Kapitel 148: [Chapter 148] The Temple's Center
In the room where the nobles and servants had all been gathered, Ren finally smiled brightly and greeted Nellis.
"Nellis! How have you been?"
Nellis also smiled warmly at him, a familiar expression.
"It's been a while, senior. I've been doing well, as you can see. What brings you to Maindelt?"
"I'm on a service trip. Priests sometimes voluntarily travel to places where their powers are needed, leaving their diocese. If I had known you were here, I would have come sooner."
It seemed like Ren was overly enthusiastic, but Nellis was more used to his current puppy-like demeanor than his previous sacred attitude.
"Did you come to heal the people of Maindelt? We're short on priests here."
"That's right. It's a priest's duty."
"And it's also a great opportunity to build reputation."
Cledwin interjected with a cold tone.
Was he being overly cautious? Nellis tilted her head, dispelling her suspicions. There was no reason to be suspicious, especially after Ren had just been so helpful.
"That's amazing. Not many people can come all the way here. How did you know when to arrive?"
"Did I help?"
Ren smiled in a different way, a happy but not entirely innocent smile.
"Yes. I originally planned to come to this castle."
"Really? Did you hear about me?"
Ren's smiling face remained, but he briefly glanced at Cledwin. The content of his words was in contrast to his gaze.
"Luckily, I was invited by His Highness before I could ask."
"How did you know exactly when to arrive?"
The question was directed at Cledwin, who responded with a slightly awkward expression.
"It just happened to work out."
"No, I think you planned it well. The people here have been talking about you a lot."
Ren naturally took center stage again, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I've been too busy after graduation to even write to you. It's great to see you. What happened to your eye?"
"Ah... this? It just happened suddenly. I don't think there's any close blood relation between our family and the royal family."
Nellis tried to downplay the issue. Ren thought for a moment with a sharp gaze, then nodded.
"Yes, that's possible. The Elantria family has intermarried with the royal family several times, so it's possible that it's a inherited trait. Anyway, it's impressive."
"Hmm."
Cledwin suddenly coughed awkwardly. Ren ignored it and tried to continue the conversation, but Nellis noticed that Cledwin seemed to have something important to say and focused on him.
"We can't just keep enjoying ourselves forever. When are you leaving?"
"Leaving? Didn't His Highness say you would stay for a week?"
Ren spoke with the same impudent tone he had used in school, but with a polite manner. It was a stark contrast to his previous demeanor in front of others, but it actually suited him well.
"I've finished my business, and I'm a busy person."
"Of course, but it's also true that you've been working hard day and night to take care of the innocent lambs, and you're a bit tired."
Cledwin and Ren simultaneously smiled, revealing their teeth.
"Isn't it strange? There was no one named Zabel in the list of the Duke's servants. Instead, there was someone with that name among the servants of the Crown Prince. Do you know about it?"
"Yes, but it's ridiculous to imprison a high-ranking noble like that. That pearl ring? What's the big deal about it? Just because it was found at the scene doesn't mean the Duke killed his own daughter."
"Who gave the order? The Duke or the Crown Prince? There are many unclear points, but it's unfortunate. The investigators of Maindelt are capable, so we'll find out everything in time."
"Tell the Crown Prince to release him, got it? I only believe in you."
The conversation, where each person only spoke their own mind, was tiresome to listen to. Nellis, who had been watching Adrian's impudent face, suddenly blurted out.
"We've already had a quick trial and received a confession."
It was impossible to prepare a proper trial in just one day. And a confession? How much torture had they inflicted to get it?
Adrian smiled wryly.
"Did you have the Duke in your grasp from the beginning?"
"Not really, I don't think it's someone who's fun to play with."
"Really? I thought it was fun."
It seemed so. They had been playing both sides, testifying that the ring belonged to the Duke during the banquet, and now the Duke was imprisoned. The person who had directly poisoned the victim had also confessed to being a servant of the Duke's household, so it was clear they had been targeting the Duke from the start.
Adrian smiled again, adding, "Ah, but it seems more fun to play with you. If you want to join me, just let me know anytime."
Nellis crossed her arms, wearing a scornful expression.
"What a scoundrel."
But he was not someone who could be easily used.
"He's a shameless person who can be manipulated in any direction if his desires are stimulated."
That was exactly how Caimil had been handling Adrian. Nellis despised Caimil, but she couldn't deny that she had learned a lot from her former sister-in-law.
"If you need the trial records, I can provide you with a copy. Please note that the final verdict is life imprisonment."
"No, even if that's the case, it's still too hasty."
"Hasty? This is one of the most heinous crimes to have occurred in Maindelt over the past few hundred years. It's a brutal murder, and the victim's status is higher than the criminal's, making it a crime of high treason. As you know, in Vista, the punishment for high treason is increased by fivefold."
"Have you studied law?"
"I'm just stating the established facts."
A lie. Adrian thought to himself. He was acquainted with the high judges of the imperial court and had received countless favors from them. However, there were few people among them who could explain things as clearly as this young lady.
"Hey, even if he's committed a crime, he's the head of an old noble family. A duke, no less."
"Not anymore."
Nellis smiled coldly.
"Will the Duke's territory try to reclaim their former lord who has committed a crime, or will a new lord be established? I think I know the answer, and it's one that will be beneficial to everyone."
***
The autumn leaves had fallen in the western palace garden.
The greenhouse, which had been meticulously cleaned by the former Crown Princess, was cozy and warm. Nellis lay down on the long sofa that had been newly placed under the large tree in the greenhouse, gazing up at the blue sky through the rustling leaves.
"Omnitus..."
The name of the current Pope slipped out of her mouth.
Ren, who had finished what he had to do, was planning to leave Maindelt soon. Although it wasn't officially decided, the word "Cardinal" was already on everyone's lips, and Nellis was well aware of the situation. It seemed he would be very busy.
Just like the royal family, the Temple was also a place where Nellis couldn't easily intervene. The minds of the Vista people were controlled by the Timaios Church, after all.
But if Ren were to enter the center of it...
"There's room for digging."
Nellis remembered the words Valentine had said before he died. Nerlucien had married Bridget, the daughter of Omnitus, and lived happily. Although a bastard child didn't have the legal status to marry a noble, many nobles were willing to acknowledge Bridget as their daughter in exchange for the Pope's support.
Was Nerlucien someone who would cherish someone? Nellis thought negatively, but it might be because she had been betrayed by him.
"Perhaps Bridget really did have a lifelong plan. Her background gave her immense power, after all."
Nellis didn't have any sympathy for Bridget. In fact, the two women had never even met.
When she had discovered she was going back in time, she had already made a concrete plan for how to utilize the Temple's power. However, since Ren had survived and risen to that position, it might be good to revise her plan.
"That's separate from having no sympathy, though."
If there was someone in the higher echelons of the Temple who favored her, the possibilities for utilization were endless. Ren was naturally more preferable than Omnitus.
Then, how could she support Ren in Maindelt?
As she was thinking about this, she heard the sound of the greenhouse door opening.
"What's going on?"
It was obvious who would be entering. As she sat up, a smile appeared on his face.
"I came to take a break. If you like this greenhouse, I can build another one elsewhere."
"No, I like it here. It's not too flashy."
Although there were few people who came and went in this garden, some of the windows in the main palace facing west allowed a glimpse of the area. However, even those people couldn't see Nellis, who was hiding under the reflective glass and leaves.
Cledwin's smile became slightly mysterious.
"I've thought about it before, but you seem to like being in places that are out of sight."
Is that so? Nellis had never thought about it that way before. But as she listened to his words, she realized it was a correct observation.
In her previous life, she had to be mindful of people's gazes wherever she went. In school, everyone had bullied her for fun, and as an adult, the people in her family had monitored her every move, waiting to catch her in a mistake.
So, she had disliked being in places where people's gazes were focused. She had spent most of her time in her room, and when she wanted a change of environment, she would hide in places where people wouldn't notice her.
In this life, she had met Cledwin in a similar way, hadn't she?
However, she couldn't explain all that, so Nellis just forced a smile and brushed it off.
"Other people's gazes are annoying, don't you think?"
"I've never been bothered by other people's gazes. As long as I'm safe, it doesn't matter how they look at me."
Indeed, he had undergone a growth process that allowed him to say such a thing. Nellis looked at Cledwin with interest and gestured to him.
"Sit down."
"Thank you, Lady."
The long sofa was designed to accommodate one person comfortably, so the two of them could sit down with ease.
The entire wall of the greenhouse was covered with branches and leaves, except for about a third of the top. The late autumn sunlight poured in through the gaps between the leaves and the skylight, creating a dazzling pattern.
The beautiful pattern created by the sunbeams highlighted Cledwin's handsome face. As Nellis gazed into his gray eyes, she remembered the last time they had been this close, face to face. Just the two of them.
Her face turned red. Nellis's eyes fluttered. Cledwin gazed directly into her eyes, wearing a deep smile.
The meaning of that smile was unclear. Nellis thought his gray eyes were incredibly beautiful. And she realized that her clear thoughts from earlier had been completely disrupted by Cledwin's appearance.
"Duke, no, soon to be the former Duke. Is there nothing you want to do to him?"
"None. But I have something I want to ask you."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein