Chapter 57
Slowly, he turned his head and looked at Bishop Decimus with a smiling face.
“I’m not sure I follow.”
Bishop Decimus gulped hard. The Cardinal’s lips were curled in a smile, but his eyes were chilling.
“I asked… if Your Eminence told the Holy Father you wished to return to lay life because of that novice.”
“And why would you think that?”
“I—I had heard… that Your Eminence has been visiting the retreat convent rather frequently of late. I assumed it was to assess it for the next generation of candidates, since the Three Stars have newly risen…”
“And?”
Still smiling, Theodore gave a small nod as if encouraging him to go on. Since he wasn’t stopped, Bishop Decimus continued in a rush, as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
“I’ve heard there is one among the current generation who has not applied for laicization. There are also rumors… that Your Eminence summoned this novice to your office. Might it be that she — this person — has behaved improperly and clouded Your Eminence’s judgment? What other explanation could there be for you to even speak of such a blasphemous act as turning your back on God?”
“Well, well.”
Decimus should not have yet heard of Theodore’s confession about breaking his vow of chastity. With a venomous look, Theodore stepped closer to Bishop Decimus. As the Cardinal’s physique grew more reminiscent of a knight than a priest, Decimus couldn’t help but tense up. Theodore looked down at him with a slightly tilted gaze, muttering under his breath.
“Bishop Caleb, and now you, Bishop Decimus… You both seem to take a great deal of interest in me.”
“Well, of course. Your Eminence, you’ve always served the Cathedral with unwavering faith. Moreover… Your Eminence possesses the golden divine energy.”
“Ah, yes, indeed.”
Decimus believed his words would be music to Theodore’s ears. After all, everyone likes to be praised, and who would dislike such flattery?
“Who else but Your Eminence would be chosen to follow in Pope Clement’s footsteps? Should a mere novice from the convent dare to misbehave, she should be severely punished! You should not even speak of laicization! If you did, His Holiness, and even God the Father Himself, would surely forgive you…”
At that moment, a golden light seemed to tighten around Decimus’s throat.
“Odd,” Theodore muttered.
“Cough… Cough!”
“Even if I were to discuss laicization, the retreat convent is still under my jurisdiction. But who dares to discuss punishment without my approval?”
Without lifting a finger, Theodore pushed Bishop Decimus into the space between the columns. The bishop’s face turned pale as his feet left the ground.
“Isn’t that right, Bishop Decimus? You’ve likely forgotten, but your family’s misuse of donations, backed by the Holy Father’s trust, hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
“Ghh…”
“I trust you understand what I mean.”
It was a warning.
A warning that if Decimus touches the convent’s novices, Theodore would expose Decimus’s family’s misdeeds and punish the corrupt handling of sacred offerings. When Bishop Decimus nervously nodded in agreement, Theodore smiled in satisfaction. He casually gestured, and the golden light that had been constricting Decimus dispersed into the air.
“Then, I’ll go inside now. May the glory of the Father be upon you, Bishop Decimus.”
Turning his back on the coughing, choking Decimus, Theodore opened the bedroom door and stepped inside.
“Phew…”
Theodore ran his hand over the thick collar that tightly encircled his neck, taking a deep breath.
‘Now, all that’s left is to resolve the matter of the name.’
By nature of their vocation, priests were not allowed to have personal wealth, but Theodore owned shares in a trading company led by the Valentino family.
Since Duke Valentino had sacrificed his child to the Father’s will, the solution was that instead of paying a certain amount of money annually to the state church as a member of the nobility, Theodore, now a priest, would not receive the Valentino’s surname, but would instead be given a share in the merchant’s company.
On the surface, it appeared as though the Duke had sacrificed his beloved child for the prosperity of the state church, but the transaction had occurred after Theodore had been ordained a bishop. This had been a sign of reconciliation offered to him.
To now seek an apology and forgiveness for his childhood, which had been marred by imprisonment and abuse — it was a laughable form of penance. Yet, despite the absurdity, he hadn’t rejected it.
The only reason he did was because of Daphne.
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