Chapter 76…………………
“Oh my! Just a moment!”
Archbishop Victor, who had been climbing into the carriage, clicked his tongue. The cause was Erish Aachen, who had just run through the monastery gates without any composure.
Because of the rain that had poured all night, the courtyard was a muddy mess, but she dashed through without caring about the mud splashing. It was graceless and disorderly.
“Erish, you’ll get drenched.”
With a pale face, Priest Marid snatched an umbrella from a knight standing nearby and held it over her.
The knight stared at him in disbelief—it was the umbrella meant for Archbishop Victor—but Marid acted as if nothing were wrong.
Panting, Erish quickly asked,
“Am I late?”
“No, you came right on time.”
Abbot Wilbert, who stood beside them, smiled kindly.
The truth was, departure was an hour later. But Archbishop Victor, unable to sleep because of the rain all night, had become irritable and insisted they leave sooner—causing this whole mess.
He had even said they should leave Marid behind for no reason.
‘What? But…’
‘Holy water and Lady Aachen are all I need, aren’t they? Besides, I have things to discuss privately with her.’
It was all that man’s fault.
Of course, Marid couldn’t say that to Victor’s face. Instead, he glanced toward the Archbishop and subtly signaled Erish.
Erish’s expression showed she understood. But Archbishop Victor, already seated inside, grew impatient.
“Lady Aachen. Get in quickly.”
“Um, Archbishop! May I ask something? Could Lahan come with us too? He’s my husband, and I can’t go around alone….”
Now the Archbishop’s face turned sour. It was already bad enough that Marid and Erish were crowding into the cramped four-seater. And she wanted to bring someone else?
‘That devil’s child? In my carriage? Never!’
“Lady Aachen. I have ten knights under my service. I don’t think we need Sir Norwich’s protection.”
“But still—”
“Lady Aachen.”
The Archbishop frowned. Erish looked pleadingly at Abbot Wilbert, as if wanting to stomp her feet.
But Wilbert already knew exactly why Victor was behaving this way—and that the Archbishop would never allow Lahan to ride with them.
So, in the end, he could only shake his head.
“Erish, the Archbishop’s knights are excellent. It will be fine.”
“But….”
Erish was about to argue further when she suddenly stopped short, her expression twisting with frustration. She vaguely understood why Victor disliked Lahan.
Of course, she didn’t know that Lahan had been accused of ties to demons. She only guessed that the Archbishop disliked Lahan’s red eyes.
“No! I want to go with Lahan!”
“…Erish.”
But her stubbornness didn’t last. She wasn’t the type to keep resisting in front of the troubled Wilbert.
Marid getting drenched beside her didn’t help either.
In the end, Erish reluctantly climbed into the carriage, fuming. Wilbert apologized in her stead.
“Sorry for the trouble, Erish.”
“It’s fine. What about you, Father Marid?”
“Ah… I also have something to attend to today….”
His words trailed off. Erish, knowing full well it was Victor’s doing, glared at him.
But the Archbishop only sneered.
“Holy water and Lady Aachen are all we need. Why trouble others on a rainy day?”
“….”
“Would you rather your elderly foster father ride in this cramped carriage, soaking his dalmatica in the rain?”
Well—no.
“…I didn’t say anything.”
Like a surrender, Erish muttered and gathered her skirts to sit down.
Victor quickly pulled his dalmatica away from her wet dress with a sour face.
That annoyed her even more, so the moment she sat down, she glared at him.
Just then—
“Um, Erish.”
Marid called her carefully. She widened her eyes.
“Yes?”
But Marid only shook his head with a smile.
“Never mind. Let’s talk when you return.”
What? Maybe he wants to gossip about the Archbishop with me later?
Thinking so, Erish nodded. Soon, the carriage door closed.
The four-seater carriage was very comfortable, nearly the size of her new bed.
How is this cramped?
She wanted to complain to Victor. But as soon as they started moving, he shut his eyes and leaned back as though unwilling to even speak to her.
Ugh.
She hadn’t even said goodbye properly to Lahan.
Through the window, she saw the little hut where he was surely still asleep.
Feeling upset, she leaned her face out the window. Just then—bang! The hut door flew open.
And there stood Lahan, looking bewildered.
Unable to stop herself, Erish leaned halfway out the window.
“Lahan! I’ll be back soon!”
But one of Victor’s knights, riding alongside, blocked her immediately.
“It’s dangerous, Lady Aachen.”
Forced back into her seat, she couldn’t see or hear what Lahan was trying to say.
Well, it’s fine. Arnsberg to the north is close….
It was just a rough mountain road, but only a day’s journey.
What could happen?
Even as she tried to reassure herself, Victor’s muttered “So unrefined” reignited her annoyance. She gripped the strap of her bag tightly to swallow her anger.
Oh Lord Eridrahan. Is this man really your Archbishop? Really?!
Regardless, the carriage rolled peacefully northward.
With just the two of them inside.
“What? They’ve already left?”
The sound of the departing carriage was too loud to sleep through. Lahan rushed out, but he was too late.
Archbishop Victor’s carriage was already far down the road.
‘Lahan! I’ll be back soon!’
Those words came right after he thought, No way, Erish isn’t in there, is she?
Seeing her leaning dangerously out the window, Lahan froze.
At least the knight outside had stopped her, and he saw her push herself back inside.
And then, when he hurried to the monastery, Abbot Wilbert told him apologetically that “The Archbishop departed with only Erish.”
“But I’m supposed to guard her—”
“I know. I’m sorry. The Archbishop said he needed to speak privately with her, and I couldn’t stop him.”
Wilbert smiled sadly.
“Fortunately, the village is only a day away, and there are ten knights escorting. Nothing should happen.”
The elderly abbot looked so sincerely apologetic that Lahan couldn’t argue.
He sighed. After all, he had overslept—it was partly his own fault.
“Would you join me for some tea?”
As Lahan turned toward his hut, Wilbert gently offered. Lahan scratched his neck sheepishly.
“Alright.”
Clearly, the abbot had something to discuss. Lahan followed him into the cloister.
He thought the monastery would be quiet in the rain, but it was quite the opposite—noisy and crowded.
“Seems there are a lot of people here?”
Wilbert chuckled and explained.
“The rain’s gotten heavier. The villagers are seeking shelter.”
There were several villages near Windrock Monastery besides Vandel.
Summer typhoons often caused deaths and injuries, so whenever it rained heavily, people naturally fled to the monastery.
“Good thing the wheat was harvested yesterday.”
“Thanks to Lord Eridrahan’s blessing. Of course, the Vandel folk helped too.”
Though Wilbert’s words were warm, the crowded monastery felt dark and noisy. The rain was pouring harder now.
Lahan glanced at a cistern in the cloister’s garden. It was already overflowing, water spilling down the sides.
Why…
Why did he feel as though something terrible was about to happen?
Meanwhile—
Among the crowd seeking shelter, Akim quietly observed the cloister.
He had been lucky. He’d been wondering how to sneak in, but thanks to the summer storm, he’d simply blended in with the villagers fleeing to Windrock Monastery.
“My, we’re soaked through!”
“Mom! Hold me!”
Through the people, Akim’s gaze fixed on one figure.
Lahan Norwich. His younger brother, whom he had never met once in his life.
But those red eyes made him easy to find.
Watching his back as he walked beside a high-ranking cleric, Akim remembered his mother’s words:
‘Do as Prince Elio wishes.’
That was what Lady Norwich had said. But why?
Akim had no desire to obey.
I’ll watch him for a while.
There was still time before the storm passed.
So, for now, watching would be enough.
That was what he decided.
