🔊 TTS Settings
CHAPTER 07
“Is there really no other way? I don’t even know what’s going on…”
“What do you mean, what’s going on?”
It’s obviously a groom-hunting expedition.
Adele, seated in the carriage, busily rummaged through her luggage. Jacqueline gasped at the dazzling light that poured out from inside.
“When did you even pack that?”
“You want me to go empty-handed?”
Nowhere in the world is there a better source of connections, courage, direction, or guidance than money.
The journey to the temple might not be long, but considering what she had to do there, it was best to bring ample funds.
“I must find a husband before Father gets back.”
“The Count should already be in the East. Once he crosses the Lennox Bridge, he’ll arrive within a week.”
“If that Lennox Bridge collapses, it’ll take at least another week, don’t you think?”
“…It was completed last year. Who on earth would collapse a perfectly fine bridge?”
“Kayden would.”
“Ah…”
Jacqueline immediately nodded and closed her mouth.
If it’s young master Kayden, he could definitely do that.
When it comes to that kind of reliability, he’s in a league of his own. In fact, if he only destroys one bridge, that would be the real surprise.
“Then why don’t you just ask young master to go and bring you a groom? If it’s your order, he’ll drag someone back no matter what.”
“You think he’ll bring them back alive?”
“Ah…”
Jacqueline nodded again without hesitation.
Adele frowned as if annoyed. No matter how devoted Kayden was to her, there were exceptions.
Especially when it came to people around her—he was overly sensitive. Asking him to bring someone usually meant the only available choice was: “How do you want me to kill them?”
“Aren’t you afraid of young master Kayden?”
“Kayden? Why?”
“He’s incredibly handsome, sure, but… sometimes he’s just a little chilling. People say even making eye contact with him makes them tremble.”
“Tremble? He’s practically adorable.”
“Pardon?”
Jacqueline screamed, unable to understand Adele’s standards, but Adele only shrugged, puzzled by her reaction.
“Look more closely. Doesn’t he act just like a dog?”
Sure, he didn’t have ears or a tail, but his behavior reminded her of a wild hunting dog that hadn’t yet been trained.
Would it have been different if his mother had been around?
Apparently, before coming to the Count’s house, he’d been severely abused by his birth mother. For him to have grown up this well was already a great achievement in Adele’s eyes.
‘Not to mention, he’s impeccable when it comes to work.’
Anything Kayden handled never strayed from Adele’s expectations. The reason none of the shadow organizations that typically clung to large merchant guilds dared approach the Yuden Trading Company—was because of Kayden.
Because he himself was the hidden king of the underworld.
“Anyway, you don’t need to worry about him. I made up a good enough excuse.”
“…Right, now we need to worry about you, young lady.”
Jacqueline sighed halfway in resignation and opened the carriage window to ease her nerves.
Far off in the distance, perched atop a mountain, a white fortress came into view. The only permanent snow-capped mountain in the South—the massive temple stood as the epitome of solemnity.
Mount Fidelio.
A famed landmark in the South, but not just anyone could enter.
It was the sacred Grand Temple dedicated to Enes, the founding god of the Tranés Empire. Priests, saintesses, holy knights, and ascetics resided there, and it remained a secretive place.
For imperial citizens, merely looking upon it brought peace of mind. Depending on the person, they saw something different.
To some, it was peace. To others, faith and courage. And to Adele?
She saw something much more concrete.
‘That’s where my future husband is.’
If it’s a beautiful temple, wouldn’t it be nice if there were beautiful husbands too?
It was a reckless thought, sure, but when she thought it through, there was no better potential husband material than the holy knights of the temple.
Although religious freedom was guaranteed in the empire, Mount Fidelio was under strict imperial control.
It was a sacred place said to be imbued with holy energy since ancient times—practically a cultural heritage.
Comparable to Myeongdong Cathedral situated inside a national park in Korea.
Even to begin training there, one needed impeccable background, identity, strength, and potential.
If you lacked in even one of those areas, you wouldn’t be admitted. What better place could there be for groom-hunting?
…Though they might lack in that department.
Adele leaned her chin on her arm resting against the window frame with a sigh.
What could she do? They were holy men, unlikely to indulge in carnal desires.
Which was fine by her.
Since it would be a contractual marriage anyway, she’d rather have a reserved husband than one who couldn’t control his lust and caused all sorts of trouble.
‘Not like I’ll be checking myself.’
Even if every man in the world was impotent, as long as her man wasn’t, it didn’t matter. She’d save those worries for her real husband someday. For now, appearance was all that mattered.
“Young lady, but do holy knights in the temple even get married? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“It’s rare, but they do. It’s not illegal or anything.”
Adele quickly dispelled Jacqueline’s concern.
As if she hadn’t done her research before coming all the way out here.
To most people, associating sacred temples with marriage might feel unnatural.
But until just yesterday, Adele had been the sole heir to the prestigious Sergio family. A magnet for every profitable piece of information—including religious data.
To join the temple, one must first endure grueling training at an affiliated monastery.
Afterward, based on the attributes of the power they gained and their will, they’d be assigned as either priests or holy knights. Nine out of ten fail to make it that far.
One could say it was too harsh, but that very system helped maintain the temple’s noble reputation.
If just anyone could get in, it wouldn’t be so revered.
“Maybe priests shouldn’t marry, but holy knights? They’ve got nothing to lose. Sure, it’s an honor for a family to have a son in the temple, but they’re not going to send their heir, right?”
“Right. Especially since there’s no guarantee they’ll make it. I heard some even die during training.”
“Exactly. Even if they make it, they end up broke and titleless—a fancy failure. So of course they’d want some retirement insurance while they’re still young.”
Adele gets a capable husband, and the knight gets a powerful sponsor. Win-win.
“Mistress, we’re approaching the entrance. What shall we do?”
“Hold on a minute!”
As the driver called out, Adele shut the window and busied herself rummaging again. Beside her, Jacqueline looked increasingly nervous.
“I understand your reasoning, but will they even let us into the monastery? What if they turn us away at the door? It’s not like we can sneak in.”
“Who’s sneaking in?”
She had her pride as the heir to the ruling Sergio family in the South.
Adele replied coolly and finally pulled her hand out of the bag. Jacqueline leaned in to see what she was holding.
“D-Don’t tell me you’re going to bribe them?”
“…What are you talking about?”
What Adele held wasn’t gold or stacks of bills.
It was slightly larger, thicker than cash—and endless in length… kind of like a receipt.
“I’ve already thrown enough money at this. I’m not throwing more.”
“T-Then…?”
Shff.
Adele narrowed one eye, as if giving a warning, and looked proudly at the papers in her hand.
This—this was the most satisfying and thrilling moment of being born a chaebol’s daughter.
“Of course, I’m here to collect.”
