~Chapter 55~
As soon as I realized Nero had run away, I rushed out of the castle.
The servants were shocked to see their frail mistress running out into the freezing cold almost without a coat, and they hurried after me, carrying fur clothes.
“Tell me more. How exactly did Nero run away? Did you make sure the doors and windows were all locked?”
“Of course! The wind was so cold, so I made sure all the windows were closed. I checked several times.”
“Was there anything different today?”
“I don’t know. I just played with Nero until he was completely worn out…”
“So at least he didn’t leave because he was bored.”
Berry was always good at tiring out Nero. Unlike me, who got tired after just a few minutes, Berry would play with him until he dropped.
So I could take “boredom” off the list of reasons he ran away.
“Where could he have gone in this cold?”
“My lady, at least put your coat on. It looks like a snowstorm is coming.”
“It’s dangerous to stay out in this weather too long…”
Nero was smart, a former stray who knew every inch of his territory.
Normally, I wouldn’t worry so much. But this time was different.
The sky was heavy and gray with clouds.
“My lady, please wait inside. We’ll search for him.”
“He couldn’t have gone far.”
“That Nero is clever—he’ll be okay. And besides, you have Baron Comte here, so please don’t worry!”
Baron Comte and several castle staff ran up with fur gloves, scarves, and hats.
Only then did I realize I’d come out without even telling anyone, almost in my nightclothes.
I was so scared of losing Nero again that I hadn’t thought of anything else.
“Thank you, everyone.”
Maybe I finally had people on my side now.
I tried to blink away tears. Suddenly, I remembered the paths Nero used to walk in my past life.
Nero was a boss cat, and his territory was wide—especially around Caldrick Village to the west of Lombard, where my old house had been.
If Nero was the same as before…
“Get the carriage! Hurry!”
At the same time, three people were making their way up a road that had been blocked by a landslide.
The rocks and dirt looked as if they might collapse at any moment, but none of the travelers seemed afraid.
“Tsk, what a way to greet visitors. These northern bumpkins really are something else,”
said Brother Matthew, complaining.
“Brother Matthew, those words could be a diplomatic problem. Be careful,”
said Sister Judith, her voice strict.
“Who’s going to hear us out here?”
Matthew pouted. He’d been excited to leave the Holy City, but now he was stuck with the strictest nag in the order.
Just thinking about it annoyed him even more.
He was about to snap his spear in irritation when the person walking ahead slowly turned back.
“Do you want to die here?”
“N-no, sir…”
“Whether you get buried by a landslide fighting each other or die by my hand, the result’s the same. I’ll let you choose.”
“Sorry. Next time, we’ll argue somewhere out of Vincent’s sight.”
Apparently, everyone was tense after facing the landslide. Judith, who had summoned her giant axe, clicked her tongue and put it away, leaving only a silver rosary in her hand—the symbol of an elite inquisitor.
“I get it. The bad energy in this land really gets on your nerves.”
“How did you even last here, Vincent? I feel like bugs are crawling on me. This place is awful!”
“Who knows,” Vincent replied.
He looked east, toward Lombard Castle.
A face came to his mind—fiery red hair blowing in the wind.
“A woman, maybe.”
“What?! No way! A priest, tempted by a woman? That’s blasphemy!”
Vincent was a common name in the Holy City—one in five priests had it. No one in Lombard suspected that the famous, feared inquisitor from the Holy City was also “Vincent.”
He was the Pope’s sharpest sword, likely to become the next High Inquisitor, and known as the “Priest of Sacred Blood.”
‘I wonder how Elicia will react.’
He had laughed for a long time when he heard rumors that the Duke thought Vincent was eaten by wild beasts and sent out search parties.
She was so interesting he’d volunteered to come back here himself.
Ignoring his subordinates’ complaints, Vincent’s eyes narrowed.
Judith and Matthew also tensed up.
“It’s a demon.”
“Terrible. That’s not a normal monster.”
“I heard monsters can’t cross the northern wall. What is going on?”
“I don’t know either.”
“How can you say that? As the chief inquisitor, you should be more responsible!”
Judith’s nagging went ignored. Vincent put holy power into his signet ring.
A blinding light flashed, and a giant scythe appeared, even taller than Vincent himself.
He picked it up with ease and charged forward.
“If you want responsibility, let’s go check it out.”
Meanwhile, I was wandering the western Caldrick mountains alone.
It was hard on my weak body, but I kept walking. I had to find Nero and get back before anyone noticed I was missing.
‘You’re going to Caldrick Village?’
‘Nero was a kitten I picked up at the monastery. I hid him in my room, afraid Madam Olden wouldn’t allow it, but she found out and scolded me.’
‘Ah, so that’s why you’re going to the west to find him…’
‘If you’re really going, please let us come too.’
When I first found Nero in the castle, all my maids were from the capital.
Now, they’d all run away or were no longer around.
I was the only one left who knew the truth.
So lying about why I knew the area so well was easy.
‘My lady, are you alright?!’
‘Why do I feel so dizzy…?’
‘You’ve been out in the cold too long. You should rest at the inn. We’ll find Nero, so please don’t come out.’
When we arrived, I gave another excuse to get the others to leave. Baron Comte hurried to rent a good inn, and Berry, who was from a nearby village, split everyone into search parties.
Once they were gone, I slipped out by myself.
I alone knew the paths Nero used to walk.
“Nero! Nero, where are you? Ne—ugh!”
I retraced each path, calling for him over and over.
Deep in the mountain, exhausted, I tripped and fell.
But I couldn’t give up. I forced myself to stand up again. Suddenly, I heard a faint cry.
“Meow?”
“Nero, Nero! Is that you?”
The sun sets quickly in the mountains.
Soon, it was so dark I could hardly see the path.
“Meow…!”
I was sure that was Nero.
Just as I reached out for him, the ground suddenly shook with a heavy rumble, and an ear-splitting roar filled the air.
