Chapter 27
Abel could not understand why Felix was being so deferential toward the Duke and Duchess.
If Abel had been in Felix’s position, and a powerful person who claimed to like him had offered to force an apology from those who had spent years ignoring and suppressing him, he would have quietly accepted the gift without hesitation.
Most people would have gone even further and subtly asked that powerful person for additional punishment.
But whether or not he understood Felix was beside the point.
He did not want to refuse Felix when he was pleading this earnestly.
“Very well.”
Abel slowly removed the hand that had been holding his and nodded.
What he really wanted was to intertwine their fingers. But if he did that, Felix might forget where they were and shake him off on the spot.
And with everyone’s attention fixed on them, there would be no hiding the rejection this time.
Abel looked indifferently at the Duchess, who was staring at them with wide, astonished eyes.
“Sir Felix has clearly learned Father’s teachings well.”
Naturally, the Father he meant was God.
It would have been nice if Felix had resembled Him, even a little.
Now that his anger had faded, Abel felt nothing at all.
No matter how closely he looked at the Duchess, he could not see even a trace of Felix in her.
“You would do well to be grateful for your son’s mercy and generosity.”
With that, Abel brought the matter to a close and turned to Gregory.
“I would like to take my leave now and prepare for tomorrow’s Invocations.”
It was half an excuse because he no longer wished to remain here, and half the truth.
The true heart of the prayer assembly would begin the following day with the actual prayers, the Invocations.
And those prayers offered to the Father were conducted under the guidance of Abel, the Herald of God.
Anyone who had attended the prayer assembly in recent years would already know that.
At Abel’s words, Gregory, who had remained perfectly composed even in the midst of all this, nodded.
“Of course. Lord Abel has much to prepare for tomorrow’s Invocations.”
He must be pleased.
Not that Abel had done it for Gregory’s sake, but he had openly antagonized the Duke, the Emperor’s closest confidant, and the Duchess in front of everyone.
Abel then offered his farewells in turn to the Emperor, the Duke, and the Duchess.
The Emperor, who had been watching him with a hardened expression, responded as though he had no choice. The Duke merely nodded. The Duchess would not even meet Abel’s gaze.
Whatever their reactions, they were no longer Abel’s concern.
He immediately turned and strode across the banquet hall.
As he moved, the crowd parted to make way for him, allowing him to leave without brushing against anyone.
Once outside the hall, Abel turned to the priests and holy knights who had followed him.
“Everyone except Sir Felix may leave. Get some rest.”
Whether they returned to the banquet hall, went to their true masters, or offered prayers to the Father instead was of no concern to him.
At Abel’s dismissal, they bowed without protest and withdrew.
Ordinarily, they would have pestered him, insisting that they could not possibly leave Lord Abel behind. But perhaps because he had behaved so unusually today, no one made him repeat himself.
When Abel started walking again, Felix silently followed after him.
The two exchanged no words until they arrived at the annex that served as Abel’s residence.
“Lord Abel? You’ve returned already?”
The priest and holy knight guarding the annex greeted him in surprise, but Abel merely waved a hand, dismissing them as well.
As soon as he entered the bedroom, Felix followed him inside and shut the door behind them.
Abel casually loosened the cumbersome layers of clothing he was wearing and turned to look at Felix.
“Felix.”
There were three reasons Abel had left the banquet hall.
First, to escape the tedious gathering.
Second, to remove Felix from the center of attention.
And third, to properly hold Felix’s hand.
The first two had been accomplished the moment they left the hall.
Now only the last remained.
“Will you hold my hand again?”
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