Chapter 24
Episode 24
"What is it?"”
“I will show you the ritual procedures you were curious about earlier.”
The priest smiled faintly and walked towards the door, with Enoch trailing closely behind him.
Is Enoch still completely ignorant about things like ‘rituals’ or ‘offerings’?
Judging solely by Enoch’s actions and tone towards the priest…
He didn’t seem to feel any sense of fear or revulsion.
He truly seems to know nothing.
If something were to happen in here, how would I evacuate him first…
I also worried that Enoch might be traumatized if he witnessed a terrible situation.
“One can never be sure what a person obsessed with God might do,”
The Duke’s words suddenly came to mind.
At the time, I thought he was merely speaking about himself.
I believed no one would believe in God except for the Duke.
Above all, he decided his son’s marriage solely on the grounds of believing in God.
Along with the thought that I must ask him why he came to believe in God once we return to the Duke’s Mansion.
Soothing my anxious heart, I thought of the Duke’s Mansion and the people of the House of Duke Russell.
I wonder if the Duke is doing well?
\ \ \
“Achoo!”
“Duke Russell, have you perhaps caught a cold?”
“No, I just sneezed.”
Duke Russell spoke in a gentle voice.
“It’s been a while for everyone… or rather, we see each other too often.”
“Haha, well. We are also taken aback.”
“No, the Emperor is also getting on in years…”
The nobles, excluding Duke Russell, glanced at each other and whispered quietly.
“So, how many months has it been since we last gathered this time?”
“Two months… no, it hasn’t even been two months.”
Amidst voices filled with annoyance and irritation, one noble made an unexpected remark.
“Well, this much is still acceptable, isn’t it?”
“Are you serious?”
“Think back about 20 years ago.”
“….”
As the specific date of ‘20 years ago’ was mentioned, the nobles seemed to share a wistful expression.
“20 years ago. It was truly terrible back then.”
“I saw you all more often than my own family back then?”
It seemed everyone had a lot to say, as they began to speak their minds.
“Everyone was in the same boat.”
“…His Majesty is truly something else.”
“Will the next banquet be in about a month?”
It hadn’t been long since all the nobles of the Empire had to gather.
First, there was the case where the country faced a grave crisis and important matters had to be decided.
However, in a peaceful empire, such an event would occur perhaps once every few years.
Second, the Royalty’s birthday banquet.
This was the reason many nobles harbored dissatisfaction with the current Emperor.
Every time there was a birthday banquet, not only the nobles of the capital but also those residing in distant provinces had to gather.
While they believed they should celebrate the birth of Royalty…
The problem was that such noble bloodlines were born too often, far too frequently.
And it wasn’t just noble bloodlines that appeared.
The Emperor, neglecting state affairs, was preoccupied with enjoying a decadent and dissolute life behind the scenes.
As a result, the imperial family tree quickly became a mess.
There wasn’t a day that went by without women showing up claiming to be pregnant by the Emperor.
Those of unclear parentage were turned away, but those who were undeniably the Emperor’s children had to be accepted.
An elderly noble, his hair completely white, sighed deeply and asked,
“So, how many Princes is this this time?”
“It’s the 69th Prince and the 70th Princess.”
“What? Are they twins this time?”
To that question, one of the group replied in a weary tone, as if disgusted.
“That’s not it… they are half-siblings, but their due dates overlapped, so they are simply having the ceremony together.”
“…….”
“Let’s all think positively. We could have had to come back again in a few days if things went wrong.”
Everyone quietly nodded in agreement with the last statement.
“How long will His Majesty the Emperor continue like this?”
“That’s what I’m saying. They can’t even manage their territories, yet they keep coming up to the capital…”
Attending birthday banquets was a troublesome and bothersome task even for nobles in the capital.
Naturally, it was doubly difficult for nobles from the provinces.
A man who had been listening quietly then spoke, his golden eyes curving gently.
“…I hear you’ve all been through a lot.”
“Duke Russell!”
While everyone was excitedly pouring out their grievances, he appeared very calm and elegant.
Seeing him from afar, other nobles began to flock to him as if they had seen a savior.
It was understandable, as he was the only one who hadn’t appeared at birthday banquets for some time.
Other nobles looked at Duke Russell with admiration and longing.
He was the one with the greatest power, second only to the Royalty.
Yet, he was a dignified and gentle person who did not mistreat his subordinates.
Furthermore, he had a child more capable than all the Emperor’s children combined…
Most nobles wished to marry their daughters into the House of Duke Russell.
Young Duke Russell was also a huge celebrity among the noble ladies.
So much so that there were young ladies who sent marriage proposals daily, like fan letters, knowing it was impossible.
In fact, the Emperor’s children also often sent letters hoping to make a good impression on the Young Duke.
But the only reply they ever received was a lengthy apology from a servant.
Nobles, whose daughters were of marriageable age, asked the Duke if they could introduce them.
“What happened at the last banquet?”
“Me?”
Duke Russell very neatly and tidily placed down the wine glass he was holding.
His graceful demeanor, like a painting, left the nobles staring blankly at him.
“As expected, Duke Russell is different.”
“He is truly a noble among nobles.”
As they each began to heap praise upon Duke Russell, he slowly opened his mouth.
“It was because our cute and lovely new daughter-in-law was staying at the Duke’s Mansion.”
“Our cute and lovely… what?”
“New daughter-in-law. New. Daughter. In. Law.”
At the Duke’s single word, ‘new daughter-in-law,’ the banquet hall fell silent as if cold water had been poured on it.
The marriage of the Empire’s sole Young Duke also signified the birth of new power.
Everyone began to whisper about who this fortunate young lady might be.
“No, my daughter said she would enter a convent once the Young Duke got married.”
“That might be for the best. My child might run to the Duke’s Mansion right now…”
“This means the opportunity for social climbing is gone. There must be many who regret this.”
It was when opinions like ‘It can’t be helped, though it’s regrettable’ were being voiced.
“Can’t it be helped? Even the Emperor’s children are trying to get in with the House of Duke Russell.”
“Are you saying there were Princesses who submitted marriage proposals to the Duke’s Mansion?”
“That’s a given, of course.”
An elderly noble slowly closed and opened his eyes, saying,
“By the way, does everyone know? Duke Russell wishes to designate a new state religion.”
Everyone nodded lightly, as if they already knew.
Confirming this, the noble slowly opened his mouth again.
“Recently, a Prince has emerged who is lending support to that opinion.”
“To agree to such a preposterous idea… they must be openly trying to align with the House of Duke Russell.”
The elderly noble seemed to ponder for a moment, his lips moving, and he continued in a trembling voice,
“…He claims to believe in God himself.”
“That’s a lie, isn’t it?”
“I think so too. Which Prince is it that made such a statement?”
“That…”
\ \ \
“Now, all we have to do is open this door and go in.”
I gazed intently at the priest’s beaming face.
His uniquely clean and kind aura made him look like a prince from any country.
How could someone with such a kind face commit such a crime…
Was it because I stared too intently?
The priest looked at me with a questioning gaze before opening the door.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I was just thinking about you for a moment, Father.”
At my words, the priest burst into laughter, as if finding something incredibly amusing.
“Betty, you are truly an interesting child. What about me was so curious?”
The priest readily spoke, as if he could answer anything.
“First, your name. I think I should at least know that much.”
Of course, I was asking because I needed to know if he was human, whatever he might do later.
Though, if he was using a pseudonym, there would be nothing I could do.
“Oh dear, I didn’t even tell you my name.”
“It’s alright, you can tell me now!”
“…My name is Kellen.”
Kellen? It sounds like a name I’ve heard before…
Well, it’s not a particularly unique name, so I’ll look into it later.
“You know, I just told you something very significant.”
“Your name, Father?”
“Yes. There are very few people here who know my name.”
Is it okay to be this obviously suspicious?
“Enoch, did you also hear the Father’s name for the first time today?”
“No! I already knew it!”
Or was it? Was he not being obviously suspicious, but just lying?
“Anyway, we’ve had an important conversation, so shall we go in now?”
Kellen opened the massive door without a moment’s hesitation.
To be continued in the next episode ▶
