SALP Chapter 22

"We've already gathered seven people. Let's keep our spirits up until the day we catch up to Batiya Temple's congregation numbers!"

"Will that day really come? I hear over 500 people gather at Batiya Temple every week."

"Oh my, pessimism is no good! That's not like Hestan!"

"Let's have hope. Miss Lanthe is a beauty, so a few blind men might follow along."

"Oh my, such words are rude to both Miss Lanthe and the gentlemen!"

"Now, now. A meal has been prepared, so everyone please move to the dining hall and continue your conversation."

The church had a total of three workers—Father Conor, Priestess Mari, and a monk who helped with tasks.

It seemed that after worship each week, about ten people including the congregation gathered for a meal together. There didn't appear to be any particularly wealthy members, so how did they manage the cost of preparing meals?

She simply found it mysterious that the church was maintained at all. The "library"—the word felt too grand for what it was, and yet the costs of stocking it were genuinely mysterious.

"Batiya Temple probably had over a thousand people gather today, right? Everyone really loves the feast of St. Marca. My neighborhood has all sorts of decorations even in the streets, so it's very splendid. It really is pretty to look at."

St. Marca had been from Batiya Temple. But Hestan was a monotheistic faith that worshipped only their own deity and was somewhat negative about humans using magic, so the feast of St. Marca was a commemoration day unrelated to them.

However, the fact that Hermea's gates closed on this day was relevant to everyone living in Hermea.

"What happens when the gates close? Can no one enter or leave Hermea now?"

Lanthe asked the question she'd been curious about.

"No. Even when the gates are closed, there's at least some flexibility. If you get a pass guaranteeing winter passage in advance, you can freely enter and exit as the pass holder. But getting new passage permission during this period is difficult. Unless you're someone high-ranking enough to have an audience with our lord."

Then what about Fiarelle? Derek? Wasn't someone with the title of "king" in the Allied Kingdoms high-ranking enough?

However, from what she'd heard from Fiarelle last time, Derek was apparently going to invade some territory again this winter. Since he said she would accompany him to the front as his queen, they would likely be spending a long time on the battlefield.

I'm definitely safe until winter, right? King Derek and Fiarelle who went to war on the opposite side of the territory wouldn't have any reason to come here...

War.

Vigo suddenly came to mind. He too had gone to the Northern Sea to fight. According to the knights, he'd just have the small-scale battles that occasionally occurred during regular inspections, but still, it was war where people died and got hurt.

When would he return?

The Northern Sea was close to here and three days had already passed...

"You waited a long time, didn't you, Sir Rix? People were disappointed that you didn't eat with us."

Lanthe slipped out of the church a bit earlier than the other congregants.

"Ah, is that so? I'm grateful for the consideration, but I'm also a bit uncomfortable at this church."

Rix had been waiting outside the yard fence just as Warner had done last time. Crunching on a piece of hard bread.

"You'll be hungry eating only that."

"It's fine. I can eat again later at the dining hall."

"I don't know why everyone's so afraid of Father Conor. He's a good person except for nagging a bit."

"Well, I don't know anything about it."

Rix muttered with a look that was obviously suspicious, then quickly started walking ahead. Lanthe hurried after him, clutching the snacks and flowers she'd received from the congregants.

"Sir Rix is Hermea's biggest knight, yet you're afraid of our small, dignified priest."

"Ahem. That's because Miss Lanthe doesn't know Father Conor well yet."

"I know him well now though? He's our priest? A handsome and kind clergyman?"

"Yes, yes. You're a member of his church anyway, Miss Lanthe, so it's probably better if you continue not knowing."

Lanthe smiled and stood on tiptoe to place the flower necklace around his neck.

"Sir Rix is a coward. A great big teddy bear—hiding behind a rabbit."

He made a face of distaste but didn't remove the flower necklace.

"Yes, yes. I'm a bear that didn't quite become human."

Teasing him as they walked, they soon reached the main building.

The path seemed somehow quiet. She'd expected some grand event since it was a special feast day and the day the gates closed, but the area around the lord's residence had an even quieter atmosphere than usual.

Quiet and... somehow darker than it should have been.

"Vice Commander Rix!"

A young man came running from the main building. Lanthe had glimpsed him in passing before. Someone who worked at the forge?

"Hurry upstairs. Our lord has returned."

"Really? I didn't see the hawk fly."

"Quickly. The healing priest from Batiya Temple just went up too. Hurry."

The young man kept gesturing for him to hurry while glancing at Lanthe. As if he actually wanted to tell Lanthe, not Rix.

Vigo returned?

A healing priest followed him?

"Vigo..."

War.

Lanthe pushed past Rix and rushed forward.

She nearly tripped on her skirt hem several times running up the stairs in a frenzy. Rix, who'd been trying to hold her back telling her not to run, eventually scooped her up and headed for the third floor.

"Sir Warner! Where's our lord?"

Finding Warner at the entrance to Vigo's room, Rix set Lanthe down and asked.

"He's only slightly injured, so don't make a fuss. More than that, if our lord sees you carrying Miss Lanthe around like baggage..."

"Vigo!"

Lanthe squeezed between the two knights and entered the room.

An ominous smell hit her strongly. The smell of blood. The smell of wood burning before it's dried. Smells she knew.

"Are you all right? Are you badly hurt...?"

She couldn't see him well because of people crowding around the bed murmuring.

When she approached, the person standing at the foot of the bed made way for her.

She could see Vigo lying with a bloodless face. A priest of Batiya had placed their hands on his abdomen and was muttering something like an incantation. Blood that had stained the bandages dark red had soaked even the priest's hands. It was a moment later when Vigo, who'd been deathly pale, opened his eyes.

He opened his bloodshot eyes narrowly and looked at her.

"...Out."

It was a strangely hoarse sound, as if there were a hole in his throat and breath was leaking through.

"Out."

Doesn't he recognize me...?

Lanthe froze at his gaze, which seemed to look at someone he hated.

"I'm in the way of treatment, I'm sorry. I just wanted to see you were all right for a moment before I go..."

The priest cut his eyes to her—one brief look, not friendly. Soon the priest ignored Lanthe and focused again on reciting prayers.

What is this. Why are they acting like this?

Lanthe was suddenly gripped by the feeling of being a stranger who'd come to foreign land. She stood blankly, unable to advance or retreat, staring at his torn and dry lips.

"Get out of my sight."

Blood beaded each time his lips moved.

"Why, why did you appear in front of me..."

'Are you talking to me?'

Lanthe was bewildered, not understanding. Why are you suddenly saying that?

"Can't even stand the sight of you—just go, please—"

'Pray for me. Pray that I return safely.'

"Tomorrow, even tomorrow, I'm going to send you back to Gebimonde. I shouldn't have saved you—shouldn't have done something so pointless—"

'What are you saying, Vigo?'

"Miss Lanthe."

'You saved me.'

'You arbitrarily saved me and brought me here.'

"Miss Lanthe. This way."

'You kept me right beside you and announced you'd watch me closely. Eliminated the room I had. Said yourself—with your own mouth—that I was a valuable prisoner, that you'd be good to me.'

"Miss Lanthe. It's chaotic here, so let's wait in another room."

Rix grabbed the arm of her standing dazed and pulled.

Coming to her senses, Lanthe shook off his hand and turned to walk away.

She didn't want to be pulled out of there by someone else's hand. She didn't want to look at Vigo spitting out harsh words as if he regretted saving her. She couldn't understand why she had to face a priest sending her openly contemptuous looks as if she were a stranger who'd come somewhere she shouldn't dare come.

"Where are you going, Miss Lanthe?"

Before she knew it, she was heading outside almost at a run when Rix caught up and stopped her.

"Um, I'm sorry. Our lord seems to be talking nonsense after taking strong medicine, so please forget it. He probably doesn't even know what he's saying right now."

Lanthe momentarily thought she hated Vigo for seeming to toy with her, pushing and pulling.

But there was also someone here who worried about her and apologized without having done anything wrong.

"Yes. I was just startled."

Lanthe nodded quietly, embarrassed by her heart that had pettily shrunk.

"Well, since it's come to this, why don't you rest comfortably in another room tonight? I'll have Joan prepare sleeping quarters for you."

"Thank you, Sir Rix."

At her awkward smile, Rix grinned broadly.

"I'm quite helpful too, aren't I? Please put in a good word for me with our lord later."

"I take back calling you a cowardly bear."

"Aw, it's a shame you're taking it back. That was one of the better nicknames I've been given."

"What are your other nicknames?"

"Don't try to find out."

Lanthe was soon shown to a new room. Occupying a spacious and cozy room alone, she soaked in warm water to change her mood.

In any case, hadn't she saved her life thanks to Vigo and was she not enjoying this luxury? Even if it was a peace with a set time limit, this time wasn't disappearing.

And yet she'd been angry at a sick person's words.

Maybe he'd just wanted to vent anger at anything. Or maybe—some past mistake from childhood she hadn't noticed. Her mischievous nature, tormenting him without knowing it. Earning a hatred she hadn't seen coming.

'I shouldn't have saved you—shouldn't have done something so pointless—'

But...

'Had Vigo ever truly regretted it? Even once?'

'Why did you appear in front of me.'

Had he not wanted to see her? Even once?

She hugged her knees, asking herself questions she had no way to answer alone. Whether from sitting too long in hot water or something else, her chest pulled tight.

"Haah..."