"Of course, such incidents are exceedingly rare, and the investigation isn't yet complete. So despite your concern, I must ask you to wait a little while longer." Margot's tone carried the unmistakable finality of someone attempting to end a conversation.
But her evasiveness only strengthened Asella's conviction. The woman was definitely hiding something.
_What if...?_
Asella shuddered as a terrible thought sliced through her mind like a blade.
_This can't be._
The movements of the magical beasts that early morning had been so peculiar—so *coordinated*—as though they weren't acting of their own accord. Sir Cardon had ordered Asella and Mariel to remain inside the carriage under any circumstances, insisting it was the safest place. Then the carriage had come under direct attack from the monster, as if it were a pre-selected target. But despite Asella's desperate screams for help, the knights had moved further and further away, drawn toward other threats. And Calix Benvito—who was supposedly away meeting with His Majesty—had suddenly appeared at precisely the right place and the right moment.
As if he had deliberately waited for the carriage's passengers to find themselves in the most critical, most vulnerable situation.
Now that she had reconstructed the entire sequence of events, it seemed impossibly strange that she hadn't questioned any of it until now.
_What if this was all orchestrated by the Archduke himself? What if this is truly how it happened...?_
Asella's hands began to tremble. She was grateful for the voluminous sleeves of her dress. She quickly concealed her hands beneath the table, praying Margot hadn't noticed the telltale shaking.
_But how then to explain his subsequent actions?_
Looking back with careful deliberation, she couldn't understand why this man had personally tended to her wounds. Why he had carried her to the barracks himself when there was no pressing need. Certainly, it had been difficult for her to walk alone. But still—he was the *Archduke*. Such tasks were beneath his station.
_Perhaps Benvito is trying to lull our vigilance. To earn our trust through calculated kindness, so that he can later extract all the secrets of the Charts family... and then dispose of us permanently._
Of course, the Charts family's power was now significantly diminished. And yet, the bloodline remained legendary throughout the Empire's history. All manner of rumors circulated about their abilities, but in truth, all the family's genuine secrets remained hidden from prying eyes and ears. The rumors were nothing more than elaborate fantasies.
"His Highness is truly a good man."
Mariel—innocent, trusting Mariel—was already completely enamored with this man. Just a few kind words and carefully calculated actions, and the girl had fallen entirely under his influence. But all these false acts of kindness were nothing more than an elaborate trap.
Asella forced herself to take a measured breath and spoke as calmly as she could manage:
"I don't require treatment. Thank you for your concern, but I must decline—"
"Good afternoon, Lady Asella."
The girl's head snapped toward the guest who had just entered the room.
Father Roshan stood in the doorway, greeting her with a completely radiant smile.
"Welcome, Holy Father! We've been expecting you." Margot greeted the priest with evident relief.
---
Asella entered her bedroom with a face as dark as storm clouds.
She sank into the chair Margot solicitously positioned for her, lowered her head, and bit her lip until it stung. Her eyes held the hollow despair of an animal being led to slaughter.
Father Roshan, who hadn't missed a single nuance of Asella's melancholy, felt a twinge of unease himself. But without betraying it, he offered Margot his signature warm smile.
"Lady Roman, might you bring this old man a glass of warm water?"
"Of course, I'll have it brought immediately."
"No—I'm asking *you* to do it personally. We'll be fine alone for now."
"But..." Margot hesitated, conflict evident in her expression.
The priest had arrived to treat the Grand Duchess—that much was clear. But the relationship between the Benvito family and the Grand Temple was hardly without complications. She didn't want to leave these two without proper supervision. And yet, who else could perform the treatment? Hadn't the Grand Duke himself ordered her to guard the princess's health like the apple of her eye?
"My presence won't disturb you in the slightest. I can remain perfectly silent."
"This procedure requires exceptional concentration. And it will be difficult for me to focus properly with someone else nearby."
Margot found herself caught between impossible choices. Leaving Asella alone with the priest carried risks. But ignoring a high priest's direct request was equally unthinkable. She recalled Raizen's words from earlier: the entire healing procedure needed to be performed, as the princess's entire body required restoration. The damage from the beast attack must have been more severe than it appeared.
_But what about the previous treatment? Surely it would have been sufficient?_
_This man is a high-ranking priest who possesses even the power of blessing itself. There's no way his first treatment would have failed._
_And yet... this is His Highness's direct order._
She remembered Raizen's peculiar emphasis: "His Highness worries about the Grand Duchess far more than you or I could possibly imagine."
It had been a somewhat cryptic statement, delivered with unusual weight. Perhaps he...
_Anxiety._
The word seemed utterly alien when applied to their master. Margot couldn't think of a single person in the entire Principality of Benvito who had ever caused that man genuine concern. He hadn't even graced his own father's funeral with his presence. And yet this girl—this quiet, frightened creature—had somehow affected him. It was all quite unusual.
In the end, Margot had no choice but to yield.
"You have absolutely nothing to worry about," Father Roshan reassured her, clearly understanding her concerns. "I am a servant of the goddess Hernia. I swear upon her holy name and my sacred honor."
After a final moment's hesitation, Margot placed the crystal summoning ball on the table directly in front of Asella. It was a silent message: *If anything goes wrong, call for help immediately.*
Finally, the door closed with a soft, decisive thud.
Only two people remained in the room.
---
"I am very glad to welcome you personally," the priest repeated, his voice carrying genuine warmth.
"I am grateful to you for taking the time to visit." Asella's response was stiff with formality.
After the obligatory pleasantries concluded, Asella found herself growing even more agitated. She bit the inside of her lip until she tasted copper. The knowledge that this priest had come on the Archduke's orders was driving her toward the edge of panic.
Father Roshan's expression suddenly shifted to something enigmatic. He raised his hand and moved it in a gentle arc through the air. A thin, shimmering curtain materialized around them, forming a translucent hemisphere.
"A barrier," he explained. "There are no prying ears here, of course, but additional caution never goes amiss. Now no one can overhear our conversation."
"But what is the purpose of all this?"
"Because you have something to hide, child." The priest's eyes met hers steadily. "Don't you?"
Asella felt as though he had read her soul as easily as one might scan a page.
"There's no need to worry so much. I will absolutely keep your secret." Father Roshan's eyes glowed with gentle warmth as he waited patiently for her response.
But the girl found herself unable to utter a single word. _He probably knows I didn't want treatment. He probably also knows I refused to fulfill my duties as a wife..._
_But for the Archduke to admit such a thing—even to a priest—it seems impossible to believe._
While Asella wrestled with her thoughts, Father Roshan continued in a quiet, knowing voice:
"Shall I venture a guess?"
"I... what?"
"Lady Mariel has awakened her abilities."
The blood drained from Asella's face in an instant. Her heart plummeted into a dark abyss. When she finally managed to speak, her words emerged broken and stammering:
"What... are you... talking about? I don't... I don't understand..."
"The Charts abilities leave a unique signature." The priest continued speaking as though he hadn't heard her clumsy attempts at denial—attempts that were clearly futile to both of them.
"I can sense this energy quite clearly, my lady. However, considering that it doesn't revolve around *you* specifically, but rather scatters in all directions... that means the awakened power belongs to Miss Mariel."
Asella's eyes went wide with shock. How could this elderly priest know something that even she herself didn't fully understand? A violent shiver ran down her spine.
"Who *are* you?"
"You're undoubtedly surprised, but please—don't be alarmed. I am on your side. And I'm trying to help both you and your sister." The priest smiled gently. "Do you still have the stone I gave you when we first met?"
Asella nodded automatically, her hand moving unconsciously toward her sleeve.
"It's actually a portal." Father Roshan's voice dropped lower, more urgent. "That stone contains a transport spell. It opens a passage through which you can travel instantly to the very heart of the Grand Temple."
"A *portal*?" Asella stared at her sleeve in stunned disbelief.
"I pray the necessity never arises. But if you ever require the Temple's protection—if you find yourself in desperate need—simply kiss the stone. The portal will open." He paused, his expression growing serious. "However, there is one significant limitation. The spell can only be activated from within the walls of Benvito Fortress."
Asella nodded slowly, processing this information. Most castles and noble estates employed magical barriers specifically designed to prevent unauthorized portal use. It was standard security protocol—protection against intruders capable of wielding transport magic.
"But *why*?" she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why would you give this to me?"
Father Roshan's gaze clouded over momentarily, and a smile of fond reminiscence softened his weathered features.
"I once received this very gift from the previous Marchioness of Charts. I believe it's finally time to repay that debt."
"You knew my mother?"
"For quite a long time, yes. I remember you as a tiny child, Your Highness—barely old enough to walk." Roshan fell suddenly silent, his head tilting as though listening to something beyond the room. Then he waved his hand sharply, and the translucent barrier swept upward and vanished.
"Father Roshan...?"
"*Shh!* Someone's approaching." He moved closer to Asella with surprising speed. "We must hurry. Let's begin the treatment immediately."
Within moments, a soft golden glow enveloped Asella's body. And again, that sensation washed over her—warmth and safety, exactly as it had been before. Asella discreetly pulled back her sleeve, watching in quiet amazement as the painful bruises faded and disappeared, her skin returning to unblemished smoothness.
The instant the divine power emanating from the priest faded completely, the door burst open.
---
Mariel rushed into the room at full speed.
Margot stood behind the girl, looking faintly apologetic.
"Forgive me, Your Highness. I couldn't stop her in time."
"Sister!"
Before Asella could react, Mariel launched herself directly into her arms.
"I want to see it! I want to see the healing!"
"Unfortunately, Her Highness's treatment has already concluded," Father Roshan said with a note of gentle regret.
"*Already*?"
Mariel's face crumpled with disappointment. Then, without warning, she buried her face against Asella's shoulder, her small body trembling with silent sobs.