Chapter 24
I earnestly pleaded my innocence. It wasn't just water—I poured expensive Holy Water! There's no way he got hurt! Any existing wounds would even heal cleanly! Anyway, his fainting isn't my fault!
Only after Michel fainted did the temple priests finally notice the commotion and rush over. They glanced at the charred remains of the painting, the water-soaked and unconscious Michel, and me, assessing the situation. It was only after Raphaella's detailed explanation that they bowed in gratitude.
Among them, the most solemn and kind-looking elder began organizing things. He then approached me.
“Lady Rohanson, we are truly grateful for saving our temple knight. We will compensate you for the Holy Water used to extinguish the flames.”
“I'll gladly accept.”
What a relief! I thought the money for the Holy Water had gone to waste. Well, technically not, since I saved a burning man…. Anyway, it's great they're refilling it. See? Good deeds pay off.
“The other devotees seem shocked, so we're escorting them to a rest area.”
Shocked, my foot. These were the people who just stood around gawking while a man burned. I swallowed my complaints and nodded.
The kind elder finished with me and approached Raphaella. He whispered something so quietly I couldn't hear. He kept glancing my way suspiciously. Were they gossiping about me?
No way…. Anxious, I glared at them intently. I'm right here—don't talk behind my back!
My stare must have worked, as Raphaella cleared her throat awkwardly and changed the subject.
“Bishop, may I take my leave first? It'd be best to lay Sir Michel down quickly. Sir Uriel must be tired too.”
I'd thought he was just a kind elder, but he's a bishop! A high-ranking one at that! No wonder he offered to compensate for the Holy Water. Do you know how much that costs!
“Oh dear. I didn't think of that. Leave the cleanup to me and go ahead. Lady Rohanson needs to receive the Holy Water, so if you'd join me….”
“Ah. It seems the Lady should go with you as well. She has business with the Commander. I'll handle the Holy Water before you leave. No need for the Bishop to trouble himself—just pass the word ahead, and I'll be grateful.”
Raphaella rapid-fired her refusal. Right, I need to see Hena and Kanna too, so I nodded. My girls have been waiting long enough—we should hurry.
But shouldn't I take the Holy Water now? If I try grabbing it without the kind elder's say-so, won't they peg me as a thief? He might even forget to mention it. Hmm…. I pondered, then looked at Jelly.
“Me?”
“Take the Holy Water and put it in the carriage ahead of time.”
“Are you seriously just dragging me around to torment me?”
No? Who do you think I am, some thug? Why was the Holy Water at home depleted in the first place! It was from treating your wounds!
“Listen before I really torment you.”
“Fiiine….”
Jelly grumbled and tucked its tail.
“I'll send my escort.”
The bishop nodded with a very reluctant expression.
“That settles it, right? Let's get going.”
At Raphaella's words, Uriel hoisted the fallen Michel onto his back. He looked so slender, yet carried Michel effortlessly—I couldn't help but admire it. As I watched, Raphaella sidled up slyly. After glaring at me like trash earlier, now she wants to act friendly?
“…Sorry for the late greeting. Thank you for saving Michel. He lost consciousness, but thanks to the Holy Water, he's unharmed. We truly appreciate it.”
Raphaella gauged my reaction hesitantly before offering thanks. Her cautious tone made me feel guilty for her earlier grumpiness. Wow, kinda touched.
“Thank you, my Lady.”
Uriel followed suit with his gratitude. Bowing with a much larger man on his back, he showed no strain. But Holy Water dripped from Michel's long hair, soaking his back. Doesn't it feel wet…? Uriel seemed fine, but it bothered me.
“But is it alright sending Mr. Jelly alone?”
Why? Worried it's too heavy? You're carrying a person on your back while fretting over Jelly with the Holy Water?
“Jelly's fine.”
He's no ordinary guy—he's a confirmed werewolf sub-male lead.
“My Lady, you did well sending Je… your escort instead. It's best not to get too close to the Bishop. He may look like that, but he has a rather nasty personality.”
Glancing back, Javania Bishop stared at Raphaella with a fierce scowl. None of his earlier kindly demeanor remained. Why so suddenly? Recalling the prior conversation, nothing seemed off…. Unless? One hunch hit me.
It's because Raphaella tried to leave before him. High-ranking folks obsess over protocol like that. Never pegged the bishop as a Confucian old fogey.
***
Only after the commotion died down did people swarm in. One priest must have run off to fetch the bishop after seeing the scene. He arrived with priests carrying water buckets—Javania Bishop.
He usually ignores petty matters like people dying or the temple crumbling, yet he comes all the way here. Still got sharp instincts, that old fox.
“Raphaella… what's this?”
Playing dumb despite hearing all about it. Javania Bishop hides a ferocious nature behind that kindly face. Easy to misjudge due to his affable exterior, but he's profoundly selfish and ruthless.
Uriel once said Raphaella hates Javania for their similarities— not entirely wrong. Still, comparing him is unfair to her; he'd arrive fashionably late regardless of injuries, conscience-free and guiltless.
Unfortunately, Gabriel, commander of Raphaella's knight order, had fallen prey to Javania Bishop in his youth and was still being exploited.
The commander claimed he was merely repaying a past favor…. But to Raphaella, the bishop just used him like a chess piece. And the so-called favor he'd heard about was negligible anyway.
“The painting caught fire. Lady Rohanson doused it with Holy Water, extinguishing the flames. Sir Michel suffered burns but emerged unscathed thanks to the Holy Water.”
“Oh, Rahel be praised.”
“We were a step too late and nearly lost a precious knight. How embarrassing.”
“Not at all, Bishop. It took time fetching water, didn't it?”
Old fox. His kindly words had the surrounding priests gazing at him with adoration, as if he were Rahel's incarnation.
‘What? Late because fetching water?’
Raphaella could stake her wrists—not to mention the fallen Michel—that the bishop had deliberately delayed. She'd hoped the painting would burn too, so Javania must have timed his arrival after it had ample time to char.
If Javania Bishop were truly benevolent, he'd have fetched water from the nearest fountain with flowing Holy Water. Claiming he'd cover the cost later, just like Evangeline Rohanson did…. Raphaella was stunned she'd briefly seen her as righteous.
By going all the way to the garden fountain for regular water, he clearly had no intent to arrive early. No one around questioned it, revealing how thoroughly tamed they were by his pious act.
A true pain if made an enemy. Fortunately, they shared the same view on Donau's painting. The bishop, a representative figure praising it, had always clashed with its chief detractor.
“Come now, since we're late, we must help clean up.”
“Yes, Bishop.”
At Javania Bishop's words, the priests set down their buckets and began tidying. Some swept and scrubbed ash from the floor; others dealt with the people.
“Devotee, wouldn't it be best to head home now?”
“Indeed. There was a fire—it's too dangerous.”
“No injuries, I hope?”
Of course, no replies came. Mostly nobles who couldn't be treated roughly, so the futile urgings continued.
“Please go! Planning to stay here forever?”
One impatient priest finally yelled in frustration, then clapped a hand over his mouth in regret. Luckily, the noble ignored it.
“The painting's burned away—what are you even looking at now?”
The priest's lament finally drew a reaction. The noble lady he'd addressed blushed and pointed at Evangeline Rohanson.
“We're looking at that Lady, aren't we?”
The priest looked around. People's gazes were all fixed on the fair, elegant Lady—how had he missed it before?
