Side Story 3
Lucius, who would normally be volunteering at the temple, was pacing anxiously in his room.
He couldn’t forget yesterday’s incident.
‘Should I tell her?’
No, he shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Lucius stood up, his mind made up.
‘They must be worried since I didn’t show up at the temple without any notice. I should go.’
Clerics were valuable assets. He might not be an apostle anymore, his power diminished, but he still possessed more Holy Power than most High Priests. And having once been associated with Tristan, he felt obligated to be diligent in his volunteer work.
Just as he was about to leave,
“Leaving already, Cielun?”
“Mother.”
Duchess Luneus had come to see him off. Her face was more wrinkled than before, but her expression seemed lighter, more carefree. But Lucius didn’t see it that way.
“It’s getting cold. Come inside.”
“But I can’t leave without seeing you off.”
“…”
Seeing Lucius’s still troubled expression, Duchess Luneus smiled and adjusted his clothes.
“I’ll go inside now. Cheer up.”
“I’ll leave after seeing you enter.”
“You’re so stubborn… Alright, fine. Take care.”
She patted his shoulder, her smile softening the wrinkles on her face. How could he refuse when she looked so happy seeing him off? Lucius smiled back and nodded.
“I’ll be back, Mother.”
“Yes.”
Duchess Luneus, as promised, went inside. Lucius waited until she was completely out of sight, enduring the chilly breeze, then boarded his carriage. The coachman asked,
“To the temple again today, sir?”
“Yes, please.”
“You’re leaving later than usual today, Young Master.”
“I overslept.”
“You? Oversleeping? That’s a first.”
Lucius chuckled awkwardly at the coachman’s hearty laughter. The coachman, with a grin, picked up the reins and whip.
“Then let’s be off! Hiya!”
The carriage rattled, then picked up speed. It took less than an hour to reach the bustling capital, passing through the estate’s lush gardens and then onto the familiar paved roads.
He couldn’t ride the carriage within the city walls. Lucius got out, and the coachman, removing his hat, saw him off.
“Have a good day, Young Master.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be waiting here at the usual time.”
The coachman, with a friendly smile, drove away. Lucius headed towards the temple.
Two figures, their faces hidden by hoods, watched him from afar.
“Oh, he’s going straight to the temple.”
“Indeed.”
“Lady Garnethia, did Her Highness really ask you to follow him?”
It was Ricardo and Garnethia.
Garnethia, stamping her foot indignantly, replied to Ricardo’s disbelieving question,
“Of course not! Her Highness wouldn’t do something like that! But my reports have to be accurate!”
Garnethia, the capable chief assistant to the Crown Princess, had already investigated Lucius’s movements yesterday. But his schedule had been surprisingly mundane, suspiciously so. That was why they were following him.
“I can’t disappoint Her Highness. I’ll find out everything and report back to her!”
“Ah, yes, ma’am.”
Ricardo scratched his head. The chief assistant was always so enthusiastic.
‘But is there anything else to uncover?’
Garnethia was a capable assistant. If she hadn’t found anything yesterday, there probably wasn’t anything to find today.
And Ricardo had known Lucius for a long time. He wouldn’t be seeing anyone else a month before his engagement. This was probably a wild goose chase.
‘Well, as long as it reassures Her Highness and Lady Garnethia.’
And Ricardo was enjoying this opportunity to skip work. He hadn’t outgrown his love for slacking off. Garnethia tugged on his hood.
“Sir Ricardo, let’s go! We’ll lose him!”
“Yes, yes, coming~”
It was a rather conspicuous tailing job. If Lucius still had his apostle’s power, he would have sensed their mana immediately. But he was just an ordinary person now, albeit one with a lot of Holy Power. He didn’t notice them.
They arrived at the temple. High Priest Valerian rushed out to greet Lucius, his voice filled with concern.
“Lucius! Why are you so late?! And without any notice?!”
“…I apologize, High Priest Valerian.”
“I was worried!”
His concern was genuine, his voice rising in volume despite the onlookers. Lucius apologized repeatedly before Valerian finally calmed down.
“May Madicte’s blessings be with you. What brings you here today?”
Lucius, dressed in clean priestly robes, offered blessings and treated the sick. Garnethia and Ricardo, watching from afar, whispered,
“…Nothing unusual so far, right?”
“He’s almost too diligent.”
Lucius had been raised as a high-ranking noble in Heilan, pampered as an apostle. And he had become the adopted son of Duke Luneus, one of the Four Dukes, in Ravanta. He shouldn’t be accustomed to such menial tasks, and yet, he worked tirelessly, his expression serene.
“He’s also a neat freak, just like Llewellyn. It’s surprising.”
“Does he have any standards?”
Their stakeout gradually turned into a Lucius observation log.
They finally snapped out of their daze when it was time for Lucius to leave. He washed up in the temple’s bathroom, changed into a clean set of clothes he had brought with him, and then left.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Don’t be late tomorrow! And if you are, at least let me know!”
“Yes.”
Lucius, his face tired but also filled with a sense of accomplishment, left the temple, ignoring Valerian’s nagging. Garnethia, exhausted from the long stakeout, didn’t notice Lucius approaching. They were about to be discovered.
“Lady Garnethia, hide!”
“Ah!”
Ricardo quickly pulled her behind a tree. But they couldn’t hide the rustling sound.
‘We’re busted.’
They both thought simultaneously. Lucius glanced in their direction.
They braced themselves, but Lucius, after a brief glance, simply continued walking.
“Huh?”
He was usually more perceptive than even Elonia.
And yet, he hadn’t noticed them? He seemed not just unconcerned, but almost oblivious.
It had been just a fleeting glimpse, but both Ricardo and Garnethia had seen it. The diligent volunteer Lucius from earlier was gone, replaced by a man whose face was pale with shock, his muscles slack, as if all his strength had drained away.
“…Lady Garnethia, we have to follow him.”
“Of course, for Her Highness.”
Garnethia’s determination, fueled by Lucius’s suspicious behavior, was reignited. Lucius returned to the capital and walked towards the largest flower shop in the city.
“Ah, Young Master, welcome.”
“Good evening.”
“Why didn’t you come yesterday? We had some beautiful flowers.”
“Something came up. Ah, can you show me today’s flowers?”
“I have them all ready for you.”
“The hyacinths are lovely. I’ll take those.”
“How about these pink ones as well? You always seem to buy only purple flowers.”
“Ah, did I? I didn’t realize…”
“The recipient must have purple eyes.”
“Haha… I’ll take the pink ones as well.”
Lucius chatted amiably with the florist, like a regular customer. Ricardo and Garnethia, hiding behind the shop, whispered,
“Those are for Her Highness, right? He always buys them here.”
“Shh, Sir Ricardo. It’s too early to relax.”
“Huh?”
“Someone’s coming!”
A figure, hands in their pockets, swaggering towards Lucius, came into view. They couldn’t see their face clearly because of the setting sun, but they didn’t seem friendly.
“W-what do we do? Is that a thug?”
Lucius couldn’t fight. He was helpless.
His body tensed, his fear evident.
Even if he was suspicious, Lucius was still the future consort. They couldn’t let him get beaten up by a street thug.
Garnethia, tugging on Ricardo’s arm, urged him,
“Sir Ricardo, we have to protect Young Master Lucius…!”
“I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“What?”
Ricardo, looking completely unconcerned, even yawned. The reason for his nonchalance was soon revealed as the figure approached, the setting sun no longer obscuring their face.
“Young Master Llewellyn?”
…The “thug” Garnethia had been so worried about was Llewellyn Asta, her dear friend, the handsome genius, Her Highness’s beloved cousin.