Chapter 1016: Chapter 552: The Throne Decided: Why Did Your Majesty Rebel?

However, the current generation of heirs to the Kalmar Union has all met with adverse fates.

From her first heir, son Olaf III, and second heir, grandson Prince Eric, to the third heir [Bearkin] Ulysses, each met with a short life or a sudden death.

The only surviving granddaughter is robust and even sturdier than the average demon monster.

But if Byron and Violet were to rule the Kalmar Union, the faith on the Eternal Night Peninsula would immediately regress a thousand years, turning back the wheels of history, derailing the entire race.

"So, let me do one last thing for the Church before I return to Heaven."

[Queen of the Eternal Night] took a deep sigh, unsheathing the sidearm sword at her waist and striking the ground with it.

The sharp clang of metal against stone drew everyone’s attention.

She looked solemnly around and slowly spoke a decision akin to a thunderbolt:

"I, Margaret I, Queen of the Eternal Night of the Kalmar Union, have submitted an application to the Pope and the Council of the Divine Presence.

The Kalmar Union of Three Nations will be officially transformed into the ’Kalmar Knights’ Country’!

This will fill the void left by the secularization of the Order of the Mother of God Country into Prussia, recompleting the Church’s three major orders of knights.

Henceforth, we will implement a system of integration of church and state, recognizing St. Peter’s Cathedral as the sovereign.

The Grand Master, elected, will serve as the head of state, assisted by the Central Abbey and the Grand Abbot in executing power.

The core maxim of the Knights’ Country is: ’Love what God loves, hate what God hates,’ which every leader must strictly adhere to.

From here onwards, the Kalmar Union will never face issues of succession again.

Under the electoral system of the Knights’ Country, every one of you present... has the potential to become the Grand Master!"

Everyone was stunned by the news, thinking they had misheard, which was followed by a loud uproar.

Buzz—!

Byron and Violet were also stunned for a moment before realizing, having not anticipated that Margaret I and the Church, caught in a silent predicament, would finally resort to this trump card.

And they immediately understood their intentions.

The administrative center of the three Knights’ Orders Country is called the "Central Abbey," typically comprising: the Grand Master, the Grand Abbot, senior knights, headquarters knights, sergeants, and priests.

Unlike the King, although the Grand Master also holds a life tenure, it is appointed through elections by the order of knights.

This means that there can be many so-called "Crown Princes," no longer tied by blood relations.

If you are an influential and high-ranking official, you can openly become the Grand Master through this electoral system, thus a life-long monarch!

Moreover, even if elected as Grand Master, it is fundamentally different from the autocratic monarchs of the feudal era, without the benefits of centralization.

The Grand Master must adhere to the order’s rules and conventions and consult the Central Abbey members on major policies, making unilateral decisions impossible.

Under this system, the Central Abbey also holds considerable power, each possessing its own seal ring.

Notably, the Grand Abbot, responsible for managing all clergy, chapels, and religious affairs within the order, is elected by all clergy.

This ensures that the Grand Master will always be subject to church restrictions.

With the secularization of the Order of the Mother of God and its alliance with the Protestant Princes, the Church will absolutely defend against any further heresies arising in the Grand Master’s power.

This system is even more radical than Hightins’ "Magna Carta," and more "modernized."

Among the pirate community and pirate nations that advocate "democracy" the most in this era, accepting it naturally presents no barrier.

The most critical point is that the position of the monarch has been used as a bargaining chip given to every noble, minister, and officer in the country; who among normal people could resist such temptation?

At this point, [Queen of the Eternal Night] once again amiably looked at her Crown Princess Violet in front of her:

"Violet, my dear granddaughter, we all want what’s best for the future of this country, and I hope you can understand my actions?

Only the most excellent person is most eligible to govern this country, don’t you think?"

Before Violet could speak, she immediately appointed [Twilight Deacon] Gidro Rohart as the Grand Abbot representing the Church’s interests.

She reinstated a series of old ministers with new positions and promises, distributing ranks like Grand Marshal of the Knights, Clothing Officer, Treasurer, Inspector... giving them electoral rights.

Truly granting them the chance to become the master of this country.

A move to cut off support at the base!

It must be said, there is wisdom that comes with age.

No matter what Violet and her Wild Hunt King behind her have done during her absence, no matter how many forces they pulled, promising them benefits.

They are bound to collapse under this strategy.

Can any benefit be greater than that of the throne itself?

This is to make it explicitly clear to Violet:

"What I give you, you can take; what I don’t give, you aren’t allowed to have.

Even if I concede to someone who can carry out my ’capitulation’ ideology, all you can do is watch."

And it’s not over yet.

Clap! Clap! Clap!...

Then, clapping her hands, two teams of knights each wearing white cloaks outside the palace unmasked their disguises, each displaying the insignia of the other two knightly orders: the Order of Malta Knights and the Impoverished Knights Order.

They strode into the palace, taking their place beside the Queen of the Eternal Night.