**Chapter 16**
“No. It’s nothing like that…”
“And, if possible, why don’t you change how you address me? You almost called me ‘Grand Duke’ in front of people earlier today.”
Matthias pointed out Eleanor’s mistake.
Feeling a sting of embarrassment, Eleanor lowered her gaze and muttered.
“…I don’t want to call you ‘the baby’s father’.”
“Then call me ‘darling’.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“Why would you think it’s a joke?”
“Your Grace!”
“Just kidding. If it’s really uncomfortable, just call me Matthias.”
Matthias clicked his tongue.
“You need to be able to say my name in case you need to call me for something.”
“But…”
“Don’t just stay silent if a dangerous situation like today happens again. Right, baby?”
“Goo goo ga.”
As if responding to his words, the baby babbled at just the right moment.
Matthias let out a soft chuckle.
“You hear that? The baby agrees.”
“…That was a coincidence.”
“Then I’ll expect you to call me properly starting tomorrow. And if you’re done talking, would you mind letting me go?”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
“Don’t you think our current distance is a bit too close?”
Only then did Eleanor realize she had him pinned against the wall with her arms on either side, effectively trapping him.
Their bodies were almost touching.
Startled, Eleanor hurriedly stepped back.
“This was a mistake.”
“Was it?”
“Ah, anyway, I’m glad nothing happened with James. That’s all I wanted to ask. Please leave now.”
“You drag me here on your own whim, and now you’re kicking me out as you please. Well, whatever.”
Fortunately, Matthias just shrugged and turned away obediently.
Eleanor, who had been tense, secretly let out a sigh of relief.
But just then, a voice came from above her head.
“You and the baby must have had quite a scare today, so get some proper rest.”
A surprised Eleanor looked up.
But Matthias had already opened the door and left her room.
“……”
Why does the Grand Duke…?
In the original story, he was a ruthless black-hearted manipulator, but to me, he seems to be treating me kindly?
Is this the scheme of a black-hearted manipulator, trying to make me let my guard down before stealing the child?
Eleanor touched her earlobe.
For some reason, she felt strange and her heart felt fluttery.
***
* * *
***
The Assyrian Church, with its 200-year history dating back to the founding of the Empire.
In the Central Temple, which carried on its great reputation, high-ranking priests from across the nation had gathered for the first time in a long while.
“This is a most disgraceful matter.”
*Thud-*
A man with brown skin slammed the table.
He was the one in charge of the Western Territory, and it was his first time attending a High Priests’ meeting.
“The Sacred Relic has disappeared. Just how has the Central Temple been managing the relics? In all my life, this is the first time I’ve heard of a Sacred Relic being stolen.”
“Regarding that matter, I am deeply ashamed.”
A priest from the central branch wiped away the cold sweat pouring down his face.
“How could we have known that a holy knight, who swore loyalty to the Goddess, would betray the Church, even enduring the curse?”
Those whose names were listed in the Church registry could receive the Goddess’s blessings, symbolized by longevity and good health, but in return, they had to live their entire lives bound to the Church.
If they broke their vows, they would incur the Goddess’s wrath and pay the price with their lives.
The priest from the West snorted.
“Are you at least tracking him down?”
“Of course. We are pursuing him with the remaining relics. We will absolutely not let him escape.”
“We’ll catch the holy knight eventually.”
A white-haired female priest said calmly.
“The problem is if he handed the relic over to a Saintess candidate, wouldn’t it?”
The expressions of the priests darkened at the one possibility she presented.
“But a Saintess candidate is just a candidate; she cannot control the Goddess’s power.”
“She’s a thief who stole a relic. According to Church doctrine and imperial law, we should issue a warrant and punish her. Isn’t that all?”
“It’s not as simple as you say. If she uses the relic’s power, she could hide her appearance for a lifetime. And since she’s a Saintess candidate, using the relic would be easier for her…”
“And on top of that, the candidate in question is Charlotte Winston.”
One of the priests said in a grave voice.
“She was judged to be the one with the most abundant sacred power among the next Saintess candidates. If we treat her with hostility, wouldn’t she just get scared and go into hiding? Rather than that, perhaps it’s better to coax her gently so she returns on her own two feet.”
“If we had just finished selecting the Saintess sooner, this wouldn’t have happened. By leaving her in the ambiguous position of candidate for so long, she’s also managed to avoid the Goddess’s wrath.”
“Candidate Charlotte Winston pleaded for it.”
“Is there a reason she alone receives special treatment? Even if she has the most sacred power, she’s still just a candidate. There has never been a time when the position of Saintess remained vacant for so long.”
There had never been a time in the Empire’s history without a Saintess.
There were even instances where a woman of Saintess origin became the Imperial Consort.
To that extent, the Saintess was familiar to the people and received much respect and affection.
“Those above are also asking why the next Saintess hasn’t been selected yet.”
“Be careful with your words. They are not *our* superiors.”
“I agree. Rather, it is they who receive blessings under the permission of the Goddess Aracia.”
“Isn’t it truly arrogant? Those who wouldn’t have enjoyed any power without the Goddess’s strength…?”
Those who already held unfavorable feelings towards the other party poured out their complaints.
Those sitting nearby nodded in agreement.
Then, the old High Priest sitting at the head of the table opened his mouth languidly.
“Charlotte Winston will be selected as the next Saintess.”
A ripple of unrest went through the priests.
One person asked.
“Is it their will?”
“It is their will.”
If that was the case, then the reason for giving Charlotte Winston special treatment was understandable.
But at the same time, they now had an even greater reason to find the missing holy knight, the Sacred Relic, and the Saintess candidate more quickly.
The priests continued their meeting with a more serious atmosphere than before.
Unaware that above their heads, within the ceiling of the conference room, someone sent by Matthias was eavesdropping on their conversation.
***
* * *
***
Whatever method Matthias used, from that day on, James no longer bothered Eleanor.
“I heard he doesn’t even come out of his house these days. They say he’s huddled under his blanket, trembling.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Thanks to that, everyone says life’s been more enjoyable lately. Nobody really liked James much anyway.”
It seemed James had been severely scolded by Matthias and was thoroughly frightened.
Matthias felt refreshed upon hearing the news about the other man.
“That gloomy bastard… if left alone, he was definitely the type to harm the baby.”
Is he describing himself now?
Anyway, thanks to that, her life had become more comfortable than before.
Since Eleanor was pleased with that much, she decided to acknowledge his contribution.
As finding Charlotte was taking time, the Grand Duke’s stay in the village also lengthened.
Just as Eleanor was getting used to his presence, an unexpected problem arose.
“You’re entrusting the management of the herb garden to me?”
“You’re a villager too. As a resident, you should contribute to the village.”
The village chief, who had suddenly visited the inn, was assigning her a duty.
After the chief left, Eleanor fell into thought.
The communally managed herb garden was located on the back mountain.
But while it was called a communal herb garden, it was practically abandoned land.
That was because since last year, wild boars kept coming down from the mountain, ruining the field and threatening people’s safety.
After pondering deeply, Eleanor muttered.
“It feels like retaliation for the James situation.”
It didn’t seem like James, who had already been taught a lesson once, was behind this.
He was rude and violent, but to that extent, he cherished himself too much and was cowardly.
“He wouldn’t even give me a proper answer when I asked what he did to James…”
Why did he handle things so messily?
Is he really the black-hearted manipulator Grand Duke?
