Chapter 16

Five people emerged from the reception room.

A high-ranking cleric, three attendants who looked like his aides, and lastly the duke who escorted them out.

“It was an honor to meet you, Cardinal Andre.”

“You flatter me. His Holiness has taken great interest in the achievements of the Duke of Lombard. I expect to see even more glorious merit from you. May divine grace be upon you.”

After shaking hands with the duke, the cardinal offered me a polite bow.

I bent my knees lightly in return and waited for the entire group to leave.

Once the footsteps faded, I lifted my head.

“So the guest is leaving now. I thought they would stay at least two or three days.”

“His Holiness was only just elected. Cardinal Andre is His Holiness’s closest aide. He cannot remain away from the Great Cathedral for long.”

“Wonderful. Then I will take my leave as well.”

If the guests were gone, there was no reason for me to linger.

I was about to turn away when the duke addressed me.

“There is something important I must discuss. Please come in for a moment.”

“Do you have a cat allergy?”

“Fortunately, no.”

Tch.

I did not want to be alone with him, but too many eyes were watching, and I could not deny that I was curious. The matter clearly had something to do with the cardinal’s visit.

I followed him inside.

The duke guided me to the sofa and began the way I expected.

“The Great Cathedral will be sending someone here soon. They will remain in northern Lombard for a while, so I would like you to make the necessary preparations.”

“A very important guest, I assume?”

The duke nodded and handed me a letter instead of explaining.

For a moment I considered pretending I could not read, but it was too late to play dumb and frankly too bothersome. So I simply read it.

The content was simple.

Someone tasked with carrying out the pope’s duty would soon be dispatched to Lombard. During the entire stay, not even the slightest negligence was to be allowed.

After I set the letter down, the duke continued.

“So I would like to entrust the welcoming of the guest to you.”

“You want me to host the guest? Absolutely not.”

“As expected. It seems I overestimated your abilities.”

Expected? What was that supposed to mean.

…The old me would have snapped, but unfortunately the new me was no longer so desperate for outside validation.

Whatever.

“A shame. It could have been a good chance to leave a favorable impression on the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.”

“The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith?”

“I mean the Holy Office. The visitor is a direct investigator under the prefect.”

The prefect of the Holy Office was one of the highest authorities in the Great Cathedral, just behind the pope and the secretary of state.

But more importantly, the Holy Office was also known by another name.

The Inquisition.

“The Inquisition… I mean, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith sent someone all the way to Lombard? D-did someone commit heresy?”

“Who knows. Perhaps they received word that someone was possessed by a demon.”

“Haha, a demon. Even the word is scary. There is no such thing in the world, of course.”

Even as I spoke, my spine tingled.

If the head of the Inquisition sent someone personally, the report must have been extremely serious.

Or concerning someone so high-born that only the prefect himself could handle it.

Which meant—

‘Me, maybe?’

The moment I sensed mortal peril, my brain, which had been living too peacefully, began to spin violently.

I had to ensure the inquisitor did not hold even an ounce of suspicion. No, I had to prevent suspicion from even arising.

There was only one answer.

‘Move the inquisitor to tears with my devout faith.’

Use every method possible to touch the inquisitor’s heart and send him back to the Great Cathedral moved beyond belief.

If necessary, I would even shake the sacred circle made with my thumb and index finger…

“We cannot leave such an important guest solely in the hands of the staff. I will do it.”

“I knew you would excel.”

“Of course.”

Once I confirmed the task, the duke added lightly:

“The inquisitor may very well be coming for me.”

“…What?”

What was that supposed to mean.

Blinking at the unexpected remark, I found the duke unmoved.

“I caused a bit of an incident beyond the northern wall.”

“A, incident? What kind?”

“Are you curious? If you wish, I can tell you.”

The sharp light in his eyes sent a chill down my spine.

And unfortunately I possessed the timid heart of a baby goat.

I quickly looked away as if I was not curious at all. That was when my gaze landed on the refreshments the cardinal had not touched.

My stomach let out a loud growl.

‘Aagh.’

Skipping breakfast was the problem.

A normal gentleman would have pretended not to hear and gracefully overlooked it, but the duke was not the kind of man blessed with such consideration.

“I believe I heard something just now. Did you skip a meal?”

“…”

“I hear it again.”

“P, please consider a lady’s dignity.”

Yes, this was something the old me would never have allowed.

Except for the brief period after my parents died, when I lived like a corpse, I had always forced myself to eat no matter how painful chewing and swallowing felt.

No one would mourn my death, but plenty would mock it.

But now I was Elicia. My circumstances were not what they used to be. I no longer clung to food out of desperation.

It was nothing more than a memory.

Yet the duke’s expression warped strangely as he looked at me.

“It is quite late to have gone without eating. I never trained the servants so carelessly.”

“I simply had something to do.”

“What was it?”

“Must I report every trivial matter of mine to Your Grace?”

“So it is true. Who was it. Which servant.”

He did not actually care. If someone did not know his nature, or if they were the old Elicia, they would have misunderstood completely.

‘He must be annoyed one of the servants acted out of line.’

He always had a strict sense of discipline.

Too tired to think deeply, I said the first thing that came to mind.

“I am dieting. It is part of a noble lady’s basic etiquette.”

“Ah.”

The duke murmured diet and looked oddly troubled for once.

The sharpness in his gaze softened.

“A shame. I prefer women with fuller figures… ugh!”

I did not listen to the rest. I kicked the table immediately.

His nonsense about my taste had already irritated me beyond reason and my foot moved before my brain did.

The duke collapsed with a groan as his knee hit the table edge.

“Since you have the strength to talk, I suppose there is no need to worry about your injury.”

I glanced at the back of his hand.

I had heard that the investigation into Patrick’s corruption had begun, but nothing about whether the duke, who was hurt saving me, had received treatment. I had secretly felt guilty.

But seeing him spout nonsense, I realized my concern had been wasted.

He, however, seemed to take my words completely differently.

Looking a little startled, he whispered:

“Were you worried about me?”

“No.”

“You seemed to be concerned about my injury just now. Why…”

“It seems your hearing has worsened. You should see your physician.”

Just because I said physician did not mean I cared.

Still, the duke’s attitude loosened strangely.

Then, exactly like a clueless superior suggesting after-work drinks on a Friday evening, he continued:

“I have yet to eat as well. Since we must discuss the welcoming preparations, shall we dine together?”

“I will consider this snack as my meal.”

I snatched a dessert from the table.

The buttery sweetness of the madeleine hit my tongue in a luxurious rush.

I touched my forehead for a moment as dizzy pleasure washed over me, then quickly stuffed all the sweets into my mouth.

The duke propped his chin on his hand and openly watched me.

“You eat well. But did you not say you were dieting?”

“I will start tomorrow.”

“Hm.”

“What. Why. What? If you keep looking at me like that, the guest reception will not end peacefully.”

My subtle threat finally made him close his mouth. Even the mighty Duke of Lombard seemed wary of the inquisitor.

That ended our conversation.

I lifted Nero, who was purring on my lap, and stood up.

The duke rose at the same time and blocked the door a step ahead of me.

“I will inform Berthold. Use the budget freely.”

“Yes, then I will not hold back.”

“…”

“Do you have more to say?”

Standing face to face with the duke brought back a flood of old memories.

In the past, despite our vast difference in status, Edwin had disliked it whenever I bowed my head to him.

Disliked was an understatement. He would sternly refuse.

When I stood before him, my gaze always fell around this height.

His towering height near two meters, his broad shoulders, the casually loosened collar and the exposed line of his collarbone and chest.

‘There was a time.’

Once upon a time I had considered him the only friend I could share my heart with, a lord worthy of laying down my life for.

“…Then I shall go.”

Unable to endure the silence, I broke it myself.

I bent my knees lightly in farewell and reached for the doorknob he was blocking.

The duke added, as if something had just occurred to him:

“I prepared a small gift for you, since you are undertaking state affairs.”

“Hm?”

I stopped instinctively.

A gift from the duke… that would not be trivial.

I already had enough wealth to live comfortably for life, yet this was temptation. Human greed truly had no end.

The duke continued with a gentler expression:

“Unlike you, who insults my tastes, I always respect yours. Which means Baron Conte deserves some courtesy.”

“…?”

“I will promote him. I hope you accept it gladly.”

That bastard.

I will pluck out those rotten eyes one day.

* * *

“Master, what are you thinking.”

“Hm?”

Edwin looked up from the documents.

The elderly steward watched him with worry.

“It is about the duchess. You promoted Baron Conte, her closest aide, and now you have entrusted her with internal affairs.”

“To call that internal affairs when it is just guest reception. You exaggerate.”

“But…”

Berthold faltered, unable to continue.

Edwin knew what he wanted to ask.

Is it truly all right for Elicia, the daughter of the family’s sworn enemy, to gain control of Lombard’s domestic matters.

‘Worrier as always.’

Edwin let out a faint laugh and turned his gaze.

The spot where Elicia had been sitting caught his eye. The empty teacup and the cleanly cleared dessert plate.

A trivial sight, yet strangely hard to ignore.