Gerard's Thomas had brought him to the church out of respect for his family, handing him over to a nameless wandering knight. He hadn't cared for him since then. Even if he had profited from the mercenary attack on Cesar, it had only been by sending two more monks, because he saw some value in the boy.

Now he was here, standing in the small square, smiling broadly, holding his rosary beads. Behind him, monks were holding holy relics and golden boxes, and page boys were carrying incense boats. The scent of myrrh and agarwood filled the entire square. Although priests of different sects were standing elsewhere, they had to smile as well, in order to grab a little glory from this practice. Beyond these black and white robes were nobles in gorgeous clothes, and countless silks and velvets flowed in the sunlight with a dazzling brilliance.

As soon as their servants saw Cesar coming out, they rushed forward holding their master's rings, necklaces and belts, and took off his cloak and coat, and dressed him up layer by layer. Cesar was originally a young man with outstanding appearance, and with this dress, he was even more radiant and dazzling, making it impossible to look directly at him - people could not help but praise him in unison, saying that this was the gift of God, and that such a beautiful sight could only exist in the world!

"Hold on to your bucket and...mop." Longinus tried his best to prevent the two monks and the knights in the castle from taking his place, and whispered in Cesar's ear.

Cesar immediately understood what he meant. Regardless of whether the current situation was instigated by Heraclius and the Gerard family, a nine-year-old child completed the work that a hundred adults needed forty-five days to complete in forty-five nights. This event would inevitably be regarded as a miracle, even if in fact it was not beyond human control as the priests claimed. Regardless of whether the Roman Catholic Church recognized it or whether the Patriarch of Alaska could accept it, the priests of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre would definitely record this miracle in its entirety and speak for it with certainty.

Then his bucket and mop would inevitably become two holy objects. It is no exaggeration to say that in an era when the remains of saints could be divided into two, two into three, or even three parts endlessly, they alone could be used to raise donations and build one or two churches. It is more likely that there would be devout believers who were willing to donate a large sum of money to get a small piece of them - as long as they believed that there were angels helping Cesar clean the temple.

After saying this, Longinus was pulled to the back. He took a deep breath, hoping that the child would not be too proud, but he also had to say that if he was at this age, he probably would not be able to do it, so much praise, so much glory, so much gold!
Cesar only felt a sore head and neck. Although Longinus reminded him not to put down the mop and bucket, he could not feel the touch of the wooden pole and belt - there were too many rings on his fingers.

At this time, the crowd dispersed and Father Thomas came over with his head held high, holding a silver plate.

On the silver plate was a pile of shiny white fabric, which Cesar could tell at a glance was a precious woolen cloak.

Some may not fully understand the process by which relics transform from offerings by laymen into holy objects of the Church. To give a simple example, consider a faithful believer who gives his or her life savings—most often in cash, but sometimes in physical objects like silk, woolen cloth, utensils, or wood. Sometimes, it might be a beautiful piece of marble, a horse, a mule, or something else entirely. If any of the first three items are precious, the priests will place them on the altar or drape them on a statue of the Virgin Mary. These relics naturally become holy objects, and no matter who seeks to claim them, the Church will not return them unless they are willing to pay several or even dozens of times the price for the relic.

"This is the woolen cloth that once covered the Holy Sepulchre," Thomas said proudly. Then he shook it out and draped it over Cesar. In a voice so intimate it made one's whole body tremble, he said, "Cesar, my little brother, I come to congratulate you. You have accomplished such a great work—such piety, such beauty, my child, you are simply a gift from an angel." He stretched out his hands enthusiastically. "You are tired, you are exhausted. Give me your bucket and mop quickly. I will be your servant for the day. I will serve you. This is what you deserve."

Although Longinus had reminded him... Cesar smiled and loosened his fingers, and Thomas was obviously relieved.

Longinus's warning was certainly well-intentioned, but there was much he didn't know. Caesar's deal with Amalric I meant he couldn't leave Baldwin until he was no longer needed. So, what good would gold, reputation, the love and respect of the people do him? Moreover, these were like a city built on the sand; if his patron withdrew the foundation, everything would immediately turn into a bubble.

It would be better for him to give these two things to Thomas, which would be a small reward for Abbot John who had once taken care of him.

Father Thomas took the bucket and mop, and his face suddenly became radiant, as if an angel's golden light was shining on him. He kept his promise and followed Cesar, willing to accompany him all the way to the Castel de Santa Croce. The monks and servants beside him also quickly raised their sticks to clear a path for them. After all, there were more people crowding over now, and they would not be able to move forward unless they drove away these smelly poor people.

"Wait." Cesar said, and then he turned to the surging heads, the tangled and matted hair, the faces so dirty that they could not see the features, the outstretched hands like dead branches, the cracked lips that murmured something inaudible, and the only eye that was shining.

People saw the young saint take a deep breath, turn around, and say something to the distinguished senior priest next to him. The priest looked embarrassed, but finally nodded and agreed.

Cesar turned to the group. "Gentlemen," he said slowly, speaking as loudly and clearly as possible so that no one could hear him, "what do you need?"

He lowered his head and looked them in the eye. "Do you seek forgiveness? Do you hope for a blessing? Are you hungry and in need of food? Or are you thirsty and in need of clean water? Have you fulfilled your long-cherished wish and simply want to return home? Or do you hope to remain in this sacred place forever?"

The crowd clamored, yes, yes, yes, this was exactly what they expected. Parents came with their sick children, old people came with their frail bodies, and some people were penniless because they trusted villains or were too pious, and had nowhere to make a living. Tens of thousands of pilgrims were stranded in the holy city like beggars, and people died every day.

"There will be a great Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre," Cesar said, "for all the faithful of this city. During the Mass, you, the devout, will be able to enter the three basilicas and see and touch the relics."

Someone screamed, and like throwing a stone into a calm lake, the news quickly spread like ripples. Cesar waited for a while, making sure that the news had spread far enough, and then continued: "My only request to you is to obey all the arrangements of the priests, and please remember that others are as anxious and painful as you are. Don't do evil and despicable things in front of God and His beloved Son." "We have remembered that there will be countless pairs of eyes staring at them." Several people kneeling in the front said. They were all strong men, and their clothes were not as ragged as others. Cesar had been out of the castle for more than a month. He knew that these people should all be famous figures in the villages and towns, and they might have traceable blood relations with lords or officials. Their ancestors were figures like Longinus. For this reason, they were more smart and worldly-wise than the civilian serfs who could only be trapped in the mud.

So, when the people in the village need a celebration, a sacrifice, or a similar large event, they will be elected, and for a short time, they will be the leaders of these farmers or craftsmen.

Pilgrimage is undoubtedly the most important and difficult of these activities. These people bear extraordinary pressure and responsibility. The good thing is that once they are able to return to their hometown, this experience is enough to make them guests of honor of lords and bishops, and maintain a lofty status in the years to come, and their children can also enjoy the blessings brought by the afterglow.

"As for those who are hungry, thirsty, and want to return home or stay here forever," Cesar said, "I leave them to you.

"We'll do our best," the other party promised.

Cesar shook his head. "I believe you, but who else but Jesus Christ could have taken out endless loaves and fishes from the basket?" He took off a gold ring inlaid with an opal the size of a little finger, which cast countless colors and shadows in the sunlight. "This was given to me by pious donors, just because I did a little work for our Lord. Now I pass it on to you so that you can do more work. Please exchange this for bread, water, and boat fare. I don't want any reward, but I ask everyone who receives help to pray for these generous people."

Everyone present showed a look of surprise.

Cesar did not continue speaking, but there was no need to waste words. Naturally, people continued to pass on his words and deeds. How many people in the holy city of Alaska need water, bread and hope?

The crowd squirmed and slowly made way for him. The boy with black hair and blue eyes took off an ornament from his body every few steps and handed it to someone who was willing to do something for him. When he had taken off all the ornaments, he took off the luxurious fabrics, one by one. When he reached the suspension bridge, the gift that was so expensive that it could move a count had been distributed to the poor without a penny left.

The people following him had gone from constant whispering and occasional debate to the current silence. The powerful, the rich, the nobles and the clergy, as well as their servants, rarely mixed with the poor. The women had already tears in their eyes, the men nodded sincerely, and every hand was either making the sign of the cross on their chest or holding a rosary tightly.

The drawbridge had been lowered long ago, but except for Cesar, everyone else had to stop. A thin white figure stood outside the black gate. Although not everyone had seen Prince Baldwin, as soon as they saw that the person was wearing gloves and a veil tightly, they knew that this was the heir of Alasar who was infected with leprosy.

Cesar turned around and took the silver tray containing the white woolen cloak from the page beside him. Under the gaze of thousands of eyes, he walked quickly towards the prince who was said to have been punished by God.

Baldwin watched as the new black-haired attendant walked towards him with light steps, put down the tray, picked up the snow-white holy object, and draped it over himself without hesitation.

For a moment, Baldwin was completely unaware of what was happening. The soft and smooth fabric poured down from the top of his head like sunlight, covering his entire body - because this holy object had once been draped on a tall statue, the boy's body was not strong enough to support it all, so it hugged him like a huge giant.

He was stunned for a while before speaking.

"It's so warm, Cesar..."

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"It's made of wool and has been in the sun for so long," Cesar said. "Of course it's warm."

Baldwin laughed heartily: "Cesar, my friend," he said sincerely, "after becoming a knight, you must not be so unromantic." He took off his cloak and put it in a trunk decorated with ivory statues. The trunk contained all his most important things - the rosary given to him by his sister Sibylle, the Bible, and the sword given to him by his father Amalric I.

Cesar knew what Baldwin was talking about, but he felt deeply that his upbringing had destined him to have no faith. To an unbeliever, the so-called holy relic was just a woolen cloak, but its meaning to Baldwin, who was in a difficult situation, was very different. Why should he care about something that was of no use to him, especially when it could greatly alleviate people's malice towards a child?
He didn't even want Baldwin to feel too grateful or guilty about the cloak.

(End of this chapter)