Bab 40: Make Your Choice (2)

"How--"

"I saw it, My Lady." Argan gestured his head to the direction of Ophelia's bedroom. "She bloody used black magic in the open but there was no darkness, no black aura, purely white crystalline light exactly like a holy power that they've all been saying about the church."

Then he continued, "That's why I left because she was going to conduct an examination on Ophelia through mana. And yes, she could sense me just like I could sense her fake holy power."

"But, the duke cannot," Kalliope pulled out a conclusion as soon as Argan finished his sentence. The devil pressed his lips into a straight line as he wasn't sure of that fact. Both him and her could sense it because they were in contract and Argan was a demon himself. So, they couldn't really find out if the others could detect it.

However, Argan had to concur as he reasoned, "We can assume that since they didn't expose the church after all this time. They will need proof to do that I assume, and if the first prince really colluded with the church, then it's another layer of protection. It's like having a mole in your own house."

"But, I still don't understand how can they use black magic without contracting one? How did this demon pull it off? I know he's powerful but still..."

Unfortunately, Argan shook his head towards her question. "For that one, forgive me, My Lady, but I do not have enough knowledge about it. Because as you know, there are no demons lurking in Zarronium, and I only became aristocratic demon by chance. However, before I could grow, the academy got me first."

Kalliope breathed out a long-exasperated sigh as she put pressure on her temple. Just like Argan, Kalliope also didn't know much about demons because there were only little to none information about them in Zarronium.

But now, here they were, witnessing another way of obtaining black magic without having to come into a contract, and there were not just one but two people. She could very well assume that the whole church was the same.

Since for as long as she lived, there had never been a being that did not crave for power, especially when they were talking about demon. A powerful one no less.

As Kalliope fell into a deep thought, she felt the demon's grip tightened around her hand. Hence, she looked back to him. When she chanced upon the struggle swirling in that violet eyes of his, Kalliope knew what he wanted to say but she still let him speak it out.

"Now, we know there's another demon, we can't act reckless." Then, he looked at her in the eyes and stated, "We need time."

Kalliope bit her lower lip and squeezed his hand with both of hers. "But, we don't have any, Argan."

"My lady, if the anyone finds out, we can just kill them but if that demon notices us, our only choice is either to obey or die," Argan laid it all out without restrain to stop Kalliope from being stubborn.

"I know that, but doesn't that make it all the same? If we don't hurry, I'll die because of this body incompatibility. However, if we hurry, there's also a risk of dying from being found out by the demon. Either choice, I'll end it up dead. But, at least, the latter gives me more chances, right?"

Argan pursed his lips as the situation hit a stalemate. For a minute, the air around them seemed to stagnant from the capricious situation they had suddenly found themselves in.

Everything had gone smoothly from the beginning if it were as planned. But, the first mistake had already occurred upon Kalliope's misinformation about the humans on Earth not being able to use magic. From there, the first domino had begun to collapse which led them to the second misstep and that was when they had decided to test Gilbert Reis on his knowledge of the dark arts.

Nevertheless, if we had to look back at it again, there really was no choice besides to test Gilbert since that accident was what led them to this present situation where they got to know everything earlier. Such was a predestined fate.

Kalliope breathed out a long sigh. "Argan..."

"We need more information, maybe there is a way to strengthen the vessel to buy us time," Argan interrupted her speech. He really couldn't concede with her about this since it hadn't been long since freedom had been granted to him. He couldn't just let his master dragged him to death like this although he agreed to help her revenge.

No matter how he thought about it, there was no way that high class aristocratic demon who held the church in his palm would let him live if they found out. Yes, Kalliope could choose to obey that demon but would they risk letting her maintained the contract with him? Surely not, because that would not guarantee them total obedience.

Argan could more or less understand why that demon chose the church. Their reason was too obvious and that was because of religion. They could make use of fate to guarantee complete submission from the humans. After all, the devils are the fathers of lies and manipulation is their forte.

At that moment, for once, Kalliope didn't know what to do. She was hesitating. But, reminded by the feeling of remorse that coursed through her body when she had touched the empty grave, when she had shed tears through the night from the truth, Kalliope was inclined to risk it all.

"Argan..."

However, she didn't get to answer when Argan suddenly stood up and looked towards the door. The noises in the hallway entered his ears in a crystal clear sound. Meanwhile, Kalliope frowned at his abrupt reaction.

"What is it?"

He scoffed in derision. "That archbishop..." he turned to Kalliope. "He requested the priest to visit you."

Kalliope instantly caught on their goal. Her eyes darkened in hostility as the temperature suddenly froze around them. She raised an eyebrow sneeringly. "They really didn't hold back."

"Well, they have nothing to fear of," Argan swiftly quipped. Then, he exclaimed in caution. "My lady, you cannot let her examine you!"

Kalliope bit her lower lip. She reflexively looked at the bed. However, she quickly rejected the idea of sleeping. In the end, she decided to make an unpredicted move as she stood up from the couch and headed towards the door.

"What are you doing?"

Holding on to the door handle, Kalliope turned to answer him, "We cannot let them continue to suspect us. We have to terminate it as soon as possible."

After saying that, she decisively opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Since Ophelia's bedroom and Alice's were on the same floor, Kalliope quickly spotted the group of people from where she stood.

The first thing that entered her vision was the familiar white robe that danced gloriously under the bask of sunlight, symbolizing the presence of the church.

The purity that marked the devil's lies. The shade that masked its evil existence.

[My lady, forgive me but I cannot follow in order to lessen my aura in you. Unfortunately, you have to deal with this on your own.]

As Argan said his piece, Kalliope had already strode down the hallway and arrived behind the priest just in time to hear her words.

"It is actually His Excellency's request. He wanted to know if Father Gilbert, the priest who came by yesterday did a good job. And if he does, His Excellency wishes to know if Lady Alice has gotten better."

She sneered internally before Alice's young and delicate voice escaped from her lips. "Hmm? Daddy, does this sister wish to visit Alice?"

Kalliope tilted her head as she met the duke's eyes with innocence.