The reception room remained silent for quite some time after Nadia left.
Karl stayed in his seat, not rising immediately. He simply stared at the door as the smile on his face gradually faded away.
After a while, a small side door was pushed open.
A woman wearing bishop robes walked in. She appeared younger than Karl, with her hair tied back loosely and very prominent dark circles under her eyes. Her eyes were half-closed, as if she could fall asleep standing up at any moment.
“It seems your conversation with Lady Nadia didn't end on a very harmonious note,” the woman said, her voice sounding somewhat sluggish as she entered.
Karl didn't look up; he simply picked up the teapot again.
“Indeed.”
He poured himself another cup of tea and pushed the other cup toward the opposite side of the table.
“Nadia used her daughter to reach this position, currying favor with the nobility and using the Saintess's name to meddle in the Holy See. She certainly climbed that path quickly.”
The woman sat down across from him and picked up the teacup.
“But when she falls, she’ll fall hard,” she said, picking up where Karl left off.
Karl let out a chuckle.
“Right now, we don't even know who took the Saintess.”
“To be able to take her from the White Tower where she resides without making a sound...”
“Their strength speaks for itself.”
The woman took a sip of the tea. As the hot liquid went down her throat, she seemed to come back to life a little.
“Lady Nadia only ever treated the Saintess as a tool for her own advancement, didn't she?”
“Yes.”
Karl leaned back against the chair and rubbed his brow.
“That's why she's more anxious than anyone now that the Saintess is gone.”
“Because Leticia was her most important ladder for climbing to the top, wasn't she?”
The woman didn't argue. She just held the teacup, her eyelids slowly drooping again.
Karl frowned at her appearance.
“Also, Furni.”
“You haven't slept much these past few days, have you?”
Furni paused. She looked up, revealing those deep dark circles that were impossible to hide.
“Ahem.”
She immediately changed the subject.
“Let's not talk about me for now.”
“When do you plan to perform the Hero Summoning?”
Karl glanced at her.
“What about the other Bishops?”
“Are the Magic Crystals ready?”
Furni put down her teacup and leaned against the sofa as if her bones had been removed.
“Almost.”
“However, our stock of Magic Crystals is running low.”
At this point, her expression became even more dejected.
“It's likely due to the significant friction between the First Prince and the demons. No Magic Crystals are being supplied from the border anymore.”
Karl’s face darkened.
“Of all times for this to happen.”
“The Saintess has vanished, and the former Hero’s whereabouts are unknown.”
He tapped his finger lightly on the table.
“This country desperately needs a figure with deterrent power.”
Furni watched him. After a moment, she looked down and chuckled.
“Yes, yes. The country.”
She drained her tea in one gulp.
Then, she flopped directly onto the sofa. Her bishop robes were crumpled under her weight, but she showed no intention of smoothing them out.
“The country, huh...”
Karl looked at her and remained silent for a moment. Finally, he sighed and stood up.
“Never mind.”
“I'm heading out.”
As he reached the door, he stopped for a moment and looked back.
“Also, Furni.”
“Your tail is showing.”
Furni didn't move on the sofa. However, behind her, a thick tail peeked out from under her bishop robes, resting lazily on the carpet. The tail flicked slightly as if in a half-hearted response.
Furni didn't even bother to open her eyes; she simply waved Karl away.
Karl gave her one last look and said nothing more, pushing the door open and leaving.
The moment the door closed, the light in the reception room dimmed. Even though sunlight still filtered through the stained glass outside, the room fell into a quiet darkness, as if something was shrouding it.
In the darkness, Furni slowly opened her eyes.
Her golden slit pupils glowed faintly like jewels. She lay on the sofa, staring at the dark ceiling above.
Her voice was very soft.
“The country?”
“Is there really any point for a country like this to exist?”
...
By the time Karl reached the outside, he had already regained his usual composure as a Bishop. The frustration on his face was completely suppressed.
His pace was steady, and his expression was gentle. It was as if the person who had been so sarcastic toward Nadia in the reception room wasn't him at all.
A nun was waiting by the corridor with her head bowed. Karl stopped in front of her and pulled a folded list from his sleeve.
“Go.”
“Prepare these things for me.”
The nun took the list and glanced at it. It contained items that weren't particularly expensive but were quite diverse: ointments, some coarse cloth, a large amount of bread, low-level healing potions, and dozens of bags of simple dry rations.
The nun looked at the list and hesitated.
“Are you going today as well, My Lord?”
Karl looked at her.
“Is there any other choice?”
His tone was flat.
“Am I really supposed to let those nobles damn well destroy the bottom tier of this country?”
The nun lowered her head.
“Yes, My Lord.”
Karl waved his hand.
“Fine. Remember to pretend you didn't hear that last sentence.”
“Go and prepare.”
Rate on N.U.
