Chapter 47
Early in the morning, Aiden was watering the flower beds around the temple.
As he moved his hand, the clear water that had pooled in his palm suddenly spurted out and soaked the ground.
The water-soaked buds glistened in the sunlight. A faint smile spread across Aiden’s lips as he looked at it.
“I’ll see your flowers in the summer.”
Every morning, managing the flower beds was one of his tasks.
At that time, heavy footsteps began to ring in the temple, where only peaceful birds chirped moments ago.
When Aiden turned around, he saw Rupel, the commander of the Holy Knights, approaching his way.
At the same time, the smile disappeared from Aiden’s lips. He had an idea of what news he had brought.
“Your Holiness.”
“What happened?”
“I looked in the vicinity of the territory of Tearyl in the west and the docks in the north of the islands, but I didn’t find anything strange or suspicious.”
“…I see.”
Aiden started watering the flower bed again with a calm expression.
Even before the return of the Holy Knight Commander, he was expecting that he would not be able to bring the news he was hoping for.
Long before they were expected to arrive at the dock, the evil energy felt near that place disappeared.
“Let’s expand our search.”
The commander of the Holy Knights said without a single ounce of hesitation in his bloodshot eyes as he hadn’t slept for several nights.
The Holy Knights he led consisted only of those who belonged to the temple, not the Empire.
On the surface, this was a gathering place only for faithful people who turned to God, but in reality, it was a gathering place for those who did not receive any titles from the family but wanted to protect their honor.
Some nobles ridiculed them as ‘the chaff knights’, but Aiden regarded them as his own people without discrimination and cherished them.
Because of that, the loyalty of the Holy Knights towards Aiden was great.
Seeing Rupel’s tired look, Aiden dissuaded the will of the Holy Knights Commander.
“No, that’s enough. Thank you for your efforts. You must be tired, so take a good rest today, and be vigilant from tomorrow.”
“I accept your divine will.”
The commander of the Holy Knights bowed to Aiden and withdrew.
Then he saw another person behind him.
Aiden’s face lit up when he saw that face.
Olivia, who had already approached Aiden, bowed slightly, her face shone brightly.
“Long time no see, Holy Father.”
“It’s been a while, madam.”
Likewise, bowing slightly to her, Aiden smiled when she found Lizzie hiding behind her dress.
She was the one who kept his old friend Olivia away from him for the last few years.
Aiden sat at eye level with the child.
“Nice to meet you, Lizzie.
“Hello…”
Lizzie bowed to Aiden in a crawling voice and hid behind Olivia again.
However, her gaze filled with curiosity and fear was fixed on Aiden.
“Let’s not stay here, let’s head inside.”
Aiden asked a nearby messenger boy to prepare some tea and then led Olivia and Lizzie into the temple.
Olivia, who followed Aiden while examining around, frowned upon finding traces of time in every corner of the temple.
“I asked you to use the last donation only for the temple, but did you give it to people again?”
“I gave it to those who needed it more urgently. Helping them is for the temple.”
“If it’s for them, make something like a god’s book and sell it to the nobles. With that money, you can help them and renovate the temple, right? That’s what other kingdoms do.”
The ‘God’s book’ was a certificate indicating that the bearer had accumulated many virtues during his lifetime and was qualified to go to the side of God.
People believed that if they were buried together with it in a coffin, they could die and go to the side of the gods.
In the temples of the surrounding kingdoms, they used to accumulate wealth by selling it for money, but the royal family did not suffer from the soaring price.
Aiden smirked at Olivia’s comment.
“The princess still talks about ways to disrupt the system.”
Julia’s necklace was still hanging around Aiden’s neck as he said that.
Olivia stared at the old friend’s memento, then replied.
“…and you have not changed at all.”
The two finally arrived at the drawing-room inside the temple and had tea.
In the meantime, Lizzie, who had been shy with Aiden, soon became accustomed due to the dried fruit given by Aiden at the end of their tea time.
Aiden, who had finished his tea, put the cup down. It was time to go pray.
“Who have you come to pray for today?”
At Aiden’s question, Olivia naturally tried to mention her family, but remembered the other person and answered with a smile.
“Today, I’m going to pray for a new friend.”
The ship of Arden’s guild anchored at a nearby dock early in the morning.
Elisha, Richard, and Anne rode a wagon all day and arrived at the Duke’s mansion late at night.
As soon as they entered the mansion, all the workers and knights, including the butler Grayson, greeted Elisha with tears in their eyes.
“Madam!”
Of course, Thompson was the loudest among them.
“Ma’am, you can live without Rubellin, but we can’t live without you, madam. Please don’t abandon us.”
“That’s right. Your Excellency is still not good at territorial work.”
“Without you, he’ll probably be clumsy all his life.”
Agail agreed with Thompson’s words.
Richard looked at the cheeky subordinates who were scolding him right in his face, but he didn’t say anything perhaps because they were in front of Elisha.
Elisha was embarrassed that she had run away without saying a word to them, but she was also grateful for those who welcomed her nonetheless.
And she, too, was glad to see them again.
“I’m sorry. I made everyone worry.”
“I’m glad you’re safe, madam.”
Grayson greeted Elisha with a smile.
“It’s still windy in the evening. Please don’t stay here and go in. We have prepared a simple meal for you.”
Elisha headed to the dining room with Richard. There were several dishes on the table.
Salad with ricotta cheese and tomatoes, sweet and sour green grapes, apple juice, and bread baked without butter were prepared for Elisha, who suffers from morning sickness.
Although Elisa felt uncomfortable, she started eating out of consideration of the sincerity of those who prepared it. Fortunately, the salad and fruit were her taste and easily entered her mouth.
The problem was the bread.
From the onset of morning sickness, she couldn’t even smell the bread. And again today, the child in her womb refused the bread.
“Uugg…”
Elisha ran out of the dining room because she couldn’t stand the nausea.
“Elisha!”
“Madam!”
Richard, who was watching Elisa with worried eyes, and Anne, who was next to her, followed Elisha.
As soon as Anne held out the bucket, Elisha threw up.
Richard hugged Elisha, who collapsed as if exhausted.
“… I’m sorry, Elisha.”
Elisha was exhausted for a moment and then struggled to get up.
“Finish your meal, Richard. I’ll go upstairs first.”
Elisha went up to the room with Anne’s help.
Richard looked at Elisa’s back worriedly and bit his lip.
‘I can’t believe you tried to handle this alone.’
He felt relieved that he didn’t miss her anymore, but on the contrary, now he felt guilty that he couldn’t do anything for her even though he was right next to her.
Thompson and Agail, who were watching Richard, approached him.
“When did you secretly create an heir?”
Richard’s eyes blazed at Thompson’s tactless prank.
Agail elbowed Thompson at the hint.
Thompson realized it wasn’t the right time to play around and coughed awkwardly.
“Well. Anyway, that’s not the point of what I’m saying, you should give her your devil strength.”
“…”
“Your Excellency can’t be in pain for her, so we should please her with a party, a gift, or something like that.”
Richard paid attention to Thompson’s gibberish for the first time in a while.
“Did you say congratulations, I’m happy, or something like that?”
“…It escaped my mind.”
“Oho, that’s not right. If you don’t do it when she’s pregnant, it’ll haunt you for the rest of your life.”
Richard, who had been silently listening to Thompson’s enthusiastic speech, asked.
“How do you know, when you’re not even married?”
Thompson was startled by Richard’s sudden attack and then responded softly with a hurt expression.
“That’s… I’m a prepared man.”
Agail next to him burst into laughter.
Thompson glared at Agail.
“Who are you laughing at? You’re the same.”
The smile disappeared from Agail’s face at Thompson’s counterattack.
Thompson Leit, twenty-eight, and Agail Richester, twenty-five. The two were old bachelors who had never been in a relationship before.
Agail, who glared at Thompson for a moment, returned to the topic.
“But, Madam is not yet stable, so I think it would be a little burdensome to hold a party that is too big.”
“Also, she barely eats.”
Grayson, who was nearby, also joined the conversation trying to help.
But Thompson waved his index finger as if their concerns were insignificant.
“It doesn’t matter. We don’t need food or stuff for this party.”
Richard, Agail, and Grayson looked at Thompson with curious eyes.
Thompson’s sly eyes were directed at Richard.
Elisha came out after taking a simple bath.
Anne put some fragrance on Elisha’s body and dressed her in a light-blue nightgown.
But today something felt different.
Nightgown that seems more elegant than usual, and hair that is finely curled on one side.
‘I think something is going on…’
Elisha entered the bedroom with a dubious expression.
At that moment, she could immediately see why Anne was more concerned about her sleeping clothes than usual.
Glittering light-emitting stones were placed throughout the darkened bedroom, and petals were scattered around it.
“Beautiful…”
As Elisha stopped at the entrance to the bedroom and looked around, the door opened from behind her.