ALMSK 05

CHAPTER 05

At this point, we need to take a closer look at Eryshi’s heart.

People always called Eryshi a “poor thing.”

“Poor thing.”

A girl who became an orphan the moment she was born and grew up in a monastery with no one to take her in—it wasn’t unreasonable that people referred to her that way.

But Eryshi, now nearly twenty, had never once thought of herself as pitiful.

And rightly so.

She had grown up in the Windrock Monastery, perched on the western sea cliffs of the empire. Long ago, it was the front line defending the empire against sorcerers who worshiped demons. But since those sorcerers had vanished into the Abyssal Forest over a hundred years ago, it had become nothing more than a remote backwater.

The priests who had come to such an isolated place naturally formed an attachment to the small girl. They even named her Eryshi, after the One God Erydrathan.

The monastery—and occasionally the nearby village of Vandel—was her entire world.

It was small. But that small world loved Eryshi deeply.

She would have been happy spending her whole life in it.

Everyone was kind. Well, everyone except Abbot Wilbert, who was always strict when she talked about taking her priestly vows. He’d firmly say, “When you’re twenty.”

But that was something that would be resolved once she turned twenty. So she eagerly looked forward to her birthday—to take her vows.

But Abbot Wilbert, who had adopted her as his foster daughter, never wanted her to become a priest.

He always said things like:

“You need to see a bigger world.”

“Eryshi, the truth is… you’re the daughter of the Duke of Aachen.”

“…Are you joking?”

So when he said that, Eryshi thought it was just another of his ridiculous attempts to stop her from taking her vows.

But this time… his face was different.

“…I wish it were a joke.”

Looking at Abbot Wilbert’s solemn expression, she realized it was real.

Why had this been hidden for nineteen years only to come out now?

Apparently, her mother had spoken of her on her deathbed, which had stirred up a storm among the powerful.

Eryshi felt bitter—not because her mother had revealed her existence, but because:

“If you were going to tell them, why didn’t you come see me just once while you were alive?”

She remembered her childhood, crying herself to sleep every night, longing for her mother’s face.

Still, that resentment didn’t last long. Her mother must’ve had her reasons.

So when she was told she had to get married, she accepted it.

Not because she was particularly obedient, but because, growing up in a monastery, she’d learned to accept the phrase:

“All things are ordained by God.”

Even if she didn’t like it, what could she do against a divine command?

“You’ll marry your cousin. Herbert Aachen has chosen his own son as your groom…”

She wasn’t thrilled to hear her future husband already had two children around her age.

But when Abbot Wilbert made a gloomy face and muttered, “He’s about my age…” she actually felt a bit relieved.

“If I think of him as another Abbot Wilbert… maybe I could serve him kindly and live peacefully?”

But Priest Marid was horrified by her reaction:

“Eryshi! Marriage isn’t about serving an old man!”

“Then what is it about?”

“It’s, well…”

Unfortunately, Marid knew little about the union between man and woman.

And even if he did, he couldn’t possibly explain that to the girl he had practically raised from birth.

So, Mrs. Laura from the village was summoned to the monastery.

And when Eryshi heard the full story from her…

“What?! I have to do that?!”

“Well, not have to. But old men in bed do all kinds of things. You need to know what to expect.”

Mrs. Laura, who’d had three husbands, described things that Eryshi had never even imagined.

Becoming Laura’s first disciple, Eryshi finally understood why the priests were so distressed.

She even wanted to ask: “Oh Erydrathan, why did you make humans that way…?”

Still, no matter how shocking, she thought: I have no choice.

Because she’d heard her so-called uncle was immensely powerful, and that he had threatened to destroy Windrock Monastery if she didn’t marry his son.

“Human greed knows no bounds… Oh, Erydrathan…”

Wilbert once told her that the power her uncle wielded was originally meant to be hers, but it didn’t mean much to her—she’d never felt that power.

What really mattered to her was that her uncle was using it to pressure Wilbert.

“I’ll be okay.”

Eryshi wanted to repay Abbot Wilbert and Priest Marid, who had raised her—this poor orphan without home or family.

Though it was deeply unfortunate that she wouldn’t be taking her priestly vows, what choice did she have?

“You’re such a good child.”

So all she wished for was that Abbot Wilbert would smile again as he used to.

But he didn’t give up.

A few months later, when the Abbot returned from a long journey, Priest Marid smiled awkwardly and told her:

“Listen, Eryshi. The Abbot found you a new groom while he was away.”

“Huh? Is that allowed?”

“Of course it is! He’s about your age, very handsome, and a knight, too!”

Eryshi wasn’t stupid. She could tell this was no amazing match.

Priest Marid’s continued gloom was a dead giveaway.

Still, she thought:

“But maybe… Wilbert and Marid think he’s a better option than the last one…”

After all, it was the best match Abbot Wilbert could find after months of searching.

“But what if my uncle gets angry and harms the monastery?”

So she felt even more nervous about this second groom than the first.

Still, when the man Philrod arrived at the monastery…

Her thoughts began to change.

“Haha! What a cute little deer of a girl!”

A man old enough to be her father licked his lips while looking at her.

“Abbot Wilbert! I’m so sorry I ever compared you to that guy!”

Then, she understood why Wilbert had been so worried.

It’s not like she had never met lecherous men in the village.

But this cousin of hers—he was different.

She could just tell life with him would never be happy.

Still, she couldn’t stay at the monastery either. The Aachen family wouldn’t leave her alone. And she’d hurt Wilbert if she ran away.

So, dressed in her wedding gown, standing in the bell tower, she wished:

“If I can’t stay, then please… let me get kidnapped peacefully.”

She didn’t care who the second groom was. As long as it eased Wilbert’s heart, it would be enough.

That was all she hoped for.

But then the door opened—and two men entered.

And Eryshi thought:

“I’m sorry, Erydrathan… Can I ask for just one more thing?”

If Marid had heard her, he’d have shouted:

“Eryshi! If Erydrathan were here, He’d say He’s never met such a ridiculous child!”

But what could anyone do?

To Eryshi, only one person had entered the room.

A man with messy black hair, scowling in annoyance as he stepped into the bell tower.

A man with red eyes, who looked at her without hesitation and walked forward.

And Eryshi thought:

“I wish he were my husband.”

Surprisingly, her reason was pretty bold:

“I think… if it were him, I could actually go through with… that first night thing.”

And so, the moment she was freed from the sack, she asked:

“Um, should I start undressing now?”

But strangely…

The man named Lahan looked utterly displeased.

“Weird. I heard he was into women…”