Chapter 35
Leaving the old man’s desperate cries behind, Cecilia strode briskly down the corridor and returned to the entrance.
Eli, who had been arguing with the priest who had tried to squeeze donations out of Cecilia last time, spotted her and jumped to her feet.
“Madam!”
It was an anxious call, as if she had been put through the wringer.
Cecilia paused briefly, then quickened her pace and approached Eli.
“Were you having fun?”
“It wasn’t fun at all…….”
With a pout, Eli helped Cecilia put her cloak back on. Even as she did so, she kept glancing nervously in the direction where the priest stood. It looked like something had definitely happened.
Cecilia’s gaze shifted toward him.
As if prompted by her appearance, the priest—who had been fidgeting awkwardly—put on a friendly face and spoke up again.
“Dear sister, I would truly appreciate it if you reconsidered! With regular donations, we could repair the temple, and from time to time we could also provide simple meals to the faithful who graciously visit this place—”
“Hey, you fool! This is exactly why people think we’re a bunch of con artist heretics!”
It happened before Cecilia could even cut him off.
A thunderous shout chopped his carefully prepared string of words clean in half.
No one knew when he had appeared, but an old man standing at the far end of the corridor was wildly brandishing his cane. At the sound of the scolding, Eli’s expression brightened. She looked as if she had finally been liberated.
Ah. The corners of Cecilia’s lips slowly lifted.
So that’s why Eli was wearing such a fed-up expression.
Cecilia herself had been unable to shake her doubts about this place and its members, so it must have grated on Eli even more.
Though I don’t think that old man is exactly blameless enough to scold the priest.
After all, hadn’t he also brought up donations right after treating her?
The old man, moving surprisingly fast for someone leaning on a cane, approached and stopped in front of her.
Unlike his forceful approach, his eyes—carefully choosing his words—were filled with hesitation.
“Ahem! You don’t need to concern yourself with talk of donations. …Of course, if you were to give some, we’d accept them gratefully.”
“Yes. Thank you again for checking my condition today. May Morvena’s blessing be with you.”
Cecilia offered a firm farewell and smiled gently at the old man as he awkwardly added his words.
Sensing that there was not even the slightest possibility of success in her greeting, regret flickered between the old man’s wrinkles. He soon wiped it away and spoke in a deeper, more serious voice.
“More importantly, remember what I told you earlier.”
“You mean staying in Rotleben for as long as possible?”
There was also his advice about staying close to her husband, but… that was not something she could resolve by her own will.
Even so, we’ve been getting along quite well lately.
But seeing him gradually avoid her again, she still couldn’t quite tell.
Thinking of Yuri, Cecilia’s eyebrows twitched upward.
Though Cecilia could see others’ emotions at a glance, she couldn’t see her own. As a result, she was slower when it came to questioning the reasons behind her feelings.
She had slowly realized that what she felt was disappointment, but she had yet to grasp where that feeling originated.
Before she could dwell further on that subtle mood, the old man’s reply came flying at her.
“That’s right. At the very least, it seems certain that this land affects the power you possess… though I still don’t know how much control is possible.”
Raising a finger, he scratched at the edge of his eyebrow and shrugged.
“Since we don’t know, we’ll just have to wait and see. If possible, come again next month. I’ll need to track it.”
His voice was serious enough to erase any doubts about his competence.
After studying the old man’s silver-gray eyes and the resolve layered over them, Cecilia gave a short nod and left the temple.
Eli, who had been listening to their conversation from one step behind the entire time, finally spoke when they were just climbing into the carriage.
“Madam, will you come again next month?”
Did she dislike this place?
Eli couldn’t fully hide the suspicious look in her eyes. She might even suggest not coming again.
Though I probably will come anyway.
No one knew better than Cecilia how skilled the old man was. Thanks to his treatment, her body felt noticeably more comfortable.
When Cecilia silently nodded, Eli seemed to mull something over before unexpectedly speaking again.
“I don’t think what that old man said was a lie either. Above all… it feels like something about Madam’s energy has changed.”
She furrowed her brow, struggling as if trying to explain the strange sensation she had felt in as much detail as possible. The words were vague despite her effort, but they were more than enough to capture Cecilia’s attention.
You can sense something like that?
…Could it be someone around me, someone who was said to influence me?
Just as Cecilia began seriously digging into the suspicion that had surfaced, she shook her head.
If Eli had truly influenced her, her condition should have started improving back when they were still in Eldova. That hadn’t been the case.
“It’s more like the atmosphere has changed? Anyway, I can feel that something’s different. I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to trust that old man.”
Eli continued with difficulty before giving up on the explanation altogether and laughing awkwardly.
She was still clumsy in many ways, but at least her feelings toward Cecilia were sincere. Cecilia’s expression softened.
“As for that priest standing next to him… well, he’s a bit suspicious.”
Eli muttered, recalling the displeasing expression on his face. Cecilia didn’t deny it, only wearing a faint smile.
In truth, he probably wasn’t such a bad person.
Though I can see why the number of followers has dropped.
It seemed he hadn’t realized that yet.
But more than anything else, that was something time would resolve. Once her body was properly healed, Cecilia would be willing to offer donations and advice. It might not even be that distant a future.
As Cecilia soothed Eli, who had grown irritated at the thought of the priest, she heard a murmur of voices and glanced outside the carriage.
Groups of people had gathered here and there, chatting noisily. What was surprising was that there wasn’t just one such crowd.
It might have been her imagination, but the streets of Tisheer seemed livelier than last month.
People even look a bit more relaxed.
Had there been some catalyst for change?
Nothing immediately came to mind. There was no festival, and the ducal castle hadn’t released any funds.
Cecilia’s question was answered after she returned to the ducal castle.
“Madam. We’ve received a letter from the Orto Trading Company.”
As soon as she stepped down from the carriage, Noah—who had been lingering at the entrance—approached quickly.
In his hand was an envelope sealed with gold-stamped wax.
Though he was usually calm, he seemed slightly excited at the moment.
“From Orto?”
“Yes. Since His Grace the Grand Duke is currently absent, they wished to report directly to Her Grace the Grand Duchess and have been waiting.”
That much urgency?
Did something happen?
Cecilia’s hand trembled faintly as she took the envelope. While she hurriedly considered how to respond in case something bad had occurred, her gaze stopped at a particular line near the end of the letter.
“They’ve expressed a desire to increase the number of trainees at Orto.”
Seeing her silent, Noah hurriedly added an explanation.
He must have thought she hadn’t reached that part yet.
His reporting eyes sparkled—an unusual sight for him, filled with anticipation and vitality.
“They say supply may soon fail to keep up with demand. …Things seem to be going really, really well.”
A voice brimming with elation brought his report to a close.
