Chapter 11
Silbert rubbed his chin with a somewhat amused smile. It had already been decades. Over the years, they had fought side by side in battle and survived many near-death situations together. They were close enough to guess what the other was thinking without speaking. And right now, Marquis Blanche was showing hostility.
Hostility toward the Saintess, right in front of the High Priest himself. That was a bold and dangerous move. If Silbert wanted, he could easily find multiple charges to accuse him of. But Blanche, his old friend, surely understood the risk.
Even so, the fact that he insisted on meeting the Saintess through the High Priest meant there was a very important reason—important enough to take that risk.
‘Is this about that incident?’
He had recently received a report that it was an accident caused by poison training, and that Charlotte had nearly been framed. From the Marquis’s perspective, it made sense that he’d be furious since his granddaughter was nearly harmed. But it was unlike the Marquis to act so openly. That’s what made Silbert suspicious.
No matter what, it was obvious Charlotte was the one who would get hurt in the end.
Silbert paused to think. Seeing his usually calm friend so agitated made him wonder if there was something he didn’t know. But as the High Priest, he was supposed to know everything happening in the temple. Could he have missed something?
He tapped his lips as he thought about whether he should let the meeting happen. After a long pause, Silbert looked at the Marquis and smiled.
“I’m the High Priest. One of my duties is to protect the Saintess. So, unless there’s a proper reason, I can’t let you meet her.”
A proper reason, huh? The cookie Rietta had eaten was taken by the temple and likely destroyed after testing. Rietta had confessed to eating the poison on purpose to frame Charlotte, but only Charlotte had heard that. So… would he have to create a reason himself?
“So all I need is a reason, right?”
Silbert didn’t answer. He just rested his chin on his hand with a slow smile.
“Yes, yes. If you bring me a proper reason, then I can arrange a meeting with the Saintess, who comes here to pray around this time every week.”
“?”
“She’ll probably be here in about ten minutes. But since you don’t have a valid reason yet, I can’t give you an ‘official’ meeting.”
Marquis Blanche’s eyes narrowed. “No official meeting” meant Silbert wouldn’t stop them from meeting unofficially. Better than leaving empty-handed.
This was already the most Silbert could do within his power. Normally, a surprise request to meet the Saintess like this would get someone banned from approaching her. Silbert was only making an exception because he trusted the Marquis.
He wore a smug expression as if to say, You owe me for this.
“Not sure if that helped you. Anyway, now it’s your turn to answer my question.”
“My question?”
“Where’s my granddaughter?”
My granddaughter. At those words, the Marquis frowned.
“Since when is Charlotte your granddaughter?”
“Oh, please. I’m the one who blessed her when she was just a toddler. When you were away, I even gave money to Ronan in case he needed help raising her!”
“Even though Ronan said he didn’t need it.”
“Exactly! So who was the better grandfather, huh?”
What nonsense… But since he had helped before, Blanche decided to let it slide today.
“Hah… Nostrie territory. The gates to Stellaria Castle are open.”
Stellaria Castle. At the name, Silbert chuckled.
“Right, I remember now. Ronan once brought back Layla from a monster hunt and demanded to marry her. You were furious.”
Marquis Blanche sighed, but Silbert found it hilarious. He had sent Ronan off for training and monster hunting, only for him to return with a bride. He remembered how the Marquis, long retired, had picked up his sword and chased after them.
But the laughter didn’t last long. Despite opposing the marriage, the Marquis eventually gave his blessing and genuinely supported the couple. And now, both were gone. Silbert looked up at the temple ceiling. He had been away at the time and couldn’t help. He wondered if things would’ve been different if he had been there.
“When is she coming back?”
“In about a month, when things calm down.”
“Tell her to visit the temple when she returns. I heard she came by before, but I was too busy to see her. I really need to retire soon—I can’t even see my granddaughter.”
It was annoying how naturally he called Charlotte his granddaughter. But that feeling faded quickly when Blanche heard small, but clear footsteps nearby. He turned toward the sound, and Silbert pressed a finger to his lips.
The footsteps drew closer and stopped right outside the door. Luckily, the voice that followed was from Priest Rettran.
“High Priest, the Saintess is on her way.”
“She must be crossing the main hall by now.”
“I should go, then. If you need anything, call for me.”
Blanche stood up immediately. As he reached the door, Silbert spoke again—not as a friend, but as the High Priest, in a much heavier tone.
“The investigation concluded that the accident happened because the priest mishandled the poison dosage. Some priests even stepped down over it.”
“…”
“As High Priest, even when it involves a close friend like you, I have to protect the temple’s position first. I’m sure you understand.”
Silbert smiled softly.
“Make sure nothing more reaches me about this. Keep it quiet.”
***
A statue of the god stood at the center of the temple’s main hall. It was said that from the beginning of the Argent Empire, this god had watched over the imperial family. Marquis Blanche looked up at the gentle smile of Revellain, the god his family had served for generations. Though carved from ivory, the sacred energy made it feel alive.
He reached out to touch the statue. A pure, clean energy spread through his skin.
Then, he heard footsteps from the far end of the hall. He stopped walking and instantly recognized the person.
“Heading to the High Priest?”
“Marquis Blanche? What brings you here…?”
Rieta trailed off mid-sentence, clearly flustered. She hadn’t expected to run into the Marquis in the temple—especially not in the main hall. She forced a smile, but her lips were stiff. Marquis Blanche turned to look at her directly—almost like a glare.
He rarely appeared at social events, and even then, people only saw him from afar or while speaking with the High Priest.
Rieta had no idea. That he was far more dangerous than she imagined.
“I heard you’re close with the High Priest. Are you here to see him?”
“Yes, I—”
“So, how does it feel to poison yourself just to frame my granddaughter?”
Rieta flinched. Just one sentence, and she realized—Charlotte had told him everything. She had thought Charlotte would keep it to herself… but apparently not. Her eyes, usually soft, turned sharper.
Well, there was no use pretending anymore. Rieta lifted her chin. Despite being caught, she was shameless.
Of course, she couldn’t say: “It burned my throat. If I’d known it would hurt that much, I would’ve picked another method.”
Instead, she decided to feign ignorance. Judging by his words, the Marquis had no solid evidence. If he did, he would’ve already gone to the temple or the High Priest.
The Saintess holds a sacred position. Even the smallest sin would bring harsh punishment. But nothing had happened. On her way in, several priests simply greeted her and moved on.
‘He has suspicion, but no proof.’
Rieta smiled gently and tilted her head.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You think I can’t do anything because you’re the Saintess?”
“Marquis—”
“I’m the one who told Charlotte about your past.”
Rieta’s expression flickered.
Her past—something she wanted to erase. How did the Marquis know?
She had been taken in by a holy knight as a baby. That knight was now in another country. Only a handful of people knew her secret, including the High Priest. And yet… the Marquis knew?
She clenched her fist. For the first time, she felt the full weight of his intimidating presence.
“I know everything that happens within the Holy Knights. When I retired, my son took my place. Now his student leads them.”
‘I underestimated him. I thought Charlotte was just easy prey, so I assumed he was the same…’
But Rieta didn’t back down. Her past might be a weak spot, but it wasn’t enough to remove her as Saintess. She might face public criticism.
But all she had to do was change it.
Say she prayed and paid for her sins, that she would live in atonement, and that she repented.
Then—
“You think I can’t bring you down?”
“…”
“Knowing your past isn’t enough to remove you. But the power of House Blanche is stronger than you think. If I use every means available, your fall will be swift.”
Maybe he was bluffing. But it didn’t sound like it.
Rieta didn’t lower her head, but she instinctively took a step back.
“I’ve kept quiet only because I don’t want Charlotte’s name dragged through the mud any longer.”
“…”
“I won’t say more.”
“…”
“My granddaughter will return from her vacation soon.”
Blanche took a large step forward, standing right in front of Rieta. He leaned in and whispered coldly,
“If you want to keep your title as Saintess, don’t even think about playing games.
This is your last chance. There won’t be another.”
That old man is so nice 🤭