Chapter 18

#018 The Young Noble is Suspicious (4)

"Today, we're going into the Sarnes manor, right?"

The boy nodded silently in response to my question.

Seadi, who had silently infiltrated my room on the first day, had been glaring at the leserpanda perched on the oak dresser for a while now.

I slowly sent ether to the boy through the circle and added another question.

"Wouldn't it be a big problem if we were discovered? What should I think if you don't come from tomorrow?"

Only then did Seadi turn his head towards me.

His orange eyes shone with confidence.

"If the new spirits detect the divine object at the manor, there won't be a need to meet you from tomorrow."

"So, that's easy for you, huh."

I scolded him.

This kid didn't seem to fear being caught or attacked by the Sarnes Duke's private soldiers when he went near the manor.

It was as if he already knew such things wouldn't happen.

"His Majesty is inviting external priests. Sir Elizabeth told me. Can't you just ask them?"

"......Did the Captain of the Royal Guard explain it that way?"

The boy's eyes narrowed. Sensing an interrogative atmosphere, I chose my words carefully.

"I asked if I had a plan to do that, and he said yes."

Seadi snorted.

Since the boy neither answered nor showed any signs of giving in, I looked at the leserpanda on the dresser instead.

When I offered a piece of peeled pomelo, the creature twitched its nose and slowly began to climb down to the carpet.

*Chirp!*

"Right."

The leserpanda approached me, its tail as plump as a hot dog.

It lightly sniffed the pomelo, then swallowed another piece and started gnawing enthusiastically.

It seemed to like the slightly bitter taste.

I couldn't help but smile as it planted a tiny mandrake flower under its feet.

"......What did you do to this thing?"

Seadi said this as he watched.

I couldn't understand what he meant, so I just met his gaze.

Under his dark, coal-black eyebrows, his eyes seemed a bit flustered.

"Spirits don't eat. Ether should be enough."

Oh...... Is that so.

"Seems like it eats when I give it something."

I answered honestly.

The small spirit, now on the carpet, paid no attention to our conversation and focused solely on the pomelo.

"Not all spirits are the same, I guess. This one seems to like eating."

"......"

"Is that why you were awake alone in the middle of the day?"

Since we sealed them with the same ether, if one of them woke up and wandered the garden, it must have been hungry.

Moreover, I heard this one was the smallest of the three spirits.

It was likely that it got less ether than the other two.

The leserpanda, having finished the pomelo, nuzzled my palm, clearly asking for more.

"Seadi, do you want some too?"

The boy simply ignored me.

Since I was already surprised by his attitude, I gave the leserpanda a few more pieces of pomelo.

For about ten minutes, Seadi absorbed my ether, and the leserpanda filled its belly with fruit.

"What if these spirits can't detect the divine object near the manor? What then?"

"Then we'll have to hear the duke's explanation."

This was a statement considering the possibility that the divine object, 'Blessing of the Sea,' might not be in Sarnes.

Seadi's eyes were resolute.

He often exuded an authoritative aura that was rare for a child his age.

His manner of speaking was like something out of a novel, and he might truly be a precious young noble.

"It's time to go."

By now, tiny golden particles, smaller than a fingernail, were beginning to rise from the boy's body.

The floating ether spheres always looked magical.

Whenever they appeared, Seadi would get up as if unplugging a fully charged phone.

"I hope things go well, so we don't have to meet again."

As I followed the kid to the balcony, I said.

It was naturally better for a child to avoid wandering around at night.

Seadi, despite wearing a large robe, nimbly climbed onto the railing.

The leserpanda, sensing the departure, waddled over.

"......Aren't you going to the Spring Ball?"

"Yeah, I'll be busy with confession. But I still got an invitation."

I chuckled and gently rubbed between the leserpanda's ears.

Seadi looked at me for a moment, then extended his left arm into the air.

Is he going to the Spring Ball too?

*Snap!*

A spark ignited with the sound of his fingers snapping.

My thoughts vanished in an instant.

I looked up at the boy's fingertips.

"You......"

A flame, the same color as the boy's orange eyes, burned in the size of a fist between his thumb and index finger.

This was the first time I saw Seadi's ability, and it might be the last.

Enraptured by the mesmerizing sight, I stood there speechless.

*Chirp!*

The leserpanda reacted first.

It stood on its hind legs, wobbled a bit, and grabbed the railing with its front paws.

Without any command from Seadi, thick branches sprouted from the creature's feet.

It seemed that compatibility meant this.

"Is the fire element stronger than the earth element?"

"Looks like it."

The boy seemed a little pleased.

I couldn't tell if he was happy because he was stronger than the leserpanda or just enjoyed using his ability.

"Alright."

*Chirp!*

Before I could say more, Seadi threw himself off the balcony.

The reddish flame and golden ether particles cut through the night air and disappeared into the distance.

Looking down, I saw the leserpanda had already gone to the first floor.

The newly sprouted leaves, empowered by ether, were swaying.

"What a grand farewell."

I muttered.

The cute leserpanda and the less cute but handsome kid left Juliette Palace like that.

*

Four days later.

As I was escorted by Ganael out of the Imperial Palace, Bengazam was waiting outside.

"Your Highness, during your absence from Juliette Palace, the Duchess of Sarnes, Isabelle de Sarnes, formally requested an audience."

"Really?"

I paused as I was about to get into the carriage.

Today, I had a morning tutoring session with Cardinal Aurelia Bute.

She usually treated me harshly, practicing 'action over theory,' but after I was worn out, she treated me to a luxurious lunch.

While I shuddered at the gap between the carrot and the stick, the Duchess had apparently requested a private meeting.

"So, what did you say?"

"Since she wanted to meet you this afternoon, I replied that your schedule was full. Many people know you are at the Imperial Palace, so I couldn't use the excuse of being unwell. I apologize."

"It's fine, you did well."

I waved it off.

If the prince who looked healthy this morning suddenly claimed to be sick, it would be seen as a lie. Bengazam must have come up with a more plausible reason.

Ganael pouted.

"It wouldn't have been strange to just refuse. Requesting an audience with the prince on the same morning is rude."

"Forget it, Ganael."

Since I wasn't going to meet her anyway, what did it matter? I smiled and swallowed my words.

I was a bit surprised that the letter asking for a meeting was sincere, not just a formality.

"We're heading to the temple, Your Highness."

Before closing the carriage door, the palace driver bowed and announced our destination.

I nodded and looked out the window.

The afternoon spring sun was blinding.

The vast palace grounds were adorned with colorful flowers and trees, looking exceptionally beautiful.

Everywhere I looked, people were busy preparing for the Spring Ball the day after tomorrow.

There was no place that wasn't bustling with activity.

Some people carrying furniture wrapped in white cloth bowed when they saw our carriage.

As I nodded in return, I thought,

"Is he safe?"

"Your Highness, we have arrived at the temple."

Ganael's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

The carriage stopped, and the driver quickly opened the door.

*

"We'll wait in the priest's room."

"Good luck, Your Highness!"

Ganael handed me a picnic basket and smiled brightly.

He recovered quickly from his earlier frown about the spirits not coming.

I waved to the two of them and opened the door to the confessional.

After hanging a 'Confession Available' sign at the entrance and sitting in the soft chair, the surroundings finally grew quiet.

I realized this was my new routine.

A wise hostage life, having abandoned the role of a secondary male lead.

"Still not fixed, huh."

I laughed bitterly, looking at the cut-off string on the left and the hole in the wooden panel on the right.

I understood why the carpenters were busy with the Spring Ball preparations.

*Creak......*

Then, a sinister sound crept into my ears.

It wasn't the sound of the main door or the priest's room door opening.

A faint noise from the back of the temple. I instinctively held my breath.

*Tap, tap, tap......*

It was a steady, light sound of footsteps, neither slow nor fast.

The person was walking confidently from the back of the temple towards my confessional.

Who would enter through the back door?

Images of Bengazam, Ganael, Sir Elizabeth, the Cardinal, and the guards at the entrance flashed through my mind.

But it didn't seem to be any of them.

*Tap.*

It was creepy. The footsteps had stopped in front of my confessional.

Without hesitation, I activated the circle.

*Click.*

I flinched.

The door of the adjacent booth opened, and a shadow entered the penitent's seat.

Embarrassment washed over me like a tidal wave.

"Welcome, believer. When was your last confession?"

I opened aggressively.

I wanted to make it clear that I opened the sanctuary not out of fear but for confession.

"I didn't come for confession."

Then, a clear woman's voice echoed in the confessional. My heart sank for no reason.

It was a voice that would stick in anyone's ears, a charming resonance.

"I heard my mother's request for an audience was refused. I came to ask you again for a private meeting."

"......"

I saw her remove the hood from her head.

The world seemed to slow down.

I finally cursed the palace carpenters for not fixing the wooden panel.

Through the clear gap, I saw her profile.

Lush, wavy pink hair. Sharp, gray eyes.

It was Cristel de Sarnes.