Chapter 29 - Theodore's Perspective: A Fateful Misunderstanding
So this is the rumored church.
It was my first time visiting, but this was clearly the heart of the Holy Church in the Marcel Territory. The distance between the sea and the town was perfect; it was accessible for the residents and exactly the kind of place spirits would favor. That black cat would probably love it here too.
As I entered the grounds, I found the orphanage behind the church, just as Lady Rachel had described. Walking further in, I saw Roger in the yard, teaching swordsmanship to a group of young boys.
Nearby, Lady Rachel was surrounded by children, helping them water the flowerbeds. Seeing her chat so easily with them, it was clear she had become a fixture here. She turned to speak to a young man standing behind her.
Hmph. So that's the 'Master Priest.'
He certainly had a soft, approachable air about him—the type people naturally liked. He wasn't a show-stopping beauty like Louis who commanded every room, but even from this distance, I could tell he was quite handsome.
Since she started coming here, Lady Rachel had become remarkably proactive. She smiled with a confidence I hadn't seen before, and her gaunt face had filled out healthily. More than anything, the realization that she was needed by others was clearly having a positive effect.
Oh.
Roger noticed me. He offered a bow from a distance. Lady Rachel followed his gaze, said something to the priest, and then began walking toward me. I met her halfway, raising a hand in greeting.
"Theodore-sama? What brings you here? This is your first time visiting, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Actually, it's a bit of an emergency. I have to head back to the capital immediately, so I came to say goodbye."
Lady Rachel's eyes widened slightly, her naturally red lips parting in surprise. "That's so sudden. You've done so much for me already."
"Don't worry about it. I learned quite a bit while I was here. I've got what I came for."
"Learned something?"
"Well, you'll find out eventually. Oh, do you want me to introduce you to the Master Priest?"
She glanced toward the priest, who had noticed us and offered a polite bow from where he stood. Interesting. It seemed the priest knew who I was. His expression shifted to one of slight surprise, as if asking, 'What is he doing here?'
Well, I handled a lot of spirit-related work and visited the Great Church in the capital often, so it wasn't surprising he recognized me.
"No, it's fine. I'm in a hurry. Is there anything you want me to tell Louis?"
"Oh, in that case..."
I figured I should mention his name. Knowing him, he'd pester me for details about her the moment I got back. I might as well bring him a 'souvenir' of sorts. I really was a thoughtful childhood friend. Lady Rachel thought for a few seconds before looking me straight in the eye. I smirked as she entrusted me with her message. "I'll tell him."
Still, she had really changed. She never used to look at people with such strength in her eyes. Not long ago, she had seemed fragile, as if she'd break if someone wasn't there to protect her. Now, she was learning to stand on her own two feet.
"I'm counting on you."
Lady Rachel gave me a gentle smile and a deep bow. I gave her head a couple of light pats. "See ya," I said, before turning to leave the church grounds.
I headed straight for the forest on the opposite side of the town. Once I reached the deep, silent heart of the woods, I decided it was far enough.
I held out my hand, closed my eyes, and visualized my destination. A faint light began to emanate from my palm.
"Torsova Academy of Magic, Student Council Office."
A brilliant light enveloped my body, and in an instant, the world shifted. When the light faded, I lowered my hand and opened my eyes.
"Whoa!" a voice yelped from right behind me.
I turned to see Louis, his face twisted in annoyance. "Oh, hey. Long time no see."
"It hasn't been that long! And I've told you a thousand times to use the door. What if someone else had been here?"
"I knew no one was here, that's why I came. Why do you think I'm so good at this?"
Louis put a hand to his head and let out a heavy sigh. In this kingdom, I was the only one capable of high-level teleportation. It was convenient, but it was exhausting, so I rarely used it.
"Fine. Just tell me why you're here."
Louis opened the door to the private office behind the student council room and gestured for me to enter. He sat down on the central sofa, and I flopped into the single-seater opposite him. Suddenly, his expression changed. He fixed me with a sharp, piercing gaze.
Whoa, don't suddenly turn on the 'Crown Prince' intimidation mode. It's super uncomfortable.
"Right, let's get down to business. As I suspected, that black cat doesn't have any special powers, despite being a Spirit of Darkness."
"I see... And the characteristics of the Spirit of Darkness itself?"
"I have a theory, but I can't be certain yet. What about your end?"
"There's evidence that Spirits of Darkness existed in this country in the past. However, it's as if all the records were intentionally erased."
"...I knew it."
We were close to the truth, yet it remained just out of reach. Someone, for some unknown purpose, was trying to pretend the Spirit of Darkness never existed. I felt the tension leave my body. Whoever did this really made things difficult for us. Sigh. Where do I even start?
"That leaves the Church."
"Yeah. I've met with the High Priest a few times. For now, only a few people in the Church, including the High Priest, know about the Spirit of Darkness Rachel contracted. I've told them to keep it quiet."
"Good. It's better if it doesn't spread for now."
"The Church likely has some information, but they hate letting internal secrets out. I doubt they'll talk easily."
"True."
It would be so much easier if I could just find some dirt on them. But they weren't the type to leave a trail. Regardless, I had to tell him the real reason I came back so suddenly.
"Traces of suspicious magic were found near the border. I'm heading there to provide backup, so you're on your own with this for a while."
"Suspicious magic? It's just one thing after another..."
"Oh? Did something happen here too?"
Louis ran a hand through his shimmering blond hair. "Just some trouble at the Academy," he muttered awkwardly. "Ernest is obsessed with one particular student and keeps trying to get her into the student council. It's a pain."
"Ernest? Ah, Lady Rachel's cousin. What, is it a girl?"
"Yeah. Her grades are good, but... well, it's complicated."
Louis looked so uncomfortable that I offered a half-hearted "Sounds tough" to console him. Not that it was my problem.
This Prince was a busy man. Balancing his duties as Crown Prince, fixing his fiancée's problems, and managing the Academy. I decided to give him the 'souvenir' I brought.
"Oh, right. A message from Lady Rachel."
Louis's shoulders gave a visible jolt.
"What was it again? Oh, right. 'I think I'm close to finding an answer.'"
"...An answer."
Louis's eyes wavered, and his face went blank. He started muttering something to himself, but I couldn't make it out. He probably had a million questions. He looked lost in thought, his gaze darting back and forth.
Time to mess with him a bit.
"Anyway, that's all. I'm heading to the Order of Mages now."
As I moved to stand up, Louis panicked and grabbed my arm, forcing me back into the sofa.
"Wait!"
"What?"
"Tell me... how is she?"
I ignored his desperate, wandering eyes and feigned ignorance. "She? Oh, you want to know how she's doing in the Marcel Territory?"
Louis snapped his head up. His eyes were a mix of anxiety and hope. It seemed they had been writing to each other frequently. I remembered how Lady Rachel looked when she received his letters—she held them as if they were precious treasures. But they hadn't seen each other in nearly two months. It was only natural he'd want to know more about her.
Then, I thought about that priest. The way he looked at her before I left. It was a little concerning. Lady Rachel might not have noticed anything, but I wasn't so sure about the priest. For Louis, whose engagement was on thin ice, that guy could be a formidable rival. Maybe I should light a fire under him.
"Well... it looks like she had a pretty incredible encounter."
"An encounter?"
"Yeah. I've never seen someone's heart stolen so instantly. It was quite a moment."
"Her heart was... stolen? What do you mean?!"
"What do I mean? Well, it looked like a fateful encounter to me."
"A fateful... encounter..."
Louis went pale instantly. He stood up with a clatter, muttering "I have to go" as he stumbled toward the door, bumping into furniture in his haste. I didn't stop him; I just watched him go.
Once the door slammed shut, I felt my shoulders start to shake. Oh man, look at him panic. He didn't even wait to hear the details. Was that really Louis?
"Hahaha! That was priceless. I can't believe he fell for it. He definitely got the wrong idea.
...Even though the 'encounter' was just Samuel and those beans."
My voice didn't reach him, of course. Technically, I didn't lie. Louis asked 'how is she,' but I never said Lady Rachel was the one who had the encounter. Samuel was out of the question, but Louis didn't know that.
Well, young man, have fun worrying. Not that I'm much older.
He was probably making some ridiculous proposal to Cyril right about now. Poor Cyril, always getting dragged into Louis's first love drama.
Time for me to get back to work too.