Chapter 5.3

“I am here to see Lord Ephelmar.”

Though reluctant, Erta arrived at the duke’s residence in the carriage sent for her, just in time for dinner.

‘A promise is a promise, after all.’

Hiding her true feelings wasn’t difficult for Erta. It was just a matter of making a brief appearance.

Erta greeted the young lord of Ephelmar who had come to welcome her with proper courtesy.

This marked their third meeting already.

The next time they would face each other would be at the wedding ceremony.

Suddenly, the approaching marriage felt real.

A premonition flashed through her mind that she would end up getting married without finding Bondridge or learning anything about the priest.

Had such gloomy thoughts shown on my face?

Reitan spoke to Erta almost pleadingly.

“My lady, wouldn’t it be better if you were a bit more comfortable with me now?”

He was clearly pleased to see Erta.

As such, he seemed somewhat disappointed by her distant attitude.

“Hmm. I’ll try.”

Even though they were to be married, it wasn’t easy at the moment.

Reitan Ephelmar didn’t feel like someone Erta could be familiar with.

Answering briefly, Erta tried to momentarily forget her thoughts about the priest that occupied so much of her mind.

‘Let me focus on the present situation for now.’

Erta entered the mansion, escorted by Reitan.

Upon arriving at the dining room, a lavish feast specially prepared by the duke’s chef awaited her.

However, Erta felt little excitement despite the splendid array of delicacies before her.

Perhaps it was because her carnal desires had recently been stronger than her appetite.

“All the dishes look wonderful.”

When Erta offered an appropriate compliment, Reitan, who had been eating quietly, started a conversation.

“Thank you. Our chef put considerable effort into preparing for your visit. After all, you’ll soon be part of the household.”

“Indeed. In a short while, I’ll be living in this mansion, so it’s an honor to visit in advance and enjoy such fine cuisine.”

There was a barb in Erta’s words.

She meant: since I’ll be living here anyway, why bother inviting me now?

However, Reitan either didn’t understand Erta’s meaning or pretended not to, displaying a bright, joyful smile.

“I’m looking forward to it as well. The days we’ll spend together in the residence.”

Reitan Ephelmar was truly an inscrutable person.

From Erta’s perspective, who thought herself quite adept at meeting many people and discerning their true intentions, he was somewhat unsettling.

Outwardly, he wore such a beautiful, angelic smile.

Clearly everyone praised him, and she herself could feel his kindness, and yet…

‘Something feels off.’

She couldn’t identify the reason for this inexplicable sense of unease.

“Ah, by the way, please be careful.”

Suddenly, an unexpected warning flowed from his lips. Puzzled by his abrupt caution, Erta didn’t hide her confusion as she asked.

“Pardon?”

“The candle. It’s quite hot.”

Reitan’s gaze turned toward the candlestick on the table.

The candle lit for decoration was softly illuminating the table.

“We wouldn’t want you to touch it and get hurt.”

Following Reitan’s gaze, Erta also looked at the candlestick.

Hot wax was dripping from the top of the burning candle.

Watching it flow down the candle pillar and solidify, Erta unconsciously gulped.

She naturally recalled that night when that man had tormented her by dripping candle wax onto her n*pples.

When the wax that fell onto her body hardened stiffly, the sensation of it tightening against her skin was like…

“There are candles made not to cause burns. I should prepare such candles next time. For safety’s sake.”

At that moment, Reitan’s voice broke through Erta’s reverie.

“Candles made not to cause burns? Do such things exist?”

Erta feigned ignorance in her question. Surely the candles that man had used on her were of that type.

However, as far as Erta knew, such candles weren’t widely commercialized yet.

‘Wait. Then.’

Could I perhaps get a hint about the priest?

Erta quickly added another question.

“Where did you learn about such candles?”

But Reitan’s answer wasn’t particularly satisfying.

“From the Holy Kingdom where I stayed. There, they typically use such candles to decorate the altar when offering prayers to God.”

So in the end, they were commonly used in the Holy Kingdom.

Erta already knew that Bondridge Cathedral and that priest had connections to the Holy Kingdom, so this wasn’t a particularly helpful answer.

‘But if it’s the Holy Kingdom…’ 

Suddenly, Erta wondered if the young lord of Ephelmar, who was from the Holy Kingdom, might know something about Bondridge Cathedral.

‘Why didn’t I think to ask him earlier?’

Inwardly lamenting, Erta quickly spoke up.

“Um, my lord.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Do you happen to know anything about Bondridge Cathedral?”

After Erta’s question, the dining room was momentarily enveloped in silence.

‘Huh…?’

In that brief moment, Erta noticed a change in Reitan’s expression.

‘He seemed to stiffen slightly.’

But quickly returning to his usual gentle demeanor, Reitan asked in a kind voice.

“Bondridge Cathedral.”

“Yes, the one on Erman Street. I was wondering if you might know of it.”

Was it just my imagination? 

Erta continued the conversation, pretending not to notice.

“I am familiar with it, but why do you ask?”

For a moment, Erta was at a loss for words.

‘What, what should I say?’

The truth wasn’t exactly pleasant. To speak frankly would be a bit…

No, was there really any need to hide it?

Confession was something young ladies often discussed casually during tea time.

Having sorted her thoughts in a short time, Erta promptly answered.

“I recently made a confession at Bondridge Cathedral. But the cathedral has closed its doors lately.”

It was all true. Even if she couldn’t reveal the content of that confession.

Erta was confident he wouldn’t ask what kind of confession she had made.

Considering the etiquette of nobility, even if she spoke this way, he wouldn’t inquire about what her troubles had been.

Even if they were to be married.

Feeling a bit more at ease, Erta continued.

“Since it closed so suddenly, I was curious about the reason. I was also quite upset.”

“I see. What I know about that place…”

Gulp.

Erta held her breath unconsciously and swallowed as she waited for Reitan’s words.

Would this time finally yield an answer I didn’t already know?

“It was established by a priest from the Holy Kingdom who came to the Empire, I believe.”

Erta’s shoulders slumped. That was something she already knew from her investigations.

‘So there really is no way to learn more.’

It seemed there was a limit to obtaining information she didn’t already have.

Just as she was about to give up on discovering anything, she heard something unexpected.

“And I also briefly trained there myself.”

“What?”

Erta’s eyes widened at this surprising response.

Reitan had trained at Bondridge?

This was an unexpected piece of good news.

If so, might he know the priest who had assisted with my confession?

Suddenly, hope welled up within her.

Erta couldn’t help but ask.

“Then, was there a blond priest there as well?”

Of course, she felt quite guilty as she was essentially asking her fiancé about the man who had inserted his manhood into her womanhood and moved it around.

But she couldn’t miss this opportunity to find the priest.

“A blond priest?”

“Yes, someone with blond hair like yours, my lord.”

Erta recalled her memories.

In her fading memories of that day, the man’s blond hair was as bright as Reitan’s.

Erta glanced at Reitan’s expression.

He looked puzzled as to why she was specifically looking for a blond priest.

Since her reasons for seeking him were quite impure, Erta unconsciously added a rambling explanation.

“Ah, well, I think the person who listened to my story had blond hair.”

In her flustered state, Erta had forgotten that during confession, one typically cannot see the other’s face.

“Blond hair…”

During the brief moment Reitan’s lips moved, Erta held her breath in tension.

If Reitan happened to know that priest?

Then at that time…

“I’m not sure.”

But the next moment, his answer deflated her hopes.

Reitan shook his head and replied.

“When I was there, besides myself, I don’t think I saw anyone with blond hair.”

There was no hint of deceit in his smiling face.

‘Well, just because he trained there briefly doesn’t mean he would know everyone.’

Erta was disappointed but abandoned her hopes. She hadn’t expected to find that priest when coming here anyway.

Besides, even if Reitan did know the priest, that would present its own problems.

The priest knew exactly who Erta was.

If Reitan Ephelmar were to learn about this side of her through him, it might jeopardize their marriage.

For a moment, she had almost lost her rational judgment and stepped onto a dangerous path.

‘Right. I should really give up now.’

Thinking about it this way, perhaps it would be better for her to stop searching for the priest.

Reproaching herself for making too many instinct-driven decisions lately, Erta tried to organize her thoughts.

“I do hope you’ll be able to meet that priest again.”

Unaware of Erta’s inner turmoil, Reitan offered these words of comfort.