Chapter 73
“Milady, Lady Niel Franche, the Marquess’s daughter, has come to visit.”
It was early morning.
Suddenly, Niel Franche had come looking for Katrina.
She came to see me?
“What should I do?”
“Tell her to wait in the drawing room.”
Katrina had a rough idea of what this was about, so she agreed to meet her.
But the moment she opened the parlor door—
Smack!
Katrina was slapped across the face.
Ah.
She cupped her stinging cheek. At first, she couldn’t even process what had just happened.
After blinking a few times, she finally snapped out of it.
“Niel Franche, what on earth do you think you’re doing?”
“Katrina, don’t you think you’ve crossed the line?”
How dare she act like the victim?
After slandering her in Asius and disappearing without a word, this was the first thing out of her mouth?
“Because of you, Sylas was hurt!” Niel shouted.
It had been a long time since Katrina had seen her this worked up. It was a rare sight indeed.
“He nearly died!”
At those words, Katrina’s chest throbbed sharply.
“You ruined Sylas, Katrina!”
“…Well, you’re not entirely wrong.”
Yes. Perhaps Katrina really had been the one to drive Sylas into such a state.
“But you know what?”
There was one thing that had to be made perfectly clear.
“Have you ever once thought to ask who started all of this in the first place?”
“…What?”
“Niel Franche, did it never occur to you that it might be your fault?”
“W–why would it be mine?” Niel demanded.
Did she really not realize?
“What happened to Sylas wasn’t just something that happened this time, Niel Franche.”
“Explain yourself, Katrina.”
Unbelievable. She really doesn’t get it.
“The reason things soured between me and Sylas was because of you. Because you slandered me.”
Katrina jabbed a finger into Niel’s chest.
“So if anyone should feel guilt, it’s not me. It’s you.”
Niel was struck dumb.
Her blue eyes glared at Katrina, brimming with hatred.
Good. That hateful stare suited her much better than her fake saintly act ever did.
“There’s no one here with the right to judge who’s right or wrong. So you should leave.”
Katrina had plans for the day.
She had no time to waste on Sylas or Niel Franche anymore.
It was finally time for her to seize the Soul Stone.
The way for Katrina to represent her family in negotiations—
That was to prove herself more capable than Damian.
But that’s impossible.
So, the second method.
A bit of a shortcut, but…
The only way to appeal to the Aviche family was through connections.
Of course, Katrina didn’t have any connections right now. Which meant she had to make them.
A little risky… but there’s no other choice.
“How may I help you?”
A man in priest’s robes greeted her warmly, as if welcoming a new believer.
“I wish to join the Church of the Sun.”
“Is that true?”
“It’s always been my dream to serve the Sun God.”
Katrina clasped her hands together and put on a blissful expression.
The false priest before her looked as though his heart might burst with joy at the sight.
“Our Church always welcomes new followers. Please, come in.”
The Church of the Sun.
A cult that was giving the official temple endless headaches.
Though it was nothing more than a heretical sect, it had been spreading across the land at an alarming rate, stealing away believers.
The one most troubled by this problem was none other than the Pope himself.
Katrina knew the cult’s weakness—but she had no proof.
So she planned to infiltrate it and bring back evidence.
And then she would deliver it straight to the Pope.
That way, she would gain a connection to him.
“Come inside, faithful one.”
The cult priest happily ushered her in.
Thud.
The door closed.
It’s so dark.
The chapel was dim, lit only by candlelight.
And it was packed with people. The place was surprisingly large, and yet it was still full.
So their following has already grown this much…
They were expanding at a frightening pace.
Today, she only meant to test the waters—watch the ceremony, see how things proceeded, and plan her next step.
The service began.
“The eye of the Sun sees through all. Do not hide, for its light will purify our souls.”
“When the Sun rises, your darkness will vanish, and within its light, you shall find eternal salvation.”
As expected of sun-worshipping heretics, every phrase was dripping with the word sun.
Katrina was casually observing their doctrine when—
“Today, our Church welcomes a precious new believer.”
The priest on the dais looked directly at Katrina.
“Please, come forward.”
She had covered herself with a translucent veil.
She had no intention of flaunting her face openly.
If anyone recognized her, she could be branded a cultist before ever gaining her connection to the Pope.
Fortunately, when she had checked in the mirror, the veil obscured her features well enough.
Unless someone already knew her very closely, they would never recognize her just from her build or mannerisms.
And the only ones who’d pay that much attention to me are Sylas and Lucifel… and there’s no way those lunatics would be here.
So Katrina stepped forward, just as the priest had asked.
“Believer, would you share a few words?”
“Of course.”
She planned to say something vague and sit back down.
But then—she felt a piercing gaze.
Huh.
That face looked awfully familiar…
Wait. Isn’t that Damian?
Her eyes locked with his.
Damian looked just as dumbfounded.
Damian was utterly bewildered.
He had infiltrated this cult gathering himself.
His knights were scattered throughout the chapel in hiding, ready to strike the moment he gave the order.
He had been waiting for the right time to gather evidence and bring these heretics down.
But then—
“Today, our Church welcomes a precious new believer.”
And that new believer turned out to be Katrina.
Damn it all.
His chest tightened.
He had no idea how to clean up this mess.
The moment their eyes met, Katrina quickly looked away.
Ha…
Damian let out a long sigh in his heart.
Did she even realize what kind of disaster she was walking into?
By his original plan, he should have had his knights storm this place already.
But if he did now, the world would see the Aviche Duke’s daughter exposed as a cult sympathizer.
Katrina Aviche… what in the hell are you doing?
