Chapter 28
28. Subdeacon Klima (1)
“I… I had no choice.”
A faint voice came from beneath the boots. Since his adolescence, since he had entrusted his life, which should have ended, to the Kleinfelter Family, he had handled all the dirty work that Lyndon Kleinfelter ordered. He had even killed the former Cardinal. Everyone else thought the former Cardinal had simply lost his footing on the stairs and broken his neck. Lyndon Kleinfelter had wanted a similarly clean accident this time as well.
“……There wasn’t enough time. It was too rushed, and there were too many eyes watching……”
The man in the long robe that reached his ankles spoke softly, his eyes lowered.
“You call that an excuse!”
Thwack! Another blow landed. The Kleinfelter Family’s errand boy endured Lyndon Kleinfelter’s outburst without a single groan. Lyndon Kleinfelter, who had been hitting and kicking the errand boy indiscriminately, stopped and took a few ragged breaths.
“You didn’t leave any evidence, did you?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“We can’t get caught. Do you understand? You absolutely cannot let it be known that I ordered you to do it.”
“I understand.”
“They are not to be underestimated. Absolutely not……. If we get caught……”
It was all too clear that it would be the end of him and the Kleinfelter Family. Lyndon Kleinfelter’s shoulders trembled.
“Then I will abandon you.”
“……Yes.”
The errand boy nodded obediently. Lyndon Kleinfelter felt a little less worried at the sight. The errand boy, who was strangely loyal, was tight-lipped. Even if the worst came to pass and the errand boy’s identity was revealed, his name would never come out of that mouth.
“Get out.”
The errand boy quietly got to his feet. He caught the blood dripping from his torn forehead with his palm. It seemed he was more concerned about staining his clothes than wiping away the blood. With the hand that wasn’t stained with blood, he carefully pulled up the hood attached to his robe to cover his face. He muffled his footsteps as he left Lyndon Kleinfelter’s room and entered the secluded passage used by the servants.
He went down the dark, unlit stairs into the basement, left the main building, and headed for the small detached building behind it. He stopped when he saw the detached building and hid behind a nearby tree. He barely showed his eyes as he stared at a window of the detached building. Inside the stained-glass window, someone was moving like a blurry shadow. A thin, sorrow-stricken woman was getting up with a basin in her hands.
“……”
The errand boy’s eyes, watching the woman, also began to fill with dark sorrow. The woman was the reason he had to do all the dirty work as the Kleinfelter Family’s errand boy. A little later, he left the Kleinfelter Family as secretly as he had come and returned to where he lived. It was a temple, and his name was Klima, the novice. * * *
“……”
No matter how tired she was, her body couldn’t overcome its habits. Liene felt her eyelids twitch as the early morning sun streamed in through the window.
“It’s already morning.”
Her tired body didn’t want to move. Liene counted with her eyes open.
“One…… two…… three.”
Only then did she finally have the courage to pull back the covers.
“It’s colder than yesterday.”
As soon as she put her bare feet on the floor, she felt a chilling cold on her skin. Liene quickly put on her slippers and wrapped a shawl over her pajamas. She hated winter. When it was cold, she felt like life was more of a struggle. It wasn’t even the start of winter yet, but the temperature had dropped slightly, and she already missed being under the covers.
“I need to hurry.”
The more she felt like this, the more diligent she had to be. It was a season when it was easy to succumb to laziness. Thinking of washing up and changing her clothes, Liene took off her shawl again. Liene, in her thin pajamas, rushed into the bathroom.
“……Oh.”
And as soon as she opened the bathroom door, her body froze. There was already someone in the bathroom. It was Black, wearing only a thin pair of undershorts like her, and he had even pulled them down below his waist, as if he was about to wash up.
“Why…… here……”
Liene was so flustered that she forgot she should close the door and leave. All she could think about was why Black was taking off his clothes in her bathroom.
“Would you like to wash first?”
Black asked, his fingers on his waistband.
“No, um…… why are you here……”
“I didn’t know you were awake.”
“I mean, why……”
“Because it’s my bathroom now, too.”
“Ah……”
Now she remembered. They had agreed to use the room next door, right. So, they would be sharing the bathroom. Then I……. ……Slam! Liene, who had suddenly come to her senses, closed the bathroom door.
“I’m, I’m very sorry. I guess I’m still…… not fully awake.”
Liene said from behind the closed door. She was still so surprised that her tongue wouldn’t move properly. What have I done…… How could I forget something like that? She heard footsteps shuffling behind the door. Liene gripped the doorknob tightly, worried that Black might open the door.
“It’s all right.”
It seemed he had come closer not to open the door, but to say those words. Still, she couldn’t let go of the doorknob. Liene’s face flushed warmly where no one could see.
“I’ll be more careful in the future. Then, please…… wash up.”
“There doesn’t seem to be a bathtub in this bathroom. Is there a particular reason for that?”
Liene missed her chance to turn around and let go of the doorknob because Black suddenly asked her something.
“Yes?”
“I was asking why you don’t have a bathtub.”
“Ah, the bathtub. That’s……”
Originally, there had been a very large and ornate marble bathtub in the middle of the bathroom. When there was a bathtub with fancy carvings and gold trim, the bathroom didn’t look as unnecessarily large and desolate as it did now. The bathtub had been sold a long time ago. The large, magnificent marble had been cut into pieces and was now being used as garden stones in the Kleinfelter Family’s garden.
“……I got rid of it. I felt like I was using more water when I had a bathtub.”
For some reason, her heart stung. It was a trivial lie, but she didn’t like the feeling of having to lie every time.
“Do you need a bathtub?”
“I’m not saying I need to use it right now.”
“Then……”
“Because there may come a day when we bathe together.”
“That’s……. ……Pardon?”
Liene, who was about to say something, just opened her mouth. Bathe…… together? Why?
“Then I’ll get a bathtub.”
“……”
That was the end of the conversation. Swish, thud. She could hear the sound of fabric brushing against skin from inside the quiet bathroom. It was the sound of Black taking off the rest of the clothes he was wearing. ……No, why……. Liene swallowed hard without realizing it. Why…… is he saying we’ll bathe together? She could hear the sound of splashing water. It sounded like he was washing his face. She imagined him bowing his head and rubbing his face. She could almost see his shoulders and arms moving, his hair getting wet in the cold water, and his wet eyelashes showing through the hair stuck to his forehead. I mean, why together……. Liene couldn’t stand the thought any longer and turned away abruptly. This is all that man’s fault. It’s because he looks like that and says strange things. Liene covered her ears with both hands and returned to her room. What’s so special about the sound of water? It’s normal to hear everything when you wash your face. Strangely, her heart was pounding for a long time. Liene closed the door and stood there, waiting for the loud pounding of her heart to subside. ……I can’t do this. It wasn’t good to have feelings other than wariness towards that man. I need to know what that man is trying to do. I need to find out why everyone says his goal is revenge. I shouldn’t have such useless thoughts. Liene swallowed the dry saliva in her mouth. She had to meet the beggar old man. * * *
“Yes? Where are you going?”
“To the front of the temple.”
“Why are you going there all of a sudden? Do you have business at the temple?”
“Yes.”
Liene deliberately cut her words short to Madam Flambard, who was asking in bewilderment. She didn’t think she needed to tell the Madam all the details. Worrying about Black was her responsibility, and she didn’t want to give the Madam worries that weren’t yet certain. Besides, the Madam was an honest person, so if she heard that Black was trying to take revenge, she wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face in front of him.
“I’m worried about the old man I saw yesterday. I think the temple was handing out food, but the stairs haven’t been fixed yet. So I’m going to bring him some food.”
“If that’s the case, have the guards do it. Wouldn’t it be too much trouble for you to do it yourself?”
“I want to go. You have a lot of work to do, right? I’ll go alone.”
Madam Flambard jumped at those words.
“Yes? No, how can you say that? Going that far alone!”
“I’m going to ask the guards for an escort.”
She had to move as quickly as possible. Tiwakan was quickly establishing himself in Nauk Castle. Now, Tiwakan was seen more often than the guards even inside the castle. If she went out, Black would offer to escort her himself or send a subordinate, so she had no choice but to talk to the commander of the guards separately and come back quickly before that happened.
“Please pack some food for me. Something I can eat with my hands.”
“If you must, then so be it. But I will go with you.”
“No. You need to finish the wedding dress. Have you forgotten? The wedding is only eight days away. You’ve been worrying about the lack of time every day.”
“Ah, that’s right. I did. Then I’ll pack the food and diligently… Ah, but?”
“Yes?”
Madam Flamvard stopped talking and tilted her head.
“What is it, Madam?”
“About the wedding.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been counting down the days because of the dress alterations… but the Cardinal passed away yesterday…”
The Madam quickly made the Sign of the Cross over her chest before continuing.
“Yes, so shouldn’t a new Cardinal be appointed?”
“That’s…”
“If I remember correctly, when Milode was named Cardinal, we waited a full nine days after the previous Motia returned to the earth, didn’t we? I heard there was a reason to wait eight days back then. But since the wedding is eight days away, I was wondering what would happen to the ceremony. I hope God doesn’t punish me for worrying about sewing in the face of His Eminence’s death.”
“Ah, so that’s why…”
Liene’s expression hardened. So that’s why he killed him. To postpone the wedding. There was a reason why Kleinfelter had to kill the Cardinal. Once a new Cardinal was elected, he had to fast for nine days and pray to God alone, according to the Temple Law. This was called the Conversation with God, and if God did not recognize the new Cardinal, he would not be able to endure the nine-day fast and would lose consciousness. In other words, it was a Rite of Passage that could not be compromised by even a single day.
“Princess, you don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”
Madam Flamvard looked at Liene with a worried expression.
“No. It’s not because I’m sick, but…”
She was afraid. What was Kleinfelter planning, so desperately postponing the wedding? They would never give up control of Nauk. Knowing that they couldn't face Tiwakan with force, they must be plotting something even more sinister and despicable.
“You’re really not sick?”
“Yes… I’m not sick.”
“Then I understand. You probably didn’t sleep well last night, so it’s understandable that you don’t look well. But I’m glad that one worry has been alleviated.”
“Yes?”
Madam Flamvard patted Liene’s arm as if to reassure her.
“Your monthly cycle, I mean. If the wedding is postponed, the Wedding Night will naturally be postponed as well, so at least you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Ah… I see.”
“Then I’ll go prepare the food. Don’t scold me too much if I can’t pack a lot.”
“I understand. Please hurry.”
“Yes, Princess.”
Madam Flamvard left. While preparing to go out, thinking that she had to hurry somehow, her mind was constantly in turmoil. The wedding can be postponed. The monthly cycle can be hidden. But that means giving Kleinfelter time to plot something. So what should I do? It was a confusion that she couldn't resolve on her own.
