Chapter 122: Ashes and Prayers
Acrea, who had been watching her silently, spoke again,
“Byron, are you still worried about Lady Vava?”
“What?”
She didn’t understand why he was asking that question again, in this situation.
Acrea read her thoughts from her expression. He smiled faintly and continued,
“It’s not brainwashing magic. Lady Vava is happy of her own volition. Your maid too.”
“Ah…”
Sue clenched her hands. He was telling her to “back off.”
“Of course, even if it’s not brainwashing, this subordinate religion could be illegally raising funds or being used for political purposes. But from what I’ve seen, at least not right now.”
“I… see.”
“I’m planning to drop the investigation as of today. Byron, I hope you’ll think carefully about it too.”
Acrea didn’t say another word. Sue just sat there, adrift on the boat. She needed time to process everything.
She trusted Acrea’s words. But she still couldn’t understand how he hadn’t found any trace of brainwashing magic.
Then how could she explain Melaine, the “errand boys” praying every day in the Fourth section, An and Pete singing hymns, and Ten’s sudden change?
‘At least Ten has been brainwashed… What else could it be?’
Could she really have run away?
From her?
From ‘Sue Byron’?
“Find yourself. Know your worth. God has given you the right to live too.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, but they quickly dried up. Logical questions filled her mind.
‘Then when did the Holy Demon Religion start using brainwashing magic?’
The novel clearly stated that they had been using it from the start. Even though the novel didn’t provide much detail about the Holy Demon Religion, this much was certain.
Could the novel and reality be different? Was this also the butterfly effect? What kind of butterfly effect?
“Marie.”
The last rays of the setting sun, disappearing behind the mountains, blocked Sue’s vision.
A gentle voice called out Marie’s name.
Marie slowly raised her head, her hand shielding her eyes from the light. Inside the small boat, the boy of sunshine, now Louis, was pointing at something beyond the rippling river, an unreadable smile on his face.
“Look over there.”
She followed his outstretched finger and saw a white bird perched majestically on the grassy shore.
A beautiful pure white bird, unlike any she had ever seen in the capital. It proudly raised its long neck, spread its large wings, and took flight.
It soared gracefully into the sunset sky, like an angel.
Sue slowly turned her head and looked back at Louis. He was still watching the white bird, his face blank except for that unreadable smile.
The silver raven on his wrist gleamed brightly, as if greeting its owner.
It looked like a painting, Sue felt it even more strongly than when she had seen the white bird.
***
“Follower Louis.”
The high priest of the Holy Demon Religion approached Acrea as soon as he stepped ashore.
“Come to my office for a moment.”
The high priest had been eyeing Acrea since the last service.
A boy with a handsome face, despite his dirty, poor appearance.
And no parents to worry about.
This one would definitely be profitable.
“I’ll go too.”
The red-haired girl standing next to him quickly intervened.
Her faded red hair, like dried blood, and her filthy clothes.
The high priest, who had been annoyed by her presence, frowned and said coldly,
“No.”
Sue flinched at his sharp refusal. Acrea, who had been watching them silently, spoke,
“Marie, I’ll be fine.”
He gently placed his hand on Sue’s shoulder. The raven pendant was wrapped around his wrist.
Sue reluctantly nodded, biting her lip.
Why was the high priest suddenly asking for a private meeting with Acrea?
She vaguely guessed it was to recruit a promising prospect, but if anything untoward happened during the process, everything would be ruined.
What if the high priest’s first target for brainwashing magic became Acrea, instead of Halo, who had intervened and prevented Halo and Fritz from even speaking to each other?
Sue watched Acrea follow the high priest, her eyes filled with anxiety, then she stealthily entered the chapel.
The main hall was empty after the minor pilgrimage. The high priest’s office was behind the small door next to the pulpit.
Should she open it?
She was agonizing over the doorknob when she suddenly felt a force from the other side.
“Oh my, Sue.”
She hadn’t expected Melaine to be behind the door.
“…Blessings of the Empire.”
The only thing Sue could say in this situation was a formal imperial greeting. To think she would run into Melaine dressed like this. She looked quite shabby compared to Melaine, who was wearing a flowy white dress, like a saint.
“Why are you dressed like… What are you doing here?”
Unlike Sue, Melaine had a lot to say. Her eyes were wide with surprise. But she seemed to be struggling to organize her thoughts, her words stumbling.
‘Right, it would be bad if she sees Acrea here.’
A chilling thought flashed through her mind. Melaine was obsessed with the Holy Demon Religion because of Acrea’s brother, and if she saw Acrea here, in the Holy Demon Religion chapel, her only safe haven, where would she go?
“Lady Melaine, let’s go outside first.”
“S-Sue!”
Sue, panicked, hurriedly dragged Melaine out of the chapel.
They climbed the stairs and entered the abandoned building. The building was covered in dust, untouched by cleaning.
Sue, seeing Melaine still staring at her with bewilderment, explained her fabricated story,
“Lady Melaine, I was curious about the Holy Demon Religion you always talk about, so I came to see for myself. I was also worried about you, and I was inspired by the doctrine you mentioned. And it really does seem like a good place! The high priest is a good person too!”
“I-is that so?”
Melaine seemed flustered by her rapid-fire words, but her voice was laced with delight. Sue chuckled, noticing it.
A strong gust of wind blew. The dilapidated building couldn’t withstand the wind and surrendered helplessly.
Sue swore inwardly, clutching her hood, and continued,
“Lady Melaine, as you know, my parents are against me joining a rural subordinate religion. That’s why I’m dressed like this and came here secretly. I’m using a fake name too. So… could you please keep my identity a secret for now?”
“Of course! Of course!”
Melaine’s face brightened, pleased that Sue was interested in the Holy Demon Religion. She grabbed Sue’s hands and said,
“I’m glad to have another comrade. The other girls haven’t come back since they visited once… Oh, right! I was just about to go buy bread for the children in the next village. Would you like to come with me?”
“Haha… I’m good.”
Since when had she become the kind of person who bought bread for the children in the next village?
Sue felt a strange awkwardness, seeing Melaine’s benevolent side, a side she had never seen before.
Another gust of wind blew.
Sue took the opportunity to slip her hands out of Melaine’s grasp, and when the wind died down, she asked,
“Lady Melaine, why did you join the Holy Demon Religion?”
“Huh? Why, because the doctrine…”
“I mean, why did you come to believe in that doctrine?”
She wanted to ask while they were here.
Melaine tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand.
“To help my family, of course.”
“Help…?”
“Are you seriously asking that?”
Melaine frowned. The wind blew again. Melaine, her hair whipping in the wind, said in a choked voice,
“My precious engagement with the Acrea family was broken. I don’t know why, but it must be my fault. I thought I could connect with the grand duke family and be a great help to my sister, but it’s all gone.”
Melaine clenched her fists. It was the first time she had spoken so openly about her feelings regarding the broken engagement. Sue was a little taken aback by her honesty.
“You could always get engaged to another family.”
“The Acrea family is different. You know that.”
She knew. The Acrea family was different. Just like the Byrons and the Lopetrefers were different, just like the Vavas and the Fritzes were different. The Acrea family was one of the three families at the top of the empire.
So putting aside the concept of a broken engagement, there was no way Melaine, who had once been connected to the Acrea grand duke family, would be interested in any other family. At least not right now.
Because she had lived her entire life supporting her sister, Yuna Vava, practically worshipping her.
Melaine had always been obsessed with being a valuable asset to Yuna. And that golden opportunity had slipped away. The emptiness she felt was indescribable.