Chapter 86
It was a warm spring day. The sky was clear, without a single drifting cloud, resembling the surface of a transparent lake, and the Goddess’s garden, bathed in sunlight, looked like a painting brushed by a master hand. The gentle spring breeze, full of soft warmth, brushed past the flowers and leaves blooming here and there. A calm and peaceful atmosphere flowed like water. But that serenity was short-lived, as a sharp, piercing voice cut through the air.
“What? Lord Arbelche is with someone?”
The voice belonged to Rieta. Normally, she might have gone to visit the High Priest, prayed, or walked through the corridors just to observe with eyes full of longing—but today was the day of the joint council. From early morning, the High Priest had headed to the main hall, and the priests were busy preparing to record information as soon as the council concluded.
Having nothing to do, Rieta had considered volunteering at the temple’s orphanage, but she wasn’t in the mood. So, she was idly passing time by floating hydrangeas in the fountain of the Goddess’s garden, never imagining she would hear such earth-shattering news.
Lord Theodore Arbelche… with Charlotte! Charlotte shouted at Lea, furious.
“I heard that woman has returned! But why is she with Lord Arbelche?”
Lea tried to calm Rieta, but it was useless. Tears welled up in Rieta’s honey-like, beautiful eyes.
‘She put up walls against me!’
Rieta could honestly say she had tried countless times. She had hidden behind pillars in the corridor to casually “run into” him, and had even gathered the courage to suggest having tea together first. But Theodore rejected her outright, leaving no room for even a single moment. And now, the fact that he was spending time with Charlotte was unbelievable. Charlotte can, but I cannot?
Rieta clenched her fists tightly, her shoulders trembling.
“Why did that woman come to the palace?”
“She’s attending the joint council as a witness today,” Lea replied.
“A witness, huh!”
It was truly frustrating. That Charlotte was attending the council as a witness before her hurt her pride. She didn’t understand how honorable it was to contribute one’s voice in a gathering of important figures. The thought that such a seemingly ominous young lady enjoyed such a noble honor made her furious.
Rieta hadn’t been a saint for long. Although she could receive love as a saint, she had no significant achievements, so she wasn’t in a position to attend important decision-making gatherings or voice opinions. In contrast, Charlotte, even though not affiliated with the temple, had helped arrest the Kennith couple and provided critical information as a witness to four monster attacks. Therefore, she was fully qualified to attend the council.
Yet Rieta couldn’t think rationally because the other person was Charlotte. It felt as if someone had stolen the honor that was rightfully hers. But above all, what angered her most was that Theodore was spending time with her. Rieta threw the hydrangea she had been holding into the fountain. As she panted heavily, she felt her anger shift into unease.
‘What if that cunning woman tells Lord Arbelche everything I’ve done?’
Rieta bit her lip hard. Theodore’s mentor was Ronan Blanche, Charlotte’s father. He seemed to have a special relationship with the Blanche family, so he surely had a bond with Charlotte too. That would explain why he met her! If Charlotte revealed that Rieta had poisoned her and framed her in a false plot, her relationship with Theodore would be ruined before she could even try.
‘No, I can’t let that happen. I have to take the initiative first.’
Clenching her fists, Rieta spoke to Lea.
“Let me know as soon as she leaves. I need to meet Lord Arbelche too.”
No matter how close Charlotte was, Theodore was the Commander of the Holy Knights. He would listen and trust the words of the Empire’s saint—Rieta herself. She believed that without a doubt.
Like Rieta, there were others who had heard about Charlotte’s return, though not in as much detail.
‘I see… Charlotte has returned,’ Norman thought.
The news of Charlotte’s return had come from none other than his father, the Duke of Winterleil. There were moments when his father proved useful. Norman, half-listening to his father’s loud chatter, let his mind wander.
He had thought something similar during Theodore’s return banquet. Charlotte, being close enough to exchange letters with Theodore, might have returned, but she hadn’t. Now, with the news of the temple embezzlement and the Kennith couple being caught as subordinates of a slave trader in Nostri, Charlotte had returned to the capital.
‘So she came because of the Kennith couple.’
Even though it wasn’t known yet that Charlotte had helped capture the Kenniths, Norman deduced the truth. His attention began focusing on concern for Charlotte. And if it weren’t for his father, he might have been her partner at the return banquet and could have gone to Nostri, which made him bitter. The irritation at his father mixed with his feelings for Charlotte, tangling his mind.
“Who could that child be?” he muttered.
“Huh?”
“They say Miss Blanche returned holding a child.”
“If it’s Aira….”
Norman had forgotten that he had investigated through the East Guild. The child he assumed to be from the orphanage suddenly came to mind. But why did Charlotte bring the child with her? The orphanage could have managed it. Also, how did his father find out? He was unusually well-connected.
“Anyway, this time apologize properly.”
“Huh?”
Norman, unsure why an apology was being mentioned, instinctively asked—and shivered. The Duke of Winterleil despised being ignored or not listened to. Norman swallowed dryly. The scar on his forehead from the glass incident had just healed, and now he might get another.
As expected, the Duke grew furious.
“Did you not hear me? Miss Blanche has returned! Didn’t I tell you to make up for your previous mistake?”
“Ah…”
Norman froze, every sense heightened. Amidst this, the instruction was to apologize to Charlotte. He steadied his dizzying vision and tried to respond naturally. Hiding his clenched fists behind him, he began speaking carefully.
“I wanted to, but there was no proper opportunity. I wouldn’t ignore the wise words of my father. I only hesitated because I had many concerns, but I did take them to heart.”
Having grown up under violence, Norman knew that even slight praise could soothe his father’s temper. As expected, the Duke’s angry and demonic expression softened at the word “wise.”
“Now that it’s spring and a new social season begins, there will be gatherings and parties, and Miss Blanche will attend. When you meet her, speak to her and make a good impression. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now leave.”
As soon as the command was given, Norman left without looking back. Once the door closed, his face contorted and he strode down the corridor. Entering the only space he could call his own in the Duke’s dreadful manor, his study, Norman stumbled and leaned against the door.
Checking his hands, he saw deep scratches and drops of blood from how tightly he had clenched them. He muttered under his breath, cursing. He wasn’t afraid of the Duke, but the memory of his father’s violence made him tense involuntarily, cold sweat running down his back.
“Ha… would apologizing even create connections? He’s just being flashy, having no bond with the Blanche family. If he wants me to apologize, he should at least set up the opportunity!”
Ruffling his hair, Norman’s golden eyes looked sorrowful through messy blue strands.
‘I’m the one who most wants to clear up misunderstandings here.’
Whenever he closed his eyes, he remembered Charlotte’s wounded face when everyone falsely accused her. If he had approached her and said, “I know it wasn’t your fault,” would things have been different?
He felt a tightness in his chest when he heard Charlotte had fled to Nostri, thinking it was partly his fault.
‘I have to apologize and clear the misunderstanding. She might not accept it, but…’
Norman murmured, sighing.
“I have to do it. If it can even slightly heal Charlotte’s wounds.”
While Rieta was plotting her sinister plan, and Norman preparing his apology to Charlotte, and Theodore enjoying his reunion with Charlotte, the atmosphere in the main hall grew increasingly tense.
After Charlotte recounted the four monster attacks, Esh reported incidents of other monsters she didn’t know. He mentioned the raven-like monster acting as a scout and the capture of the northern fox monster. The realization that there had been six appearances of monsters, not just four, unsettled everyone.
At that moment, Dylan spoke.
“Duke Valian, thank you for protecting the north from monsters. Thanks to you, there were no major casualties. But I’m curious—why wasn’t this reported immediately? Wouldn’t it have sufficed to report when the northern fox monster was captured?”
Esh remained silent for a moment, then replied slowly.
“In truth, I received a prophecy regarding the monster’s appearance.”
“A prophecy?”
Dylan frowned sharply.
“When the northern fox monster was captured, we were foretold of the black serpent monster’s appearance. Soon after, it was slain, but we continued to receive additional prophecies. As His Majesty said, I could have reported it, but since we couldn’t know exactly where and when it would appear, and to avoid putting the support forces at risk, I decided to report only when all prophecies had come to pass.”
“I understand the delay in reporting. But prophecy? Who gave the prophecy?”
Just then, the main hall doors opened, and a woman in a white robe walked in.
“I thought it would be better to hear from the one who provided the prophecy rather than me, so I brought them along.”
Even with the robe drawn tight, her noble aura revealed she was no ordinary person. She slowly removed the robe, revealing long, aqua-colored hair, and a white cloth partially covering her eyes. Yet everyone present could recognize her identity.
“Long time no see, Your Majesty.”
As the hall filled with astonishment, Dylan staggered, standing abruptly.
“…Sonnet?”
His face pale, green eyes unfocused. But the woman ignored him and bowed.
“I am the former Saint, Sonnet. I pay my respects to His Majesty.”
