🌷 Chapter Twenty-Five –
The first place Annette chose to reveal herself was the cathedral.
Theodore did not object either, as it seemed appropriate to him.
When Annette put the plan into action, it became clear that it was a much better option than she thought.
The bishops and priests were the first audience to see the love-couple play of Theodore and Annette.
The cathedral was a very beautiful stage, so it was good to show this tragedy there.
Drawings about the story of forgiveness and redemption, which speaks of God and his followers, filled the ceilings and walls.
It was a play about a kind God who would forgive even murderers if a person truly repented, and who would shower everyone with blessings from above.
There was also a suitable backdrop for a painting of a pitiful daughter who had lost her father and was quietly expressing her miserable condolences to him.
The drawings were so good that it was difficult to tell whether the girl had lost her father or if she had killed him.
Annette entered the cathedral while ascending countless stairs.
When Annette passed the place where the Scheringen family gathered, her relatives' eyes streamed toward her, but they could not raise their voices in the cathedral.
As expected, they hated her internally, but they couldn't express it to her face.
This was thanks to the laws of the aristocrats requiring them not to make a fuss in the cathedral.
Besides, Theodore was right next to Annette.
“It seems like everyone is waiting for you to fight the first battle.”
“Be quiet.
I have to act like I'm too sad right now to talk to anyone, not even you.”
Annette raised her index finger above her lips and gave Theodore a tense warning.
Seeing her slender finger, Theodore laughed softly.
Because of Theodore's rare smile, the petty quarrel between them seemed friendly to others, as if the two were actually having an emotional conversation.
Annette was wearing a black dress and a hat with a veil on it.
She didn't even know the Marquis's face, but it was a mourning dress for her father, who was rumored to have been killed.
Annette was going to shed tears today as she called her deceased father's name in a time of remorse.
Of course, the tears would not come out of her eyes, so the black veil net had to cover her dry eyes.
The extremely dense net faithfully played the role of covering her little face, and the function of arousing curiosity about the conversation between her and Theodore was an unexpected added bonus.
If someone approached her and talked to her, they would know the truth, but that never happened.
No one dared to speak to Annette in the majestic cathedral.
Even those who were close to the original Annette did not have the loyalty to comfort her, so everyone silently stood away from her.
However, they couldn't stop the stare that might give them a hint as to what was on her mind.
No one even opened their mouth, but their annoying inner voice was clearly visible.
In this way, the purpose of remaining silent while receiving attention was successfully achieved.
Even the cardinal presiding over the Mass often looked at Annette instead of the cross in her hands.
Annette made the sign of the cross seem noble enough for people to feel that it itself was something sacred.
She seemed like a devout believer.
Of course, the content of Annette's prayer was not sacred at all, but rather full of complaints to God.
'Oh, my God.
I cannot be grateful to you until I know why you made me enter this body.'
Those loud prayers were boiling in her head and faded away as the recitations changed to a tone that matched the sombre organ playing.
Ironically, her anger toward the god appeared to be grief over her father's death.
Regardless of the truth of the situation, Annette looked completely unhappy and beautiful with a sad story behind her appearance.
The man standing next to her also brought her story to a climax.
Theodore rarely came to church.
Everyone knew that he was far from religious.
But the man who had abandoned God a long time ago came with Annette to the cathedral and treated his wife as if she were a revered saint.
He was like a wonderful husband who came with his wife - who was grieving the death of her father - without hesitation to uncomfortable places.
Thus, everyone prayed to the god while looking at Annette.
...Then the time for Mass ended.
Theodore asked Annette a question around the time the people were leaving.
“What did you pray for?”
“I complained to God because you summoned me to this world.”
“This is a mass for the dead, not a complaint ceremony.”
Annette raised her eyes and tried to answer Theodore, but someone blocked her.
He was the same person they had been waiting for.
“Welcome, Your Highness Cardinal.”
Cardinal Degrelle headed toward them with steady steps.
He was one of the most powerful men in the church and one of the most receptive to secular prayer, such as bribery for example.
“It's been a while since I've seen the two of you.
I pray that God welcomes you under the wing of his blessing as well.”
After the formal greeting, Cardinal Theodore asked indirectly.
“Aren’t you both going to attend the sacrament ceremony?”
“It has been a while since the unfortunate incident happened, so we are still trying to have a time to remember the deceased away from people.”
The highest aristocrats and people of power gathered in the cathedral for a meal after mass.
Even if it was called the Eucharist, it was simply a meeting where sacrifices were made while power and authority were traded.
It was necessary for Annette to come to such a meeting in order to build a social network, but it was still too much for her to bear, so Theodore refused for the time being.
The Cardinal licked his lips as he thought that one of the side glasses of wine that would be offered at the Eucharist would be missing.
If the new couple bearing the title of Duke and Grand Duchess comes, the meeting will be…
“Everyone will be awaiting the presence of His Highness the Grand Duke.”
“Thank you for caring so much.
However, we are still in a period where my wife needs to recover in many ways.
So I ask you to excuse me this time.”
“It seems that there is no help.
So, at the next Eucharist, I will look forward to your presence with Her Highness the Grand Duchess… I mean, I look forward to being able to offer a blessing to both your Highnesses.”
The Cardinal bowed his head, trying to catch a glimpse of Annette's face under the veil, but she bowed her head to greet him as well, so he could see no expression on her face.
Instead, because of his hesitation when saying the word “Grand Duchess,” the Cardinal’s suspicions were only revealed.
The only thing the cardinal could see was an emerald ring gently placed on the ring finger of Annette's left hand, but it was answer enough for those who knew what it was.
Maria's ring would be enough to create a buzz among people today.
“I will definitely try to come next time.
But since we have already met now, I have something to discuss with you.”
“I don’t think I will be able to give you much time due to my participation in the sacrament ceremony.”
“It's something connected to Riggins Cathedral.”
The Cardinal's gentle smile disappeared.
Regens Cathedral was a disgrace he had to bear in history.
Thanks to his unique political acumen, Degrelle gained a position within the church and rose to high positions.
But like all those who gained great power, he fell into pride and vanity and entered the world of gambling.
In his days of drinking and gambling, the Cardinal helped pay for a new cathedral under construction.
As a result, an unprecedented situation occurred in which one of the cardinals undercharged the cost of building the cathedral.
The cathedral remains unfinished as an abandoned building, and many of those who supported it have fallen into bankruptcy.
The Cardinal had used his power to make it a church that officially did not exist in historical records, but no one knew that.
No wonder Degrelle's reputation deteriorated after that incident.
Therefore, it was natural for the cardinal's expression to quickly collapse after hearing the story of the cathedral from the person in front of him.
“What did he get into the Regens Church with...”
“It is a pity that the construction has been somewhat delayed.
As someone who loves Lieder, I cannot bear for a building like this to remain unfinished.
So I wanted to ask you if it would be possible to complete it if I made a donation.”
“Donations?”
Degrell's frowning face flushed with happiness.
He couldn't leave the cathedral in ruins either, so he looked everywhere for a sponsor who could finance it.
However, no one was willing to give money to Degrell, whose political power had weakened.
Because of this, it was difficult for him to rebuild once he stopped.
“What approximate amount do you plan to donate?”
“This is, of course, as much as is necessary to complete the works.”
Degrell, almost flying with happiness, stopped himself before asking another question.
The fact that Theodore had previously ignored religion and never made a single donation was well-known in the empire, but why did he suddenly want to complete the cathedral at such great expense?
Realizing his question, Theodore smiled and held Annette's hand affectionately.
“My wife is very religious.
God’s grace has helped her get through difficult times, so she said she wanted to do something for him as well.”
“God will understand your feelings, Your Highness, and will only promise you happy times from now on.
Let us take some time to talk in detail about this topic.”
Degrelle accepted the offer on the spot because if he could not complete Régens Cathedral, he would remain a pathetic cardinal in history.
“Even God will be satisfied with the completion of the cathedral, but is there any way I can repay you for your sincere faith?”
Degrelle was more a political than a religious man.
Nor could the construction of Rijens Cathedral be stopped twice.
Therefore, in order to complete the project, a surer guarantee than the Grand Duchess's faith was needed.
If someone gives a large sum of money, they will definitely have something to ask for.
“If I can be of any help, it would be an honor.”
Annette, who had not said anything yet, opened her mouth for the first time.
“But if you give me the outer walls of the cathedral, I will consider it an even greater honor.”
“Do you mean to donate to the altar?”
“Yes, I want to decorate it with the names of both families.”
It was very common for nobles to build an altar on a church wall and decorate it with ornate paintings to show their prestige.
Being able to put their name on it was something they were proud of.
Carving the family name on the wall was a simple task that could not even be called a request from the cardinal's point of view.
“Are you going to use the name of the Grand Duke and the family name of Scheringen?”
“No.
Since the donations will be mentioned in the Grand Duke’s name, it is not appropriate to include Scheringen’s name as well.”
"if…?"
Degrelle hesitated for a moment when Annette mentioned the name she wanted engraved on the altar.
He doubted whether she was really serious, but she didn't look like she was joking.
“And I have one more favor to ask of you...”
Then Annette revealed her true purpose in visiting the Cardinal.
Degrelle, who said he had to attend the sacrament, forgot about the time and focused on what Annette was going to say.