“IT’S a surprise to see you here, Lady Florin.”
Pfft.
Sonata had always found Grand Duke Daniel Hexford a fascinating man.
“I didn’t want to be here, Your Grace,” Sonata said, smiling. “But your son owes me an apology for failing to keep the end of his bargain.”
She was free to talk that way because only she and the Grand Duke were left in their seats.
Grand Duchess Eleanor Hexford left her seat after the sermon.
“It seems like you and my son have an interesting relationship,” Grand Duke Daniel Hexford said before changing the topic. “Is this your first time attending a Worship Service led by the Saintess.”
“Yes, Your Grace. In fact, this is the first time I’ve seen Her Holiness up close.”
“Then why aren’t you lining up to receive the Saintess’ blessing?”
Right after the Saintess read a few passages from the Holy Book, the ceremony called ‘Blessing’ began. It was where the devotees would line up just to hold the Saintess’ hand and gently pressed the Artifact called ‘Avari’s Blood’ (aka the Holy Ring) against their foreheads.
The ‘Avari Blood’ was a gold ring with an oval-shaped red gemstone in the middle. It looked like a ruby gem, but brighter and sturdier. It was also filled with a decent amount of pure divine power.
Apparently, the red gemstone was literally made by freezing Goddess Avari’s blood.
Only the rightful Saintess could wear the Holy Ring.
There were countless people who had claimed to have awakened as a Saintess tried to wear the Holy Ring, only for them to get burned to ashes as if receiving divine punishment from Goddess Avari.
Hence, the moment Francine– the current Saintess– wore the Holy Ring and nothing happened, the entire continent celebrated the birth of the new Saintess that appeared after two hundred years.
[Receiving a blessing from such a person… is it really a big deal?]
“I just think there are more people who need to receive the Saintess’ blessing than I do,” Sonata said carefully. “And, to be frank, I don’t pray to Goddess Avari. It would hurt my conscience to receive something from a divine being I’m not a fan of.”
The Grand Duke turned to her with a shocked look on his face, then he laughed softly.
Oho?
The stoic and cold-hearted Grand Duke knew how to laugh?
[Fascinating.]
Sonata wasn’t the only one who was startled by the strange ‘phenomenon.’
Some of the nobles around them looked at the Grand Duke in disbelief, and that included Diether and Grand Duchess Eleanor.
The mother-and-son duo was talking behind the Saintess then.
But Diether and the Grand Duchess quickly turned their gazes away from the Grand Duke.
Oh, dear.
[It seems like Lord Diether and Her Grace really hate the Grand Duke.]
“You and I really think alike, Lady Florin.”
“Excuse me, Your Grace?”
Of course, she was just acting like she was offended by the comparison.
The Grand Duke raised an eyebrow at her teasing. Although he already stopped laughing, his face was still bright. Brighter than usual, at least. Hence, he didn’t look intimidating at the moment.
“If it weren’t for my wife and son, you would never see me here,” the Grand Duke said. “Having said that, it would be in your best interest to never antagonize the Saintess– especially not in front of her devotees. I’m sure you were being careful when you were talking to Diether earlier. But there are people here who can read lips like I do.”
Ah, the Grand Duke must be talking about what Sonata said to Diether earlier: [“I just had this impression that only rich nobles who donate a lot to the temple have the privilege to meet the Saintess during a Sunday Worship Service. After all, it’s so hard for the lower nobles like me and the common people to see the Saintess.”]
Yes, that was her being sarcastic.
“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Saintess is more popular than Goddess Avari now. Moreover, my son treasures the Saintess as the younger sister he never had,” Grand Duke Daniel Hexford said. “Hence, try not to get on the Saintess’ bad side.”
Well, that sounded like decent advice.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“I understand, Your Grace,” Sonata said, nodding politely. “I will be more careful from now on.”
***
“WHY DIDN’T you receive the blessing from the Saintess?”
“I just don’t believe I deserve it,” Sonata explained to Diether. “But thank you for caring about me, my lord.”
Diether just frowned at her words.
Anyway, the two of them were headed to the commander’s office.
Of course, it was in the vicinity of the Avari Temple.
The temple had been growing a lot over the past few years that she wouldn’t be surprised if it turned as grand as the Royal Palace.
[I bet His Majesty wouldn’t like that.]
Diether spoke, interrupting her thoughts. “I just thought it would be a waste not to receive the Saintess’ blessing since you were already there, Lady Florin.”
Sonata shrugged. “I hope the Saintess finds time to give her blessing to the people who need it most. I think the nobles who attend the Worship Service every Sunday have been blessed enough.”
Diether let out a sigh. “You don’t have to be sarcastic about it, Lady Florin. The Saintess also wishes to reach the poorest of the poor. But, unfortunately, she couldn’t act on her own. She’s still young, so the temple is being overprotective of her.”
She could tell that Diether was also being overprotective of the Saintess.
But she just couldn’t shut her mouth since she was annoyed.
[I’m sorry, Your Grace, for it turned out I cannot follow your advice earlier.]
“The Saintess is eighteen– she’s capable of making her own decisions,” Sonata said firmly. “And isn’t Her Holiness supposed to be the law in the temple?”
The commander clenched his jaws tight. “Lady Florin, even if the Saintess couldn’t personally meet the people from the lowest part of society, Her Holiness and the temple do everything we could to reach our hands out to them.”
“I guess you don’t see the people of the Red-light District as humans since they never received help from the temple or the kingdom.”
“Lady Florin–”
“If you can’t protect them, then at least leave them alone,” Sonata said, cutting Diether off. Then she stopped walking and faced the commander. She hated that she had to look up at him because he was taller, but she had to suck it up. “The temple knights you disciplined for harassing Madam Margo and the other girls have sent out a request to different guilds. They wanted the madam and the girls kidnapped and sold off to slave traders.”
Diether’s eyes widened in shock. “What? I admit that those kids lack manners, but I don’t think they’re capable of doing something as horrible as what you accuse them of.”
Of course, she was practically a stranger to her, so he didn’t believe her right away.
She put her hand inside the pouch on her waist. It was a magic pouch that could store larger items inside.
Sonata pulled out the documents that Aubrey gave her earlier, then she handed them to Diether. “Here’s the contract that your cute little temple knights had signed with an infamous mercenary guild known for being money-hungry. It’s obvious that your adorable “kids” aren’t used to the ways of the underworld yet since they used their real names, and they even stamped the contract with their family seals.”
Diether immediately checked the documents, then he closed his eyes tight in disappointment. “Those bastards…”
“My people have already dealt with the mercenary guild that accepted the temple knights’ cruel request,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “You should punish your “kids” properly this time, Diether.”
“Are you going to kill them if I don’t?”
“I should be the last thing you should worry about, my lord,” she said sternly. “Don’t underestimate Madam Margo’s patrons. Do you think they’ll just sit back and watch after they learned some ignorant children tried to harm the Madam?”
“Is that a threat?”
“No, it’s a warning,” she said while shaking her head. “Although I’m pissed at what those foolish temple knights tried to do, I wouldn’t wish death upon them. After all, no harm was done this time. Hence, I’d like you to discipline them properly, Commander Hexford– help them realize their wrongdoings, and make them reflect on their actions.”
“…”
“This is the last chance I’m giving your “kids,” Commander,” she said when the commander remained silent. “The next time something like this happens again, they’ll die either at my hands or the patrons’.”
Diether let out a sigh. “I understand. Is this the only reason why you’re here?”
“Yes, and I already know my way out, so no need to send me off,” Sonata said, subtly ending the conversation. Then she slightly bowed her head to the commander. “I hope we don’t meet again for something like this, my lord.”
***
[I REALLY can’t marry Lady Florin– we just have different values.]
Diether thought to himself while staring at the documents on his table.
He couldn’t believe it, but those signed contracts that the temple knights that he disciplined really did something stupid as hiring mercenaries to harm the ladies of the Red-light District.
[If I don’t punish them, they will really die.]
Because Sonata Florin wasn’t kidding when she said the underworld worked differently.
“Ethan Tanner.”
“Yes, Commander?” Ethan Tanner, who already removed his helmet, combed his fingers through his light brown hair, stood in front of him. “What can I do for you?”
“Summon these ruffians,” Diether said, tapping his fingers on the table. “Now.”
The vice-commander gulped, his blue eyes looked hesitant. “May I know for what reason they’re being summoned, Commander? Are you going to lift their probation?”
“I’m going to take away their knighthood.”
Ethan gasped softly. “A Degradation?”
‘Degradation’ was the formal term for the removal of a knighthood. Usually, the honor of a knight could only be forfeited by the decision of His Majesty the King.
But the Avari and Temple Knights were under Diether’s complete control.
“Those kids may have committed a grave mistake, but removing their honor as a knight would ruin their future, Commander,” Ethan pleaded. “Please reconsider your decision.”
“No, I won’t,” Diether said firmly. “If I don’t do this much, they’ll die horribly, Ethan.”
***
SONATA coughed up blood.
She was about to sleep when the sudden urge to vomit hit her. Before she knew it, she was already coughing up blood. And that could only mean one thing.
[They’re near.]
And she was about to get caught.
“It looks like I have no choice but to marry Lord Diether as soon as possible,” Sonata whispered to herself. “Should I propose first?”
***
<“DIETHER, save me!”>
Celeste…?
Diether’s eyes widened in shock when, suddenly, the Celeste that he remembered was swallowed up by a giant black dragon. “No!” he yelled, reaching his hand to his wife. “Celeste!”
And then his hand grabbed nothing but air.
Before he knew it, he was already sitting up while gasping for air– beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Then the awful reality that it was nothing but a nightmare had finally hit him.
[Celeste… is still not here…]
But his wife could be in grave danger.
Celeste disappeared in Mount Ashira, and Mount Ashira was the resting place of the evil dragon that once terrorized the world.
His dream may not be just a dream– it could be a vision since he possessed divine power.
What if his wife was in danger and needed his help?
“I need to get to Mount Ashira the soonest,” Diether whispered to himself, clutching his chest tight. “I need to marry Lady Florin, no matter what.”