Chapter 75
Damian looked at the returning Belek.
“What’s this? Did you two come in together?”
When Belek saw Katrina return, followed by Damian, he spoke.
“Belek, it’s you.”
Damian looked at him and stated the fact calmly.
“What, aren’t you glad to see me? It’s been a while, Damian.”
“Well, all I see is that you’re causing trouble again.”
At Damian’s words, Belek’s expression hardened.
Belek disliked Katrina, but he hated Damian even more.
That hatred was so intense it bordered on pure loathing.
“Do you want to go back to the monastery? Or perhaps…”
A faint smile brushed across Damian’s otherwise indifferent face.
“Do you actually want to be driven out of the family for good?”
“You bastard…!”
At that moment, Belek lunged at Damian. But Damian, like a matador facing an enraged bull, elegantly twisted his body aside.
Then he merely stuck out his leg slightly, hooking Belek’s foot.
“Argh!”
Thud, thud, thud!
Losing his balance, Belek tumbled down the stairs.
“You son of a—!”
“If you don’t want to be kicked out, then live quietly, Belek.”
Katrina felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
Hadn’t something similar happened to her as well?
It hadn’t been quite as violent, but she clearly remembered Damian mocking her with the same kind of smile when she first woke up.
This wasn’t good—but against her will, Katrina found herself sympathizing with Belek.
“Let’s go, Katrina.”
“Huh?”
Katrina had been busy empathizing with Belek when Damian called her.
This makes it look like I’m on his side.
To Damian, Katrina was probably in much the same position as Belek.
“L-Lord Belek!”
Behind them, the attendants were rushing to help Belek, who had rolled down the stairs.
Yes. Before things got worse, it was best to leave quickly.
***
Now what should she do?
Since Damian had caught her once already, sneaking around like before was no longer possible.
She had claimed earlier that she had only entered without knowing it was a cult gathering. If she were caught entering again, that excuse would be meaningless.
So Katrina decided—
“You want to be the one to negotiate?”
She had no choice but to reveal her intentions.
Duke Abiche looked at her in surprise.
“Yes, I want to go myself.”
Katrina answered firmly.
As expected—
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
The duke immediately shouted.
“What on earth could you possibly accomplish by going there?”
His furious gaze made it clear he thought Katrina had grown arrogant.
This was why she hadn’t wanted to tell him.
But since he was the one with authority, it was unavoidable.
“I’m sure I told you when you woke up. Know your place.”
“I do know my place, Father. That’s why I’m saying this.”
Katrina had to persuade him.
“Soon, I’ll show you. You’ll see for yourself why I need to go.”
“Hah!”
The duke seemed almost speechless at her confidence.
But Katrina already knew how he would respond.
“Fine. Do as you wish.”
His expression showed he had no real expectations of her—but for him, this was a matter with no real loss attached.
In matters like this, the duke could be unexpectedly lenient.
“But if you fail, then you will accept your place and live quietly!”
She had expected that, too.
“Yes, Father.”
***
“Devotee Lina, you’ve come again today.”
The priest of the Sun God, Helaio, greeted Katrina warmly.
Here, she went by the name Lina.
Katrina clasped her hands together, putting on the act of a devout believer.
“I wish to better understand the joy of serving the Sun God.”
“Such admirable devotion!”
Helaio once again marveled at her faith.
“In fact, there is something I’d like to ask of you. Will you help me?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Please distribute the bread to the worshippers attending today’s service.”
“Bread?”
“Yes. It’s a gift we have prepared for the faithful.”
The priest smiled benevolently.
“It is bread blessed by the Sun God himself. I grant you the honor of sharing that blessing.”
“…It would be my honor, Father.”
And so the service began.
“O Sun, our life and death, all things lie within your burning glory. Redeem us and guide us.”
“When the sun rises above the horizon, a new age begins. Those who reject its light shall burn forever.”
Helaio preached passionately as always.
Meanwhile, Katrina carried a basket and went around handing out bread to the faithful.
“Please accept this bread, blessed by the Sun God.”
“We thank him for his grace…”
She repeated the phrases Helaio had taught her as she moved through the congregation.
“May the Sun God’s blessing be upon you…”
But halfway through handing out the bread—
Katrina extended a piece, only for the person to refuse it.
Puzzled, she looked up at the person’s face—
And found herself staring at Damian, who looked utterly dumbfounded.
He stood there with arms crossed, not taking the bread, his eyes fixed on her as if to say, What on earth are you doing?
Katrina gave a sweet smile.
“This is bread blessed by the Sun God.”
“……”
“Please accept it, worshipper.”
But Damian made no effort to play along, only staring silently at the bread.
“What are you doing, worshipper?”
Noticing the hesitation, Helaio turned his attention to Damian.
With no choice, Damian finally accepted the bread Katrina held out.
“Why don’t you eat it?”
When Damian didn’t eat, Helaio frowned.
“This is bread blessed by the Sun God. Should it not be an honor?”
His face turned sharp and suspicious.
“…Of course.”
Damian sighed as he looked at Katrina.
He clearly didn’t want to, but finally, his lips closed around the dry bread.
“The blessing will be with you,” Katrina said softly.
Damian narrowed one eye and raised an eyebrow at her.
Katrina simply passed him by and continued distributing the bread.
***
When the mass ended—
Damian stopped Katrina as she tried to leave the chapel.
“We need to talk.”
He pulled her aside to a quiet, deserted spot.
“…Why are you here again?”
If he had brought his knights, Damian could have raided the place immediately. Yet he hadn’t.
Katrina’s presence clearly left him in a difficult position.
“Explanations can wait. For now, you need to leave, Katrina.”
“Sorry, but I’ve got business here too, Damian.”
“What business? What reason could you possibly have for coming here?”
What should she do?
If she told him her plan, Damian would only try to stop her.
So instead—
“Priority negotiation rights for the Wish Stone.”
