Chapter 37
Abel had conveyed his intentions to Gregory, and the attention directed toward Felix had lessened as well.
The clergy focused on the benefits the Temple would gain from Abel’s growth—though beneath the surface, the subtle tension between the Pope’s faction and Abel’s faction continued as before. Everyone else, meanwhile, was preoccupied with their completely healed ailments and with how the Empire would respond to the Temple’s newfound growth.
As a result, almost no one had the leisure to gossip about what had happened between the Duke and Duchess and Felix at the banquet.
Things had unfolded exactly as Abel had wanted.
There was only one thing that had not gone according to Abel’s wishes: Felix had not reminded him of the Count’s name.
‘I asked him from my podium, so why didn’t he answer?’
Abel was certain Felix had heard him.
‘Even if he did answer, maybe I just couldn’t make it out?’
Abel did not possess the ability to read lips.
Even at close range, he would only be able to guess at best; from such a great distance, there was no way he could understand.
But then again, if that were true, how had Felix’s face alone remained so clear when everyone else’s had been indistinct?
‘Was it because I love Felix?’
Or was it because of divine power?
‘Then was it actually Felix who failed to understand my question?’
No, it seemed like he understood it…
That look of revulsion, along with the perfectly timed furrowing of his brow.
‘I’ll ask him.’
He could always ask why Felix was being so stubborn for once, or whether his promise to the Count was really that important.
‘No, that can’t be it.’
Abel had already offered a prayer for all the “Counts” on the continent. In one way or another, that meant he had kept his promise.
What Abel was curious about now was whether Felix had understood his question.
Normally, he would have asked long ago, but as soon as the prayer had ended, people had swarmed around them. All of the holy knights had been called away, and Abel himself had been summoned here and interrogated about his growth by those present, leaving him with no opportunity to talk.
Even today, before Felix had even reported for duty, Abel had been asked to attend this meeting and had been waiting for reports from the clergy dispatched throughout the Holy Land.
In other words, Abel had been sitting through this sort of conversation for two days now.
‘I’ve entertained them long enough.’
It should have served as a warning to Gregory as well.
Through this incident, Abel had made it unmistakably clear just how indispensable he was to the Temple.
Now that Abel had demonstrated his power to the entire continent, Gregory could never be the one to abandon him first.
The moment he tried, the one who would be cast aside would be Gregory himself.
There would never be another person who possessed divine power on Abel’s level, but a politically capable Pope of noble birth could be found in any number.
Abel stared straight at Gregory, who met his gaze with a smiling face.
‘What could he possibly be thinking beneath that smile?’
But this was as far as Abel intended to go in trying to read his intentions.
From now on, it would be Gregory’s burden to worry about and ponder what the other party was thinking.
Resting his chin on his hand, Abel asked in a disinterested tone,
“Everyone seems rather busy. May I take my leave now?”
Those who had been busy undermining and checking one another flinched at Abel’s words and immediately fell silent.
However, once they realized that Abel was not criticizing their behavior but was genuinely bored with the current situation and simply wanted to rest, they exchanged glances and nodded.
“Of course. You’ve worked hard.”
“You should take the rest of the day off and relax.”
“We’ll take care of everything and make sure none of the guests bother you.”
What they meant by “take care of everything” was, in effect, no different from saying they would extract whatever they wanted from those people.
There would be much to gain from those seeking a connection to Abel, those awed by his extraordinary abilities, and even those wary of him.
As always, it was a declaration that they intended to use Abel’s name to conduct various affairs.
Before returning to the past—or if he had never come to love Felix—Abel would have dismissed such words as insignificant.
But now, Abel loved Felix, and because he now had a weakness named Felix, he could not simply let the matter slide.
“Just keep it within reason.”
That did not mean he intended to actively interfere, however.
Meeting the eyes of each person staring at him in surprise, Abel continued.
“L-Lord Abel…?”
Watching the priests who seemed to doubt whether they had heard him correctly, Abel gave them a warning.
“I mean exactly what I said. It’s not as though I don’t have ears.”
Leaving behind the stunned priests, Abel walked out of the conference chamber.
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