The First Magic World War

Generally, armies like the Free Knights Order, temporarily conscripted for war, would disband on their own after the conflict, but due to the operational mechanisms of the Faust Empire not being as precise as gears, many Knighthoods continued to operate for a while after the war, drawing their pay for an extended period.

The Empire mostly turned a blind eye to this and did not intervene much.

The Free Knights Order's registration term was typically one year, three years, or five years, depending on the scale of the war. It was common for the registration period of a Knighthood fighting on the front to expire, leading to the suspension of pay and mutiny, which could result in a loss in the war.

Renewing the registration of a Knighthood was actually quite a niche job.

How powerful is a Fu Er?

It could extend a Knighthood's registration to the maximum limit allowed by the Empire's legal system!

Although the Empire had never seen a Knighthood last over twenty years on phantom payrolls during peacetime, it was still a very worthwhile favor.

Charles took the Knighthood's registration document, courteously performed an Imperial salute, and without any explicit agreement, he and the middle-aged clerk said nothing to each other, not even exchanging a glance.

Charles and Taoles left the office.

The middle-aged clerk finished his workday as usual and followed his colleagues out.

Upon exiting the Central Government Office, Charles asked, "Taoles, where are you heading?"

Without any hesitation, Taoles responded, "Back to the university!"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Charles also intended to visit Anne at the University of Georgia and promptly informed Madam Nancy, upon which the carriage headed towards the University of Georgia. The four universities and the Central Government Office were all in the Val de Vaz District, so the carriage soon arrived at the destination.

Charles had planned to part ways with Taoles at the university entrance but didn't expect Taoles to address the talk tube, saying, "Just go in."

She glanced at Charles, who looked mildly surprised, and said, "You graduated from Sheffield University, while I graduated from the University of Georgia, what's so strange about having a permanent access pass to one's alma mater?"

Charles facepalmed, thinking to himself, "Am I puzzled by that? I'm just concerned about us showing up together and causing Anne to misunderstand."

Although as far as freeloading goes, the young miss from Su Mei's Home was no less appealing than the one from the Brittany Family, Charles still had some integrity. With patience, he said, "I just feel it's inconvenient."

With a hand over her mouth, Taoles chuckled softly and said, "I know you're afraid of Anne getting the wrong idea, but she won't misunderstand. I vowed in front of the Goddess when I entered the university to remain unmarried for life."

Charles's expression changed slightly as he asked, "You're a covenantor of the gods!"

Taoles nodded, and a touch of sympathy rose in Charles's heart for the noble miss from the Sumei Family. Speaking indifferently, she said, "You needn't pity me, I've had enough of that, just as I'm fed up with the arranged marriages my family sets up for me."

Sighing, Charles said, "I used to wish my family would arrange a marriage for me."

"Later..."

Charles deliberately paused, not continuing his thought, acting much like an author of an unfinished online novel, kindling Taoles's curiosity. She asked, "Although of humble origin, your university education and position as an Imperial Civil Servant should make you a good marriage candidate. Why didn't your family arrange a match for you?"

With a calm tone, Charles replied, "Because my brother is in charge of our household."

Instantly, Taoles felt sympathy, imagining the pitiable younger brother bullied by a domineering older brother and sister-in-law in various dramatic scenes.

Charlotte's brother would definitely feel wronged if he knew someone thought this way about him. He didn't wish for his brother to get involved with the family business, mainly because his brother was a typical wastrel, notorious and spendthrift, fearing that his brother's involvement would squander the hard work of generations—it wasn't out of disregard for fraternal affection.

Charlotte agreed to give up his inheritance rights, and he even sent his brother 550 Aegeus, which was almost seventy percent of the Meclen family's cash reserves. There was nothing to fault in this arrangement.

Although the Meclen family were merchants, they weren't swimming in riches; their fortune was only a thousand or two Aegeus.

Charlotte spoke this way mainly to sever ties with the past. He strived to maintain a solitary image in front of everyone and didn't behave any differently even with Taoles, whom he had an average relationship with.

When it comes to image management, one must be consistent in front of everyone.

In order to comfort Charlotte, Taoles said, "Don't be too sad, you know, the marriage partner arranged for me by the family once included Zimmerman Axel Robin, and that was after 'that incident'. Do you know how desperate I felt?" Your next chapter is on empire

Charlotte suddenly forgot about his image management, shocked as he asked, "After the Night Window incident?"

Taoles gave him a look and said, "What else? Did you think it was after the Empire Rose event? If that were the case, I would have gone mad."

Charlotte tried to imagine, only to find himself unable to comprehend how the brains of the nobles of the Old Continent worked.

He could imagine how Menilman Senior must have felt upon discovering her fiancé's unsightly truth and tearing up the marriage contract, only for the Su Mei family's elders to discuss and decide to replace him with a cousin. He could envision the kind of emotion that must have engendered.

He could also imagine the shock Taoles must have felt at the time...

But he could not understand the logic driving the brains of certain nobles who orchestrated this scene.

Were these the thoughts of proper humans?

Charlotte asked, "And then you became a covenantor of the gods?"

Taoles nodded and said, "That's right. I decided then and there, as soon as I went to university, I became a covenantor of the gods. I will never marry."

Charlotte could relate; in a similar family setting, he might have chosen never to marry as well.

There's a common saying in the education sector of the Empire: The National Academy serves the Royal Family and the Empire, while imperial universities serve the deities.

Yet, most university graduates still choose to join the government for a high-income job.

Only a rare few, during their university years, feel the "benevolence" of the deities and declare themselves as covenantors of the gods.

In other words, Priest Apprentices!

After graduating they can join the Orthodox Divine Sect and hold a priesthood position.

Charlotte, too, had considered this path, but joining the Orthodox Divine Sect, despite its various privileges, would mean relinquishing any touch with secular power. His life would be constrained by doctrines, such as remaining celibate for life and being barred from secular wealth. It was too inconvenient, so he abandoned the idea.

Of course, one could also choose not to join the Orthodox Divine Sect after graduation and find their own way, but they would still have to adhere to various doctrines, such as being celibate for life and not owning secular wealth.

A covenantor of the gods could also choose to give up their status, but the cost would be immense. They would be looked upon with distaste by the deities, all supernatural abilities within the faith system would be annulled, and they would carry a negative buff worse than an Evil God's curse for life.