Chapter 81

Clearly, nobody cared whether or not I got here or not final time. However now the monks surrounded the carriage like bodyguards.

“…My goodness.”

“What’s mistaken, Leona?”

“…It’s like getting swarmed by ants.”

“Ants…?”

“I suppose the temple is filled with materialistic individuals.”

He chuckled when he noticed crowds of individuals simply exterior the window.

“I see.”

“Then I’ll be again.”

At the moment, the carriage progressively stopped.

“Aren’t we going collectively?”

“Ah! It appears you’re right here with out the coachman figuring out, so I assumed you weren’t coming with me ….”

“I’m not cautious of the coachman. I used to be cautious of His Excellency. I don’t need him to see me.”

“Oh….”

“He doesn’t permit me to exit, you see.”

Luca reached out to stroke my cheek.

“Why would he try this to Luca?”

“As a result of he’s jealous.”

“Of us?”

I stared at him as if it was absurd, however he simply nodded silently to my query.

“…Isn’t it since you’re skipping work?”

“No. It’s as a result of I’ll be out with you.”

“….Huh?”

“And solely the Duke can see by means of spatial magic that may distort house. That’s what occurred lately. At first, he didn’t have the power to see it.”

Luca seemed genuinely dissatisfied.

“Can he use magic, too?”

“Initially, the Duke of Petri who reached maturity will manifest that energy. Nonetheless, the present Duke Petri was unable to manifest his energy till lately.”

“Ah…”

“As a result of his energy stopped manifesting when he was younger.”

“By any probability, would that be a solution to every thing that occurred to date….? Is it associated to what you mentioned earlier than? You mentioned one thing related, didn’t you?”

I bombarded him with questions, however as an alternative of answering, Luca took a step nearer to the carriage door.

“Lets get out now?”

Simply in time, I heard a knock from exterior.

“Madam, might I open the carriage door?”

“…Sure.”

The carriage door slowly opened at my phrases. From the place I alighted, I noticed the street unfold out all the best way to the white marble constructing. This luxury entrance was positively completely different from the final time I got here right here to wish.

Luca, who acquired off the carriage first, reached out his hand to escort me.

“Let me assist you to, Duchess.”

He embodied the chivalry of a knight instantly, as if the determine who brushed my cheeks affectionately just some minutes in the past was a lie.

In the meantime, the coachman subsequent to Luca simply checked out him as if he was surprised.

“Madam?”

“Oh. Thanks.”

Quickly, I took his hand and acquired off the carriage. Within the meantime, the monks started to crowd round me. Luca threw a pointy look at them to guard me.

There was a person who walked together with his chest out among the many monks.

“Could I do know which household you belong to?”

“I’m Duchess Leona Petri of Petri Dukedom.”

The person’s face beamed when he heard my title. His expression was much like that of a swindler.

“I knew that somebody from Petri Dukedom got here when the carriage arrived, however I didn’t count on the notorious Duchess to personally go to.”

Not like others, the person in a white priest’s uniform made from silk seemed up and down at me earlier than bowing his head. His gaze was disagreeable.

“Even Duke Petri doesn’t come to the temple typically….so what brings you right here, Duchess?”

“Do you imply I shouldn’t come?”

“No. I’m more than happy to have you ever right here.”

I seemed on the man in silence.

Whereas I used to be passing by, I discovered it unusual that the monks’ faces seemed greasier than any commoner’s. I even thought they washed their face with oil each morning.

I questioned how a lot weight they gained. It was a really completely different look in comparison with once they prayed for the lives of the poor.

“Pardon me for my belated introduction, Madam. My identify is Raphael.”

“I see.”

I seemed on the final one that greeted me for a very long time. As I’ve noticed earlier than, this man’s garments have been positively completely different. This man wore a shiny silk outfit, whereas the opposite wore an ethereal cotton material.

“Are you on the lookout for somebody?”

“No, that’s not it….it’s my first time coming to the temple.”

“Haha, I see. Don’t fear. Individuals who reside listed below are both novitiate or junior monks. That’s why I’ll information you at the moment. I’m a senior priest.”

“Oh.”

“God appears to have guided me to the Duchess. If it weren’t for me, you’ll have a tough time coming into. A person in his 30’s raised his chin. Then, a novel sample was seen on his neck collar. As if to indicate how vital that was, the person named Raphael fiddled together with his collar with a haughty expression.

“Because the senior priest right here, I’ll escort you inside instantly. Hoho.”

“…Thanks.”

His steps seemed extra enthusiastic than ever.

However it was true that the monks who swarmed us like a wolfpack chasing its prey slowly retreated when Raphael started to information me. They seemed genuinely dissatisfied that they misplaced their mark.

“Didn’t you point out that that is your first time visiting the temple? I’d like to indicate you round…”

“No. I’m not right here to wish.”

“Is that so? How peculiar. Normally, the Madam of a noble family comes right here to wish for the prosperity of the household by giving a big donation.”

“Sadly, our household doesn’t want any of that.”

“…R-Actually? However the donation….”

Wow. What the hell? Didn’t you say you’ll information me?

“Effectively, I’m right here for one thing else.”

“What would that be?”

“Um, initially, I’d like to fulfill the excessive priest. Can I’ve an viewers with him proper now?”

“Oh! Do you wish to discuss with the excessive priest? Effectively, I’m probably not certain…however he’s fairly busy and he’s additionally a really non-public particular person, in order that’d be a bit troublesome ….”

His pleasant angle fully disappeared after I instructed him that I didn’t wish to donate.

What sort of monks are they?

Fairly than a temple to worship God, I assumed it’d be extra befitting to name it a temple to worship cash. Maybe that’s why they competed to serve me, who got here right here as a Duchess. As a result of they thought I had extra money than strange believers.

This was not a great signal.

“Is that so? Hmm..that’s too dangerous. Then I ought to return now.”

“Sure. I don’t assume I can stroll you again. I’ve numerous work to do as a senior priest, you see.”

It’d be higher to only give him cash.

“Alright. Then I’ll should ask another person. I’ll give the donation to…”

“Hoho. It’d be a unique story if you happen to have been going to donate cash. I’ll ensure to make use of my identify to get you to the excessive priest.”

Not like earlier than, his eyes shone disgustingly. From the look on his face, it appeared like he urged me to offer him the cash instantly, so I had no selection however to take out my purse.

“Ohh!”

“….I can meet the excessive priest if I donate cash, proper?”

“After all. I’ll organize it it doesn’t matter what with my identify on the road!”

his twinkling eyes, I couldn’t assist however give my purse to him.

“Then, I’ll offer you this as a contribution.”

“That’s a beautiful concept! For the reason that Duchess is right here, we’ll serve you wholeheartedly.”

He grinned and all of the sudden opened the door in entrance of him.

“The place is that this….”

“That is the visitor room. For those who keep right here, I’ll carry the excessive priest to you.”

“…Alright. Thanks.”

“Sure. Excessive Priest Caleb is somebody who likes to maneuver from place to put, so I ask in your endurance to attend a bit of extra.”

After saying that, he hummed a tune as if he was in a great temper and went out. And I stood there speechless for some time.

“Caleb….?”

“Leona? What’s mistaken?”

“Ah, sure.”

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No…that…his identify is Caleb. I’ve heard it earlier than.”

As if nervous about me, Luca held my hand tightly as quickly because the senior priest left the room.

“Are you certain?”

“It could be a typical identify, however….”

“It’s not a typical identify. Ever since they vowed to turn into God’s servant, they’ve deserted their actual names and solely used the identify granted by God. All of the names of the monks listed below are mentioned to be a continuation of their previous names.”

I frowned at his clean rationalization.

“Which means…”

“They don’t use their priest identify exterior. As a result of that’s thought of a type of blasphemy. Conversely, they don’t use the names they have been known as exterior proper right here. For instance, Raphael, the priest that simply left, signifies that he’s the guardian of the traveler and is barely used right here.”

“…That’s imply, Caleb….”

“Just one particular person makes use of it.”

I gulped nervously. He can’t be the man I met final time, can he?

“Does his identify imply ‘canine’?”

“That’s proper. And the one one that has that identify is Excessive Priest Caleb Benedict Samuel.”

“….Huh? Don’t inform me he was the particular person I met final time?”

“Did you actually meet the excessive priest? He’s not somebody you may meet so simply, although.”

“…Proper? I should be mistaken. Somebody should be pretending to be the excessive priest. Haha. That may’t be true.”

I simply waved my hand and smiled awkwardly. Who I met final time was certainly a homeless particular person.

“Leona, are you okay?”

“I’m okay. Looks as if it should take a while, so let’s simply sit back a bit of bit.”

To alleviate the awkwardness, I walked to the window and opened the door that led to the terrace. However then,

“Argh!”

A person was standing in entrance of me. After I was stunned, the person all of the sudden entered with a relaxed smile.

“Oops! I’m sorry. I didn’t imply to shock you want this…”

“Y-You! H-Homeless man…?!”

“…Haha. I’m not homeless. I’m Caleb.”

Luca bowed his head in a rush when he noticed the homeless man scratching his head.

“Greetings to the Excessive Priest.”

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