Chapter 34
Eiden looked at Anafi with disdain and clicked his tongue.
“Do you think she did all that on her own?”
“…”
“She was nothing. A saint? What is that, anyway? Just a woman who hid behind her followers and blabbered.”
“You mean someone was manipulating the saint? Who would do such a thing? A saint is a revered figure…”
“Yes. I need to find them.”
“But that won’t bring the Empress back.”
Anafi looked at Eiden with pity.
He vividly remembered how much Eiden had wailed upon hearing of his beautiful and kind mother’s death.
“Anafi, this is also for me.”
“For you, Your Majesty?”
“Do you think they’ll leave me alone?”
“Who would dare to harm Your Majesty!”
“Why do you think so?”
His lips twisted coldly as he spoke.
“Because I’m not a pure Immortel.”
“That’s…”
“They’re just waiting to pounce on me for that. They’re silent now only because there’s no one else to replace me.”
“Soon, they will realize that you are the true…”
“Enough. I have no intention of looking good in front of such people. Anyway, my mother would prefer it here. She often visited during her life.”
“…Understood.”
Anafi forcibly swallowed what he wanted to argue.
After one last look at the grave, Eiden turned and walked towards Andre, who was grazing nearby.
“Your Majesty.”
Eiden ignored Anafi’s call and grabbed Andre’s reins.
“How is your body?”
“…”
“Did you have any abnormal reactions when you killed the beasts?”
“…I’m still fine.”
Crack. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the reins. Eiden, with his back turned, fixed his gaze on the ground.
Anafi frowned. Unable to see Eiden’s face, he couldn’t tell if he was truly alright.
Anafi stepped towards him.
Before he could get closer, Eiden turned around.
“I can still control it. Don’t worry.”
His expression was hidden behind the mask, but Anafi could feel his instability. Yet, contrary to his worry, Eiden’s eyes were eerily calm.
“It will be alright in the future.”
Anafi was puzzled by the added comment.
His condition was only worsening, not improving.
As long as Eiden kept killing beasts, he would lose control of himself. And if that continued, who knew what terrible things might happen…
“That came on its own accord.”
Eiden laughed.
For a moment, Anafi stared blankly at his pure smile.
He hadn’t seen such a boyish, bright smile since the death of Empress Adel.
🍡🍡🍡
Chirp. Chirp.
“Ugh, I can’t sleep…”
Claire buried her face in her pillow and kicked her feet restlessly.
It seemed like all the birds in the vicinity had gathered at her window.
Otherwise, it couldn’t be this noisy.
Unable to bear it any longer, she lifted her head abruptly.
“I’m going to turn these birds into a roast!”
Claire rushed to the window and energetically lifted it open.
Flutter, flutter.
The birds on the windowsill scattered in surprise. However, they didn’t go far and started chirping while watching her from the branches.
“Tss, haaa.”
Claire deeply inhaled the fresh morning air.
The damp scent of the forest and the crisp air intermingled strangely.
“Eish! Since I can’t sleep anymore, maybe I should go for a walk.”
After stretching, Claire washed her face with the water Hannah had prepared and left the room.
A thick fog had spread around the monastery, puffing up in size.
Squish, squish. Claire walked on the dew-laden grass.
Following this path would lead to a small pond. The pond, densely covered with broad lily pads, was a beautiful sight.
“It’s still the same.”
As Claire walked around the pond, she looked around.
The buildings may have aged over time, but the forest surrounding the monastery had grown richer.
“Lady Alicia.”
It was when Claire was lost in her memories. Someone called her.
She turned around to see Anafi, the abbot, standing there with a friendly smile.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Thanks to you, I slept well.”
She didn’t mention that the bird sounds kept her awake. She didn’t want to cause unnecessary worry.
“Did you? I woke up early because of the bird sounds. I’ve never heard them this loud before and wondered if something had happened.”
As Anafi said this, she lifted his head and looked towards the main building of the monastery.
Specifically, towards the end room on the second floor where she had been staying.
“I was worried you might have woken up early because of the bird sounds too.”
Claire followed Anafi’s gaze to the room she had just left. Then, something occurred to her.
“About the room I’m staying in…”
“No, is something wrong? Were you cold at night? If so, I can arrange for a brazier with charcoal to be prepared for tonight. It will warm up the bed…”
“No, no! It’s not about that.”
Claire hurriedly waved her hands in distress.
“I was just curious about the previous occupant of the room.”
“…”
“Their monastic robes and personal belongings were still there. If they had to move rooms because of me, I wanted to say thank you.”
At first, she thought the monastery had been too busy to clear out the previous occupant’s belongings.
But on second thought, it seemed like they had hurriedly vacated the room to accommodate the emperor’s party, which concerned her.
“Ah.”
Anafi let out a soft sigh. A late realization crossed his face.
“Now that I think about it, that room was…”
Anafi couldn’t continue and wore a melancholic expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“It was the room of a monk I held in high regard. Oh dear, I haven’t cleared it out yet.”
Anafi muttered the last part, turning his gaze away.
Her wrinkled face showed a mix of embarrassment and difficulty.
The monastery promoted a modest and frugal lifestyle. All items were communal, used appropriately, and conserved as much as possible.
But leaving communal items in the room like that?
It could only mean they were preserving the memory of the monk who used them.
In other words, Anafi had a special regard for that monk and deliberately didn’t clear the room.
“Did they… pass away?”
It was clear they must have died.
At her question, Anafi’s eyes widened, then she burst into laughter and shook her head.
“No, it’s not like that.”
“Sorry, I thought they had passed away because you looked upset.”
“Not dead, but a very promising monk indeed.”
Anafi gazed at the pond as he continued.
“Despite his young age, he had strong faith and was highly respected. He was intelligent, too. People really followed him.”
A gentle smile formed on Anafi’s lips, as if recalling the monk.
“He could have been my successor. Had he stayed, he probably would have become the abbot.”
“Where are they now…”
Ding, dang. The sudden ringing of bells interrupted him.
“Oh, it’s already this time.”
Caught up in the conversation, Claire also snapped back to reality.
“Lady Alicia, it’s unfortunate. I wanted to talk more.”
“It’s the bell for the service,” Claire mumbled, feeling disappointed.
“How did you know that?”
Anafi’s surprised gaze fell on her.
“That, well…”
Oops. She had let slip something she should have been cautious about revealing.
“I heard you were traveling for the first time. Surely, this must be your first visit to a monastery too.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
What should I do now?
In the monastery, the bell rings three times a day.
At 6 AM, noon, and 6 PM.
When the bells rang, the monks would pause their activities to pray and meditate.
It also signaled the start of the liturgy in the chapel.
As someone who wasn’t a follower of El, it was problematic that she had let on that she knew this.
“It seems you are quite familiar with the meaning of those bells.”
Anafi twitched his white eyebrows, scrutinizing Claire, who was visibly flustered. She then squinted, as if trying to recall something.
“Now that I think about it, Lady…”
As Claire, busy racking her brain to avoid Anafi’s suspicious gaze, finally came up with a suitable response.
“A book! I read it in a book!”
“…A book?”
“Yes! I am quite fond of books. When lying in bed, the only thing I can do is read.”
“Now that you mention it, the Duke did say something like that. He mentioned his sister has been frail since childhood.”
“I was frequently ill.”
Claire lowered her eyelashes to appear as pitiable as possible.
“So, you knew from reading. Hmm.”
Anafi still looked slightly puzzled, tilting her head.
“You should go now.”
“Would you like to attend?”
“Me?”
“Don’t you want to see in person what you’ve read about in books?”
Her ears perked up.
She had wanted to see it very much. She had attended every liturgy during her time in the monastery and longed to experience it again.
But…
“Thank you for the invitation, but being from Grizmen…”
She swallowed her disappointment and politely declined.
“I understand. It’s not easy to attend religious ceremonies of a different faith. I was being presumptuous.”
“I appreciate your offer.”
“Will you be returning to your room, Lady Alicia?”