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nChapter 135

nProofreader: somnium

nAlphonse took a step forward. He was so large and well-armed that he alone was threatening.

n“Then I will go in by myself and see Her Grace.”

n“Are you saying that the temple is forcefully holding Marchioness Rosan right now?”

n“I am not saying that the temple is imprisoning Her Grace.”

nAlphonse said without much thought.

nHowever, the priests, who did not know the circumstances, were stirred up. Because the connection between the word confinement and Evron Grand Duchy raised suspicions.

nIf Grand Duchess Evron is here to voluntarily repent, wouldn’t it be a good idea to show up for a moment and reassure the knights.

nOf course, Bishop Akim couldn’t let that happen.

nHe had already heard reports that Artizea had fainted. Showing her in her present state to the knights proved that she was in captivity. There is also a witness which was her lady-in-waiting.

nHe had no idea how the hell he knew and ran here so fast. Bishop Akim in his heart cursed the priests who were monitoring Artizea.

nIt means either he was absurdly late to report to him, or that he didn’t stop any news from coming out.

nHe had to stop them for now. In the meantime, he was planning to move Artizea and Hayley to another place first.

nNegotiations must be made with Artizea. That stupid Knights of Evron must have been spreading rumors all over the place by now. Then there is agitation in the temple.

nMorale was on the rise among the low-ranking priests. They are united internally and externally and follow the heresy inquisitor. He couldn’t ruin the atmosphere.

nAbove all else, resigning from this will damage his authority.

n“Stand down.”

n“This is my last apology, Bishop. After this, it will not be a request.”

nAlphonse slowly placed his left hand on the hilt.

nThat wasn’t a sign that he was going to draw his sword right away. He confirmed that he was armed.

nHowever, following him, the knights all at once touched the hilt.

nShudder-.

nEven though not a single handle had been pulled, the sound of iron rubbing reverberated through the air.

nLike a battlefield, there was a whirlwind of momentum that was about to explode.

nThe priests took a breath. There were also those who took a step backwards. Because they knew that Alphonse was serious about attacking.

nBut Bishop Akim was not cowardly enough to succumb to force. He straightened his body and shouted arrogantly.

n“The Lord must be a faithful person. Do you know what this sacred temple is doing!”

nBut the word returned to him the other direction.

nCedric appeared from behind the knights. Even the Archbishop was with Cedric.

n“That is something I would like to ask, Bishop Akim. Why should the escort knight I commanded to guard my wife have to do this?”

nCedric said.

n“Hey, Akim!”

nThe Archbishop raised his voice. Bishop Akim gasped with nervousness.

n“Archbishop, this is, how… … .”

n“Your Grace!”

nAlphonse was startled and bowed his head.

nHe was completely unaware that Cedric had arrived in the capital. Even though the knights opened the way, they could not hide their surprise.

nWhen the priests saw the Archbishop, they in unison bent one knee and bowed down.

nCedric spoke again to Bishop Akim in a cold voice.

n“If my knights claims that my wife is imprisoned here aren’t true, then there’s no reason to stop them like this, Bishop.”

n“Grand Duke Evron…….”

nBishop Akim groaned.

nHow is Cedric here? This made no sense.

nThere was no way that Cedric could have kept an eye on the trends while working in Evron Grand Duchy.

nEven so, due to the news of the war at the Thold Gate, Grand Duke Roygar’s intelligence network was operating at its maximum capacity.

nNot only Grand Duke Roygar, but also the Emperor’s information network and Lawrence’s information network moved. The target groups also wanted to know the situation in the north.

nBecause the war moved supplies at an unprecedentedly large scale for political reasons.

nDozens of carrier pigeons flew almost every day. As the sea cleared up, even the businesses set up a small group and headed north.

nBishop Akim also sent a letter to the priests to inquire about the news.

nHowever, the news from any source was all similar.

nThe Karam troops gathered in front of the Thold Gate did not disband despite two clashes and losses. The army was gradually replenishing, and now the number has increased to 25,000.

nEven during the war, Karam would climb north of the road when the weather got warmer.

nThis time, however, they settled down within the reach of the bombardment.

nThis was, in fact, an intentionally falsified information leak to blind Karam from negotiating.

nBut Bishop Akim had no reason to doubt the information gathered from multiple sources.

nBishop Akim knew that the sea route had been opened a few weeks ago.

nBut they were still at war. There was no way Cedric could clear the Thold Gate.

nWhy is Cedric here?

nThis would break all preconditions.

nThe conspiracy to drive Artizea into treason is established under the condition that Cedric would accept Grand Duke Roygar’s compensation plan.

nEverything had to be done while he concentrated on the work of the northern border.

nWhen he found out after it had already become unavoidable, Cedric would admit that he was better off being rewarded for the sake of his wife.

nBut Bishop Akim realized just now that Cedric was a man who would never negotiate over his family.

nCedric spoke again.

n“Would you like to stop me even if I wanted to go in?”

nBishop Akim looked at the Archbishop.

nThe Archbishop beckoned to open the way. The priests opened the way by moving left and right like the sea splitting without waiting for Bishop Akim’s command.

nCedric strode inside. The knights followed.

n***

nHayley was stamping her feet nervously at the commotion outside.

nAnyway, the most important thing was the doctor. However, the confused priests did not seem to know what to do first.

nThree unknown priests came in with a stretcher. Hayley jumped up and put her hands on her pocket.

nThis is because the priests approached Artizea first without even a greeting as they entered.

n“Stop right there. What about the doctor?”

nHayley asked.

n“He will come soon.”

nOne priest answered dryly. It was as if all of his nerves had been turned outward.

nHayley felt ominous and stood between him and Artizea.

n“The doctor? Where are you going to take Her Grace?”

n“First of all, I will take her to a comfortable room. The doctor will come over there.”

n“Don’t touch Her Grace’s body.”

nHayley spoke quickly and put her hand on her pocket.

nNot only these three priests, but other priests were seen moving outside.

nAmong the many people, not one came to look after Artizea or to bring necessary items for the person who had collapsed in panic.

nA priest turned and approached Hayley as if he knew this.

n“We’re running out of time.”

nHayley knew that they were doing it to subdue her in case of emergency.

nThe rush does not mean Artizea’s condition, but it would mean that they must be moved to another place quickly.

nHayley took her gun out of her pocket.

n“Gasp.”

n“Oh my.”

nThe three priests stopped at the same time. Hayley couldn’t hide the trembling of her hands.

n“Don’t come near me.”

n“Don’t do this, Lady Jordyn.”

n“I’m neither a soldier nor a knight, so I can’t shoot well, priest. I don’t want to create an accident.”

nShe should have brought the bullets, Hayley thought, no matter how bad she shot. One shot would have been enough for her.

nIf she fires a single shot into the air to announce her location as well as a threat, Alphonse will run to her even if he has to break the door.

nHer shoulder was terribly sore from her bluffing.

nThe priests hesitated. Bishop Akim’s order was solemn. However, they were not adept at using force enough to rush at a person with the gun and subdue her at once.

n“You can’t do this, Lady.”

n“If the priests can honestly tell me what’s going on outside, I’ll be happy to follow you.”

nHayley said.

nIt was just a moment of confrontation. The noise of the people talking disappeared, and the sound of footsteps scattered here and there.

nThump, thump. And the heavy footsteps of the knights were heard. Hayley took a breath so that her shoulders went up and down.

nCedric was the first to enter the small prayer room.

n“Grand Duke…… !”

nShe never thought he would come here himself. Hayley half-shouted, threw her gun away, and knelt on the floor.

nThe three priests couldn’t even run away and went back and forth in confusion. The knights rushed in in an instant and grabbed the three of them.

nCedric went over to Artizea’s side without saying anything and knelt down on one of his knees.

nThen he put his hand lightly on her cheek. Her face was as pale as a dead person, and her body temperature was cold.

nHe carefully put his hands on Artizea’s back and under her knees and held her up.

nArtizea didn’t seem to have obeyed any of his orders.

nShe did get a little heavier. But her complexion seemed worse than before.

n“Your Grace.”

n“I’ll hear from you later, Hayley.”

n“They are attempted kidnappers.”

nHayley crawled her words out. It was about the three priests who were captured by the knights.

nCedric slowly turned his head to look at Bishop Akim. Bishop Akim took a half-step back. He didn’t mean to, but he was so overwhelmed under the pressure.

nCedric looked at the Archbishop this time.

nHe saw the knights depart from the mansion, and heard a brief explanation from Ansgar. And instead of immediately following the Knights, he went to the Archbishop’s residence.

nNo matter what happened, accompanying the Archbishop was the mildest way to deal with the situation.

nHe thought Artizea would want that too. He didn’t know exactly what was going on in the temple. However, Artizea herself seldom reveals the way she embellished her works.

nAnd he regretted thinking that way.

nThe way back was only about twenty minutes. Still, for as long as that time, Artizea was lying on this cold stone floor.

nHad it not been for Hayley with the gun, it is possible that she would have been moved.

nThe Knights ran out, but it was foolish to think of a moderate solution.

n“I think I have served the temple well enough, Archbishop.”

nThe Archbishop made a perplexed face. He was dyed red down to the bottom of his neck, but his expression barely maintained his composure.

n“I’m sorry, Cedric. I heard that the Grand Duchess was staying, but they said she was praying voluntarily…….”

n“You must have known that my wife was weak. If you did not know, her lady-in-waiting would have known.”

n“I have nothing to say.”

nThe Archbishop bowed his head.

nT

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nI know a lot of readers are wondering about the bun in the oven, everything will be answered in the next chapter!

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