~Chapter 36~
Calyx let out a loud, cheerful laugh and said:
“So you two disagree. Then let’s settle this with a fight—whoever wins, we follow their decision!”
Delphina was speechless.
Telling the Grand Madam—who had only just started recovering—to fight? And instead of calming things down, he was fanning the flames!
“Hahaha! Wouldn’t it be great to see your skills again? Elcayan, you may be all skin and bones now, but you must be stronger than before, right? Or are you planning to marry Lady Delphina without even being able to beat your mother? If that’s the best you’ve got, you’d better give up on marrying her.”
“S-Sir Calyx?!”
“Of course the stronger one should be the one to protect Lady Delphina! This is thrilling—it’s been too long since I saw elite swordsmen duel!”
Delphina was too stunned to reply.
He clearly hadn’t considered the fact that the two were mother and son. He was just excited to see a swordfight.
‘Then what was with that serious face earlier?’
She let out a dry laugh.
And the most ridiculous part? The Grand Madam started asking for her sword.
“Butler, bring me my sword.”
“Oh? You agree with me, then.”
“Yes, Calyx. For once, you said something right. It’s not a bad idea to spar with my son for the first time in ages.”
Elcayan didn’t even object.
Delphina, as the most sensible person present, realized she had to stop this madness.
“You should only spar once you’ve fully recovered.”
“But by then, you and Elcayan will already be engaged.”
“I just want you to be completely healthy before you move around. The monster poison is still in your body.”
“Delphina, goodness, you really are kind.”
Hearing that, Calyx said dramatically:
“Whew… in that case, it can’t be helped. Lady Delphina, please allow me to defeat Elcayan in your place!”
Delphina quickly shook her head. She looked Elcayan in the eye and declared:
“Sir Calyx, no. I want to be engaged to Elcayan.”
She nodded firmly.
‘The contract must be solid.’
She appreciated the Grand Madam’s offer—but becoming her adopted daughter wasn’t an option.
‘I’m not a saint, so there’s no need to worry about the temple.’
After all, God Prad himself confirmed she wasn’t one.
And Delphina had to think about the future.
‘If I ever leave the Grand Duke’s estate, it would be better if Elcayan and I had broken off our engagement.’
She didn’t want to make things awkward for his future fiancée.
‘Imagine—his former fiancée still living there as the adopted daughter? That’s awful.’
Delphina, once Kasen’s ex-fiancée, knew well how painful “vague” relationships could feel.
‘It’s the worst. I can’t do that to the woman who’ll marry Elcayan someday.’
Elcayan was an upright, kind man.
The people in the estate all cherished him, and he took responsibility for protecting the North.
Watching him, Delphina had learned what mutual trust really meant.
‘I won’t get in the way of his future.’
She gathered her thoughts and declared with certainty:
“I truly want to be engaged to Sir Elcayan. I mean it.”
Her clear words silenced both the Grand Madam and Calyx. The Grand Madam, inwardly, was delighted.
‘I don’t know what Elcayan did, but I’m glad Delphina is so firm.’
“Looks like your bond is stronger than I thought. Ahem. We’ll postpone the duel for now. Delphina, if Elcayan is ever rude to you, come straight to me.”
Calyx also chimed in with admiration.
“As expected of Lady Delphina—your decisiveness is admirable. But… if you ever change your mind, please let me know. I’ll be ready anytime.”
‘Ready for what…?’
Delphina didn’t ask. She didn’t want to know.
Meanwhile, Elcayan—unaware of her thoughts—blushed faintly at the ears.
✦ ✦ ✦
Meanwhile, at the Temple of Prad…
The high priest let out a long sigh.
‘God Prad told me to find the Saint…’
He was a man of duty and conviction.
But it had been many years since a saint had last appeared.
‘And after giving that oracle, He hasn’t spoken to me again…’
In short, it had been a long time since the high priest last heard from Prad.
Historically, no high priest had ever not served alongside a saint.
‘Maybe I really am useless.’
As those thoughts dragged him down, so did his motivation. Then Hadin—standing beside him—whispered:
“High Priest, are you alright?”
He turned his gaze to Hadin.
Hadin was a top academic, having studied divine theology at the academy and scored highly on his final exams.
‘Didn’t he get sponsored by the Duke of Rikaion?’
‘And he’s close to Lord Kasen Huart…’
He was both intelligent and deeply devoted to studying divine will.
‘Maybe I’m not getting the saint because I wasn’t classically trained… because I’m a commoner?’
The longer he heard nothing from Prad, the lower his confidence fell.
He sighed again.
“I think I’m fine… maybe not.”
“You’ll find the saint at this year’s banquet.”
It was the most uncertain answer he could give.
“Yes… I hope so. But honestly, I’m not feeling optimistic.”
“Please stay strong, High Priest. A saint will appear at this autumn’s banquet.”
Every year during the Autumn Banquet, the temple tested young people’s divine power.
The results determined whether they became high-, mid-, or low-ranking priests.
The appearance of talented priests was always a big deal.
But this year, something else had caught the public’s attention:
“The Grand Duke’s engagement.”
The Emperor had announced he would officially approve or reject the Grand Duke’s engagement at the banquet.
“Ah, you said you knew the Grand Duke’s fiancée?”
“Yes… something like that.”
“What kind of person is she? The North’s been requesting a priest for a while now…”
“She’s not really a good person.”
“Hmm… If you say so, she must be truly unimpressive.”
“That’s about right.”
The high priest sighed deeply again.
“I’ll have to give the North an answer soon. We can’t leave the Grand Madam like that.”
“But if no one volunteers, there’s no one to send. I doubt any high-ranking priests want to go to the North.”
“True. We don’t even know if the poison can be cured.”
“…”
“Sir Hadin, what about you? Any thoughts of going to the North? Healing the Grand Madam and protecting the region would be an honorable task.”
Hadin’s face briefly twisted with disgust.
He was furious the high priest even considered sending him to that “backwater.”
“I would love to, of course… but I must remain here to assist you.”
“Well, do as you wish. I won’t force anyone. I can’t even do my job as high priest properly these days…”
“If you’re worried about the North, I’ll handle the search. If no one volunteers, we’ll leave it at that.”
