Published: August 15, 2025
I braced myself, thinking I had to report to the high priest, and patiently waited for the ceremony to end. Until now, all the letters and correspondence addressed personally to the head priest had come from commoners who seemed to have been given favors, and none had arrived from the nobility.
This was probably because the nobles in this territory were immediately informed about the head priest’s arrest along with the nobles from other territories, as well as the lord’s mother’s confinement.
However, the capture of the lord’s mother and her faction was quite shocking. I wasn’t sure if a gag order had been imposed to prevent this matter from leaking to other territories, and I felt a cold chill run down my spine.
…Could it be that I’ve done something terribly wrong?
Nervously awaiting the end of the ceremony, a white bird flew in.
It looked like an Ordnance, but a bit smaller. On the desk, it transformed into two letters and fluttered down in front of me. When I picked them up and looked, one was the reply letter I had written, and the other was a response to it.
The letter expressed condolences for the head priest’s death and politely thanked me for the notification. I sighed in relief that it wasn’t a frantic letter demanding "Tell me more!" or "Why did this happen!?".
There was no letter included for a reply, so I judged that no response was necessary.
“Lady Rosemine, the dedication ceremony seems to have concluded.”
I heard the sound of azure priests filing down the corridor, followed by the high priest and the gray priests carrying the Lesser Holy Grails that were filled with mana during today’s dedication ceremony.
Fran opened the cupboard to place the Lesser Holy Grails, and several gray priests arranged them one by one.
Watching this, I decided to tell the high priest about the letter.
“High Priest, um, a letter addressed to the head priest has arrived…”
He must be tired. With a dismissive gesture as if to say not to bother him with trivial matters, the high priest lightly waved his hand.
“Ah, so the letters are still coming. As usual, inform them of the death.”
“I already did. After that, we received a letter of condolences and thanks…”
“I see. Then that’s sufficient.”
It seemed the high priest was annoyed by the azure priests who had been close to the former head priest during today’s dedication ceremony, as a deep crease formed between his brows.
I thought it better not to bother him much today, but I wanted to clear up my concerns. Taking a slow breath, I spoke to him again.
“Um, just one thing, please.”
“What is it?”
He glared at me sharply, as if to ask if there was anything else. I flinched for a moment but nodded.
“Is there a gag order to prevent the head priest’s death from leaking to other territories?”
“No, nothing special. A gag order is in place regarding the lord’s mother’s punishment and confinement, to avoid giving other territories an opening. But there is none regarding the head priest’s life or death. You have replied to letters before, haven’t you? What are you worried about now?”
“No, that’s good then. Sorry to bother you when you’re tired.”
…Safe. It seems I didn’t make a huge mistake.
It appears there is no particular problem in informing the secret lover-like woman of the head priest’s death. I breathed a sigh of relief.
…I’m glad I don’t have to be questioned about everything.
Exposing the head priest’s pure love to the high priest would be like beating a dead man, and it pains me. The high priest is someone who thoroughly exploits anything usable. I shudder just thinking about what might happen to the woman, who doesn’t even know the name of her pen pal.
Though I was flustered by the letter written with a magic tool I had never seen before, just as the high priest said, there had been many letters to the head priest before. The woman’s letter was just one of them.
Thinking this eased my mind all at once, and I relaxed my shoulders.