Chapter 51
“Saint, you don’t look well. Did something happen?”
“Huh? Oh, no, it’s nothing.”
It had already been asked more than ten times. What happened? But Rieta always just answered that she was fine, without saying anything more. Yet, her expression had been furrowed continuously for the past two days, and her eyes were half-lowered, her brows tightly knit. She looked like someone who had committed a crime.
Still, Lea didn’t think that the saint she cherished could have done anything wrong.
Lea was very perceptive. After all, she served as the saint’s personal maid in the temple. At first, she had no clue, but this morning, when she heard that Rieta had gone to the top tower of the temple, she could roughly guess the reason.
The reason Rieta’s lovely eyes looked red, as if she were about to cry, was all because of Theodore.
Rieta hadn’t explained exactly what had happened, but Lea was certain that Theodore must have been at fault.
Lea began to subtly tease Rieta with all kinds of negative comments about Theodore. Yet, for some reason, Rieta’s expression didn’t improve, and eventually, she began to tear up.
At that point, Theodore became a truly cruel man in Lea’s eyes. Unable to hold back, she asked Rieta directly:
“Saint, what exactly happened? Did Lord Arbelce behave rudely toward you? Disregard proper etiquette? If so, we must report to the High Priest immediately—!”
“Lord Arbelce did nothing wrong. I was the one at fault.”
“Huh? What could the saint have done wrong?”
“I… I touched Lord Arbelce’s painful past.”
Rieta had wanted to see Theodore leave, but because of what he had said to her, she hesitated and ultimately had to watch his back from the top tower of the temple. Standing in the cold wind, having to watch someone you love depart from afar, no one could possibly understand that feeling.
[Sorry, but I come from the slums, so I can handle it better than the saint. I appreciate the offer, but I must refuse.]
If it had really been Theodore’s fault, as Lea said, her heart wouldn’t hurt this much. But because Rieta had ruined the situation herself, it felt as if her chest were being torn apart. At that moment, Theodore’s expression had been so cold it almost seemed contemptuous.
At first, Rieta didn’t know what had gone wrong, but reviewing what she had said, she suddenly realized that she might have hurt Theodore’s pride.
Rieta had considered the people at the slums foolish and lazy.
The reason was simple: they did nothing. She felt they lacked the will to escape their wretched circumstances. Rieta herself had lived a life not much different from theirs, yet eventually became a saint loved by all, and she was proud of that.
But she didn’t stop there—she thought others should live the same life as she did. If not, she didn’t hesitate to criticize harshly.
‘Why do you do nothing? You should strive as I did. Look at me—I’ve reached this high position through effort. But you… you just complain. Truly pathetic.’
As a saint serving at the slums, she felt it was her duty, as a saint and as someone pure, to purify those who were lazy and aimless.
Rieta realized she had made a serious mistake.
‘I completely forgot that Theodore came from the slums. How hurtful that must have been. I should have acknowledged that he was different from them from the start. But I didn’t, and I was happy just to have a one-on-one conversation with him…’
She felt upset. If she had been more careful, the conversation with Theodore could have gone well, and she could have demonstrated her saintly powers in the search mission. She felt like she had kicked away a precious opportunity. Rieta still didn’t fully understand what her mistake had been.
Lea, having heard the full story, took Rieta’s hand with a warm smile.
Since Lea was fully on Rieta’s side, she didn’t notice anything strange in Rieta’s beliefs and simply began giving advice, trusting Rieta’s judgment.
“Saint, everyone makes mistakes. You just need to reflect and vow not to do it again. When Lord Arbelce returns, make sure to apologize. And then try speaking to him again. He’ll only act like this once—after a few more conversations, he’ll fall for you completely.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Of course. Have I ever been wrong? Trust me.”
Finally, Rieta smiled brightly, held Lea’s hand, and nodded. She firmly resolved that when Theodore returned, she would apologize and speak her mind.
“Wow, I even became the leader. I’ve made it.”
“Yeah, being the leader is great, but adjust the reins. That horse of yours might collapse.”
“What can I do? If someone I care about is in danger… this time, I’ll understand.”
Despite their constant grumbling, Marc and Siveron, who were supportive of Theodore’s love, slowly pulled the reins as Theodore paused at a forest fork. There were six paladins, including Marc and Siveron, and twenty regular knights. Originally, regular knights weren’t supposed to join the mission against the black wizard, but since this mission involved numbers and an internal investigation, the emperor allowed their participation for efficiency.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Lord Arbelce up close.”
“The atmosphere is unreal. He looked tall from afar, but up close, his physique is incredible.”
“A search mission with a hero—becoming a knight was really the right choice.”
The regular knights were excited to work alongside a war hero, while the other paladins, familiar with Theodore’s personality, wondered how much he would push them. Theodore always executed operations far beyond expectations.
Though some of his plans seemed impossible, they often succeeded, albeit at great physical cost.
“Marc, Siveron.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“Take two paladins and ten regular knights each and spread out. You have the map, right? Regular knights, check each marked location for missing children. Paladins, search thoroughly around the area.”
“Understood!”
“All missions must be completed within two days.”
The regular knights, motivated by the hero’s command, answered energetically, but when they heard “two days,” they subconsciously asked, “What?” They quickly closed their mouths, but Marc and Siveron waved their maps in frustration.
“Leader, there’s more than one place to search. How can we finish in two days?”
“Finish it.”
“No…”
“Finish it. At most, three days.”
A day was added, but could they really do it? Theodore’s gaze made it impossible to argue. Marc whispered to Siveron:
“Cancel my ‘I understand’ comment.”
“Mine too.”
Meanwhile, Theodore gripped the reins tightly again. Siveron, calculating distances on the map to finish in two or three days, asked:
“Leader, which area will you take?”
“I’ll search the whole area around here.”
“…Alone?”
“Yes.”
Marc’s eyes sharpened. His previous playful attitude vanished, replaced by firm resolve.
“Leader, it’s dangerous. Searching the whole area alone, facing the black wizard? You should take at least two or three with you.”
“Yes, that is the principle.”
Marc could handle small monsters barehanded, and Siveron could decapitate even tough monsters with a dagger, but paladins always brought two with them. Theodore knew this, yet he looked toward the snowy mountains where Nostriga was located, seemingly unconcerned.
“But not me. I can handle it alone.”
Charlotte’s room, guided by Ashe, was a middle room on the third floor, not far from Ashe’s study. Aria, excited by the new castle, ran around everywhere, and Charlotte chased her, saying she shouldn’t. Finally, Charlotte held Aria near the attic door.
“Aria!”
“Eek!”
“No, you can’t run around. We’re just staying here briefly. You can’t run.”
Ashe had handed over the key bundle, allowing freedom, but Charlotte felt it was impolite to explore extensively. She intended only to check rooms connected to the third-floor bedroom, the dining hall, or the garden. Aria, curious about everywhere, puffed out her cheeks but obediently held Charlotte’s hand when promised a snack.
Then, the attic door, thought to be locked, opened.
Surprised, Charlotte saw it slowly opening, almost inviting them in. She held Aria in her arms just in case. Inside… was a child’s room.
It looked very cozy. Through a large round window, the sky was tinged with the colors of sunset.
Charlotte hesitated, then stepped onto the red carpet and cautiously approached the window.
The village lay below. She could see people moving, smoke rising from chimneys, and carriages entering and exiting the forested paths.
Although the manor was high on the mountainside, she hadn’t expected to see it so clearly, almost like a miniature.
“Mom, mom!”
“Huh?”
“Duke!”
“Duke?”
She hadn’t heard anyone enter. Charlotte followed Aria’s finger, pointing to a wall in the attic.
“That’s…”
Charlotte quietly looked at what was hanging on the wall.
It was a painting of the Valian family.
