At that moment, the presence of several people could be felt not far away. Footsteps approached from the corridor, and soon, a group of priests emerged.
Among those who looked uniform in their identical clerical robes, a middle-aged man in the center stood out.
He was a man who seemed ordinary at first glance—common black hair and strange green eyes—yet an unapproachable aura emanated from him. Upon spotting Blair and Headrin, he strode over and offered his greetings first.
“To run into the two of you like this; I am fortunate.”
Gerard Lumiel.
The surname ‘Lumiel’ was one granted only to the Pope, a title that spoke volumes of his life. Born in the red-light district, the filthiest bottom of society, he had risen to the position of the Pope, the man closest to God. He had never forgotten his roots and lived protecting the weak, as if putting into practice the saying, ‘God descends to the lowest place in the world.’
He was widely respected. Even Katrina trusted and relied on his words. While some whispered that he was merely clinging to power, others argued it was wise of him to make the Emperor his ally rather than his enemy.
Regardless of the rumors, to Blair, he was the savior who had treated her when she suffered severe internal injuries during the fire incident. She had always carried a sense of gratitude toward him.
Blair bowed to Gerard alongside Headrin.
“We greet Your Holiness.”
“I heard there was an unfortunate incident at the hunting ground today, and that Your Grace took the lead in handling it. I offer my thanks to you both.”
“It is nothing worthy of thanks. Anyone would have done the same in that position.”
“You have the magnanimity befitting a hero.”
Despite Headrin’s somewhat blunt reaction, Gerard smiled, possessing the composure that came with age and status. Since Gerard was also on his way to offer prayers, the three headed toward the main hall of the temple together.
Gerard looked at the couple with a satisfied expression.
“In any case, in just a month, you two have truly become a married couple. I am deeply moved that you have grown up safely and formed a union.”
“It is thanks to Your Holiness saving me that day.”
Blair mentioned ‘that day’ before she realized it, then cast a cautious glance at Headrin. However, Headrin remained expressionless.
She suddenly realized that Gerard’s words applied to Headrin as well.
*I remember them saying that when the late Duke and Duchess passed away, Your Holiness took the lead in memorializing them.*
Headrin’s mother, the late Duchess Del Marc, had been famous for her piety. She had built a reputation for virtue by serving the poor, and it was rumored that among the commoners, some secretly revered her as a ‘saint.’ When she met her end in that unfortunate accident, Gerard had been deeply grieved and personally officiated the funeral. For the Pope himself to officiate a funeral for someone outside the Imperial family was historically rare.
That connection had continued to this day, with the Del Marc Duchy making massive annual donations to uphold the late Duchess’s legacy.
*Come to think of it, it’s quite strange.*
The fact that the two children—from the noble house and the Imperial family—who had formed a special connection with Gerard through such tragedies, had now joined in marriage. It seemed his remark about being moved was no mere platitude.
As they reached the main building, the entrance was crowded with nobles buzzing with news of the hunting ground. Gerard stopped in his tracks.
“Please, go ahead. I have some preparations to make outside.”
“Then, I will come to visit the temple sometime soon.”
“By all means.”
As Gerard responded, a faint magic circle flickered between the collar of Blair’s clothes. Gerard’s eyes cooled as he caught sight of it. He watched the backs of the newlyweds heading into the temple and muttered in a low voice.
“The two of you, I pray you build a prosperous family.”
* * *
“Squeak— Squeak—”
The baby sable in the basket cried, pestering Blair to play. As she put her hand into the basket, the creature flipped onto its back, playfully biting her thumb. It was no bigger than a palm, and its frantic wiggling made her laugh.
The sable, which hadn’t even been able to open its eyes during the New Year’s Festival, had grown rapidly under Blair’s meticulous care. Now, it possessed an endless amount of energy, squeaking all day to demand attention.
Blair let the sable play with her hand as she fell into thought.
*It should be time for the guild to contact me soon.*
There had been no progress on the divorce preparations or the identity of the assailant she had entrusted to the guild. While she remained in talks with Agnes regarding the fire incident, there was no major headway there, either.
Because of this, Blair’s days had become a monotonous routine: caring for the sable and learning the duties of a lady from Mason. Though she could count on one hand the number of times she had seen Headrin since the festival, she found it more comfortable to not see him at all.
While she liked this dull peace, she grew anxious that she might become too accustomed to it and settle down for good. To divert her drifting mind, she spent her hours reading books about the lands she would live in after the divorce or studying the duchy’s budget.
“My Lady, I have brought the milk.”
Blair snapped out of her thoughts. The maid who entered hesitated as she offered the milk.
*This child is…*
Blair recognized her as one of the girls who had been docked their wages for bullying Lina. They had been terrified after the incident reached Headrin’s ears and had avoided Lina entirely ever since.
They couldn’t quite avoid Blair, their mistress, but they treaded carefully. Delivering milk was a simple task, but Blair knew it must have taken great courage for this girl to stand before her.
*Her name was… Mely, wasn’t it?*
What this girl had done to Lina was wrong, but she had already been punished. In her previous life, Blair had known nothing of the people in the duchy, remaining isolated until the day she died.
*But maybe things can be different this time.*
If she reached out, she might bridge this distance. It would be good for Lina, too.
Blair took the bottle and gently wrapped her hand around the maid’s.
“Thank you, Mely.”
“A-ah, no. It is merely my duty.”
Taken aback, Mely bowed her head, looking flustered. She had assumed the Lady would hate her—and she would have been right to.
*I couldn’t even apologize for what happened back then…*
Mely had been a bystander, swept up in the ostracization of Lina out of fear of becoming a target herself. Though it was late, she wanted to seek forgiveness. But she was terrified of disturbing Blair, who had finally found a moment of quiet.
As she stood there, the sable squeaked from the basket. Mely’s gaze drifted to the small creature.
“Do you like animals?” Blair asked.
“Ah, yes…”
“Then, would you mind looking after this child when you have time?”
“Pardon?”
“I read that sables live in groups. I thought this little one might need a friend. I can’t take a baby from its mother, so I thought I would make it many human friends instead.”
“Ah…”
“Of course, only if you’re comfortable with it.”
“O-of course. Please, leave it to me. I also look after the cats in the backyard.”
“Is that so? That’s a relief.”
Blair beamed. Seeing Blair, who prioritized her consent, Mely felt a wave of shame. Why hadn’t she been able to offer a simple apology?
Mely bowed deeply.
“My Lady. Back then… I am truly sorry. Born a lowly thing without proper education, I was insolent. I am truly sorry. I really wanted to apologize to you.”
Blair blinked in surprise, then smiled softly.
“I accept your apology. Could you look after this child well in exchange?”
Mely had been prepared for a reprimand, yet the response was one of unexpected grace. She nodded vigorously.
“Yes! I will take good care of it.”
“Oh, for reference, this child’s name is Pippi.”
“Pippi… you say?”
“Yes. Doesn’t the sound of its cry sound similar?”
Blair asked with a serious face. In response, the sable squeaked, as if answering to its name.
*…Our Lady really has no knack for naming things.*
Mely bit her lip to hold back a laugh. Still, the name was cute. And the Lady, looking so proud of it, was somehow cute, too.
Just then, a knock was heard at the door.