The priest silently stared at the floor.

His mental calculations were plainly visible. Undoubtedly, he was relieved that no one had discovered the two nuns were his subordinates.

“Why are the temple people so irresponsible? They claim to believe in God, yet have no regard for the value of life. Tsk!”

“The deaths of those two nuns have nothing to do with me.”

“B*llshit.”

“It’s not right to accuse someone based on mere suspicion. Release me immediately!”

He shouted, fearing that if he remained imprisoned, they might dispose of him without anyone knowing.

But Aaron showed not the slightest hint of emotion.

As if intending to turn the man inside out, he responded with irritating composure.

“What are you complaining about when I’ve left you completely unbound?”

“What good is it not being tied up? You’ve still imprisoned me!”

“You’re being served three meals a day. We’re just hosting you at the mansion for a while, so don’t be so impatient.”

“You call this hosting? Really?”

“What more do you want?”

The moment Aaron’s killing intent flared again, the priest’s eyelids twitched.

Intending to completely break his spirit, Aaron stopped addressing him with the respect due to a clergyman.

He sneered vulgarly, as if he had never possessed any noble dignity to begin with.

“You’d better stay quiet until the time comes. Take good care of your tongue while you still have it. If you provoke me, I might decide to deal with you before Colon arrives.”

“Y-you shouldn’t casually use His Holiness’s n-name like that.”

“You should be grateful I’m even giving a human name to a dog like you. Forget all that and just wait a few days.”

“His Holiness must be looking for a way to save me!”

“Sure. That’s why I’m keeping your tongue intact. I’m going to properly scrape Colon’s insides.”

Aaron smiled coldly and stood up, bracing his knee.

As the tall man straightened his back, he seemed to recede to a place beyond the priest’s line of sight.

The priest tilted his head back as far as possible, studying Aaron’s demeanor.

Not understanding the meaning behind Aaron’s cryptic words, he was enveloped by a vague fear.

Tapping the flat of his knife against his palm, Aaron tilted his head with a mischievous air.

“You seem curious about what I’m going to do.”

“…”

“Your people think the temple is an inviolable domain. I intend to make it clear to Colon how I will take control of the temple, strip away its honor, and destroy it.”

Before the priest could open his mouth, Aaron had already left the storage shed.

* * *

Five days later, the Tudra Knights arrived.

Rombon, who led the knights in place of Aaron who had gone early to meet his wife, first scrutinized his lord’s expression.

The scent of spring seeped through the open window of the study.

His lord’s face seemed somehow gentler, as if infused with the colors of spring.

Maintaining his formal posture, Rombon subtly revealed his resentment.

“Your complexion looks brighter.”

“Does it?”

“Completely opposite to my filthy state. I’m covered in dirt, haven’t properly bathed, and my skin is sunburned—my good looks have completely vanished.”

Though the sudden ceasefire situation felt unsettling, Rombon’s mood seemed to have lightened upon returning home.

Aaron didn’t mind his subordinate’s casual joking.

Aaron unclasped his hands and picked up a quill.

He scribbled something quickly, but Rombon didn’t look at it and instead whined to Aaron.

“You’re not planning to put me to work as soon as I arrive, are you? Please give me some leave.”

“No.”

“Commander… you’re really harsh. You know how devotedly I’ve served you. When you went to rescue the lady, I risked my life staying on the battlefield, and when you said you needed to go to the estate, I followed without complaint.”

“I know.”

“Is this how someone who knows treats others?”

As he threw a tantrum unsuited to his large frame, Aaron made a clicking sound with his mouth and handed him the paper.

“Read it.”

“What is it?”

Taking it indifferently, Rombon covered his mouth as soon as he understood the meaning of the words.

“This is… C-Commander…”

“You’ve worked hard all this time. From now on, you are the Commander of the Tudra Knights.”

What Rombon held in his hand was an appointment letter for the Knight Commander position.

Aaron stood up, pushing his chair back, and faced Rombon whose eyes were becoming moist.

“Stop crying before I have to wipe your tears.”

“W-who said I was crying?”

“I’ll give you leave, so rest well for three days and then assemble the knights. We need to hold an appointment ceremony.”

“Wow… after enduring silently, such a day has finally come for me.”

Though he hadn’t exactly endured silently, he was undoubtedly a loyal subordinate.

Aaron took back the appointment letter, saying he would present it at the ceremony. Then he handed over a heavy envelope.

“This is a bonus. Distribute it as you see fit.”

“Yes, sir!”

Rombon answered vigorously as if he had received a momentous order, accepting the envelope with both hands.

* * *

They say the position makes the man, and indeed, Rombon didn’t use all of his leave.

He set an example for the knights by giving up a full two days of his time off.

Even though everyone else had gone on leave, he stayed alone at the castle to organize the quarters and pull weeds from the training grounds.

Aaron expressed a sort of regret, saying he should have handed over the commander position sooner if he had known this would happen.

The day after the appointment ceremony, the Pope finally sent someone to Tudra.

It was thanks to his sense of duty that Rombon didn’t lose his composure in front of the Archbishop.

Aaron, who had precisely predicted this situation, had given the new Knight Commander his first mission.

Code-named “Fox Hunt.”

Rombon had nearly fainted when he learned the fox in question was the Pope, but he had steeled his resolve, telling himself this was a weed that needed to be uprooted.

Recalling the weeds he had forcefully pulled out days ago, Rombon escorted the Archbishop to Aaron’s office.

“Enter.”

The Archbishop looked Rombon up and down at his commanding tone.

Regardless, the Knight Commander maintained his formal stance outside the office, hand on the hilt of his sword.

The Archbishop cleared his throat uncomfortably and went inside.

Though Aaron must have been notified in advance that the Pope’s representative had arrived at the castle, he hadn’t come out to greet him, earning him an unfriendly glance.

“You don’t look particularly busy… I suppose the estate affairs must be quite demanding.”

Despite the sarcastic tone, Aaron didn’t bat an eye.

Instead, he returned it in kind to the Archbishop.

“I wasn’t too busy, but now that Your Excellency has personally graced us with your presence, I expect my workload will increase.”

“Are you already trying to dismiss me?”

“How could that be? Please, have a seat first.”

Aaron personally pulled out a chair for him and then calmly sat down across from him.

The Archbishop looked disdainfully at the refreshments placed on the table.

He was furious at the arrogance of someone who had prepared all this knowing he would visit, yet hadn’t shown his face to greet him.

He intended to use this opportunity to establish the proper hierarchy and demonstrate the authority of the Papal Office.

“Lord Artnal.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

“I’ll get straight to the point. Release the man who has been unjustly imprisoned.”

Aaron merely held the tea in his mouth.

The menacing aura emanating from his action of rolling the liquid in his mouth without swallowing was almost intimidating.

The Archbishop slammed his hand on the table in response to this disrespectful attitude.

“Did you not hear me?”

“I heard you clearly. If I had known you would be so impatient and quick to anger, I would have answered sooner.”

“Such insolence! A person’s lowliness is ultimately self-created. Mind your words and actions!”

His wrinkled face turned bright red as he shouted vehemently.

His outburst had no effect on Aaron, who remained composed even in the presence of the king, but the Archbishop maintained his own sense of dignity.

Finding the ridiculous display almost laughable, Aaron fidgeted with his lips as if playing.

“The priest’s crimes are too evident for that to be possible.”

“If punishment is to be administered, we will handle it. Stop being stubborn and hand over the priest.”

“I will bring him to the square tomorrow.”

The Archbishop was about to protest against any trickery but closed his mouth.

Since Aaron had agreed to bring him out, there was nothing to do but wait.

Aaron turned his head toward the door.

“Rombon.”

The door swung open the moment he finished speaking.

“You called, sir?”

“Please escort His Excellency to the guest chamber. He is an honored guest, so take special care of him. Also provide accommodations for the Holy Knights.”

“Leave it to me.”

The Archbishop flared up, glaring with furious eyes.

“Are you monitoring me now?”

“The townspeople’s resentment toward the priest runs high. I’m concerned their anger might be directed at Your Excellency, so please cooperate.”

After dismissing him, Aaron nodded to Rombon.

“Your Excellency, I will escort you.”

With Rombon’s thick hand gripping the back of his chair, the Archbishop had no choice but to stand.

He quietly rose and followed Rombon out.