TVLT 07

Chapter 7

The temple where the Archbishop resided was located in the outskirts, quite a distance from the capital.

Partly, this was because of the doctrine that the temple should keep its distance from the secular world. There was also the practical reason of wanting to establish itself somewhere even slightly beyond the Emperor’s sphere of influence.

There were several small temples within the capital that commoners could visit.

However, when nobles had the time, they preferred to make an outing to this beautiful temple, which was surrounded by pleasant scenery.

Even members of the imperial family had to come here for certain important sacraments.

Making them come all the way here was also one way for the temple to reaffirm its authority.

Cedric was riding through the forest where the temple was located with several knights under his command.

A carriage was stopped at an odd angle in the middle of the road.

“Whoa!”

Freil, who was riding at the front, pulled on his reins in surprise. Cedric stopped his horse behind him.

“What happened?”

Freil asked. The coachman hurriedly took off his hat and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, gentlemen. One of the carriage wheels came loose.”

“The wheel came loose?”

Freil glanced at Cedric, and when Cedric nodded, he dismounted.

Since they were on horseback, they could have simply moved to the side and passed the carriage.

But neither Cedric nor his knights were the sort of people who could do that. They had no reason to hurry, either.

Cedric briefly examined the situation.

For some reason, the wedge connecting the axle and wheel had become loose, leaving the wheel on the verge of coming off completely.

“This normally shouldn’t happen. Just how have you been maintaining this carriage?”

Freil scolded the coachman incredulously. The coachman wiped his forehead anxiously.

“I’ve been taking good care of it. I don’t know how this happened.”

“Can you fix it?”

Cedric dismounted and approached them.

“It isn’t particularly difficult. We just need to fit the wheel back into place and drive the wedge in again. It only requires some strength. I suppose they couldn’t fix it themselves because the passengers are ladies.”

Freil reported. Cedric nodded to show that he understood.

A young girl who had been standing beneath the shade of a tree a little farther away approached him with a maid. She seemed to be the owner of the carriage.

“Thank you for helping us.”

“Think nothing of it.”

Cedric answered casually as he looked at her.

Then he froze.

It was the face he had seen in his dream.

She was younger and far more beautiful than the woman in his dream, but it was still her.

The girl spoke gently.

“I was worried that if no one passed by who could take word to someone for us, we might have to walk all the way to the temple from here.”

“How could a young lady possibly walk from here to the temple? Please don’t worry. We’ll have it fixed in no time.”

Freil cut in, thumping his chest proudly.

It wasn’t an unreasonable promise, but Cedric gave him a disapproving look. Raising his voice whenever there was a pretty woman around was one of Freil’s bad habits.

The girl gave a faint smile. It almost looked like a bitter smile, or perhaps as if she were trying to hold back a laugh that was about to escape.

Over that smile, Cedric suddenly saw the tear-streaked face from his dream.

He felt something he could not put into words and turned his gaze away.

The carriage was repaired in no time.

The girl thanked each of the knights one by one before speaking.

“I’m sorry for making you stop on your way.”

“Please, there’s no need to apologize. When someone is in trouble, of course we should help. But you seem to be a young lady from a noble family. You shouldn’t be traveling around without even a single escort.”

Once again, Freil answered in Cedric’s place. The girl replied,

“I’m only on my way to the temple in broad daylight. It’s only because we’re on the road right now. Once we arrive at the temple, I’ll make sure to thank you properly.”

“Oh, no, there’s no need for that.”

Freil answered that way, but Cedric nodded at her words.

Then he opened the carriage door for her himself. The girl looked flustered.

“Please, get in.”

He spoke briefly and held out his hand to her.

The girl hesitated for a moment, then her eyes reddened slightly beneath them.

She climbed into the carriage.

Cedric and his party rode ahead on horseback, splitting into two groups, with some going a little ahead and others following behind.

Artizea could tell that they were doing this to serve as an escort for her.

Once they reached a place where the temple gates were visible, Cedric and his men picked up speed and disappeared from sight.

They were not actually going to the temple. They intended to make a private visit to the Archbishop’s residence.

Artizea’s carriage passed through the temple’s main gate. A priest came out to greet her.

“Welcome, Lady Rosan.”

“Thank you for coming out to greet me even though my visit was so sudden.”

Artizea took out the small box Alice had brought with them.

“They are beeswax candles. I would like to offer them to the statue of the Saint.”

“Please come this way. The Saint will surely be pleased by your sincere devotion.”

The priest’s face brightened.

The candles inside were nothing special, but the box itself was valuable. It was framed in gold and covered in satin, with a ruby set in the very center.

This was much better than making a direct donation.

Although the temple had become secularized long ago, they still wanted to maintain the appearance of living in poverty.

Artizea carried the box carefully as she followed the priest.

Instead of taking her to the main sanctuary, the priest led her to a small chapel where the statue of the Saint stood.

Artizea politely knelt before the statue.

She opened the box and took out three candles. She placed them before the statue, lit them, and clasped her hands together.

When she was young, she had had many things to pray for, but after turning sixteen, she had never sincerely prayed to God.

But this time, she prayed with all her heart.

I used magic, but the body I burned to do so was this one, so please forgive me. Even if the Grand Duke of Evron has decided to serve someone foolish and evil, he is a righteous man, so please watch over him. Please protect Lishia, your daughter.

One candle could be used to pray for the well-being of one person.

So Artizea prayed that way.

When she finished her short prayer and stood, the priest politely asked,

“Would you like to see the Bishop before you leave?”

“No. I’ll just have some tea, rest for a while, and then go home.”

“Then I’ll have one of the pavilions prepared for you.”

“And I have one more favor to ask.”

Artizea glanced at Alice.

Alice quickly took a silver coin from her pocket and slipped it into the priest’s hand. The priest pretended not to notice and tucked it into his sleeve.

“On our way here, we came across some knights who helped us when our carriage wheel broke and we were stranded. I would like to properly thank them. Could you have your maid guide my maid to them?”

“If you mean the knights accompanying His Highness the Grand Duke of Evron, then of course.”

The priest called over an acolyte and instructed him to guide Alice.

Then he personally led Artizea onward.

Artizea slowly crossed the temple grounds behind the priest.

Since the temple was situated in such a beautiful location, many people came here to rest and enjoy themselves.

Some noblewomen who were prone to nervous exhaustion and deeply religious even lived nearby and came to the temple almost every day.

Because of this, the temple had a large estate with several small pavilions, allowing visitors to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery without constantly running into one another.

Following the priest’s guidance, Artizea sat in a pavilion and waited alone for a while. A stream beside the pavilion murmured softly as it flowed past.

About thirty minutes later, Alice returned with the acolyte.

The acolyte carried a kettle filled with hot water and a basket, while Alice carried the tea set.

“As you asked, I handed out the packed meals. They seemed to like them.”

“Good work.”

The meals provided by the temple contained no ingredients obtained through killing animals. They would not be enough for the knights.

Artizea had deliberately brought plenty of filling food from the beginning because she had planned for this.

“And I invited the Grand Duke, too. You should eat something as well.”

As Alice spoke, she opened the tea set and unpacked the basket.

Artizea did not have much of an appetite. But since she had invited him, she had to prepare something.

Alice took out the plates and arranged small sandwiches, scones, and jam neatly, cutting the sandwiches into bite-sized pieces.

Meanwhile, Artizea prepared the tea herself. A fresh citrus scent spread through the air.

Just as Artizea poured herself a cup of tea,

Cedric finally arrived at the pavilion.

Artizea stood up.

Her heart was pounding.

Even when she had first falsely accused the Emperor’s daughter in front of the Emperor, she had never felt this way.

Artizea could not even tell whether what she was feeling was nervousness.

“Allow me to introduce myself again, Your Highness the Grand Duke of Evron. I am Artizea of Rosan.”

She bowed politely.

Cedric spoke as if confirming something.

“The daughter of the Marchioness of Rosan.”

“Yes. I am her daughter.”

“If you knew I was the Grand Duke of Evron and went so far as to stage this little encounter in order to create a connection, then you must also know that I dislike the Marchioness of Rosan. Is that not so?”

“So you knew.”

“I am not that foolish. This was not some poorly maintained carriage from a common coach service. There is no way the wheel of a noble family’s carriage would simply come loose like that.”

Cedric continued,

“And then there is the fact that you prepared packed meals for the knights, as though you already knew there would be someone to give them to.”

Artizea looked slightly embarrassed.

“Even so, I had something I wanted to tell you. As you said, if there were not even a small connection between us, you would have turned around and left the moment you learned I was Milaera Rosan’s daughter.”

Cedric stared at her silently for a moment.

He probably would have done exactly that. If not for the terrible dream he had the night before.

Artizea met his gaze without flinching.

Cedric thought her turquoise eyes looked like clear jewels.

Unlike the eyes that had been crumbling and melting away in his dream, hers shone with the cool, clear light of autumn water.

So he sat down.

“I hope whatever business you have with me is worth taking up my time, Lady Rosan.”

“Thank you.”

Artizea bowed politely once more.

She emptied the hot water from the empty cup and poured warm tea into it.

Cedric hesitated for a moment.

He was not in a particularly good mood. He knew Artizea was trying to pull some sort of trick, but he had assumed that, at worst, it was some childish prank.

But she was the Marchioness of Rosan’s daughter.

Still, he decided to finish at least one cup of tea. He could always leave afterward.

Artizea spoke calmly and matter-of-factly.

“Please propose to me.”

“Kh—cough!”

Cedric choked on the hot tea.