Chapter 27: RMLIP

Chapter 27

To put it simply, Lishid won his fight against the cat.

Fortunately, it wasn't a bloody battle.

To begin with, Lishid had drawn his sword without removing it from its scabbard, and the cat wasn't interested in attacking him anyway—it was after the snacks in his pocket.

"Meow!"

Of course, after stealing the treats, the cat tried to make a run for it, forcing Lishid into another brief struggle.

But there was no way Lishid, who had fought countless magical beasts, would lose to an ordinary house cat.

Using the snacks as bait, he borrowed the cat's body through his magic.

Thanks to that, he managed to leave the Blandiche Ducal Estate without anyone noticing.

Of course, riding on the cat's back would have been far too conspicuous.

So instead...

He secretly clung to its fluffy belly.

In any case, Lishid successfully reached the post office by controlling the cat.

The instant the clerk glanced at the clock, he quietly placed the letter on top of the counter.

Since he'd already attached an express stamp, it would reach Cassel in no time.

"W-What the...?!"

The clerk shrieked and toppled backward out of his chair.

Lishid couldn't have cared less.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"A l-letter! It just appeared out of nowhere! I only looked at the clock for a second, and then suddenly it was just... there!"

"Did you fall asleep or something? Someone must've come by while you weren't paying attention."

"I'm telling you, that's not it! It's a ghost! A ghost!"

Leaving the commotion behind him, Lishid casually grabbed a copy of the neatly displayed newspapers and walked straight out the front door.

Since none of the seated employees could see him, however, everyone reached the same conclusion:

A letter had appeared out of thin air...

Then the front door had opened all by itself.

Even the employees who had been laughing at their fallen coworker turned deathly pale.

"Eek! W-What...? It really was a ghost...?"

"I told you it was!"

"...Hey. Something feels wrong about this. I've got a bad feeling, so let's set this letter aside separately."

"S-Separately?"

"Yeah. If we fail to deliver something like this properly..."

"...We'll end up cursed by a vengeful spirit..."

The two employees solemnly nodded at each other with clasped hands.

By the end of the workday, they agreed to personally deliver the mysterious letter themselves.

Meanwhile...

Lishid calmly walked outside.

"...Oh."

A chilly breeze blew.

The cold-hearted cat had abandoned him.

"My name is Jenice, second daughter of Baron Floretta. I've come on personal business to see High Priest Erkael."

Faithfully carrying out her lady's orders, Jenice, Airel's maid, arrived at the Grand Temple with a thick holy scripture tucked under her arm.

"Please wait a moment."

A Holy Knight checked the internal records.

Since making her debut, Jenice had never once been involved in any scandal.

As soon as her identity was confirmed, she was allowed through every checkpoint.

After passing three or four security gates, she finally stood before the last one—

The main building of the Grand Temple.

It was where the Pope and the High Priests carried out their official duties.

However, the priest who had gone to relay her message soon returned with an apologetic expression.

"I'm terribly sorry, but High Priest Erkael is occupied with urgent matters and is unable to meet Lady Floretta."

"I see."

Although it wasn't welcome news, Jenice simply nodded as though she'd expected it.

"In that case... would you mind delivering one more message for me?"

"Hm? Unfortunately, the regulations don't allow—"

Before he could finish, Jenice discreetly slipped a gold nugget—one Airel had entrusted to her along with detailed instructions—into the sleeve of the priest's robe.

The priest cleared his throat before hurriedly adjusting his sleeve.

"Well... seeing how urgent this seems to be, I suppose I have no choice. What should I tell him?"

"Tell him..."

Jenice lowered her voice.

"...that Lady Blandiche sent me."

The priest's eyes widened.

There was no way he wouldn't know about the scandal at the Grand Duke of Eppenterion's welcoming banquet.

He hurriedly glanced around.

The Grand Temple was already in turmoil because of that very incident.

His Holiness the Pope had personally summoned High Priest Erkael for a private audience out of anger, but Erkael had refused to back down, making the situation even worse.

The priest immediately shook his head.

"I'm sorry, but if that's the case, then I absolutely cannot. His Holiness is currently—"

Just as Airel had predicted.

Jenice instantly raised her voice.

It was the infamous...

"Threaten them into cooperating" strategy.

"What?! You're refusing after already accepting my bribe? How can you do that?!"

"P-Please lower your voice! W-When did I ever accept a bribe? Haha..."

The priest desperately denied it.

Jenice looked at him with innocent eyes.

"Oh, merciful heavens...

To think there's a priest in the holy Grand Temple accepting bribes.

Very well.

I'll head straight to the newspaper office and report this."

"A-Alright!"

The priest hurriedly grabbed Jenice before she could leave.

"I'll deliver your message! Just... please wait here!"

"And if you only pretend to deliver it, I'll find out eventually.

I'll report that too.

So make sure you actually do it."

Grinding his teeth in frustration, the priest disappeared inside.

Left alone, Jenice unconsciously puffed out her chest.

Wow...

Everything happened exactly the way my lady said it would!

Honestly, she'd only been half convinced the plan would work.

Yet everything was going surprisingly smoothly.

I never knew my lady was this clever...

A warm smile spread across Jenice's face.

She had always liked Airel.

Ever since they had been childhood playmates.

But at some point...

Her lady had changed.

She constantly worried about what everyone thought of her.

Sometimes she'd stare blankly at the wall, muttering to herself.

"No one likes someone like me.

I'm not needed in this house..."

Those words had shocked Jenice so deeply that she still remembered them to this day.

Of course, it seemed Airel herself had long forgotten she'd ever said them.

Perhaps...

It was after hearing those words that Jenice began pitying her.

That was why she'd stayed by Airel's side no matter how much her lady scolded or snapped at her.

She'd certainly been frightened when she heard rumors that Airel often struck the maids.

But...

Airel had never once hit her.

Besides...

She was incredible yesterday!

Standing before all the western nobles...

Airel had seemed to shine with a halo.

The young noblewomen who had always resented the western aristocrats' arrogance had watched only her with sparkling eyes.

Since becoming Airel's maid...

Jenice had never been happier.

She genuinely hoped her lady would continue changing.

Just then, the priest returned.

"High Priest Erkael has granted Lady Floretta permission to enter."

For several minutes, Jenice could do nothing but stare blankly at Erkael, who sat across from her.

Wow...

She had originally intended to tease him.

After all, he'd supposedly been too busy to meet her earlier.

She'd planned to ask whether he'd somehow managed to finish all that urgent work in the meantime.

But...

Not a single word came out.

At this moment, Jenice felt like a devout believer standing before the incarnation of a god.

Even from afar at imperial banquets, she'd thought he seemed radiant.

Seeing him up close...

It was dazzling enough to blind her.

"How can... someone's face..."

She accidentally muttered her thoughts aloud.

Used to such reactions, Erkael didn't even blink.

Instead, he smiled warmly.

"So you were sent by the young lady."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Floretta."

"Ah—Y-Yes! Yes!"

Jenice stiffly stood and accepted his handshake.

"So...

What brings you here?"

Erkael asked as he offered her a cup of tea.

Jenice immediately took the letter from inside her clothes.

"My lady asked me to deliver this to you."

The moment Erkael accepted Airel's letter...

A smile as gentle as spring blossomed across his face.

Watching him, Jenice unconsciously swallowed.

He really was unbelievably handsome.

But as Erkael continued reading...

A subtle smile slowly appeared at the corners of his lips.

"...I don't like having something given to me only to have it taken away."

He murmured quietly.

His voice was so soft that Jenice couldn't hear him clearly.

"Pardon? W-What did you just say?"

Erkael simply answered with another gentle smile.

Folding the letter, he tucked it into his robe.

"So my efforts in opposing His Holiness have all been for nothing."

Sounding slightly disappointed, the High Priest lifted his teacup before looking at Jenice.

"Lady Floretta..."

"Is my face perhaps not to the young lady's taste?"