Chapter 144
But they had never even imagined that the black-haired woman would disappear in that brief moment.
“We know we’ve committed a grave sin. But we only…”
“Silence!”
Cedric was furious. The reason he had overlooked their insolent behavior toward Master until now was because Master himself had remained silent. But things were different now. Master’s thoughts and policy had changed.
So Cedric intended to act on what he had only kept in his heart until now.
“How long do you think I should tolerate your negligence! How dare you make a decision among yourselves and bring outsiders in when the person involved is Master’s mate! If you are nothing more than servants, then you should know your place and watch your conduct! How long do you intend to keep taking the Master lightly!”
At his thunderous rebuke, the two servants trembled in fear. Marie also held her breath and bowed her head deeply. She was so ashamed that she didn’t know what to do with herself.
Resolving to replace the household staff at this opportunity, Cedric called for the knights who remained in the manor.
“Form a unit immediately and track the Madam’s trail!”
With Nox absent, the decision-maker of the ducal house was Sia, and if Sia was also gone, that authority fell into Cedric’s hands. At this moment, he was the one in charge of the ducal house.
“There must have been an intruder, so some of you must remain behind to search for traces! Delegate the tasks and hurry at once!”
“Yes!”
Intimidated by the head butler’s authority, which they had never seen before, the knights moved quickly. Just then, the gatekeeper who should have been guarding the entrance came running in breathlessly and reported.
“Head Butler! Th-The High Priest has come to visit!”
“…The High Priest himself?”
“Yes! He said he came after receiving a letter.”
Cedric couldn’t tell whether he should welcome the High Priest’s visit or not, but with the Master absent, he had to use whatever he could to find the Madam.
“Escort him inside at once!”
“Yes, sir!”
Cedric hurried across the lobby. Meanwhile, the gatekeeper who had signaled permission to the guard at the iron gate gestured toward Cedric. After straightening his clothes, Cedric fixed his gaze on the carriage approaching from afar.
The pure white carriage stood out. With the temple emblem drawn upon it, it looked extremely splendid. The moment the carriage stopped at the entrance, the door opened.
The High Priest stepped down from inside, revealing his noble bearing. Cedric quickly approached and greeted him.
“May the protection of the Almighty God, Initium, be with you.”
“And may the blessing of the Almighty God, Initium, be with you.”
As soon as their greetings ended, they spoke at the same time.
“My apologies, Your Holiness.”
“I heard the human is ill, so please guide me to her at once.”
“……”
Cedric was troubled, but he couldn’t speak falsely. Especially not to the High Priest, a servant of the god.
“…The human, Lady Sia, is not currently in the ducal residence.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“An unfortunate incident has occurred.”
At Cedric’s heavy words, the High Priest immediately understood. Had he not already anticipated this when the prophecy was given?
“Let us discuss the details at the place where the human was last.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
The two went up to Sia’s room. As the High Priest entered the room where she had stayed for a long time, he let out a sound of admiration.
“O, Divine One.”
Among those who possessed divine power, there were some who were particularly sensitive and could distinguish divine power with the naked eye. The High Priest was one of them, and as he saw the room filled with divine power, his expression became deeply moved.
“…The human truly was here.”
“That is correct.”
“Hmm.”
The High Priest moved as he examined the room. After going to the space beside the bed, he walked straight toward the window that faced the garden. Opening the closed window, he looked outside and spoke.
“Someone has taken the human.”
“Who was it?”
“I cannot tell that much, but I say this because there are traces showing movement along a path that a human could not have traveled.”
“…What kind of traces were left?”
Cedric asked, ready to call the knights immediately to pursue.
“She carries an extremely dense divine power. As if protected by God’s hand, various divine energies have left traces, forming a faint path.”
“Then…!”
Cedric felt hope at the High Priest’s words. However, the High Priest shook his head and gave a negative response.
“I may use divine power for the human’s health, but I will not intervene in the relationships surrounding the human.”
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.