Chapter 18
The room secured by the Mage Tower Master himself for our stay was spacious and cozy.
However, sleep was impossible.
‘𝘐’𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵.’
Once I meet Helena, it would be a piece of cake for Lurick to break free from the magic sword’s influence.
‘𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘺𝘦𝘵, 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘵’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘢.’
And then, I would finally be able to leave the Imperial Palace, leaving Lurick behind.
‘𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵…….’
After all sorts of worries, I finally fell asleep at dawn, but morning came as scheduled.
We said our goodbyes to Lord Heim early in the morning.
“Enjoy your stay.”
After a brief greeting, the lord smiled warmly and knelt on one knee.
“May the rest of your journey be safe.”
While receiving a kiss on the back of my hand from him, Ren stepped forward and said curtly,
“We’ll need the use of an open space.”
We were soon led to the training ground.
Ren scattered black powder in the middle of the sand.
“Anyone here who hasn’t traveled with me before?”
He asked casually, and half of the knights raised their hands.
Ren said unkindly,
“Unlike the Gate, you might feel nauseous at first. Bear with it.”
That’s all the explanation there is?
Actually, this was my first time as well, so I couldn’t help but look up at Ren in bewilderment.
“I’ll take care of Lou.”
Lurick said, putting his arm around my shoulder.
Ren seemed displeased, but he wasn’t foolish enough to clash with the 2nd prince over every little thing.
He soon relented and grabbed Phoebe’s arm.
“Excuse us for a moment.”
Callisteon said to me with affectionate eyes,
“Take care, Lou.”
Black flames flared up like fireworks, and I closed my eyes.
🔹🔹🔹
“Welcome to Caesarea.”
As soon as we arrived at the monastery, the famed Abbot, Monk Didio greeted us.
“It is an honor to meet you.”
I was determined to leave no stone unturned in this monastery to find Helena, so I responded to the monk with utmost courtesy.
The monk welcomed me warmly, but he seemed more interested in Lurick than me.
“To travel all the way to Caesarea in these difficult times, Your Highness’s devotion is truly admirable.”
Well, news of the victory in the war had spread far and wide across the continent.
‘𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘓𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦……’
As if reading my thoughts, he grimaced, seemingly uncomfortable.
However, the monk continued speaking resolutely.
“There is no shame in seeking to heal the physical and mental wounds of war. We will offer you our full support, both material and spiritual, during your stay.”
Before meeting Lurick, Helena was a maid doing chores in this very monastery.
‘𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵, “𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘢 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘳!”‘
That’s why we had sent a letter in advance, using the excuse that we would be recuperating and resting leisurely at the monastery.
“Matters in Heim were resolved swiftly, so we will have ample time to stay for about ten days.”
I answered smoothly on behalf of Lurick, who was standing stiffly like a statue.
“We appreciate your words, Abbot, but we are merely here to rest. Please don’t feel the need to go out of your way for us.”
Fortunately, the monk seemed to take the hint and backed down.
“Very well. Allow me to show you to your rooms. If you are feeling up to it after settling in, please join us for the morning prayer.”
🔹🔹🔹
“Please, come this way.”
The monastery, even with its guest quarters, strictly separated the women’s and men’s dormitories.
Phoebe and I followed an elderly nun to our assigned quarters.
‘𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘹𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴…’
I recalled Helena’s appearance.
I had planned to look at the faces of any maids we met along the way, but the empty corridor was completely deserted.
The room we arrived at was modest yet tidy.
“The room is very clean.”
Phoebe commented with a small gasp of admiration as a young servant boy struggled to bring in our luggage.
“Thank you.”
After the boy left, the nun who had guided us bowed her head once more in a formal greeting.
“You may call me Melotz.”