Chapter 157
‘A curse?’
The word that Theogrim repeated two and three times gained a little more power each time it echoed in his refined voice.
The chief priest’s words, that it was as if he were cursed, could have been vaguely passed over, but Theogrim did not miss that moment and heightened the tension to an extreme. He made the word ‘curse’ strongly ingrained in people’s minds.
Perhaps if Theogrim had not been so agitated by the word ‘curse,’ the people of the castle who had served the Lord for a long time might have only regarded it as a metaphor.
This was because no one had ever doubted the holiness and greatness of Ragnar, who was the representative of God.
‘He’s begging.’
But now, the desperate plea of the youth, as beautiful as an angel, drew a fine crack in their faith, which was as solid as marble.
They looked back at each other with faces full of tension. The same thought was circulating in their minds.
‘Perhaps Del Rose is trying to protect the Lord.’
“…We will do our best.”
In front of the priest who bowed his head respectfully, Theogrim once again regained his usual dignity.
Theogrim turned around. The loyal Ianes followed him. As Theogrim moved, the priests stepped aside and made way for him.
Del Rose, who walked with his back straight and noble, had regained his composure, but his clean, violet eyes still held a despair and sorrow that he had not been able to erase.
As always, it was a gaze that persuaded people’s hearts before any rational logic or oratory.
“Del Rose.”
Ianes followed closely behind Theogrim, who was walking briskly.
“Please stop for a moment. You will fall.”
Ianes grabbed Theogrim’s arm. It was an action he would never normally do, but at this moment, Del Rose’s state was not ordinary.
Theogrim, who had been running forward heedlessly, stopped at Ianes’s braking. Cold sweat had appeared on his pale face.
“Are you worried about the Lord?”
“He will get up.”
Theogrim said. It was Del Rose’s more familiar and honest self, different from the one he showed in front of the priests. Ianes felt a subtle sense of pride at the thought that he was the only one shown this side of him.
“A curse, how dare they say such a thing to the Lord…!”
“He will get up soon. He is a person who has never been defeated by any injury.”
“…What if the people of the domain become agitated?”
“It will be alright.”
Ianes replied seriously. It was filled with a conviction that came from his loyalty to this beautiful liege.
“Don’t we have Del Rose?”
“……”
“You are the one sent by God. People will follow and admire you.”
“……”
“So don’t worry too much. Everything will return to its proper place.”
At Ianes’s neat answer, Theogrim nodded his head.
“Ianes.”
“Yes, Del Rose.”
“…I wish to be alone for a moment.”
“I will be polishing my sword.”
Ianes, who bowed with perfect precision, disappeared down the corridor.
Theogrim walked over to the window.
On the road visible below the corridor window, people were running in one direction. Someone was shouting, someone was crying, and someone else was kneeling right where they were, looking up at the sky.
The bell tower of the great temple rang.
It was a bell gilded with the gold Ragnar had won from his victory in the final holy war. A war prize, a symbol of great victory, and the most beautiful bell among those that adorned the temples of Impellias across the entire continent.
When the bell rang in the Rosenburg domain, the mountain range surrounding the domain would reflect the sound, creating an incomparably deep resonance. It was a clear and magnificent bell sound that could not be heard anywhere else.
The deeply devout would shed tears every time they heard this bell. Some would even offer their entire fortune and make a pilgrimage to the Rosenburg domain just to hear this bell sound.
Theogrim had hated this bell sound his entire life.
“……”
But the sound of the bell ringing at this moment filled Theogrim with so much satisfaction.
It was the sound of a bell ringing for the Lord who had collapsed so suddenly, praying for his salvation.
It also meant that Ragnar’s life was in danger, to the point where the bell had to be rung for him.
Theogrim looked up at the sky, just like those who were kneeling down below.
It was a sky that was exceptionally clear blue.
“Huhu.”
Theogrim’s shoulders trembled. He covered his mouth to hide the laughter that kept leaking out. In the bright sunlight that poured through the window, Theogrim’s shadow stretched long down the corridor.
He buried his face in his two hands, his shoulders heaving.
Whether he was laughing or crying, even he could not tell.
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