MHHC Chapter 71

Shelter

Margaret's words alone felt like sufficient compensation for three grueling years.

To hear that the servants followed her not because of Valentin, but because of her own demeanor and character—that single acknowledgment.

Those words were as sweet as a sip of water to Adelheid, who had been withering from a thirst for recognition.

"..."

As the atmosphere tilted too far toward the sentimental, Donovan cleared his throat and asked.

"So where do we go now?"

"Ah."

Adelheid collected herself and checked the note Luisa had given her.

"According to the information we received... here, it says she's at the 'Shelter' sponsored by the Grand Cathedral."

"The Shelter?"

Donovan and Margaret's expressions soured simultaneously.

"In the north, don't they call the places that take in homeless people during winter 'shelters'? They only operate for about a week when the north wind is at its fiercest, then close. But it's spring now, isn't it?"

"In warm regions like Pragma and Bayern, they're closer to halfway houses. They operate year-round. They charge money to care for the elderly, and they're also where retired priests stay."

"...Greta is in a place like that? Of course, if it came through that mercenary band, it must be reliable information, but..."

Though he said this, Donovan raised his eyebrows with naked suspicion about the information.

"They also operate for pilgrims to the holy sites. They charge a certain amount and provide meals and lodging, from what I understand. But..."

"Is there a problem?"

"I'm not sure Greta has that kind of money."

If she'd had enough money for minimal living expenses, Charlotte wouldn't have referred to her as a 'beggar.'

According to what had been witnessed just days ago, hadn't she been homeless, sleeping on the streets with nowhere to go? At Adelheid's words, Margaret opened her mouth with a hardened expression.

"Who could be backing her?"

"That's... something we'll need to properly verify."

At Donovan's words, Adelheid nodded in agreement.

If Greta truly fled of her own pure volition, trusting whoever was backing her, then respecting that decision would be the final courtesy owed to her.

"This way."

They squeezed through the gaps between the tangled carriages and mercenaries, the citizens excited by the rare festival, and returned to the main square.

If the imperial palace stood directly ahead centered on the main road, the Grand Cathedral was located on a hill diagonal to the palace.

And the Shelter sat at the base of that very hill.

It was while they were moving at a brisk pace.

"Your Grace, a moment."

Donovan approached close as if to adjust Adelheid's tangled hood strings.

Then he leaned slightly toward her and whispered.

"Don't be alarmed when you hear this. Someone is following us."

Adelheid's shoulders twitched ever so slightly. Suppressing the urge to look around, she asked.

"Us?"

"I've been feeling eyes on us since we left the Hawk Claw mercenary building. They seem to have been following since then. At first I thought it might be a pickpocket, but..."

Donovan said, carefully shifting his gaze.

"It seems to be someone quite skilled at erasing their presence. At minimum, a mercenary, or possibly a knight."

"Then what should we do now?"

"For now, it would be best to get inside the Shelter as quickly as possible. I sense one person, but more of their group might be following at a greater distance."

Donovan made a sound like clicking his tongue and continued.

"Normally, no matter the distance, I could at least roughly gauge their numbers, but of all days, today's a festival... Don't worry too much."

"Then we should hurry."

They moved swiftly. Soon a white building with a low ceiling revealed itself.

The main gate stood wide open, and lower-ranking priests of the Grand Cathedral could be seen bustling back and forth inside.

The holy knights guarding the open gate barred their path with spears.

"What is your business? We are not currently accepting travelers."

Adelheid replied calmly.

"I've come to see High Priest Padre."

"High Priest Padre? Then you should go to the Cathedral. Not here—if you go up that hill over there, you'll see it."

"I received word to wait for him here."

"...You received word? What is your name?"

"Adelheid. Adelheid Ansgar."

The moment Adelheid spoke, Donovan pulled from his coat the token proving their Ansgar identity.

The holy knight received the token with both hands, verified it, and hastily snapped to attention.

"Ah. My apologies."

The holy knights recognized from the name 'Ansgar' that she was the much-rumored Grand Duchess.

Uncomfortable observational gazes attached themselves to her with naked curiosity.

The holy knight returned the token to Donovan and continued.

"If you pass through the central garden and go down the stairs on the right, you'll come directly to the reception room. The Shelter interior is complex—shall I assign you a guide?"

"No. That's all right. I'll look around slowly."

"Understood."

As the distance from the holy knights widened, Donovan immediately murmured.

"Did you truly arrange to meet the High Priest here?"

"Strictly speaking, no."

At those words, Margaret and Donovan stopped in place simultaneously. Margaret's eyes had even grown so wide they looked ready to pop halfway out.

"Your Grace..."

"What on earth were you thinking, lying like that?"

Donovan questioned Adelheid quietly, then made eye contact with one of the holy knights who had been watching them suspiciously, and smiled broadly while waving his hand.

All the while continuing to scold Adelheid with his mouth.

"Please consult with me before pulling stunts like this. Even I can't take on all the holy knights."

While saying this, Donovan narrowed his eyes as if gauging how to handle the holy knights.

As if it weren't entirely impossible.

When Adelheid stared at him in disbelief at his actions contradicting his words, he stated confidently.

"Well, it would be somewhat difficult, but not entirely impossible. Of course, it wouldn't compare to our Grand Duke."

"...Does the Grand Duke handle the sword that well?"

"Yes. He was already tremendous, but after 'that incident'—whew, just watching a sparring match is enough to make your flesh tremble."

"..."

"Now then, what to do... If I were alone, breaking through the front would be best, but..."

"There's no need to be that tense."

At those words, the heads of Donovan and Margaret, who had been earnestly surveying the surroundings, whipped back to Adelheid.

At their reaction, Adelheid smiled, forgetting even her tension.

"Priest Padre will exercise reasonable flexibility. He's cared for me since I was young. And it's true that he told me to visit at least once if I came to the capital."

"No... If that's the case, you should have said so from the beginning."

Donovan grumbled and loosened the hand he'd placed on his sword hilt.

"At any rate, I can relax a bit now."

"The real question is whether Greta is truly here."

Adelheid took a step deeper into the Shelter's interior as she spoke.

Passing through the enormous arch built in imitation of ancient architecture, a long waterway appeared. Gardens were cultivated on both sides, and galleries and buildings stood on either side of the central garden.

The style was elegant, yet laundry hung inexplicably in various corridors, lending a lived-in feeling.

Margaret spoke with a somewhat relaxed face.

"Wouldn't it be faster to inquire with that passing priest? Though the name 'Greta' is common, there probably aren't two of them staying in a place like this."

"That would certainly be the most effective solution."

Adelheid nodded, but she couldn't be certain whether it was safe to tell anyone they were searching for Greta.

At first she'd thought it might have been Padre who allowed Greta to stay at the Shelter, but if it had been Padre, he would have sent word to Adelheid separately the moment he discovered Greta.

'The worst assumption would be that Grand Prince Oskar is backing Greta...'

She didn't know what connections Oskar might have with Pragma's Grand Cathedral, but if her assumption was correct, she would need to exercise extreme caution.

Oskar was openly aiming for the position of Grand Duke of Ansgar, and had even proposed an escape route to Adelheid through Greta.

'Moreover, Greta suspected that Valentin might be the Dragon of Bitzleben. If Greta let such words slip to Oskar before losing her voice, Oskar would have wanted to get Greta under his control by any means. She could become an important witness if necessary.'

At first she'd suspected the Crown Prince as well, but the Crown Prince had no connection whatsoever with Greta.

Even if he'd happened to discover a maid who'd fled from Ansgar, he wouldn't have placed much value on her.

But if it were Oskar—

'The choice of a "Shelter" rather than an inn makes sense then too. It would be the choice of someone convinced Valentin is a monster.'

Then could Oskar possibly be staying here as well? At the eerie assumption, Adelheid's shoulders trembled once.

Donovan glanced at her and asked with concern.

"Are you cold?"

"Just... a terrible thought suddenly occurred to me."

"You too, Your Grace? Actually, I've been quite worried myself."

Adelheid looked at him with wide eyes. Could Donovan also be thinking that Oskar might be involved in this incident?