Chapter 4.4

“Count Ian Cipris’ hand is healed. White Bunny also assured me that there was nothing to worry about. Perhaps, because the count is young, he quickly became lively.”

Ian bowed his head.

“Your Highness, I’m so ashamed. You covered up what happened due to my foolish judgment, with Ms. Bennett’s help.”

“Stop talking about the past and let me take a look at your hand.”

Ian took off his gloves and showed Conrad his fine hands. After checking, the prince smiled satisfyingly and clapped his hands to bring out refreshments.

A plate full of crepes and pickled fruits with thinly spread cream, accompanied by sweet chocolate drinks that could only be eaten in the imperial family, that Elsia really liked, came out. Forgetting that this was a serious audience, she smiled like an immature child.

“Wow, it looks delicious!”

“…Elsia!”

When Ian warned with a small voice, she closed her lips and looked around. Then, Conrad chuckled.

“Haha, you two must have gotten close after spending a winter and autumn together. Calling by first-name basis.

“We’re friends.”

“Is that so? Well, since you’ve checked how the two are doing, you’ve completed the primary task. Thank you, Ms. Bennett.”

“Yes.”

Her eyes were immersed into a chocolate cup and a small piece of marshmallow that rose on it. At this moment, the delicious snacks were much lovelier than Ian. Knowing how sweet chocolate drinks taste, Elsia drank the cold drink happily.

She was the only one who fully enjoyed the sweetness of the tip of her tongue. The two men were only focusing on the serious conversation. Over time, Ian repeated what he had said yesterday in front of the crown prince.

“Your highness, even though my hands are healed, I have not been able to pay back all the sins I had in the past.”

“Ian.”

“I don’t think it’s a good thing for me to return anywhere easily after the uproar. Please allow me to devote myself to work for His Majesty the Crown Prince and the Empire, either as a regular knight or as a soldier.”

Conrad stared still at Ian, who insisted on starting from the bottom.

Just because Elsia healed his hand, Conrad didn’t expect him to return quickly. He just believed in her cheerfulness and outstanding abilities, thinking she could convince him someday. The results were beyond expectations. Of course, he could not neglect Ian thoroughly, and he had to raise him into a sharp blade to keep someone in check. More so, when something unpleasant had happened.

“…… Certainly, you are still my knight, but the title you had as the commander of the Holy Knights was greater.”

“Just because that happened yesterday does not mean that we have to fight with Lord Nessian for the position.”

“Of course I trust you. I have no intention of pushing you back into the church when you dedicate your life to me. Your place to return is next to me.”

At Conrad’s sincere words, Ian slightly bowed his head.

“Your highness cares about me, so I don’t know what to do.”

“Then stop being shy and get to the point, Count Cypris. As of today, will you return as an Imperial Knight? Your original position before being a commander?”

’Umm, Ian was originally on good terms with His Highness the Crown Prince.’

Elsia, who did not know Ian well before taking over as commander, listened to the conversation between the two as she was not told that she wasn’t allowed to listen.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Then let me give you your first mission. It may be a little uncomfortable for you, but I don’t see any knights to ask, so I’ll ask you.”

“I am ready to receive your orders”

“I will give you a letter. Deliver it to Vanir Church secretly. No one other than the high priest should open the letter, make your way through the night.”

A thumping sound was heard on Elsia’s heart, which was happy due to chocolate.

To Vanir Church? The place where Kayla, whom Ian loved so much, stayed for a long time? Just when Ian finally overcomes those wounds and walks a different path. The name alone reminds him of the saint, isn’t this too cruel?

‘Sir Seiran said it was a dangerous secret, so his Highness may not know. Still… How can I stop this? Ian is a knight, so he can’t refuse. Oh, Elsia! Use your brain!’

“I received your orders.”

Unexpectedly, Ian answered immediately. Surprised, Elsia looked at Ian, but no shadow of sadness came to his face. The man’s expression was just calm.

“In addition to that…”

“Yes.”

Conrad looked at Elsia, who was distracted, and said.

“Go with Miss Bennett for the time being until I give her a separate order. Make sure she is present when you hand the letter.”

“Can’t I go to the temple by myself? I’m worried that Ms. Bennett is moving too much on an overly strict schedule.”

When Ian raised an objection, Conrad presented a letter prepared in advance.

“Aren’t you curious about what’s inside?”

“The knight only obeys the lord’s order and should not question it.”

“It contains the story about Miss Elsia Bennett.”

“Yes…?”

Ian’s eyes, which tried to persuade Conrad only for theoretical reasons, shook in an instant. When her name suddenly popped up, Elsia was also startled. Conrad explained his goal earnestly.

“In fact, Sir Nessian visited me the other day. Ian, what do you think he asked me for? He asked me to send Miss Elsia Bennett to the Tyr temple, saying she would make her a symbolic being, no different from the saint of Tyr church.”

“What?”

“At first he asked to let her go, but Ms Bennett’s healing technique would be used to dazzle the masses’ eyes. Wouldn’t she be able to attract more believers like this?”

“Good riddance. Did he really say that?”

Hearing absurd remarks even though he was in front of Conrad, Ian’s expression was distorted indescribably. Of course, he knew that Elsia’s puppet skills are great, but Ian did not want her outstanding abilities to be forced under the name of beliefs or obligations just as Conrad has said.

“It seems that he didn’t give up on that useless ambition and dared to drag Miss Bennett out of the downtown area in broad daylight even though I clearly refused his proposal. Just because the saint of the Vanir Church died, should another church do such a thing?”

“Your Highness.”

Ian was surprised at himself for not being shaken at all even after hearing from someone else that Kayla had died. It was unimaginable when he was stuck in Eusley Castle and spent his life drinking alcohol.

“The order about delivering a letter was to inform Vanir Church about the uneasy future. However, no matter how urgent this is, I am worried about Ms. Bennett’s safety so please leave in two days’ time. Do not forget that your mission includes protecting Ms. Bennett from Sir Nessian’s grasp.”

“Yes, your highness.”

Ian left the audience room with Elsia. She was dumbfounded with the story but she was soon worried about Ian. This case involved her being a proxy saint for Tyr church. However, a knight’s duty cannot be postponed.

He remained silent and asked quietly in the carriage back to Ceylon House.

“Elsia, why do you look at me like that? Light will pour out of your eyes soon.”

“Are you okay?”

Ian, who knows that there are countless implications in her words, laughed bitterly.

“If it’s not okay, I shouldn’t have agreed to it. I want to protect you more seriously than the letter. Let’s please return to the marquis’ villa in peace.”

“Ian, it’s not too late, let’s go back……!”

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“…Elsia.”

“What?”

The inside of the wagon was gradually darkening due to the sunset. Elsia could not see Ian’s expression in detail.

“A knight’s job is to accept orders unconditionally. If you are weak, you can’t do something you can never overcome. That’s my destiny. I… I don’t want to repeat the same mistake as before.”

“…….”

“I know you’re worried about me, thank you so much. However, it is not enough to give up the mission because of that. Just because I’m going to the temple, doesn’t mean I would immediately have seizures. It’s not just about the temple, I’ll do my task properly… Even if I have to take Leviathan back to the entrance of Jotunheim.”

“Will it be okay?”

Elsia asked seriously.

“If I collapsed just because I went to Vanir Church, my highness wouldn’t have entrusted me with the mission. And you heard it too, right? I don’t want to be in any conflict with Sir Nessian. However, we can’t let him be because he offended you and his highness. Furthermore, the circumstances lead me to doing it.”

“……I see.”

Ian pointed out his personal letter in his arms and thought in a small voice.

“I had to go there at least once anyway. Even though I was in charge of their precious saint, I didn’t take her back. I’ve committed a deep sin there, so I’ll go and beg for forgiveness in person.…. My apology has been too late.”

The more Elsia was with him, the more pitiful Ian was… He was the one who was most hurt by Saint Kayla’s death. However, he’s forced to apologize everywhere!

During the two-day rest at the house, the marquis’ wife came once. As she was alone, she blatantly took care of Ian. Ian’s expression was distorted remarkably when he took out steamed chicken soaked in jelly, which he often ate when he was young, and steamed vegetables sliced and kneaded.

Elsia deliberately pretended not to know about his discomfort until the day of their mission. Ian, who came out without notifying his destination at the order of the crown prince, reached out to Elsia.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

“Elsia, you said you’ve been to Tyr temple, right?”

Elsia fumbled over the bad old days.

“Yes. It’s my first time at the Vanir temple, but I’ve been to the Tyr temple when White Bunny revealed his healing abilities. Is there any etiquette that I should follow in Vanir temple?”

An empty sigh escaped from Ian’s lips.

“Huh? That can’t be. ….I’ve never gone into the Vanir temple either since Ian was only the head of the Holy Knights of the Tyr Church. Approaching the temple as a regular person was taboo. It was rare for people to enter the deep halls.”

“That’s quite true.”

“I see.”

If that’s the case, how can friendship build between them? She was curious but didn’t want to know by digging about it. She felt like it was a fascinating Pandora’s box. Just because she was curious, she couldn’t ask Ian about the past.

Arriving at Vanir Temple, they were guided along a narrow secret passage to the place where the High Priest was waiting.

The old priest sat in a chair and closed his eyes making Ian remember how he broke his promise about caring for the saint. Ian, who faced the high priest for the first time in a long time, put his hand on his chest and paid tribute.

“It has been a while, High priest.”

“Oh… I didn’t expect to see you again, Sir Ian Cypris.…. Welcome.”

When the saint was alive, The high priest had a white beard, but he was upright and confident. His complexion was rapidly haggard in just a few years. On top of that, the movement was very uncomfortable because of the bent shoulders, so it seemed like he would die soon.

“You don’t have to get up to greet it.”

“Heh, it’s okay. Sir Cypris. If you don’t move your body just because you’re old, you’ll be in trouble.…. Also, thank you for coming back safely.”

“This is Miss Elsia Bennett. First of all, let’s confirm the letter’s contents.”

“If you don’t mind, will you open the seal for me? I’ve been losing my grip lately, hahaha.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Ian opened the seal himself and handed Conrad’s personal letter for the high priest, who was exhausted. Throughout reading the letter, they were worried that he would faint because he was furious, but it was raining. It luckily didn’t happen and there was no need to summon white bunny.

His Holiness put the finished letter in an envelope and smiled kindly.

“This happened, then……. This is the lady talked about in the letter?”

“Yes…”

He blessed Elsia with his wrinkled hand, tapping her on the back of her hand.

“Goddess Vanir will make the light shine and fear disappear in the road ahead of Miss Elsia Bennett. Those who try to threaten others in vain will be expelled from justice, so don’t worry about your fragile body, child of the goddess.”

“Thank you.”

“Is there any answer to the letter?”

The high priest straightened his back and spoke clearly.

“No. It’s funny to raise objections in advance. Sir Nessian is still the commander. If the number of priests who cultivate sacred power to save all the people increases, shouldn’t we be happy?”

“But…”

“Sir Cypris, our denomination was not established to quarrel with someone. From the beginning… The ideology was like that. Tyr was in charge of the world tree, Goddess Vanir was not involved in the birth of life. Instead, they gave us something else to do. The role of taking care of all the creatures and comforting them in peace, a small yet important mission, is our job.”

Although he is not very interested in mythical stories, Elsia secretly focused, perhaps because it was the story from a wise priest.

“Your Holiness…”

“If Sir Nessian tries to force Miss Elsia Bennett, she can hide it here at any time. I can do that much. I will tell all the priests below me. I hope you understand my answer. Please send my regards to the Crown Prince.”

Ian glanced at the high priest, who had aged in less than five years.

“Your Holiness, you’ve become old.”

“I’m old, huh? haha. That’s right. I’m old…… When I was young, I was drunk on the vain desire to revive the Vanir Church and increase believers. All those foolish dreams……. It was only after I lost my saint, who was always like a granddaughter, that I realized it was useless. Ideology? Cause? It wasn’t more than a person’s only life. Even now, when I close my eyes, I can see her asking me to fill the dining room with water to play.….”

“…….”

Ian couldn’t bear to respond. I just wanted to hit the person who had promised to take care of the saint but came back alone to survive.

The high priest had a lonely smile on his wrinkled face.

“I think I’m tired, too. Instead, I said he wanted to quit this position and rest, but everyone didn’t listen to me. Maybe I’m going to work until the day I die, haha.”

Ian hesitated and handed over an old apology.

“I’m sorry, the Saint……. I couldn’t bring her here…….”

“Oh, Sir Cypris. Do not apologize for the death of the saint. It was a fate that we humans could not help and the saint herself made the choice. Keep her righteous sacrifice in your heart and don’t be in pain every day, just…….”

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His Holiness glanced at the statue located in the center of the secret room.

“It should be enough that sometimes, someone will remember that she had made a noble choice. We have suffered with her death, so I sincerely hope you live your life for your own, Ian….We who live on earth are all precious children of the gods and goddess. May your life be protected sincerely by both gods.”

END OF EPISODE 15

Tl Notes: I updated several chapters for you to enjoy and well, get frustrated with. There are several more but I’ll post it after my exam. Haha no summer break, just summer class for me and my Pr Val T-T. I miss translating, school has been keeping me quite busy and I even have a sideline because money is a necessity, to add, wifi is a problem here too :'{. I update slow. With the almost three month long hiatus, I did not expect anyone to comment saying thank you for the update and opinions about the chapter content a few minutes or hours after posting.

It makes me very happy and motivated to continue {3. I cannot express how thankful I am, and I hope you are showered with blessings and happiness wherever you are reader-nim.