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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: An Unholy Alliance
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“It’s about the warlocks!”
Even I, who had been watching this unfold like it was none of my business, was dumbfounded. Why were warlocks being brought up now?
“…What are you talking about?”
As Tristan pressed him, Zion glanced my way.
“I’ll give you some privacy.”
I started to get up and leave, but Tristan stopped me.
“No. Lady Emily should hear this as well. If it’s about warlocks, she has every right to listen.”
In a way, he was right. Though probably not in the way Tristan meant…
Zion looked skeptical at first, but Tristan was so insistent that he eventually agreed.
“I know you’ve recently been investigating some suspicious individuals.”
“And?”
“…It’s not a fabrication by the Holy See.”
A flinch. Tristan’s fingertips twitched involuntarily. It was a rare change for a man who rarely showed emotional turmoil.
“The warlocks are on the move again.”
His tone was filled with conviction.
“And to stop them, Your Highness and I must join forces.”
As a warlock listening in, I felt a sharp pang of guilt.
“How can I believe that? The words of a Saint from the Holy See.”
Despite Tristan’s sharp retort, Zion responded lightly, as if he had expected it.
“Because this is the Holy See’s fatal weakness.”
“…A weakness?”
“It means the barrier surrounding the Isle of Thanatos is weakening.”
“!”
This time, even I couldn’t help but be shocked.
This was a far greater problem than a few warlocks causing a disturbance.
In the past, after the Holy War, all the warlocks were sealed away on the Isle of Thanatos.
A barrier encircling the entire island prevents them from ever leaving.
The Holy See’s most fundamental duty was to maintain and repair that divine barrier.
But now, Zion was whistleblowing, claiming the Holy See had failed to properly carry out even that task. I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
The Saint was a figure whose position within the Holy See was second only to the Pope. For someone like him to be a whistleblower… And to the Empire’s Crown Prince, no less!
“…Is that true? No, if it is, what is your motive for telling me?”
Tristan, too, couldn’t hide his suspicion.
But Zion’s expression was the same as when I first saw him. He wore a gentle smile, his eyes holding a quietly burning passion.
Zion finally spoke.
“There is only one thing I desire, Your Highness. And I am prepared to sacrifice anything for it.”
If the conviction rooted deep in his heart was God’s command to ‘always be truthful,’ then it was truly admirable.
*That’s the very virtue of a Saint.*
Yes, of course. As I was nodding to myself, Zion continued.
“Please, eradicate the warlocks from this land.”
“……?”
What did he just say? I snapped my head up, doubting my own ears, and he delivered the final blow.
“Punishing warlocks is my only justice.”
Only then did I clearly see what was writhing within Zion’s blue eyes.
It was an obsession to hunt down the warlocks, no matter what.
*…Life is hard as a warlock.*
Tears welled up in my eyes today.
“If your justice is truly only to punish warlocks.”
The corners of Tristan’s mouth lifted slightly. From years of experience, I could tell he found Zion incredibly interesting.
“Your will is my will. I see no reason not to cooperate.”
“Just as I had hoped, Your Highness.”
The two shook hands lightly. It was the moment an alliance to overthrow the warlocks was forged.
“Wow. Congratulations.”
I clapped soullessly. Wonderful.
*So… the person these two are trying to catch is me, right?*
I secretly wiped the sweat from my palms. My vision seemed a little blurry from tears, but it was probably just my imagination. Yep.
“How long do you plan to stay in the Empire?”
“Nothing has been decided for certain yet. But now that things have concluded well with Your Highness, I plan to stay here for the time being.”
That was truly unwelcome news.
Tristan was about to say more when a loud banging sound echoed from outside.
“What’s going on?”
When Tristan asked, one of the attendants waiting outside came in to report.
“My apologies, Your Highness. A clergyman who came to see the Saint is causing a disturbance outside…”
“It seems Priest Paolo has arrived.”
Zion reacted calmly, as if he already knew this would happen.
“Unfortunately, I too am bound to the Holy See. It seems I must be getting back.”
“I see… We’ll discuss the details later.”
“Yes, then I shall take my leave.”
Zion added with his characteristically bright smile.
“May the Lord’s blessing always be with you.”
“…And with you.”
Despite the conventional blessing, Tristan looked as if he were swallowing bitter medicine.
I wanted to give a bitter smile just as much as Tristan did.
*This is driving me crazy.*
That was my honest feeling.
“Were you looking for me, Priest Paolo?”
“Good heavens, Saint! How could you disappear without a word! I distinctly told you to remain quietly in your room…!”
*Clank.*
Through the closing door, I caught a snippet of Paolo and Zion’s conversation. It seems the Holy See keeps a rather close watch on its Saint.
*With a Saint like that, I can’t say I blame them.*
Didn’t he just sell out the Holy See’s secrets without a second thought? No matter how I looked at it, he was not someone to be underestimated.
“Lady Emily.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Can you add a private meeting with the Saint to my schedule? As soon as possible.”
“I will review it and report back to you.”
Tristan pressed his fingers firmly against his brow. It seemed a headache was coming on.
*He always asks for husmanti tea at times like this. But there’s no one to bring it right now…*
No one.
I glanced around, but everyone else was too busy to pay attention to us.
A storm of events had just swept through, from the Saint to Priest Paolo.
*I have no choice.*
I learned how to brew tea as part of my basic etiquette training, after all.
*Click.* When I brought over the tea with its fragrant aroma, Tristan stared at me with a blank expression.
“I thought you might need this.”
I replied with a smile, and he gazed down at the tea, murmuring softly.
“…How did you know?”
“Hmm, shall we say this is a basic skill for a seasoned scribe?”
I threw out a lighthearted joke to ease the mood, but Tristan didn’t seem to get it at all.
“You were pressing your forehead.”
It was a trade secret, but I decided to tell him anyway.
“You often ask for husmanti tea at times like this, so I just prepared some.”
“…Ah. Was it that obvious?”
Tristan asked, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. Was it obvious? Well… the other scribes probably wouldn’t notice, so I wouldn’t say so.
Tristan isn’t very expressive, after all.
*But it was fun, like putting together a puzzle.*
It was my own little hobby.
I’d serve different kinds of refreshments, take note of the ones Tristan finished completely, and then make sure to provide his favorites next time.
I reordered the fountain pens he used often and filled his office with his preferred scents.
Of course, even when I catered to his tastes perfectly, the only reaction I ever got was a brief pause and a sideways glance in my direction.
It was one of the few pleasures I could find in my dreary professional life, so I quickly became engrossed in this little game.
I snapped out of my reverie and answered Tristan.
“Hmm, you don’t wear your thoughts on your face, so the other scribes probably wouldn’t know.”
I whispered to him softly.
“Only I know, so don’t worry.”
Then I gave him a bright smile.
“……Only you?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you….”
Tristan trailed off, tracing the rim of his teacup. His lips parted as if to say something, but he quickly lowered his head.
“?”
I even told him it was fine since the other scribes hadn’t noticed. Did I say something wrong?
He soon lifted his head. What kind of expression was that?
I had watched him for a long time, but I had never seen that look before, so I couldn’t tell what it meant.
A light flush on his cheeks, his pupils trembling faintly. And a gaze that held a strange heat.
It was a face I didn’t recognize. *Tilt.* As I cocked my head slightly to decipher its meaning, Tristan began to speak.
“No. Just forget it.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re kind to everyone, after all.”
What on earth did that mean? I considered asking again, but it didn’t seem like he would answer, so I just stayed silent.
After that, Tristan didn’t speak again. He processed his paperwork at a frightening pace, leaving me no time to relax either.
For a while, the office was filled only with the sound of him sipping his tea and the rustle of papers.
