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Chapter – 54
Contee listened to Antis’ story with dead eyes.
“Boring.”
There were plenty of things he rambled about, but the conclusion was always the same: “Why not donate some money?”
Tsk.
Clicking his tongue, he lightly ignored Antis and sipped his tea.
There was nowhere appropriate to go in the temple, so he thought he’d just wait for Melony, who had left him behind, while drinking tea…
“Made the wrong choice.”
That greedy priest was unexpectedly persistent and talkative.
Even if he ignored him, he never stopped talking.
“Maybe I should just go look for some marshmallows.”
It was then.
“…Abadi.”
“Abadi. Appa. Appaaah….”
Melony’s trembling voice reached him through the shadows.
“Oh dear.”
Contee’s expression instantly turned grim at a sob that was hard to hear.
The smile he always carried disappeared coldly.
“D-Duke…?”
The sudden change in atmosphere made even Antis, who had been talking non-stop until now, stop.
“I should go now.”
“Eh?”
“My daughter is calling me.”
With a flick of his finger, Contee stood from his seat.
He checked the direction of the sun and headed toward the area where his shadow was the darkest.
Without hesitation, he leapt into his shadow.
“Wha—?!”
Only Antis could do nothing but stare in shock as the duke vanished in an instant.
After some time had passed…
“Antis. The Duke… wants you. But the situation isn’t good.”
“The situation isn’t good?”
“Yes. You should come quickly.”
Matthew answered Antis anxiously.
‘This doesn’t feel right….’
Antis followed behind Matthew, unable to hide his unease.
And the sight that awaited them was…
“I didn’t expect the temple to be such a place.”
“…….”
“They imprisoned a seven-year-old trainee priest and even starved him.”
“D-Duke… perhaps this is some misunderstanding—.”
“People would find it amusing if they knew. Don’t you think?”
Beads of sweat began forming on his forehead.
The situation was going badly.
That evening.
“Damn it. To be manipulated by that damn duke…!”
Antis slammed his fist on the desk in anger.
“This child is coming with me.”
“Eh? Th-That’s impossible! No matter how much of a trainee he is, taking a priest without permission—.”
“You say it’s impossible?”
“…W-Well…”
“Do you really think that’s the best answer?”
The duke tilted his head slightly with a gentle smile.
“If it were me, I wouldn’t make a foolish choice.”
In the end, Antis had no choice but to hand over Calix.
At least…
“One week. You must return him after a week. Otherwise, I’ll inform the temple and the royal court!”
That was all he added.
Thinking back, it didn’t even need to be said.
‘There’s no evidence…!’
The Panthebere Temple had very few priests.
The trainee priests wouldn’t dare argue, and all the other priests were on his side.
Except for one.
Though Manette could be an issue…
‘One person could’ve been silenced.’
If they all coordinated…
‘We locked the door without knowing the child was inside. It was too dark to see.’
It would have been an easy solution.
Moreover, that hybrid wasn’t even a “magic user” rejected by the empire.
The public would surely side with them over the cowardly, traitorous hybrid.
‘Yet I ended up yielding the child because of the duke’s presence….’
It hurt his pride to the point of destruction.
“Damn Panthebere people.”
Bang—!
Muttering, he slammed the desk again.
The flame of anger blazed in his greed-filled eyes.
“Why isn’t he waking…?”
“Don’t worry. He’ll regain his strength soon.”
“Really?”
“Yes, of course. Now go eat; I’ll watch over your friend.”
Hurriedly, urged by Aina’s kindness, I nodded and left the room.
Still, I couldn’t stop glancing back.
At Calix’s face, quietly sleeping on the Panthebere guest bed.
Sigh.
‘It’s already been a whole day since arriving at the duke’s….’
I didn’t know when he would wake up.
His emaciated stomach looked pitiful.
If he didn’t wake up like this, what would happen…?
‘No! Don’t think like that.’
I shook my head vigorously to clear the negative thoughts.
‘Calix will wake up for sure!’
Even before returning, he had grown up very strong.
Yes, absolutely!
‘I’ll eat quickly and come back to take care of him!’
I forced a smile and ran to the dining room.
Fortunately, Calix opened his eyes that evening.
“Where am I…?”
“You’re in Panthebere’s guest room, little guest.”
“…Panthebere?”
Hearing the duke’s words, Calix blinked and asked again.
I poked my face between them.
“Yes. Panthebere! Abadi brought you here!”
The boy, who had been indifferent until now, widened his eyes slightly.
“I thought trainee priests weren’t allowed to leave the temple.”
“Not everyone has the same rules,” the crooked duke said with a faint smile.
Huh?
I suddenly felt myself being lifted.
Before I realized it, I was in the duke’s arms.
“Well, the temple is throwing a fit, insisting you must be returned after a week.”
I pouted at the duke’s words.
‘The temple is so annoying.’
They starved and locked up a child, and now they only get a week of rest before being sent back?
‘Won’t they be even harsher when he returns…?’
Seeing how much trouble the temple was making, they were probably getting quite agitated.
But unlike me, who was worrying…
“Well, I’ll assume you’ll go back after a week.”
Calix seemed completely unconcerned.
His calm voice sounded as if he were merely checking his schedule.
“Hmm.”
The crooked duke rested his hand on my head and gently ruffled my hair.
“…Huh?”
“Nowadays, kids have it tough.”
I tilted my head, puzzled by his words, and he patted my messy hair repeatedly.
Only after messing up my hair did he stop.
Seeing me blink with my hair disheveled, the duke’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.
“There, little guest.”
“Yes, Duke.”
“Be honest.”
“About what?”
“Do you want to go back to that damn temple?”
Calix fell silent at the duke’s question.
He seemed to understand the point.
His calm gaze quietly met the duke’s.
Then—
‘Huh. Our eyes met.’
He glanced at me. It was brief, but his golden eyes lingered before moving away.
“Would choosing not to go back mean going far away?”
“Well, if you want to go far, yes.”
“And if I don’t want to be far from here?”
“That too is up to you.”
The duke shrugged lazily and added with a smile:
“I’m lenient with my daughter’s friends.”
Blink.
I fiddled with my fingers and looked up at the duke.
As if he already knew I was watching, he looked down at me.
His long fingers gently lifted my hair from my forehead.
“Of course, it’s the same the other way around.”
If anyone bothers our marshmallow, they’ll face hell.
“Be close friends with my daughter, little guest.”
