"I can’t believe I’m out here with you, just the two of us. It feels like a dream."
Isn’t that something usually said by couples just starting out in a relationship? You know, those couples who feel a thrill just from holding hands, their hearts racing?
We’ve done everything, including kissing, and even got pregnant.
And here she is, all happy just because we’re on a simple date in the city.
It’s a little hard to believe, but I feel a bit sorry, too.
Being able to walk around like this together is something I could do any time.
But it also means that I haven’t been able to spend much time with her, and that’s why she’s this happy over such a small thing.
‘I guess I should wrap up the indulgence business and reduce my workload a bit.’
The reason I work hard and make money is to live happily with Chloe, after all.
“The baby in my belly will definitely be happy, too.”
For about a week, let’s really take a break and not do anything except sign papers.
Our Rothschild family is not a small business that can’t run without a CEO. I’ve grown the business enough that it can run even without me.
If I only work and neglect my family, I’ll regret it so much later.
“Your belly’s gotten quite big.”
“The midwives said the baby will probably come in about three months.”
“Isn’t it hard for you?”
“It’s a bit tough because my belly’s heavy, but still, the happiness is a thousand times, no, ten thousand times greater than the hardship.”
Chloe paused for a moment and gently rubbed her belly.
“Erika and Kris always say they want to have your child someday, just like me. I can’t complain about it being hard.”
Erika is still too young, but Kris is getting to the age where it wouldn’t be surprising if someone asked, “When are you going to have kids?”
It’s honestly still surprising that this kind of question is coming up for a 21-year-old woman.
In the Tuscan Empire, it’s common to have children by the age of 20, so...
Chloe took my hand and gently pulled me along.
“The midwives said it’s okay to move around a little for now. But when I’m full term, I’ll need to rest. So please don’t worry about me.”
Well, even if I worry, there’s nothing I can do about it.
For pregnant women, it’s really important to get proper exercise and manage stress.
If they stop exercising just because their belly’s heavy or only focus on resting, it actually has a negative effect, doesn’t it?
“Then let’s go to the café right now. Alfredo recommended a new dessert, so he said I should try it.”
“I’m excited to see what kind of dessert they have.”
As we walked down the street, I saw a crowded area, like a flea market.
At the center, there was a shabby-looking priest dressed in clergy clothes.
He was shouting loudly, just like those market vendors, or like the guys in the subway stations with signs that say, “The boss is crazy.”
“Listen up, citizens of Florence! Now is the time to be saved, now is the best time to receive forgiveness from Deus! If you miss this chance, you’ll regret it later!”
Honestly, I don’t have any expectations from the Deus Church.
Rather than expecting anything from them, I’d believe the British East India Company did something good.
‘Those bastards took so much from me for no reason.’
It must be tens of thousands of gold coins at least.
“If we die and go to hell, what good is all the wealth and glory of this world? Ah, of course, we won’t go to hell because we believe in Deus. But there is purgatory, where we must undergo ‘spiritual purification.’ Do you think that’s painless?”
A naive citizen asked.
“What exactly is purgatory, Father?”
“That’s a good question. Hell and purgatory are definitely different places.”
Discussing the afterlife as a living human might be a noble act, or it could be a foolish, crude thing.
The beginnings of natural science came from humans’ ‘primitive religion’ seeking the afterlife.
In times when there was no compulsory education, doctrines about heaven and hell were effective at reducing people’s desire for crime.
However, because there’s no material proof of the afterlife, things like the Crusades, witch hunts, and religious persecutions occurred.
There are those who would even sell their deceased ancestors and parents to extort money for their afterlife.
‘Like this bastard.’
“Heretics will fall into hell and suffer forever, burning even after this world is destroyed. But we faithful followers of Deus, after death, our souls go through purification.”
Purification of the soul—what the hell is that? Are we writing a fantasy novel?
But in this era, this was accepted as common sense.
It was so common that even Martin Luther, the precursor of the Reformation, didn’t deny the doctrine of purgatory.
“This purification of the soul is very painful. Deus refines our souls with fire as hot as the flames of hell. Just a small touch of the fire makes you writhe in agony. How much worse would it be in purgatory?”
Upon hearing this, the crowd began to tremble.
“The priest said there’s purgatory, but if it’s truly a fiery pit...”
“It’s bad enough that my elderly mother passed away. To think she’d have to burn in purgatory is unbelievable.”
“Do I have to suffer that kind of pain after I die?”
Those people over there must be well-off, at least middle-class, but to be trembling after hearing such nonsense... It’s pathetic...
However, after hearing those words, Chloe seemed to think differently from me, as her hand began to tremble slightly.
Well, these people aren’t stupid...
‘Erika and Kris will probably believe this seriously too.’
The only one who thinks this is complete nonsense is me.
“Mom, Dad, Leo...”
Chloe started to choke up, as if everything she’d been laughing about earlier was a lie.
I really wanted to say, “Yeah, purgatory is complete nonsense,” but...
I couldn’t do that, and it really drives me crazy.
The wicked priest who had just been speaking seriously smiled smugly and said.
“But don’t worry, everyone! There’s a way to save your family and your future self from this terrible purgatory!”
A typical con artist’s persuasion, giving despair and then hope.
As expected, these people who learned nothing but how to deceive, duel, and stir up trouble at theological schools are masters of words.
Maybe next time I’ll recruit a thug from a theological school to work for me.
Then, after teaching them the wisdom of the East India Company, I’ll send them to colonize.
The priest, with a smug smile, grabbed a scroll.
“All you need to do is buy this indulgence. What is this indulgence? It will reduce the time your family or loved ones spend suffering in purgatory!”
By now, the people’s faces were smiling.
They thought they had escaped death.
This is exactly how we can understand why people said the Middle Ages were so barbaric.
“If you buy just one of these, you can reduce the punishment time for those in purgatory. The one I’m holding right now will free you from 100 years of punishment.”
If hell is like the Auschwitz concentration camp with a life sentence (unable to die), purgatory is better than Auschwitz, but it’s a prison with no set release date.
So, according to the story, this indulgence is said to have a fixed sentence.
Of course, if you ask how long your parents’ sentence is, even the Pope would probably say, “That’s something only Deus knows,” while dodging the answer and focusing on collecting money.
This small issue is considered heresy in the Deus Church.
‘In the end, it’s all about how much you love your parents, and how much you’re willing to pay.’
The most uptodat𝓮 n𝒐vels are published on freёwebnovel.com.
“Here, you can buy a pardon for 100 years of purgatory for one silver coin...”
Honestly, just thinking about spending money on indulgences makes me want to throw up, but I can’t not buy it.
Why? Because it’s not just about saving my family from this supposed hell of purgatory.
If I don’t buy it, I’ll look like a bastard who doesn’t want to save my deceased ancestors from purgatory just to save a few coins.
By the way, I personally think that during the Reformation, the high-ranking officials probably got robbed of tens of billions, if not hundreds of billions, or even trillions, just to buy these indulgences.
Why did 90% of the princes in the Holy Roman Empire convert to Protestantism during the Thirty Years’ War?
For Chloe’s psychological stability and my own reputation, I have no choice but to buy it.
“How much for the whole cart?”
The priest selling the indulgences froze when he saw me.
“150 gold coins in donations.”
This kind of business will continue every day, and those who can afford it will buy it frequently.
If you don’t buy it, your reputation will be tarnished to the point where you might starve to death.
Ah, the Reformation is really necessary.
The Pope needs to be stabbed with a spear... Shaco di Roma needs to be brought back...
“Baron Rothschild, I will make sure to use all the indulgences for Chloe and her family.”
Not long after, the priest, who was in charge of the Rothschild Barony, came to me and said that he wanted to meet me.