At dawn, when the stained glass of the temple was shining transparently, a man was bowing his head under the falling light.
Among the scattered light, Cardinal Clavis was praying silently, and those who watched the divine appearance of the man were all speechless.
Even if such a scene was put on a canvas as it is, it won’t be inferior, but in fact, the priests who supported him knew.
The promiscuous reality of that cardinal. The person who pretends to be pious in front with a beautiful shell, but enjoys an obscene life from behind, who prefers to insult and ridicule rather than worship God.
After a long silence, Clavis opened his eyes while drawing a sign.
When he got up, the priests who had been waiting came to his aid and told him.
“Your Highness, the investigation of the relics brought by the Eastern Duke has been completed.”
“Oh, really?”
“Angie Ruber was right. They were all artifacts made during the lord of the castle’s period.”
“Then, did you find out who The King Who Swallowed the First Cry was?”
“Yes, as guessed, it was King Celeste. we found a seal in the ancient documents.”
At the priest’s report, Clavis nodded happily.
“Sir Rena was right. It’s a big harvest. Her Majesty the Emperor must be very pleased.”
Clavis said so and smiled softly.
That was the cardinal’s habit of speaking. He evaluated everything by the standards of the emperor.
Whether Her Majesty will like it or not. Whether Her Majesty will be disappointed.
For this reason, people only thought that Clavis had great respect for the emperor, but never dreamed that he would want to kill the emperor.
“Now that we’ve figured out how to get into the castle of the dead, we’ll have to set a date. Contact the dukes to arrange a date for the next expedition.”
At the cardinal’s command, the priests bowed their heads. However, one of the priests started talking again.
“There is a separate report.”
“About what?”
“The Crow of the West is suspicious.”
“What’s wrong with that apostle again?”
The voice of the priest reporting was serious, but Clavis’ attitude to the report was still light.
The Crow of the West. He was considered the most dangerous of the apostles who forsook God and stood on the side of the dead.
He appeared about three years ago and took control of the ruined West and used the altar to raise his power.
As a result, it was the worst achievement of the empire in name and reality, with several subjugations in the north.
“Two days ago, the dead in that area showed suspicious movements. Fortunately, there was no attack on a nearby private house, but everyone is anxious because they don’t know when or what will happen.”
The priest reported the problem and looked at Clavis secretly.
It was an unspoken petition to pretend to resolve the confusion in the West.
After being devoured by the dead five years ago, the West has been as dangerous as an unknown dam. It became a den of the dead and threatened the adjacent northern region, and even an unknown person called the Crow built a nest there.
However, the former Western public figure, Clavis Sirencium, completely ignored the matter and was playing cardinal.
So, this upright priest wanted Clavis to face the problem and take action.
“Hmm, was young Eura bored after coming down to the Imperial Palace?”
But again, Clavis did not pretend to listen.
“He need to conquer the Tomb more diligently. Then wouldn’t the dead in the West disappear on their own?”
The priest’s face hardened at the irresponsible suggestion.
“The residents of the border are trembling with anxiety every day.”
“What’s there to be nervous about? If they die, they will be embraced by God. That’s something to be happy about.”
“Your Highness…”
“Priest.”
When the priest tried to protest again, Clavis called him with a smile. It was a cold call that made one’s heart drop to the bottom.
“Those who believe in God must be courageous even in the face of death.”
Clavis placed a hand on the priest’s shoulder. It was a light touch, but the priest felt a chill. He clearly remembered how this hand sucked up human life.
“If they are afraid, tell them to pray. If they are lucky, God will help them.”
Clavis whispered that to the frozen priest. Then he smiled brightly again.
“There’s not much time left anyway. The indifferent God has finally heard my prayers.”
Clavis said something incomprehensible and happily looked at the figure of the savior engraved on the stained glass.
He always knew such a shining lady. A monster he created, named Rena Ruber.
The angel of death who will destroy this damn empire and give him rest.
Clavis spread his arms out as if to worship the statue. Standing on the colorful light under the sparkling stained glass, he was beautiful as expected.
How bizarre it was that such a wretched, beautiful being was serving as the cardinal of the empire.
***
At the same time, Marquis Ruber was preparing to go out after a long time. This is because Prince Rubid finally came to his senses and called him.
“Is your shoulder okay?”
“Well, it’s not that good.”
When the old butler put his coat on and asked, the Marquis answered lightly. Then he turned his still creaking shoulder slightly.
The marquis injured his shoulder in the last expedition.
When Rena was swept away by Rubid’s crushing attack and fell, Rena snatched his arm and dislocated his shoulder severely. So he was recuperating throughout the expedition.
“Is she investigating the Tomb these days?”
“Yes, I heard that she’s been going there with the Eastern Duke.”
The butler knew that the Marquis was talking about Rena, and he spoke without hesitation.
“In addition, rumors say that the relationship between the two is unusual.”
“With the Eastern Duke?”
The old butler told the Marquis all the rumors surrounding the Eastern Duke and the Southern Duke. Then the Marquis burst into laughter.
“That’s understandable. They’re both children with nowhere to go. The Eastern Duke has finally met his match made in heaven.”
The Marquis said in a proud tone. Because of this, the old butler was perplexed inwardly.
“Didn’t she grow up really well?”
“Are you talking about Miss Rena?”
“Yeah, she has been a kid with a bright future since she was little. But isn’t this more than expected?”
The old butler could not understand why the Marquis was saying this. So he smiled awkwardly, and the Marquis added.
“Thanks to my well-grown daughter, I might have an eastern duke as a son-in-law.”
The relaxed words gave the butler goosebumps.
The Marquis seemed to have completely forgotten what he had done to Rena. Otherwise, he would not have been able to try to be a father like this.
The butler busily teased his hands to hide his embarrassment.
For some reason, the Marquis seemed strangely in a good mood. And the butler through experience. That his cold master becomes especially generous when planning something.
So the butler wanted to stop being in this position.
But he still had important issues to report, and he finally spoke up after much deliberation.
“And I have something to tell you about Master Angie.”
“What is it?”
“It seems that the young master is also interested in the young lady. I saw him with the maid.”
“The maid?”
“The little maid who entered the palace with Miss Rena.”
At the butler’s explanation, the Marquis belatedly nodded with an “Ahh” Then he murmured as if it was amazing.
“The boy who will become a marquis and a maid…”
“Listening to the conversation, it seems that they often get along.”
“It seemed like he was digging into old things by asking the servant this and that.”
“Do you need me to warn him?”
“That’s enough. I don’t want to hear about that.”
When Angie’s story came out, the excited Marquis’ face went cold again.
“I wish he could resemble his older sister at least half as much, not going around without even knowing his tail is being stepped on.”
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Afterwards, the Marquis let out sighs one after another towards the chaos of the little Angie. In the meantime, pride towards Rena was revealed, and the old butler became even more curious about his master’s mind.
And as the butler expected, the Marquis had just finished calculating.
A few days ago, the Marquis felt death as soon as his feet collapsed in the Tomb. That time, the certainty that he was really going to die struck him like an irresistible fate.
But suddenly a force stronger than death took hold of the Marquis.
When he faced his daughter’s bright face with the shock of his arm breaking, the Marquis felt as if he had met a god, a demon, or an absolute equivalent.
The hand holding him was as strong as a lion. Also, what about the smiling face after saving a father? The Marquis had never seen one who smiled so elegantly.
At that time, he was already overwhelmed, but the Marquis finally tried to kill Rena again with his last weapon.
But Rena came back alive again. The Marquis even felt trapped in a nightmare when he returned from the Tomb and saw his daughter welcoming him.
After that, the Marquis used recuperating as an excuse.
A daughter who is evidence of treason. A daughter who reveals it and asks him to beg for forgiveness. A daughter who does not die even if she is killed.
And a daughter who promised to give him a chance over and over again.
After thinking he was cornered, he realized at some point. That Rena is leaving himself unharmed. There is no retaliation or accusation.
Rena was really giving the Marquis a chance. Until the conquest of the Tomb is over.
When he realized that the proposal he thought was nonsense was true, the Marquis’ thoughts also changed.
This is definitely a crisis, but he thought it could be an opportunity at the same time.
Under Rena’s condition, he could kill Rena over and over again without fear of reprisal until the conquest of the Tomb was over.
There is still a way to ask for forgiveness if it can’t be done right. In doing so, he would regain his daughter, who stood shoulder to shoulder with the dukes.
‘If only the emperor’s rebuke can be avoided, it will be possible to climb higher than now.’
After all, the high and low of an empire is determined by blood.
It goes without saying that the father of the Southern Duke’s representative and the Eastern Duke’s father-in-law are much better than the frivolous marquis of an immature prince.
So, the Marquis decided to use this opportunity to his heart’s content.
He will kill Rena whenever there is a gap. However, he will eventually find a way to escape the emperor’s wrath, serving as Rena’s father in case she does not die.
There is nothing new.
To climb all the way from the bottom of the gutter, he had overcome countless crises. This, too, is only a part of it, and it is only an opportunity to elevate him higher.
The Marquis believed in his own bad luck above all else.
“So the maid… Does she look useful?”
The Marquis asked. With a light smile and a gentle voice like when dealing with his daughter in the past.
So the old butler closed his eyes for a moment. As if grieving over the situation of having to commit a crime once again.
***
“My lady, get up now!”
At the sound of Uni chirping, Rena slowly opened her eyes.
As she stretched Lena thinking that she had slept pretty well, she realized she was lying in her bed and was a little perplexed.
‘Why am I in bed?’
Rena sat down with her sleepy eyes and traced her memory.
Rena did not remember lying in bed yesterday.
‘What happened?’
Let’s think about it slowly.
Yesterday Lynn came to see her in the rain. So she let him come up, and chatted for a while while drying his body.
‘Then what happened?’
Rena was still thinking hard with her blank head.
‘Did I fall asleep?’
Rena nodded inwardly at the high possibility of speculation. Then she went back to the first question.
‘But why am I in bed?’
It’s actually a simple question, but Rena, who was still sleepy, couldn’t find an answer.
Then, Uni, who was watching from the side, rescued her poor lady.
“Mr. Lynn moved you.”
“Mr. Lynn?”
Rena’s eyes widened at Uni’s words.
“How about him?”
“He left right away. In the morning, after carrying my lady to bed.”
“Ah…”
At Uni’s explanation, Rena sighed briefly.
Come to think of it, I think I felt someone lift me in my sleep. I guess that was Mr. Lynn.
‘But why didn’t I wake up?’
Rena couldn’t help but ask herself.
Usually, Rena opened her eyes just by hearing footsteps outside the door. But she was sleeping even when someone held and carried her. This was the first time this happened.
‘Was I too relaxed?’
Rena was quite shocked by her own negligence.
So she sat there, reflecting, and Uni, next to her, said little by little.
“You said it’s an alliance.”
When she looked next to her, Uni was looking at her with a betrayed look. Of course, it was a joke, but Rena was embarrassed by the words and actions.
So Rena smiled to hide her feelings.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“Save your excuses. You have to work hard today anyway.”
Without realizing it, Uni had already taken Rena’s clothes out of the closet. It was a lady’s dress, not a uniform, after a long time.
“You know you’re meeting the old man today, right?”
At that one sentence, Rena immediately forgot her embarrassment.
It was finally time…
At dawn, when the stained glass of the temple was shining transparently, a man was bowing his head under the falling light.
Among the scattered light, Cardinal Clavis was praying silently, and those who watched the divine appearance of the man were all speechless.
Even if such a scene was put on a canvas as it is, it won’t be inferior, but in fact, the priests who supported him knew.
The promiscuous reality of that cardinal. The person who pretends to be pious in front with a beautiful shell, but enjoys an obscene life from behind, who prefers to insult and ridicule rather than worship God.
After a long silence, Clavis opened his eyes while drawing a sign.
When he got up, the priests who had been waiting came to his aid and told him.
“Your Highness, the investigation of the relics brought by the Eastern Duke has been completed.”
“Oh, really?”
“Angie Ruber was right. They were all artifacts made during the lord of the castle’s period.”
“Then, did you find out who The King Who Swallowed the First Cry was?”
“Yes, as guessed, it was King Celeste. we found a seal in the ancient documents.”
At the priest’s report, Clavis nodded happily.
“Sir Rena was right. It’s a big harvest. Her Majesty the Emperor must be very pleased.”
Clavis said so and smiled softly.
That was the cardinal’s habit of speaking. He evaluated everything by the standards of the emperor.
Whether Her Majesty will like it or not. Whether Her Majesty will be disappointed.
For this reason, people only thought that Clavis had great respect for the emperor, but never dreamed that he would want to kill the emperor.
“Now that we’ve figured out how to get into the castle of the dead, we’ll have to set a date. Contact the dukes to arrange a date for the next expedition.”
At the cardinal’s command, the priests bowed their heads. However, one of the priests started talking again.
“There is a separate report.”
“About what?”
“The Crow of the West is suspicious.”
“What’s wrong with that apostle again?”
The voice of the priest reporting was serious, but Clavis’ attitude to the report was still light.
The Crow of the West. He was considered the most dangerous of the apostles who forsook God and stood on the side of the dead.
He appeared about three years ago and took control of the ruined West and used the altar to raise his power.
As a result, it was the worst achievement of the empire in name and reality, with several subjugations in the north.
“Two days ago, the dead in that area showed suspicious movements. Fortunately, there was no attack on a nearby private house, but everyone is anxious because they don’t know when or what will happen.”
The priest reported the problem and looked at Clavis secretly.
It was an unspoken petition to pretend to resolve the confusion in the West.
After being devoured by the dead five years ago, the West has been as dangerous as an unknown dam. It became a den of the dead and threatened the adjacent northern region, and even an unknown person called the Crow built a nest there.
However, the former Western public figure, Clavis Sirencium, completely ignored the matter and was playing cardinal.
So, this upright priest wanted Clavis to face the problem and take action.
“Hmm, was young Eura bored after coming down to the Imperial Palace?”
But again, Clavis did not pretend to listen.
“He need to conquer the Tomb more diligently. Then wouldn’t the dead in the West disappear on their own?”
The priest’s face hardened at the irresponsible suggestion.
“The residents of the border are trembling with anxiety every day.”
“What’s there to be nervous about? If they die, they will be embraced by God. That’s something to be happy about.”
“Your Highness…”
“Priest.”
When the priest tried to protest again, Clavis called him with a smile. It was a cold call that made one’s heart drop to the bottom.
“Those who believe in God must be courageous even in the face of death.”
Clavis placed a hand on the priest’s shoulder. It was a light touch, but the priest felt a chill. He clearly remembered how this hand sucked up human life.
“If they are afraid, tell them to pray. If they are lucky, God will help them.”
Clavis whispered that to the frozen priest. Then he smiled brightly again.
“There’s not much time left anyway. The indifferent God has finally heard my prayers.”
Clavis said something incomprehensible and happily looked at the figure of the savior engraved on the stained glass.
He always knew such a shining lady. A monster he created, named Rena Ruber.
The angel of death who will destroy this damn empire and give him rest.
Clavis spread his arms out as if to worship the statue. Standing on the colorful light under the sparkling stained glass, he was beautiful as expected.
How bizarre it was that such a wretched, beautiful being was serving as the cardinal of the empire.
***
At the same time, Marquis Ruber was preparing to go out after a long time. This is because Prince Rubid finally came to his senses and called him.
“Is your shoulder okay?”
“Well, it’s not that good.”
When the old butler put his coat on and asked, the Marquis answered lightly. Then he turned his still creaking shoulder slightly.
The marquis injured his shoulder in the last expedition.
When Rena was swept away by Rubid’s crushing attack and fell, Rena snatched his arm and dislocated his shoulder severely. So he was recuperating throughout the expedition.
“Is she investigating the Tomb these days?”
“Yes, I heard that she’s been going there with the Eastern Duke.”
The butler knew that the Marquis was talking about Rena, and he spoke without hesitation.
“In addition, rumors say that the relationship between the two is unusual.”
“With the Eastern Duke?”
The old butler told the Marquis all the rumors surrounding the Eastern Duke and the Southern Duke. Then the Marquis burst into laughter.
“That’s understandable. They’re both children with nowhere to go. The Eastern Duke has finally met his match made in heaven.”
The Marquis said in a proud tone. Because of this, the old butler was perplexed inwardly.
“Didn’t she grow up really well?”
“Are you talking about Miss Rena?”
“Yeah, she has been a kid with a bright future since she was little. But isn’t this more than expected?”
The old butler could not understand why the Marquis was saying this. So he smiled awkwardly, and the Marquis added.
“Thanks to my well-grown daughter, I might have an eastern duke as a son-in-law.”
The relaxed words gave the butler goosebumps.
The Marquis seemed to have completely forgotten what he had done to Rena. Otherwise, he would not have been able to try to be a father like this.
The butler busily teased his hands to hide his embarrassment.
For some reason, the Marquis seemed strangely in a good mood. And the butler through experience. That his cold master becomes especially generous when planning something.
So the butler wanted to stop being in this position.
But he still had important issues to report, and he finally spoke up after much deliberation.
“And I have something to tell you about Master Angie.”
“What is it?”
“It seems that the young master is also interested in the young lady. I saw him with the maid.”
“The maid?”
“The little maid who entered the palace with Miss Rena.”
At the butler’s explanation, the Marquis belatedly nodded with an “Ahh” Then he murmured as if it was amazing.
“The boy who will become a marquis and a maid…”
“Listening to the conversation, it seems that they often get along.”
“It seemed like he was digging into old things by asking the servant this and that.”
“Do you need me to warn him?”
“That’s enough. I don’t want to hear about that.”
When Angie’s story came out, the excited Marquis’ face went cold again.
“I wish he could resemble his older sister at least half as much, not going around without even knowing his tail is being stepped on.”
LEARN MORE
!
!
!
!
!
!
Afterwards, the Marquis let out sighs one after another towards the chaos of the little Angie. In the meantime, pride towards Rena was revealed, and the old butler became even more curious about his master’s mind.
And as the butler expected, the Marquis had just finished calculating.
A few days ago, the Marquis felt death as soon as his feet collapsed in the Tomb. That time, the certainty that he was really going to die struck him like an irresistible fate.
But suddenly a force stronger than death took hold of the Marquis.
When he faced his daughter’s bright face with the shock of his arm breaking, the Marquis felt as if he had met a god, a demon, or an absolute equivalent.
The hand holding him was as strong as a lion. Also, what about the smiling face after saving a father? The Marquis had never seen one who smiled so elegantly.
At that time, he was already overwhelmed, but the Marquis finally tried to kill Rena again with his last weapon.
But Rena came back alive again. The Marquis even felt trapped in a nightmare when he returned from the Tomb and saw his daughter welcoming him.
After that, the Marquis used recuperating as an excuse.
A daughter who is evidence of treason. A daughter who reveals it and asks him to beg for forgiveness. A daughter who does not die even if she is killed.
And a daughter who promised to give him a chance over and over again.
After thinking he was cornered, he realized at some point. That Rena is leaving himself unharmed. There is no retaliation or accusation.
Rena was really giving the Marquis a chance. Until the conquest of the Tomb is over.
When he realized that the proposal he thought was nonsense was true, the Marquis’ thoughts also changed.
This is definitely a crisis, but he thought it could be an opportunity at the same time.
Under Rena’s condition, he could kill Rena over and over again without fear of reprisal until the conquest of the Tomb was over.
There is still a way to ask for forgiveness if it can’t be done right. In doing so, he would regain his daughter, who stood shoulder to shoulder with the dukes.
‘If only the emperor’s rebuke can be avoided, it will be possible to climb higher than now.’
After all, the high and low of an empire is determined by blood.
It goes without saying that the father of the Southern Duke’s representative and the Eastern Duke’s father-in-law are much better than the frivolous marquis of an immature prince.
So, the Marquis decided to use this opportunity to his heart’s content.
He will kill Rena whenever there is a gap. However, he will eventually find a way to escape the emperor’s wrath, serving as Rena’s father in case she does not die.
There is nothing new.
To climb all the way from the bottom of the gutter, he had overcome countless crises. This, too, is only a part of it, and it is only an opportunity to elevate him higher.
The Marquis believed in his own bad luck above all else.
“So the maid… Does she look useful?”
The Marquis asked. With a light smile and a gentle voice like when dealing with his daughter in the past.
So the old butler closed his eyes for a moment. As if grieving over the situation of having to commit a crime once again.
***
“My lady, get up now!”
At the sound of Uni chirping, Rena slowly opened her eyes.
As she stretched Lena thinking that she had slept pretty well, she realized she was lying in her bed and was a little perplexed.
‘Why am I in bed?’
Rena sat down with her sleepy eyes and traced her memory.
Rena did not remember lying in bed yesterday.
‘What happened?’
Let’s think about it slowly.
Yesterday Lynn came to see her in the rain. So she let him come up, and chatted for a while while drying his body.
‘Then what happened?’
Rena was still thinking hard with her blank head.
‘Did I fall asleep?’
Rena nodded inwardly at the high possibility of speculation. Then she went back to the first question.
‘But why am I in bed?’
It’s actually a simple question, but Rena, who was still sleepy, couldn’t find an answer.
Then, Uni, who was watching from the side, rescued her poor lady.
“Mr. Lynn moved you.”
“Mr. Lynn?”
Rena’s eyes widened at Uni’s words.
“How about him?”
“He left right away. In the morning, after carrying my lady to bed.”
“Ah…”
At Uni’s explanation, Rena sighed briefly.
Come to think of it, I think I felt someone lift me in my sleep. I guess that was Mr. Lynn.
‘But why didn’t I wake up?’
Rena couldn’t help but ask herself.
Usually, Rena opened her eyes just by hearing footsteps outside the door. But she was sleeping even when someone held and carried her. This was the first time this happened.
‘Was I too relaxed?’
Rena was quite shocked by her own negligence.
So she sat there, reflecting, and Uni, next to her, said little by little.
“You said it’s an alliance.”
When she looked next to her, Uni was looking at her with a betrayed look. Of course, it was a joke, but Rena was embarrassed by the words and actions.
So Rena smiled to hide her feelings.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“Save your excuses. You have to work hard today anyway.”
Without realizing it, Uni had already taken Rena’s clothes out of the closet. It was a lady’s dress, not a uniform, after a long time.
“You know you’re meeting the old man today, right?”
At that one sentence, Rena immediately forgot her embarrassment.
It was finally time…
