NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32
“……!”
Eirene quickly hid her body.
Fortunately, it seemed Rayfield had not noticed her.
“We’re not here to trouble you. We just want to check if someone is here, so it would be nice if you could cooperate quickly.”
It was Iggon’s role to confront the man instead of the flustered Sister Director.
“That’s a problem. Even if it’s the Emperor’s order, is it acceptable to touch the monastery like this without any notice?”
“Come on. Do you think this is the Magnificent Era, or are you seriously saying this?”
“I’m serious. And I’ve heard the Emperor is currently in hiding. You mentioned a royal decree, but I’d like to ask whose command you’ve come here under.”
Knock, knock.
Eirene, with her hand on her chest, sat down right there.
Please, let this heartbeat not leak out.
“Yeah. You spoke well. It’s the Emperor.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve received information that the dethroned Emperor is hiding here.”
“……!”
“So, I’m just saying I’d like to do a brief search. I’m not here to set the monastery on fire, so why are you being so difficult? The less you cooperate, the more suspicious it looks.”
At that moment, as Iggon passed by Rayfield.
“The moment you step into the monastery—”
“?”
“From the moment you step into the monastery without permission, the newly crowned Emperor can be considered an enemy of the Guoden Church and the Saint. Wouldn’t that be acceptable?”
Rayfield’s previously unmoving expression finally cracked as he glared at Iggon.
Iggon did not look away. Instead, he stared back even more steadily and repeated that word once more.
“The Guoden Church’s cathedral and monastery are all territories of God, and they exist under the management of the Saint, who is chosen by God. To rummage through this place without the Saint’s approval can only be seen as a challenge to the Guoden Church. Or—”
Thud, thud.
Iggon, clearly a head taller than Rayfield, looked down at him and spoke.
“Have you received permission from the Saint? If you have, then I will cooperate.”
“……Hah!”
Rayfield turned his head and sighed as if annoyed.
Religious figure or not, mumbling the same words.
Iggon simply stared at him without biting the provocation.
“Well, let’s just say I’ll get the Saint’s permission. I suppose I need to bring her along.”
“That would be fine, if it’s possible.”
“The constant nitpicking……!”
Rayfield, who had shown anger for a moment, calmed down faster than expected.
“Ha…… Listen, Priest. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if you are really hiding the Emperor, you’re thinking far too wrongly. Do you think bringing that abandoned woman along will restore the Guoden Church as the state religion? A new era is coming soon, you know?”
“…….”
“Yes. A new era. When an age of new order and new discipline arrives, both you and the dethroned Emperor will become nothing more than relics of the old era, flowing away.”
As Rayfield said this, he placed a hand on Iggon’s shoulder—
“I’ll be back today. If you want to continue the legacy of the Guoden Church under that new order, you better think carefully.”
Only after confirming that Rayfield had left with his soldiers—
‘…….’
Thud.
With his legs giving way, he slumped down.
What? A new order? What does that even mean?
I could brush off the incomprehensible statements, but the most despairing reality was—
—That I had been discovered to be here.
* * *
“…….”
“Thank you, Sister Director.”
On the table was a late dinner.
The menu was ordinary. Rye bread, dried herring, and pickled vegetables, the usual fare.
Eirene liked dinner. After a day of hard labor, nothing made her feel more alive than tearing into bread.
However, today, she couldn’t bring herself to eat anything.
“Well then, I’ll excuse myself first, brother.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
After the Sister Director said her goodbyes, she left.
Was that her own way of showing consideration?
“Come on, eat. Lady Linashita.”
“…….”
Iggon continued with his meal in silence.
He didn’t ask why she wasn’t eating, just as usual.
The sound of cutlery clinking against the plate filled the quiet space.
And it was Eirene who broke this silence.
“Earlier…….”
“Don’t worry. The Saint is a very wise person. Just because they demand something recklessly doesn’t mean she’ll give in.”
“That’s not it…….”
Eirene’s trembling voice contrasted sharply with Iggon’s calm tone.
And—
“I believe.”
“Uh……?”
“I believe in Lady Linashita. No matter what happens.”
“…….”
The words ‘I believe’ pierced through her heart once again.
But with the situation being what it was…… she couldn’t remain lost in a dream forever.
“……Iggon. I have something to tell you.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“I’ve deceived you.”
At her words, Iggon’s hand, which had been moving the cutlery, stopped.
Unable to meet his eyes, Eirene slightly lowered her head and continued.
“I am not Linashita. My name is Eirene von Einsberg. I was the dethroned Emperor just days ago.”
“You believed in me, but I could not believe in you. Therefore, I used an alias. I don’t know if I even believe in you now. If I had trusted you even a little, I would have conveyed the truth long ago, don’t you think?”
Right.
Someone who cannot trust anyone wouldn’t be able to trust God.
She was merely playing house while dressed as a nun…… she couldn’t escape her fate.
“I know well about the situation of the Guoden Church. I know the Saint has appeared, but…… once the power struggle officially begins, the imperial forces won’t lose. You and Iggon, you know that too well. The Saint might even be put in danger. Between the dethroned Emperor and the Saint chosen by God, who do you think is more important—”
—Surely, someone like you as a religious figure would have no trouble choosing, right?
“So, I’m going to leave. Living as a woman who doesn’t believe in God while wearing a nun’s robe is not enjoyable at all. Moreover, even as a dethroned Emperor, they won’t be able to execute me immediately. I’m so used to keeping my life preserved while dealing with such people, so you don’t have to worry.”
Just a little more.
Just a little more.
Deceiving people without genuinely treating them was her specialty.
She had never once revealed her true thoughts in front of others. She had always worn the necessary masks and interacted with people.
It had been a truly lonely life, but inversely, because she trusted no one, she wouldn’t be hurt or disappointed. She thought such a lonely life suited her well.
“I owe you a debt. I won’t forget this grace. Even if everything works out and I am restored to the throne…… even if that doesn’t happen, I will definitely repay you.”
“Rayfield said he would return today. I will join him and leave this place then. I will express my gratitude for your kindness.”
……That’s enough.
Iggon was a smart person, so he would understand with just this much.
He was a devout priest. He wouldn’t turn a blind eye to the Saint being in danger.
Eirene didn’t want the Saint to be in trouble either. Iggon would surely be sad. That faithful man might even blame himself.
So…… this will be alright.
At that moment.
“……!!”
Iggon’s hand brushed against Eirene’s eyes.
“Iggon…… wh-what are you—”
“Don’t cry, Lady Linashita.”
“Uh……?”
Only then.
Eirene realized she was crying.
“If you’re crying like this, how could I possibly hand you over to those people?”
“N-no, that’s not…….”
“And—”
Eirene, flustered, sprang to her feet before hearing all of Iggon’s words.
“Lady Eirene……!”
“I-I’m sorry! I don’t want to talk any more. Until they come back, please don’t look for me! So……!”
—Tatatatatata……
As Eirene raced through the monastery’s hallway, her heartbeat filled her mind.
Thump, thump. It felt like it might burst out at any moment.
And that voice. The voice she had heard in front of the portrait——believe in God.
Just believe. Just trust a little, that unknown voice that sounded familiar…….
Amidst the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind, what she most didn’t want to acknowledge was—
‘……!’
The moment she became aware of that fact.
Eirene, clutching her heart that felt like it could burst again, could only run away.