Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Min-ha let out a short sigh as his back moved away little by little, revealing the regretful expression she had hidden in her heart. Gazing at him from the spot, even though Seth was already far away, she only turned around when he was no longer visible.

Then, the attendants and maids who were still waiting by her side came to her side and started talking to her.

“Did you have a safe trip, Madam?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Are you very tired? I left the bath water warm.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“Shall we move all your belongings to the bedroom in the annex first?”

“Yes, please.”

“Are you hungry, Madam? Shall we prepare a quick snack to ease your hunger before dinner?”

“Oh, no. I’m not… Give all my share to Noah.”

“I see.”

When she answered the questions one by one, the attendants and ladies-in-waiting moved in unison.

Among the busy attendants and ladies-in-waiting, she found two familiar women standing quietly, looking at her. It was Ella and Mrs. Wanda. Min-ha, seeing their faces for the first time in a while, approached them hurriedly.

“Ella! How have you been?”

“I’m good, Madam. Are you okay? I heard that something big happened at Loengram Castle.”

“What? Oh, it’s okay. It’s nothing.”

“…If that’s the case, I’m glad.”

“Haha. By the way, Wanda! Hasn’t anything happened in the meantime?”

“Of course, except for being bored with nothing to do in my spare time since the Madam wasn’t around.”

“Oh, wasn’t it comfortable because there was no one bothering you?”

“How could that be? It’s my pleasure to sew and have a small chat with you.”

“Thank you for thinking that way. Even if I bother you again tomorrow, please take good care of me.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Sister! Sister-in-law…!”

Min-ha, who was talking to the two, turned her eyes to Noah’s voice calling her.

From the side of the mansion, she could see him running with something in both hands, followed by Percival and the attendants. Min-ha smiled and spread her arms toward the running child. At the same time, Noah ran quickly and hugged her while being buried in her dress.

Meanwhile, Percival hurriedly approached the two of them and greeted Min-ha politely. He sighed as he saw Noah holding the hem of her dress tightly.

“Young Master Noah, let go of your hand. You should show your dignity as the younger brother of the Duke of Persen.”

“Ugh, I hate that!”

“And, if you touch the Duchess’s dress with her hand after eating chocolate, it’ll stain her dress. Now, hurry up.”

“No! Percival always nags!”

“…Ha. Young Master Noah.”

“Haha. It’s all right, Sir Percival. Let him be. It’s a dress, so we can just wash it later. Hup! Shall I wipe my face, Noah?”

Laughing out loud, Min-ha held the child’s body up as he was hanging from the hem of her dress.

Noah, who had chocolate on his hands and around his mouth, clung to her neck with a smile. As she smiled and wiped his face and hands with the hem of her sleeve, Percival quickly took a handkerchief out of his pocket and held it out.

“Thank you, Sir Percival.”

“…Duchess, it’s not good to blindly pamper Young Master Noah.”

“I’m sorry, but please cut him so slack. When Noah does something really wrong, I’ll also say something harsh.”

“Ha… You promised.”

“Haha. Yes, I promise.”

“Sister-in-law, are you going to scold me?”

“Huh? No? Why am I scolding our Noah?”

Seeing Noah sticking out his lips, Min-ha smiled and denied it as if the child was startled by her words of scolding him. When Noah smiled brightly, Percival glanced at the two of them as if he couldn’t help it before smiling resignedly though he didn’t give further admonishment.

“Madam. Let’s go to the separate building and share the conversation afterwards. Go and relax in the bath water and change your clothes first.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you, Ella.”

“Then, I’ll take care of Young Master Noah.”

“No…! I’m going to hug sister!”

“Not yet, Sir Percival. Please, just a little longer.”

“Then, I’ll prepare clothes for the Madam to change into while you’re taking a bath.”

“Thank you, Wanda.”

After slightly bowing her head, Wanda and Ella led her toward her annex, and Min-ha followed them with Noah in her arms.

It was only then did she finally feel like she was in her comfortable place while chatting with people around her, including Noah in her arms. Her feelings were light, unlike someone who had just returned from a long trip.

‘I’ll have to wash up, rest, and wait for Seth to come back.’

Min-ha quickened her steps with a relaxed expression.

Wanting to spend more leisurely time with his wife, Seth strode and climbed up the stairs without stopping before entering the eastern annex building and opening the door to the office. Lancelot, Gawin, and Gareth were already waiting for him in the office as they greeted him as soon as he entered.

After greeting them back, Seth sat down in the high chair attached to the desk in the office.

“Here it is, Your Excellency.”

Lancelot came over to him and held out a letter he was holding in his hand as Seth glanced around at the letter’s white envelope with a long turquoise cross drawn on it.

“Is this from Sir Gallahed? Sir Lancelot, have you opened the letter?”

“Yes, Your Excellency. Neither the seal of the letter nor the paper inside showed any signs of anything suspicious.”

“Did you get the letter directly from Sir Gallahed, Sir Gareth?”

“No. As you know, it’s not publicly known that Sir Gallahed is the cousin of Sir Lancelot. Because of that, I received it through another paladin.”

“Is there any possibility that it might be fabricated?”

“There is none. It’s unmistakably Sir Gallahed’s handwriting.”

“…I see.”

Seth nodded slightly as he listened to Lancelot and Gareth’s report. He then took out the letter from the envelope and held it, and he began to read the letter with a little stiff face.

What was written in the letter? Inside the office, only Lancelot knew what it was, so the rest of the knights stared at Seth nervously. Whether or not he knew the hearts of the knights, Seth still read Gallahed’s multi-page correspondence with a stern expression on his face.

Eventually, as he put down the last page, Gwain asked as if urging him.

“What did Sir Gallahed send you?”

“The Vatican’s verdict on my divorce is due tomorrow at noon.”

“Yes, is it really? Which way? …As the Duchess said last time, is the Captain on the verge of a divorce?”

“No, just the opposite. They said the ruling was to dismiss my divorce application.”

At Gawin’s question, Seth smiled slightly as he put the letter down. The next moment, the faces of the knights in the office finally brightened.

Lancelot, who was the first to know this, approached Seth and said with a smile.

“Congratulations, Your Excellency.”

“…I didn’t expect to be congratulated for this. It’s a strange feeling.”

“Oh. Even though you said that, you’re still smiling. Are you happy, Captain? The corner of your mouth is about to pierce the sky right now.”

“I’m happy, but I’m a little bit offended by what you said.”

“Haha. Don’t be angry on this good day, Captain. Good things are good, right?”

“By the way, is it really true that this letter was written by Sir Gallahed?”

Lancelot replied with a serious expression to Seth, who was happy with the congratulations of the following knights, but doubtful of the unresolved anxiety.

“Of course, Your Grace. There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize his handwriting.”

“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that part. Who but a wizard or witch would dare pry on the Vatican’s matter?”

“That’s right. If they’re not afraid of God’s curse, they wouldn’t dare to do such a thing.”

“I know… Still, I can’t completely put my mind at ease. As you all know, there’s Grand Duchess Blaine’s father, High Priest of Resitia, in the Vatican. If it were him before, I wouldn’t have been particularly concerned about his power… Though now that the Grand Duchess has won His Majesty’s favour and her children have been formally recognized, the possibility that the Minister of Resitia might move the forces inside the Vatican to do something cannot be ignored at all.”

“Indeed, that’s true.”

“I don’t think so, Your Excellency.”

“Why are you so sure?”

At his words, the knights nodded with serious expressions. However, only Lancelot among them denied his words with a slight smile. When Seth asked, narrowing his brows, he pointed to the letter on the desk and replied.

“Sir Gallahed’s letter a moment ago said, ‘The verdict is complete’.”

“…But?”

“The ruling written by the Vatican is completed when the secretary of the Vatican collects the will of the high priests and writes it, and then the five high priests gather and sign it… Also, do you know what’s written at the bottom of the judgment?”

“What does it say?”

“It’s written that, ‘Whosoever touches this sacred judgment, executed on behalf of God, shall be cursed to be erased from God’s book of life.’ In other words, it means that if you arbitrarily try to change the decision made by the High Priest without any convincing reason, it will be erased from God’s life book.”

“Does that mean they’ll be cursed?”

“Similar but different. In addition to being excommunicated from the Vatican, the person who touched the judgment and their descendants would never be able to rise to the position of priest again.”

“I see… If that happens, not only will they not only be dishonored as the High Priest of Resitia, but in the worst case, they may lose even the power they currently enjoy.”

“That’s right. The reason why Grand Duchess Blaine was able to approach His Majesty and win his favor was because she was the daughter of the High Priest. As the High Priest of Resitia, he wouldn’t dare to threaten the authority of her daughter, even if the authority he currently enjoys would be a waste.”

In the end, although Seth nodded at Lancelot’s explanation, he still had a bothered expression. It was because he thought that Rupert, who, just a few days ago, had tried to meet Min-ha somehow, would back down so easily.

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