CHAPTER 35.
No Returns
“…What on earth is all this?”
Renald’s eyes widened as he stepped into the dining hall.
After quickly scanning the dishes on the table, he spun around and surveyed the entire room. Even for a knight of Saint Fidelio, who was expected to maintain dignity at all times, this scene went far beyond the needs of mere sustenance.
Adele, already seated and quietly preparing for grace, replied flatly.
“What do you mean? It’s today’s gracious daily meal, as always.”
“…This is?”
A hearty stew brimming with fresh vegetables, a perfectly seared sirloin steak glistening like a river of oil, and even grilled shrimp—rare to find atop a mountain—made the meal nothing short of a luxurious feast.
But what astonished Renald most was something else entirely.
“There… There are no potatoes.”
It wasn’t just that there weren’t any. Among all the dishes, not a single trace of the humble tuber could be found—neither as a main ingredient nor as garnish.
Murmurs spread across the hall, and Renald, acting as the de facto spokesperson for the confused knights, took a step forward.
“No matter how I look, there’s no sign of pota—”
“Why? Do you want some?”
“N-No!”
Absolutely not. Never.
His vehement response rippled through the entire hall, and the knights’ faces gradually lit with joy.
Even the trainee priests clasped their hands tighter, their private prayers stretching on in solemn reverence.
“What in the world… Lady Agnes, do you know anything? You said the person you came with is still in the kitchen.”
“Well, that’s…”
Adele paused mid-reach for her portion, locking eyes with Rebecca, who sat some distance away.
Despite the physical gap, Adele could clearly read the complex emotions flickering in Rebecca’s gaze—and calmly looked away.
“Perhaps the food supplier has finally seen the light of Enes.”
“What? Why would that person suddenly…”
“Well, surely it’s due to Priestess Rebecca’s constant prayers. As you know, she’s never once strayed from the will of the Divine. After witnessing such devotion for years, even a merchant is bound to have a change of heart.”
“Ooh!”
A few convinced priests and knights turned toward Rebecca.
Indeed, no one could rival her in austerity and uprightness.
Feeling the weight of their attention, Rebecca cleared her throat and raised her wine glass.
Even the flavor of the wine—just one sip—seemed to carry a richer bouquet than ever before.
Watching Adele among those joyfully enjoying the meal, Rebecca found herself brooding over what had happened the day before.
“My lady, this is blackmail!”
“What you did was fraud.”
Adele’s interruption was sharp and unfamiliar. Rebecca, who had grown used to Adele’s usual sweet and pliant demeanor, found this side utterly foreign.
“Surely you don’t think a mere curse from the priestess will be the end of this?”
With her crimson eyes flashing, Adele looked every bit the heir to House Sergio.
The way she restrained the burly man without a hint of weakness reminded one of a poised, elegant predator.
“Even if you lack a conscience, I’m sure you’re familiar with merchant ethics. You traded the most sacred value—trust—for a few measly coins. I’ll be reporting your conduct to Viscount Hamilton in the East and demand rightful judgment. If you have anything to say, say it then.”
“P-Please, no! I beg you!”
Whoever this Viscount Hamilton was, he clearly wasn’t someone to take lightly. The shameless Kirrel dropped to his knees so fast it was almost impressive.
The man, already pale from Adele’s “curse,” now looked ready to dig his own grave with his forehead.
“Please, my lady! Forgive me!”
“This may just be the start of your suffering. Should be interesting to watch, don’t you think?”
“I-I’ll do anything you ask! Anything, please!”
“…Anything?”
Adele’s voice shifted, as though she’d been waiting for that exact moment.
Sweet, subtle, yet spine-chilling.
“Well, as a merchant, I have no reason to show you any leniency—but this is the Grand Temple of Enes, after all, a place of mercy.”
“I-I understand! I’m begging you!”
“Your groveling is pitiful, but your calculations had better be exact.”
Her eyes curved like a cat toying with a mouse.
“You didn’t think I’d let this go, did you?”
“My lady…”
“You deceived the Grand Temple for years and insulted a priestess. And you think kneeling a little will wipe it all away? You really are naïve. If I wanted to, I could slice off those knees of yours and craft new ones from gemstones no one’s ever heard of.”
“Ah… Then, please, tell me what I can do to make this right.”
Kirrel’s eyes darted frantically.
Adele crouched beside him and whispered coldly.
“When a merchant takes money, they’re expected to provide goods of equal value.”
“Y-Yes! I’ll bring only the finest goods from now on! I swear!”
“No, no.”
She shook her head once, twice. Her smile vanished.
“‘From now on’? That’s what a victim says when they decide to forgive, not what a culprit gets to promise. You really shouldn’t test the patience of someone already furious.”
“…Ah.”
“Donate every single ruble you’ve stolen to the Temple of Saint Fidelio. Not a coin short. I should be charging you legal interest too, but I’ll spare you—only for the Temple’s reputation. And start by bringing fresh ingredients for tomorrow’s breakfast.”
“Wh-What? That’s impossible. Not because I don’t want to, but… Even if I travel overnight, I can’t gather new supplies in time.”
“Didn’t you just say you’d do anything?”
Adele’s cold sneer made Kirrel tremble.
“It’s not that I’m refusing, it’s just… I don’t even have time to go to our branch office, and at this hour, no suppliers are open—”
“You’ll find a way.”
Adele traced a sharp line in the air just in front of his nose.
“His Eminence the Archbishop returns tomorrow morning. If you serve something like today’s meal and he, in his old age, falls ill from it, who will take responsibility?”
“B-But the time…”
“With around ten thousand rubles, I believe you’ll manage just fine.”
“That may be, but where would I suddenly get ten thousand rubles? I don’t just have piles of money sitting around. You need to be at least a little reasonable—”
“Money?”
Adele muttered, then turned, finally acknowledging Rebecca standing behind her.
What now?
Rebecca, who had no more money than Adele, couldn’t hide her unease.
But Adele’s gaze seemed to pass right over her, as though she were looking at something far beyond.
“….”
A slight smirk crept across Adele’s lips as she turned away.
Then she reached for the hem of her dress.
Rebecca couldn’t see what Adele was looking at, but whatever it was made her tear the fabric.
It was the one dress she had brought with her when entering the temple—a modest black piece that had never quite suited her.
From the torn hem, Adele pulled out a wad of cash.
“How… You said you returned everything to your family!”
“You didn’t believe me anyway.”
“….”
“Think of it as a self-defense weapon.”
Adele chuckled awkwardly and handed the bundle to Kirrel, who gawked at the unexpected fortune.
“Pay it back.”
“…Y-Yes! Absolutely! But even if I get the goods with this money, won’t it be too suspicious if the quality suddenly skyrockets?”
A fair point—Rebecca couldn’t hide her anxiety.
As he said, if the quality changed that drastically, it might raise questions and ultimately fall back on her.
After all she’d gone through to escape her crumbling noble family and enter the Temple…
And yet, despite herself, she found her ears tuned to Adele’s next words.
“What’s the problem? Just say you were moved by divine inspiration.”
“Huh? That’s a bit far-fetched, isn’t it? You’re the only person I see regularly in the temple.”
“What about Priestess Rebecca?”
“….”
“She’s the strictest, most devoted follower of Enes in the Temple. You’re the expert at deception—figure out how to weep with gratitude and vow your intestines to the divine on your own.”
Adele turned sharply, signaling the conversation was over. Kirrel, flustered, scrambled to his horse.
Adele strode forward, dragging her torn dress hem, then smiled at Rebecca, who still stood dazed.
“You should go in. If you’re late, people will start asking questions.”
“….”
“Priestess?”
“If you think this makes me grateful to you, you’re sorely mistaken!”
She had to say something, but just being around Adele made her temper flare.
She knew it was immature, but someone like Adele wouldn’t help her without a hidden agenda.
“You may think you’ve found my weakness, but I’ll take full responsibility for this. As a priestess of Saint Fidelio, I must do so.”
“…Will you really?”
“Of course. I refuse to be cowardly!”
“Ah, as expected.”
“What’s that look supposed to mean?! If you think this makes me part of your little group—”
“Priestess Rebecca, I believe you are the one misunderstanding.”
Still smiling, Adele shook her head.
“I helped you only because I know you are true to your calling. If one mistake could cast you aside, it would be Saint Fidelio that loses the most.”
“How could you possibly know that…”
“Those who are true to their duties recognize each other. It’s a bit of a bad habit of mine.”
Adele chuckled, waving her tattered hem like a flag. Then, with a wink:
“Besides, why would I need to win you over? Everyone here already adores me.”
“Adele!”
So infuriating, Rebecca found herself raising her voice again.
Oh dear.
Even clutching a torn hem, Adele remained as regal as a queen.
“See? We just don’t get along.”
Just thinking about it made Rebecca clench her fists.
And yet, for reasons she couldn’t explain, her anger faded the longer she looked at Adele.
‘I have to get a grip. She’s leaving today, anyway.’
Afternoon would come soon, and the Archbishop would return before then.
No matter how clever Adele was, even she couldn’t charm him.
Desperately counting down the hours, Rebecca abruptly stood.
Fortunately—or not—there were still others in the hall who didn’t trust Adele.
Every time Adele laughed among the knights, Killian’s expression grew darker.
If anything, he looked like a man watching his kingdom fall before his eyes. But Rebecca had no time to sympathize.
As she exited, she brushed past Mikael on his way in.
Ignoring the feast, Mikael made a beeline for Killian, face serious.
“Uh, Captain… There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Later.”
“It’s about Lady Adele. I think you need to hear this…”
At that, Killian—who hadn’t taken his eyes off Adele for a second—finally turned.
Mikael’s words paired with Adele’s laughter turned his already cold expression into solid ice.
