Responses
The Holy Church didn't really care about the king. (it's why the priest said the king or linley) They only cared at the fact that which one of them can benefit them. in the book the church would let Linley kill king (they were replaceable) if it were not the fact that Linley's mother was killed by the church. Since Linley's motive was to take down the church- that's another story.
It's like medieval church order in our world
thsi is so annoying! Just that he is the King they would protect him! And the Radiat church is like OMG just die already!