Chapter 106 - The Temple Of Azraelle II

"Don't worry about it, Vanessa. We'll try to do something, but then there is a problem," paused Emelia, putting her hand under her chin. "We cannot involve ourselves with the temple. As agreed with a signed contract," Emelia knew much about the relationship between them.

"I am aware of that. The Princess doesn't need to help me. I'll find a way to earn more money," Vanessa clenched her fist. She knew asking for help won't save her.

"No, even if we're not supposed to. I'll find a way to do so," Emelia said.

Once Vanessa calmed herself down, she left the office to finish the leftover tasks she needed to do. While Emelia stayed inside her office, reading the files, Zed gave her the other night. Her lips curled into a smile, seeing similar cases like Vanessa's.

The target of the temple is families who don't earn as much. They offer them an amount of money for them to start their own business. But there is a twist. If they don't pay the amount of money within the set time, one of their family members will be held captive. And those who are lured into their so-called "teachings" are mostly their believers.

"This only happens once a year," Emelia reads the last sentence written on the paper. And to think the year had one month left before the new year. Such a coincidence.

Emelia placed the paper on the table, stood up from her chair then walks to the next-door office. She didn't bother knocking and enters the office as if it was hers. Emelia was greeted by Elliot with a smile, who dismisses the servant he was talking to earlier.

"What brings you here?" Elliot asked Emelia, placing his hands on the desk.

"Did you know about Vanessa's issue?" asked Emelia while Elliot chuckles and nods his head.

"I do, and I assume you just learned about this?" Elliot crossed his arms, and his lips formed a straight line, neither smile nor frowning.

"And why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" Emelia asked in a stern tone.

Elliot stares at Emelia in silence. The first reason becomes he knew Emelia will do something with him knowing. Second, he wanted to be the one to do deal with the temple. It's not her job to deal with them but his. The last reason is that he wants to take revenge against them.

"I have no reason to tell you. Since eventually, you will find out about this matter," answered Elliot while she looked at him, unsatisfied with his answer. Elliot stood up and turns her back, looking at the window behind him, "I'll warn you now. Not to dig deeper into the grave. I have my own reasons, and I wish for you to respect it."

This wasn't like him to tell her not to get into his way. This isn't the first time Elliot was pushing here away. Every time there are matters related to him, he tells Emelia not to do anything and watches him do it on his own. It's unacceptable, but she wanted to respect it too. But this is a different case. She's not going to back out this time.

"I'm afraid I cannot respect you this time," disagreed Emelia, reaching for the doorknob. She didn't look at him rather didn't want to and said, "This time, you'll have to bring me with you. Just like what you always tell me…you're not alone."

Emelia turned the doorknob and walks out of the office. As she opens the doorknob, she was greeted by Air and behind him stood a familiar figure. 

Broad shoulders, tall, and platinum blonde hair just like hers. She didn't know what made her run towards her father and give him a hug. But she was sure she felt a heavy feeling in her chest. It wasn't the first time talking to Elliot like that, but it just so happened.

The servants present looked away from them, seeing Duke Louis glaring at them. He wanted to surprise Emelia after not seeing each other for a long time, but it looks like it didn't work. As an absent father, he didn't know how to comfort her. Just like father and daughter, if it was Alia Beaumont. She would have taken of this easily.

"What's wrong?" Duke Louis asked Emelia and awkwardly places his hand on her head. Was he doing the right thing? He didn't know either. Emelia didn't respond, putting Duke Louis in a difficult situation. He suggested, "Do you want to continue in your office?"

Emelia releases her father and nods her head. She entered the office first and followed Duke Louis. When they settled down, Duke Louis asked, "Is there a matter? Did something happen?"

"I don't know. When I saw you, I just wanted to give you a hug," Emelia shook her head, looking down at her fingers.

"You don't need to tell me. To be honest with you, I don't really know how to comfort a person. I never really comforted except for your mother," awkwardly laughed Duke Louis, and so did Emelia, who chuckles, seeing the flustered expression on her father's face.

"You're doing fine," said Emelia. "I don't really know how to comfort a person too."

After a short silence, Duke Louis came to a conclusion and asked, "Did His Imperial Majesty say something to you?" Emelia nods her head. This isn't like her at all. Sometimes she hates it when her feelings grow unsure. Usually, the answers are within her head.

"His Imperial Majesty doesn't like it when others involve himself with a case he wants to deal with. And when he acts like that, it means it's related to his parents. The late emperor and the late empress."

Now, as Emelia thought about it, her father is making sense. But isn't better to have someone help than deal it alone? Emelia asked herself, and her father said, "I am no in a position to say this, but I wish for you to help him."