‘Holy shit.’
“Dame Sarnez, it sounds like you should go home,” Sir Johann calmly commented while looking at our chaotic faces.
Baron Bellang, Lady Bellang, and Elody all looked quite shocked as well. It was because this news was not expected at all. We last saw Duke Simon de Sarnez during the Andresy trial in the Empress Palace and he had been completely fine. It was pitiful and concerning.
“Yes, it does seem like…..” Christelle spoke in a perplexed voice.
It was rare to see her this shaken up, but it was understandable. Even if their relationship was awkward right now, the Duke was someone extremely important in her ‘second life.’ She was the real Christelle’s father as well as the husband of her stepmother, Isabelle, whom she loved so much. It was obvious that she would be concerned and scared.
“Wet nurse, how did my father end up that way? Last I heard, he was doing fine in the Lord’s Castle. Did he get hurt?” Christelle urgently asked.
“No, baby miss, the flu…… Apparently he has been overworking these past few days. He ended up catching the flu, and, sob… His condition suddenly turned terrible…… I heard he is even rejecting the notion of informing Her Majesty. Apparently he is staying stuck to the castle in the Lord’s Castle, having the Imperial doctor check him out. He’s doing that despite being someone who can easily see the Cardinal!”
The wet nurse dabbed the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief as she shouted. Her voice was shaking. Christelle tightly grabbed her hand.
I suddenly recalled what one of the Baron’s head captains had said two days ago.
‘We have received news about the flu spreading throughout the Empire from the Imperial Capital and the west.’ The Sarnez territory was located in the western part of the Empire.
“The madame was waiting at the estate to go back with you, but she ended up heading to the Lord’s Castle first as I started to head over here. You can head directly to your father with me.”
Christelle looked toward us. The Baron had one of the attendants behind him go get Christelle’s stuff ready. She and I exchanged glances.
“Shall I go too?”
‘I’m sure it will be hard on her. Shouldn’t someone be with her?’
“No, your highness. The opening ceremony of the orphanage…… I know it means a lot to you, your highness. Your existence is important to everybody there as well,” The main character whispered to me. Her blue eyes were serious.
She had awakened from her illness that night in March when I was attacked in Juliette Palace. What I am trying to say is that the first assassination attempt happened before Miss Ga-in and I met. That was why my instincts were telling me something: Right now, Christelle was trying to respect a relationship that she did not know about. She had figured out the sense of debt I felt toward the Baron and his wife as well as my desire to console them. She was doing so despite this current situation she was facing.
“Christelle.”
“I’ll be okay because my mother and my wet nurse will be there. Teacher, please look after his highness for me.”
Christelle requested to Sir Johann. His mint-colored eyes heavily sank down.
“Please don’t worry.”
– Squeeeee.
– Piiiii
Demy and Percy chimed in as well. The incident was instantly organized. The staff that ran out quickly loaded her belongings while I had Tithé create some water for the horses for the Duke’s carriage to drink.
Christelle and her wet nurse bowed before getting on. It was easy to see that both of them were tense.
“We will immediately head to the Sarnez Duchy once the ceremony ends. I’m sure her Majesty will allow it.”
I quickly whispered while holding the doorknob. Lady Bellang commented as well.
“Dame Sarnez, I pray for your father’s full recovery. I am truly thankful that you came all the way to this distant shabby territory of ours.”
“……I am the one who is thankful. See you next time, your highness!”
Click! The door closed. Our exchange of glances instantly ended.
The carriage charged toward the north without any hesitation.
*
I debated heading inside right after sending Christelle off, but I was too concerned to relax. I wanted to give Benjamin and Ganael, who were taking a break inside the Lord’s Castle, a chance to rest as well. That was why we started walking toward the canal once again. The Baron’s family and their attendants took the lead with Sir Johann, the little troublemakers, and I walking about ten steps behind them. The night air was clear and cold.
“I heard that there are rumors of Marquis Duhem being sick as well.”
“Is that so, your highness? That is surprising.” Sir Johann tilted his head at my comment. However, his gaze was relaxed as usual. Tithé, who was in a burlap sack on Sir Johann’s back, was enjoying the stars in the sky.
“Yes it is. I hope everybody recovers quickly.”
“I’m sure they will because you are hoping for it, your highness.”
He answered immediately. It felt forced but, for some odd reason, it did make me feel better. I started chuckling when…
“This way, your highness.”
Baron Fabrice Bellang commented from the front. We both turned toward the voice. The spot he was pointing at had no magic light. It was dark and full of thickets. I attentively observed the area but I did not see any path toward the canal. I tilted my head. Demy and Percy tilted their bodies as well.
“Please accept my deepest apologies as there is no path. However…… I believe you will understand the reason once you take a look,” Lady Anne Bellang quietly explained.
I exchanged glances with Sir Johann and calmly nodded my head. They were definitely not suspicious or bad people. Most importantly, I was an Archbishop-grade priest and had a Cardinal-grade Holy Knight by my side.
– Rustle, rustle
We started going through the thick shrubs and vines with only our bodies. Demy tried to create a path for us but Elody cautiously stopped us.
“There is a reason we made it difficult to approach, your highness. I ask for your understanding……” Her freckled nose twitched.
I nodded my head without any objections as there seemed to be a secret reason. The Baron’s people were even breathing quietly, so we ended up doing the same.
– Rustle, rustle.
“……”
– Crunch!
The Baron, who was in the front, stopped moving. Everybody lowered their heads after seeing him motion with his hand.
The forest was not very big. We could clearly hear the flowing lake water even without trying very hard to listen. I took a peek to see the canal sparkling under the moonlight. However, the path for the water was narrower than I expected. It only seemed wide enough for about two canoes to go through at once. The other side was full of dancing reeds.
“We will wait here now, your highness.”
“Wait?”
“Yes, your highness. It may not come, but…… It has happened every day since the hole in the sky, so I’m sure we will have guests today as well.”
‘Guests?’ I blinked at the Baron’s explanation.
The Baron’s group didn’t pay much attention to us or our confused faces as they slowly pulled out some blankets. They then handed us some as well. They weren’t thick but we could tell that a lot of care went into knitting them.
I had no idea what was going on, but it felt as if we might have to wait a long time, so I first wrapped Demy and Percy tightly with the blanket. Sir Johann looked at me with concern before offering me his blanket.
“No, I’m okay. It is warm holding the kiddos.”
“You get cold easily, your highness. This is no issue for me.”
– Shaaaaaaaaaaaa!
The area around us became as silent as a private domain as soon as he said that. Elody’s jaw dropped in shock. The Baron couple and the attendants opened their eyes wide as they looked toward us. This was the result of Sir Johann completely sealing the wind and noise around us.
“Won’t this allow us to be cozy as we wait?” His drooping corners of his eyes gently curled up.
The young Baroness blankly stared at the Holy Knight before quickly nodding her head.
We enjoyed the hot water Tithé made for us as we sat around chatting. The red panda and chimney bird peacefully fell asleep thanks to the increase in temperature. I wasn’t sure because I didn’t have a watch, but it felt as if we had spent over an hour here.
It happened just as I started to think that Ganael and Benjamin might be worried.
“My lord, I see a light over there.” An attendant urgently pointed to the other side of the canal. Everybody looked up.
“……It seems our guest is here. Honey?”
“Yes, I am prepared. Elody?”
“I’m prepared as well.”
The three of them quickly started to move. I didn’t know about the situation, but I couldn’t help but be curious about a guest who came by boat with a light. I stuck my neck out to look at the upper part of the river.
– Creak, creak.
“Ah……”
There was a small figure on a little boat that was swaying side to side. The boat was relying on a small light that looked as if it could go out at any moment.
“It doesn’t sound too good. Do you think water is leaking?”
“No, the children are calm. I think it is because the boat is old.”
Lady Bellang calmly answered the Baron’s question. I gasped and got up while holding the kiddos. Sir Johann stopped me with a firm arm.
“Sir Johann, they said there are kids there.”
“Please let them rescue the kids, your highness. I respect your kind heart but I cannot allow you to go somewhere dangerous.” His gaze was cold.
I understood where he was coming from, so I could only stand there while biting my lips.
The Baron’s group moved in perfect order as that happened. Lady Bellang took out a red pouch from her coat while the Baron and an attendant each picked up a long pole that had been hidden nearby and waited for the little boat to float down. Elody took off the blankets on each person’s shoulder one at a time. I took off the blanket as well as a Holy Kingdom-styled gown as well.
Sir Johann sighed and placed his own coat on my shoulders. ‘This isn’t what I intended.’
– Clunk!
I heard the sound of wood hitting something. Everybody looked toward the water.
“Good, just like that……”
“Yes, my lord.”
The two men used the hook at the end of the long poles to slowly pull the little boat out of the water. I could clearly see the faces of the people on the boat as the light got closer. There were two pale children looking around thirteen and……
“Holy Almighty God. There is a baby. Elody!”
“Yes, father!” Elody grabbed the pouch from her mother and ran.
The Baron and the attendant lifted the staggering children off the boat and the young Baroness instantly wrapped them in blankets and coats. She was using the items we had kept warm with our body heat as well as a high-grade magic stone pouch that released heat. And then……
There were the young children wearing a style of outfits that were hard to find in the Empire.
“They are from the slums of the Holy Kingdom. They got on this boat with their lives on the line from a far distant place……” Lady Bellang slowly looked toward us as she spoke.
I was at a loss of words as I recalled what she said to me before. The things she said a few days ago echoed in my ears.
‘I hope I am not being disrespectful by saying this, but may we please show you the work that we are doing?’
“We were able to build the canal thanks to your assistance, your highness. We were able to control the harsh water to increase their rates of survival. That is why I wished to show it to you.”
“……”
“Thank you for your benevolence.”
She bowed toward me. I didn’t have to think about anything and just responded with the most sincere show of respect. I truly meant it.
*
The morning of December 19th was quite refreshing.
Aurélie Boutier got off the Imperial family’s carriage with light footsteps and walked. Nobody knew that she had come to Juliette Palace. Numerous attendants did assist her, but she didn’t tell Frédérique about it so it was as if nobody saw her.
“What about Cédric?”
“I was told that he left the palace early this morning, your Eminence.”
“Ah, to be young.”
She answered, almost as if she was singing, at Natalie’s report. The people behind her quietly chuckled.
The Imperial Crown Prince had returned from the Bellang Barony late last night. They told him not to come greet them because they were worried that he would be tired after being in the carriage all day, but he still showed up to the Empress Palace this morning. He seemed to have enjoyed his time away as his handsome face sparkled even more than usual. There were no signs of fatigue visible at all. He then got up extremely early this morning to prepare for the Imperial Capital’s Garrison Officer Candidate School inaugural ceremony. Her godson was truly admirable and lovely.
“I need to work hard too. Especially since I want to completely win over our little prince.”
“You are already deeply loved, your Eminence.”
“I know.”
However, it was because she hoped for that child to not go back. She naturally kept that part to herself.
Natalie was holding a large and long wooden box. It was a gift from Aurélie that they were planning on secretly leaving in the prince’s room. They had not been able to fully celebrate his promotion to Archbishop, so she wanted to bless him, albeit very late. She knew bribes would not work on that child, but he was not the type to ignore someone’s sincerity.
– Step.
Someone came out from Juliette Palace with a large bag of bread at that moment. Her beige-colored eyes opened wide.
“Oh my, someone was already here.”
“……Your Eminence.”
The guest who had arrived first, Modeste Bacary, felt his cheeks turn red. His eyes were shaking as he looked back and forth at the Cardinal and the bag of bread in his hand. This was the first time that Aurélie felt that the seer truly looked his age.
Bacary quickly bowed. “Please accept my greetings to her esteemed Eminence. As for this, this is something an attendant of this palace forced into my hand……”
“Really? I thought it was food you brought from outside. You seem to be quite popular, little Bacary.”
His face was now as red as a tomato. The attendants of the Empress Palace quietly chucked at their master’s mischievous attitude.
Aurélie smiled as she continued to speak. “What is our busy Captain of the Fleur-de-lis doing all the way out……”
The middle-aged woman’s face instantly stiffened.
“Ugh, gasp.” The seer’s condition did not look good. Crash! The bread fell out as the young boy’s body fell to the ground. His neck was red, a vein was visible on his forehead, and he had a double nose bleed.
The Cardinal rushed toward him and hugged his head. She then flinched. She got chills seeing something she had never seen before.
“The whites of his eyes……”
The seer’s eyes had turned black with silver whirlwinds at the center.
—
Translator’s Comments
That’s… kind of scary?