“There’s just a reason. As an aide, please just watch over it and stop me appropriately.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I will stop you firmly.”
Scarlett said confidently. It was reassuring, but at the same time, it felt uncomfortable.
Is it to the point that I’m being excessively good to him in the eyes of others?
The butler, who had gone to dismiss the attendant, returned.
The butler, with a nervous face, brought me new news.
“The priest has visited and requested an audience. I have guided him to the parlor for now.”
He came right away?
‘Hey, no way.’
It must be a different priest.
I asked the butler, “Is it… an older male priest?”
“Yes, he is a male priest. He looked to be about my age.”
It’s him.
The priest from yesterday. I sighed.
To come as soon as it’s morning—there is definitely something going on.
“I’ll go.”
I’ll go as planned. I will watch him, and when he becomes a threat, I will report him.
He went away yesterday asking to meet Lucas, so he must have come today to ask to meet him again.
What should I try to get in return?
I went to the parlor.
The priest was biting his nails with an anxious face, and when he saw me, he jumped up.
“You asked to see me. Do you have something to say?”
I walked leisurely and sat down across from him.
Pretending to be indifferent, I didn’t even look at the priest’s face and watched the attendant pour tea into the teacup.
I wanted to show openly that I was not the one in a hurry.
Perhaps my intention worked, as the priest suddenly took something out and placed it on the table.
It was a pouch of gold coins. Instead of asking what he meant, I stared at it intently.
The priest said, “I will return the money. In exchange, I want to meet the slave I saw yesterday.”
“My slave?”
“Yes. It doesn’t have to be just the two of us. If an attendant or a knight needs to be present, I will follow that.”
What kind of relationship do they have?
Why was he waiting for me so anxiously, and why is he trying this hard to meet him?
Since I’m curious, should I poke him a little?
“Well. My slave is still asleep because he is tired from serving me last night.”
I lied to test him.
If I served him and saved him with divine power, and then made him serve as a bedroom slave immediately—how would he react?
The priest’s face turned pale. He picked up the teacup with trembling hands, but couldn’t drink it and set it down.
“Count. I want to check his condition. Could you let me see him just once?”
He now lowered his posture and spoke humbly.
When I didn’t answer and just looked at him, he went a step further.
“If it’s money, I will pay more.”
He took out another pouch of gold coins and placed it on the table.
To have prepared money in advance—I know now that he is someone who owes Lucas a debt.
And it seemed to be a debt big enough to make him come looking for me of his own volition.
“The money is fine. Take back the donation I gave you.”
“If there is any request I can grant, I will do anything. Do you wish to exert influence over the Temple?”
Exerting influence over the Temple is synonymous with entering central politics.
A mere priest wants to help with that?
‘Are you that desperate?’
How should I use this?
I have no need for a priest right now, and I have no interest in central politics, either.
But keeping this as a debt wouldn’t be a bad idea.
It would also be good for me to be present and listen to the conversation.
“Then let’s keep this as a debt. I will be present when you meet. Is that acceptable to you?”
“That is acceptable.”
The priest didn’t hesitate at all and answered immediately.
I called an attendant and asked what Lucas was doing.
The attendant whispered in my ear, “After eating, he is resting in your bedroom, Count. Shall I bring him?”
“Yes. Tell him to wait in the adjacent parlor.”
I have to ask Lucas as well.
What his relationship is with this priest and what he wants to do in the future.
A short while later, the attendant said Lucas had arrived.
When I went to the adjacent parlor, Lucas welcomed me with a bright smile.
“Did you miss me?”
Seeing that sunny smile, I was left speechless.
No… that’s not it. You have to clear your name of the charge of treason.
I checked his condition first.
“I heard you ate. Are you feeling alright? Did you sleep well?”
“I slept well. I’ve eaten, too.”
“That’s a relief.”
I was about to tell him that there was a priest who wanted to see him, but Lucas smiled slowly.
That smile captured my gaze, and I couldn’t think of anything else.
“…”
“Count, did you have something to say?”
It’s dangerous. I truly thought it was dangerous.
Seeing him smile made me want to do anything just to keep him smiling.
Even if that were to be the thing that destroys me.
“Count?”
“There is a priest who wants to see you. Can you guess who it is?”
I asked bluntly on purpose.
I shouldn’t be like this.
I have people I am responsible for, too.
Lucas looked puzzled, but soon answered my question.
“Well. I know many priests, but I don’t know who would want to see me right now.”
“Then it would be better to meet him and confirm it yourself. He is in the adjacent parlor.”
“May I meet him?”
I’ve already received payment, so he can meet him.
As I nodded, he immediately got up and went to the adjacent parlor.
I followed him.
Lucas opened the parlor door.
The priest was actually standing and waiting for Lucas, facing the door.
When he made eye contact with Lucas, he could not hide his shock and said, “Duke!”
I was behind him, so I couldn’t see Lucas’s face.
However, I clearly saw his shoulders heave.
“Are you alright? If you need treatment, please tell me immediately.”
“…”
“Do you remember me?”
A sense of tension hung in the air.
A priest calling a slave “Duke”—Lucas must have a lot on his mind, too.
I crossed my arms and watched leisurely. How much time passed?
Lucas finally opened his mouth.
“Colton. Priest Colton, is it? I remember you.”
“Duke…”
So that priest’s name was Colton.
Priest Colton was so moved that Lucas remembered him that he even teared up.
Then, he approached Lucas and bowed his head.
“Please, tell me if there is anything, anything at all that I can do for you. I will help with whatever it is.”
To say that even while I am here—what kind of debt does he owe Lucas?
Did he help Lucas in the novel from my dreams, too?
