Published: September 6, 2025
“The clothes are in terrible condition, but I’m glad everyone is safe.”
“I never expected Lady Rosemine to lead the knights to come to our rescue. I’m truly grateful.”
The clothes that the High Priest brought for the gray priests were difficult to remove because they were still on the self-eater soldiers. Two sets had the front completely cut off. The other two sets were probably removed beforehand to prevent the gray priests from escaping or were intended as replacements for later; they were rolled up inside the carriage.
The two who ended up wearing the tattered clothes desperately held the front together, but it was better than nothing. Once back at the orphanage, Wilma could be asked to prepare new clothes.
“Conrad saw the gatekeeper being abducted through the orphanage window, so we were able to hurry to help right away. Please show Conrad that you are safe when you return.”
“Yes.”
After placing the gray priests in the back seat of the mini bus, Judith sat in the passenger seat, and they hurried back to the temple.
“…Lady Rosemine, I’m still a minor, but I left the Noble District. Will there be a penalty?”
Now that the gray priests had been rescued, Judith suddenly remembered she was underage and not supposed to leave the Noble District on a mission. However, there was no problem.
“Judith, you did not leave the Noble District. What are you talking about?”
“Huh? Eh?”
“The High Priest said, didn’t he? That this matter would never be made public. The gray priests were never abducted, and we never left the temple.”
Including the theft of the Sacred Scripture, it was as if nothing had happened. Since they technically never left the temple, there would be no penalty.
“More importantly, please send an Ordnance to the temple.”
“Yes!”
Since Judith sent the Ordnance while riding in the passenger seat, Leonore, Fran, and Wilma were waiting to greet them upon arrival at the temple.
“Wilma, all the gray priests are safe. However, their clothes are tattered, so please prepare new ones. Also, please arrange for them to rest for the remainder of the day.”
“Understood. Lady Rosemine, everyone, thank you for rescuing them.”
Wilma looked around at everyone present with a smile that crept across her face as if she had been the one saved. She seemed truly happy.
“You didn’t just save them, but also saved all the orphans who thought they would be abandoned even if something happened to themselves. I am sincerely grateful.”
At Wilma’s words, my aides returned her complex smile. Watching Wilma and the gray priests head toward the orphanage, Darmel muttered quietly.
“We only followed Lady Rosemine’s orders, so if the same thing happens again without orders, we won’t help the gray priests. Still, it’s nice to be thanked like this.”
“Oh, next time I will order the same thing again, so they will be saved. That much is for sure.”
I said this while looking over my aides, then fixed my gaze on Leonore, who was waiting for the right time to report.
“So, what exactly happened, Leonore? I heard Hartmut went berserk…”
“Seeing it yourself would be the quickest way.”
Leonore said with a tired expression and headed toward the section with the blue priests’ rooms, different from where the High Priest’s office and the head priest’s office were. She matched my walking pace, so although I wanted to hold my head, it didn’t seem to be an urgent matter.
“Oh, is the High Priest coming along as well?”
“Since Hartmut should be using my attendants, he can’t be uninvolved. None of my attendants went to greet, so I’m a little worried.”
Having the High Priest come with us was very reassuring.
“If Hartmut becomes too much for me, I’ll ask the High Priest, okay?”
“He’s your aide. You handle it.”
When the High Priest spoke harshly like that, we arrived at our destination. Standing in front of a door was a gray priest. Upon seeing us, he visibly exhaled in relief and immediately opened the door.