Chapter 20
"Once Lady Rohanson finishes her prayers, guide her to the knights' reception room. Uriel is with her."
On the way, he also instructed a knight to escort Lady Evangeline to the knights' reception room.
The Pararos Knights were affiliated with the temple, so their building stood right next to the Grand Temple. Though not as grand as the temple, she'd expected something flashy, but the structure was surprisingly modest.
"Ah. Over there."
As they neared the knights' office, Hena imagined the worst possible scenario ahead.
Gabriel must have been pleased at a lead on the case, but Hena felt the opposite—deeply anxious. She and Kanna had witnessed Donau's death, so another witness? If the issue was the painting, a witness from the painter? But did they even need one?
And from the Convent, no less. Hena grew uneasy, unable to fathom what this witness Gabriel mentioned had seen.
"No way they saw Lady kill Donau. The door was wide open then, so maybe they heard the commotion…."
And like a death sentence, the office door opened.
Inside sat three knights, including Raphaella from earlier, and someone in convent robes presumed to be the informant. That person looked so familiar that Hena blurted out her name without thinking.
"Daisy?"
Daisy, rumored to have been blinded and sent to the Convent, stared at Hena, looking gaunt.
"Hena. Why are you here?"
"That's my line. Your eyes are fine…."
Rumors said Daisy had gone blind and been sent to the Convent. Hena had been terrified taking her position as successor. Half-suspecting Daisy was already dead and Lady had spread the rumor to cover it up.
But now, Daisy wasn't blind or badly hurt.
So Daisy's the witness? Hena's head throbbed at the unforeseen situation. If it were someone else, she could dismiss it as mistaken identity. But Daisy had been Lady's close maid until recently.
Rohanson Mansion folk didn't gossip easily, bound by the Butler's pay and Lady Evangeline's constant presence. But with Daisy, who'd quit? She'd spill everything from Lady's revival onward.
That couldn't happen. If the temple learned the full story and moved against Lady? Not worry for Lady—Evangeline Rohanson's role kept her in check now. Losing that terrified her.
What to do? Must silence Daisy.
"Quit the mansion?"
As Hena shook her head, Daisy's face paled.
"Quit as soon as possible. Wait, just a moment. That on her neck…. Hena, who's that?"
Daisy pointed at Kanna.
"My sister."
Neck? Daisy eyed Kanna's throat. A red line scarred it—Donau's doing. Kanna refused Holy Water healing, so it remained.
Daisy covered her mouth like nauseous.
"Sister?"
Hena nodded at Daisy's question.
"Your sister… works at the mansion too?"
"Yes."
With each answer, Daisy's face drained of color. Her hand over mouth and eyes trembled endlessly.
That throat line was clearly the demon Daisy's summoning left. The demon's sick hobby: decapitate, reattach. Without the thin line, couldn't tell dead from alive.
The demon had begged guidance to Rohanson Mansion; Daisy complied. It entered safely, apparently harming residents.
She'd guessed as much, but seeing a victim before her—worse, colleague's kin—crushed her with guilt.
"What have I… what have I done…."
Reeling, Daisy staggered; a nearby knight moved to support, but she sharply swatted his hand. Then stared at him terrified, backing away.
Any moment, those knights might turn and slit her throat. She'd summoned a demon, killed Berga Priest—no innocence there.
"I-I should go now."
"Pardon? What do you—."
Daisy came to confirm the painting Berga Priest saw. Spotting the ominous sorcery circle, she decided to testify for its removal.
Not full confession—testimony mixed lies plausibly.
"That's all I said. Isn't my testimony enough?"
Gabriel glanced at a knight, who nodded. Taking the neatly summarized paper of Daisy's testimony, Gabriel skimmed it.
Berga Priest summoned a demon via the sorcery circle. Listed his demon-possessed misdeeds; evidence in his room.
Next page: Evangeline Rohanson. Looked like eyewitness account from her mansion days.
Glancing at Hena and Kanna, Gabriel quietly folded and covered it. Now understood Daisy's anxiety—remeeting mansion folk terrified her.
"You've helped plenty. We'll investigate the rest."
With Gabriel's dismissal, Daisy relaxed. Berga Priest dead—framing him guilt-free. Misdeeds real; he'd drawn the circle.
Daisy's goal: remove the ominous temple painting. Mission accomplished.
"Raphaella, escort her out."
Daisy nodded quietly, knowing refusal looked suspicious.
Passing Hena, Daisy whispered so secretly even Kanna beside couldn't hear.
"Hena. That's not your sister."
Couldn't explain fully. Knights nearby; feared Hena's blame for her sister's death. Best she could do.
Daisy eyed Hena's dead sister and floating orb beside. Never thought she'd see it outside the mansion…. At least less terrifying than before.
In the Grand Temple, its power seemed diminished. From experience, the eye couldn't hear. Her whisper unheard.
Fearing eye contact, Daisy hurried from the room.
Watching Daisy's escorted exit, Hena gripped her sister's hand tightly.
"Sis. What'd she just say?"
"Nothing."
Whatever Daisy said, Kanna was Hena's only sister. Even thrilled at Donau's death, calling that monstrous painting beautiful—broken or not, twisted thoughts or not, Kanna was precious. Right? Yes.
***
"Did your prayers go well?"
Yes. Took an amazing nap. But couldn't say that before a holy knight, so nodded awkwardly.
Uriel's guided prayer room was a private noble one—lavish for rich patrons. Not prison-like; cozy.
Sunlight poured through big windows; faint organ played somewhere. Pretending prayer, dozed off.
No god even in dreams. Possession perks like god chats? Language patch late, possession delayed—no favors. Got ahead of myself.
"Wait long?"
"No. Some pray hours."
Not asleep ages, thankfully. No clocks in temple or room. No phone inconvenient. Need pocket watch.
"Commander awaits at knights' quarters. Your companions too. This way."
Hena and Kanna finished viewing already? Waiting without returning? Friendship…? Heart warmed. Slapped dozing Jelly awake. It waited too—why so annoying?
Temple visit: stocked Holy Water with grabbed gold. Ten bottles, still money left.
"Impressive, Lady. My salary for years wouldn't buy this."
Uriel clapped like a shop clerk. Not a salesman disguised as knight?
Handed Holy Water to Jelly; it recoiled.
"Me carry this…?"
