TGHB 55

Chapter – 55

“Surely you’re not serious, are you?”

“No? I’m more sincere than anyone.”

“Ugh… Duke!!”

Hudson collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest and groaning.

“To take in an apprentice priest wasn’t enough, and now you’re going to use the ‘Apprentice Priest Patronage System’ as well?”

The ‘Apprentice Priest Patronage System’ was, as the name implies, a system where nobles or wealthy individuals could sponsor apprentice priests.

Typically, young apprentice priests came from poor families or were orphans.

Thus, many became apprentice priests unwillingly, and this system existed for those children.

A patron could sponsor a specific apprentice priest, and the apprentice could use the support to decide their future.

Whether to remain at the temple or not.

In practice, however, the system was rarely used.

‘Because it costs an insane amount!’

To use the system, the patron not only had to support the child but also make a separate donation to the temple.

And the amount of this donation was no small sum.

At least 30 million shillings.

‘Basically, it’s a way to make someone pay the full price for a priest, future potential included.’

“Still… the fact that the Duke is going to use such a ridiculous system…”

“Why not? I have more money than I can spend anyway.”

“Is that your money, Duke?”

“Yes. My money.”

Ah, that makes sense.

Even before becoming a duke, he had been an exceptionally capable businessman.

The trade companies he personally managed made enormous profits, and every investment he made turned into a huge success.

‘No wonder he always acts so high and mighty at those meetings.’

Everything he touched turned into gold, so it was natural for him to be dissatisfied with anything less.

“Well, in that case, I have nothing to say. It’s your money to spend.”

Having made a swift decision, Hudson quickly swallowed some digestive medicine.

“But does Carlos know? Even if you’re using your personal funds, the priest will still be brought under the name of ‘Panteibe,’ right?”

Of course, there was no need to officially register him in the family records.

The patron didn’t have to become the child’s legal guardian. But…

‘Panteibe’s name will firmly remain on the small number of patron slots in the Apprentice Priest Patronage System.’

Carlos was currently Panteibe’s most important elder.

And he, like in the original story, had a strong dislike for the temple.

“If Carlos knows, won’t he throw a fit?”

“That old man’s fine.”

Fine? Hudson looked at Conti in disbelief, but he answered lightly.

“When I brought home the little priest, he rushed over and glared at me.”

…That doesn’t exactly sound fine.

If he rushed over and glared, wouldn’t that be a problem?

“When Marshmallow pleaded while tearing up, he immediately gave in.”

Ah, that explains it. Carlos had completely fallen for his newly born granddaughter.

‘…Well, I guess it was predictable from the start.’

Even now, thinking back to the day he called me to interrogate me about the young duchess still made my temples throb.

“That Marshmallow… something’s suspicious about her.”

“You keep catching yourself looking at her. It’s annoying. You just can’t help staring.”

“And when you watch her, you can’t help but think, ‘She couldn’t possibly be Conti’s blood… but maybe I’ll just pretend she is.’ Even though I’ve only met her twice.”

“That suspicious Marshmallow! What if someone sent her to infiltrate the Duke’s household, disarm everyone, and steal their secrets… Huh? What do you think?”

I had just been going along with his absurd talk, trying not to argue too much.

“Yes… well, I suppose that possibility can’t be entirely ruled out…”

“What?! Are you serious?! You actually think that tiny little child could work as a spy?!”

That answer alone made me want to quit on the spot.

By then, it was clear that Carlos was completely smitten with the young duchess.

He may claim otherwise—or genuinely not know—but it was obvious…

‘Ah, thinking about it again makes me want to quit even more.’

Rubbing his temples, Hudson nodded.

“Nothing here will really be a problem.”

“Exactly. So contact the temple and make arrangements.”

Conti’s humming voice carried a teasing tone.

“Let’s see how much you’re willing to wring out of me.”

“Since the usual patronage donation starts at 30 million shillings… how about 50 million?”

“Pah! It’s Panteibe! We should ask for 100 million shillings.”

“Isn’t 100 million a bit too much? How about 80 million?”

“You’re too timid. The other party is Panteibe! One of the richest nobles in the empire!”

The priests around the table argued back and forth.

In the center of the table was a letter bearing the seal of Panteibe.

It instructed them to decide the donation amount for using the Apprentice Priest Patronage System for the half-breed, Calix.

“Antis, what do you think is appropriate?”

Antis, who had remained silent until now, crooked his lips.

“Hmm… what would be suitable?”

He rubbed his large, bulging belly.

Even without eating, he seemed full.

“Considering it’s Panteibe, we have to give them a reward fitting their status.”

A priest quickly handed him a fresh sheet of paper.

The pen in Antis’s hand slowly moved across it.

“Whoa…”

“Th-that much…?”

The priests were shocked at the amount written in the letter.

“What if the patron thinks it’s too much and cancels their sponsorship?”

Antis snorted.

“That won’t happen.”

He was certain.

“Think about it. How often does Duke Panteibe request something from the temple?”

The priests hesitated.

“Rarely….”

“Exactly. Rarely. If it wasn’t something he truly wanted, he wouldn’t even mention it.”

Judging from the circumstances… the one who actually wanted the half-breed was likely the duchess, not the duke.

That day, the half-breed had come to the temple claiming to visit a friend.

Now it seemed that the ‘friend’ was Calix.

Half-breeds hang out with half-breeds, huh?

‘Well, thanks to this, we’ll make a tidy profit.’

Laughing heartily, Antis’s eyes gleamed as he looked around.

“We must keep this a secret from the clueless priest.”

He meant Manet.

If he reported to the superiors, it would cause trouble and reduce the amount of money they could sneak away.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Hi, Calix.”

“Good day, Your Grace.”

“Hmm. I just said your name out loud.”

Calix firmly shook his head.

“I cannot allow such rudeness.”

“Rudeness? We’re friends, after all.”

“….”

…Oh, I was the only one considering us friends.

Still, instead of forcing the matter, I chose to accept it humbly.

‘It seems my benefactor spoke very little as a child.’

He barely showed emotions or expressions.

Luckily, he responded when spoken to.

But he didn’t seem to express his own opinions or initiative.

…Perhaps it was his way of protecting himself.

If he expressed emotions, he would have to acknowledge the pain and hurt that came with them.

So he chose to suppress his own feelings as much as possible.

‘But that means he’d never experience real joy either.’

Suppressing emotions comes at a cost: in order to suppress sadness, you also suppress joy.

I understood that well from my own experience.

“Rick.”

I reached out my hand, and Calix instinctively reached for mine.

I didn’t let go.

He flinched, his fingers stiffening in surprise, but I held on.

Instead, I said,

“I’ll protect you. So only trust me!”

Just as Calix had once been my benefactor and brought me luck, now it was my turn to be his luck and his benefactor.