The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 104

A priest aggressively confronted Amber, pushing for an answer.

Betty, with a stern expression, stepped forward and spread her arms wide.

“She is the Mistress of the North. Show some respect!”

“You dare block my path, you mere servant?”

“I am indeed just a servant, but at this moment, I am the closest attendant to the Grand Duchess of the North. Also, do not raise your voice in front of the Mistress of the North.”

Sending Nora away and keeping Betty by her side had been a wise choice. Nora might have reacted too emotionally, but Betty was different.

It’s common for subordinates to step up in such situations. There was no need for Amber to speak directly.

Unless a high priest showed up, it wasn’t worth Amber lowering her own status to deal with petty squabbles of lesser individuals.

‘By now, the commotion must have reached the ears of the knights.’

The gardener who was nearby had disappeared—no doubt to spread the word—so Amber just had to wait.

“Right, you said your name was Iona, didn’t you? Tell us what just happened here.”

“We are here to help.”

“You can trust us. We only wish to protect those who are vulnerable.”

The priests gave Iona looks that urged her to go along with their version of events. It was absurd.

Are their goals really just like this…. For two women fighting over one man? It was both repulsive and disappointing.

The intent was transparent, making Amber even more disgusted.

Initially, she hadn’t wanted to know or understand Iona’s situation, but now it seemed different.

Observing the situation, it appeared that Iona wasn’t colluding with them.

“I…”

Under the pressure, Iona’s lips quivered as she began to speak.

But just before Iona could continue.

“Mongrels barking in the wrong yard.”

Boom!

As if the earth itself shook, someone dropped from the sky.

As the dust settled, everyone recognized the situation.

It was the Grand Duke.

Infuriated, Igmeyer had slammed his spear into the ground, stepping on a priest’s chest with one foot.

“Can’t believe they just yap away, stepping right into the lion’s den.”

Igmeyer said with a fierce flash in his red eyes. The priests, seeing his enraged state, tried to retreat but found themselves surrounded.

“Let go of me!”

“How dare you treat a guest of the church like this!”

“You will anger God with this behavior!”

Fearing for their lives, the priests quickly shifted their focus away from Iona. This allowed Amber to see Iona’s true position once again.

‘A passive being, merely obeying commands.’

Philosophers say one must lead an active life, becoming the master of one’s own fate.

One of Amber’s favorite philosophers had said: “Humans exist, but do not truly live.”

In other words, simply being born and existing isn’t enough. One must live according to their own will to truly ‘exist.’

Having been educated in philosophy from a young age, Amber had always strived to truly exist, but after arriving in Niflheim, she felt she was just existing.

If not for those past experiences, she might not have understood such passivity, but now she empathized deeply with Iona and wanted to help her.

“To barge into someone’s home, steal their resources, and then threaten the Mistress of the house with fabricated scenarios… You’ve got the nerve, I’ll give you that.”

“Ah, aaagh!”

Crunch.

The ribs of the priest who had spoken against Amber earlier finally broke. His agonizing scream echoed, and soon his white robe was stained with blood, but Amber did not look away.

Rather… she didn’t look away from Iona.

‘She’s smiling.’

It seemed like she was trying to hide it, but her lips were curling up.

Perhaps thinking no one was watching, the meaning behind that smile was blatantly obvious.

Good.

Iona mouthed something mocking the priest.

Having witnessed this, Amber decided she might trust this woman.

‘If she did that knowing I was watching, then Iona is far more formidable than I thought.’

Despite the turmoil, Amber decided to trust the flower ring on her finger.

Even if faith led to betrayal, she wouldn’t regret it. It was her choice to trust.

“I should have been more cautious, Amber. When I sent Raphael elsewhere, I should have assigned another knight for close protection.”

The knights had bound the entire group of priests. Even then, Igmeyer still looked unsatisfied, his jaw clenched as he turned to Amber with an apologetic look.

Amber shook her head firmly in response.

“No, it’s not your fault. How could we have anticipated such absurdity in our own home?”

Indeed, she couldn’t have known.

Inside the very walls where they lived, in the garden where she walked every day—it was unimaginable.