【The Price of the Deal】

…What?

David froze. He couldn’t comprehend what he had just heard. Sold what? But his thoughts couldn’t continue for long.

After those words, Catherine trembled slightly as though shocked, then lost consciousness. David instinctively caught her collapsing body, which fell like a marionette with cut strings. The weight of her limp form pulled David back to reality.

With a soft thud, the stiff paper that had slipped from Catherine’s lap onto the carpet suddenly caught his attention.

Still holding Catherine, David reached out and picked up the paper. The neat cream-colored sheet was, as David had expected, a letter from the Central Temple.

David quickly scanned its contents.

[(Omitted)…Therefore we inform our faithful brother. We wish to light the third candle in gratitude for the miracle bestowed upon our long-faithful brother, and to pray for another blessing. The one who brings the sacred flame is your brother in faith, Gabriel. He…(omitted)…May you remember that the flame that never extinguishes remains in the brother’s heart.]

And suddenly he understood why everything had happened so quickly. This was why. This explained Catherine’s unexpectedly rapid descent into enchantment and temptation. She must have known in advance that someone would be coming from the temple.

The letter from the temple had become a greater threat than anticipated—because a priest with holy power was coming from the Central Temple, and specifically because that priest was “Gabriel.”

Having studied at the theological school, David recognized the name. He could also confirm the priest’s position from the metaphorical expression about lighting the third candle. “Candle” was one of the humble expressions priests used to refer to themselves before God.

Servant of God, flame, candle, keeper of the candle—these were terms given because priests with holy power guarded the sacred eternal flame in the deepest part of the Central Temple. And Gabriel was known to be the third most powerful holder of holy power among the current priests.

After placing the letter on the low table, David laid the unconscious Catherine properly on the sofa. He turned her tilting head and brushed away her disheveled hair.

She had broken into such a cold sweat that the strands clinging to her pale cheeks were difficult to arrange. David removed his hand from Catherine’s cold cheek and exhaled deeply.

Though this incident had ended lightly, he didn’t know what would happen next. Since the letter from the temple had arrived not long ago, there would be several days before “Gabriel” arrived. Those remaining days before his arrival would be problematic.

Just then, there was a knock. Looking up, David saw a man quietly entering the office—someone who normally wouldn’t be allowed in.

Unlike his usually loose and even sloppy appearance, the man now wore a stern expression. David addressed his brother’s personal physician.

“…Samuel.”

“Why do you look as though the world has collapsed?”

Samuel walked in without any particular agitation, despite clearly suspecting what had transpired in the office. He approached the unconscious Catherine and the seemingly dazed David, silently examining Catherine’s condition. Watching Samuel’s actions, David murmured absently.

“Someone from the temple will be coming soon.”

“I see. It’s about time they came.”

Even at David’s words, Samuel reacted calmly, apparently expecting this response. Come to think of it, when Saul had been revived, Samuel, as Saul’s physician, had been the last to speak with the priests. Perhaps his knowledge was only natural.

“Priest Gabriel is coming.”

However, it was somewhat difficult to understand Samuel’s composure even when David revealed who was coming from the temple. Samuel showed no surprise at David’s words, merely nodding in acknowledgment, which prompted David to ask curiously.

“Did you know?”

“I was the one who recommended him.”

At this response, David momentarily lost his words and stared blankly at Samuel’s wrinkled face.

“You recommended him?”

When the surprised David unconsciously repeated those words, Samuel quietly nodded, seemingly wondering why David was so shocked. Yes. Then, seemingly finding that insufficient, he added a delayed response.

David shook his head, completely unable to understand Samuel’s composure. Just who was this man… He was strange. David had felt this way since first learning about him, but had given up trying to understand why Saul had brought him in.

However, Samuel was one of the rare individuals with holy power, and since he had presented himself to David, David had simply accepted his presence. Samuel had also concealed the fact that David possessed a slight amount of holy power…

Additionally, he had appointed himself as David’s mentor and provided assistance, so David had no intention of probing into Samuel’s identity as long as he didn’t interfere with future matters.

“More importantly, do you have another problem? This isn’t the first time you’ve seen someone tempted by unholy forces.”

Samuel was right. He was referring to what had happened in front of the chapel, but… In fact, David had experienced something similar before.

Not all theology students went through this. David was a student with special tendencies in many ways, and it had been possible because someone had taken notice of him.

Regardless, Samuel’s question reminded David of the fact he had been deliberately ignoring. David’s expression immediately darkened.

“What’s the matter?”

Samuel noticed that something serious had happened and asked again.

“I heard about the deal between Saul and Catherine.”

Recognizing the importance of the conversation, Samuel matched David’s serious expression. Samuel had also been curious about this.

Despite being at Saul’s side as his physician at Saul’s request, he had received no hint about matters concerning Catherine.

Just four months ago, Saul had suddenly brought her, saying she would become the mistress of Cavendish. Samuel remembered Saul telling him that she was a contingency plan in case what Saul had asked Samuel to do went wrong.

“And?”

Samuel also knew what Saul had demanded of Catherine when he had hinted about his will in advance. However, he didn’t know what Catherine had demanded from Saul, or what they had offered each other in exchange.

“Catherine sold… her death.”

When he heard David’s subsequent words, Samuel was greatly surprised. David had anticipated Samuel’s reaction, so when Samuel looked at him seeking confirmation whether it was truly so, David nodded again.

Only then did Samuel mutter, unable to hide his shock.

“How…”

“You might think it’s a figurative expression. Whether Saul intended it…”

A sound—either a growl or a low moan—came from David as he closed his mouth without finishing his sentence. Samuel said nothing to him. It was difficult to easily offer any words—comfort or condemnation. Though they weren’t speaking, both men actually knew the reason.

This unfair deal could not have been made without intention.

“So, that’s what happened…”

“…”

With sudden comprehension, Samuel murmured. Though Samuel didn’t elaborate, David could tell what he was thinking. There was only one thing to recall in this context: the incident that occurred when Saul’s coffin was being buried. The answer to how Saul could have been revived lay in this deal.

David could hardly understand what Saul had been thinking when he orchestrated such a thing. 

Whether it was due to the gap in time, or some other reason unknown to him, Catherine was abnormally deeply entangled in Saul’s affairs. In truth, David now wasn’t even sure if this was really necessary. However…

“Is there no way to cancel this deal?”

He wanted to know what to do about Catherine, who had to pay the price of the deal without knowing anything.

There was no answer from Samuel. He exhaled deeply and, with a regretful gesture, wiped his wrinkled face, keeping his lips firmly sealed. Though he didn’t answer aloud, his meaning was clear. David’s face contorted in unspeakable pain.

“Samuel…”

A desperate call slipped through David’s teeth, implicitly asking whether there was truly no method, or if Samuel couldn’t find a way. But Samuel merely shook his head, unable to even meet David’s gaze.

Not knowing what to do, David roughly ran his hands through his hair and spat out a short curse. He had hoped Samuel might know some solution, so he couldn’t hide his disappointment. 

Seeing David exhale short, rough breaths, forcefully expelling them, Samuel finally spoke.

“You know what it means to have traded death.”

Samuel was right. Even without Samuel saying it, David knew.