Chapter 16 Part 3
After showing me his worst, he was once again revealing what might or might not be his true feelings without restraint.
“You and I will never be engaged again.”
“…I knew you’d say that.”
At my firm rejection, a small smile formed on Abel’s lips.
…What? Why is he smiling? Has rejection driven him mad?
“Here.”
After chuckling for a while, Abel picked up a file from the table and handed it to me.
“What’s this?”
“Anyone can just say they’re sorry. This is the best show of sincerity I can offer right now.”
Taking it reflexively, I could only close my mouth when I saw the contents of the file.
“Give this to Marquis Feros. My original appointment today was a private meeting with him, so I prepared appropriate documents.”
“Wait, this is…”
It was a ledger detailing Xenoph’s corruption, leaked prophecies, and various other crimes, all meticulously and elaborately recorded.
His actions were so explicitly documented that Xenoph’s purpose became immediately clear.
This was more convincing than what Hyle had shown me.
It included precise times and locations, which explained why.
Although I wasn’t pleased with Abel’s behavior thus far, seeing that he had personally recorded all this by hand… It seems Abel did recognize that Xenoph’s actions were wrong.
“Those are the Cardinal’s misdeeds to obtain divine power.”
“…Xenoph must have been quite desperate to make me the Holy Maiden.”
“I knew he’d been gathering divine power for some time, but I never imagined he’d go as far as abducting clergy. Had you not mentioned it, I’d have probably thought it was just a rumor forever.”
Abel answered simply with a shrug.
Now that he’d split with the Cardinal, his attitude made it clear he had no reason to keep the man’s secrets anymore.
“Hyle has gathered evidence too. If we combine that with this… we might not even need to hold a trial.”
“If the missing clergy are found in the basement of the Grand Temple, it would be even less necessary. Just in case, if a trial is held, I’ll attend as a witness.”
Abel raised his pinky finger as a promise and waved his hand lightly.
His playful gesture belied the gravity of his words.
“…If you do that, it’ll come out that you’ve been covering this up all along, whether you meant to or not.”
But Abel seemed prepared for everything already.
“Consider it an extension of my sincerity. This much is sufficient from my end.”
Despite his words… if Abel truly appeared as a witness, the Emperor would certainly not remain silent.
Given how easily he envied and disapproved of his own son, he would definitely speak out against Abel’s qualifications as Crown Prince.
“Hyle and I will make sure that doesn’t happen. If you learn anything else, send a letter to Hyle.”
“I will.”
Just as I was about to leave, having completed my business, Abel softly called out, “Rosiel,” stopping me in my tracks.
I didn’t bother turning around, merely pausing mid-step.
“Is there no chance, even much later, that we could be together?”
It was a cautious question, filled with what seemed like a final hope.
Somehow, the sweetness of the orange slushie I’d eaten earlier left a stale taste on my tongue.
I turned my head slightly to meet Abel’s purple eyes and answered with a small smile.
“No. The seat beside me is fully booked.”
After leaving Abel, I headed straight down to the central hall where Hyle was.
I hoped Hyle hadn’t yet begun his exposé of the Cardinal…
The documents in my possession would lend even greater weight to Hyle’s words.
So it would be best to proceed after incorporating this evidence as well.
But… I faced an unexpected problem.
“Hmm…”
Hyle… where are you?
Given the occasion, everyone was dressed in particularly colorful and elaborate outfits.
Finding Hyle in such a complex, multicolored hall was no easy task.
Earlier, Hyle had spotted me instantly, so why couldn’t I see him…?
“Where are you?”
In this urgent situation, with no sign of Hyle anywhere, my forehead creased in frustration.
Just then, I felt someone place their hand on my forehead.
Thanks to the gentle pressure smoothing out my furrowed brow, my eyebrows relaxed back into place.
Startled by the unexpected contact, I froze, and a low voice came from behind me.
“Are you looking for someone, Lady Laté?”
“Hyle…? You found me first again.”
Only after feeling the warmth leave my forehead could I turn around.
Fortunately, judging by Hyle’s expression and the atmosphere around him, it didn’t seem like he’d started anything yet.
“If I’m not being too forward, would you honor me with a dance?”
“…Of course.”
I was about to speak to hand over the documents I’d received from Abel, but Hyle beat me to it.
Glancing briefly at the documents I was holding, he slowly moved closer to me.
“Rosiel, those are from the Crown Prince, right?”
“Yes.”
“There are too many eyes here. My aide will approach us shortly; give them to him.”
No sooner had Hyle finished speaking than a man in an inconspicuous dark brown uniform approached me.
After confirming the man with a sidelong glance, I looked at Hyle, who nodded slightly.
Only after handing the documents to the man did Hyle create some distance between us again.
“Why go to such lengths?”
“It’s best to be cautious since many people know you’ve been in contact with the Crown Prince. Given how your relationship has captivated the entire empire, it’s unlikely the interest will die down easily.”
His answer was straightforward and clear.
Understanding immediately, I placed my hand on Hyle’s shoulder as the music began.
“Hyle, did you expect Abel would give me something?”
“Somewhat. But I wasn’t certain. That’s why I didn’t mention it.”
“So what happens with today’s exposé plan?”
In response to my question, Hyle naturally stroked my hair.
The sensation of my hair slipping through his palm heightened my senses acutely.
“Rather than that, I think it would be faster to find where the captive clergy are being held and catch them red-handed. Rosiel, did you learn anything from the Crown Prince?”
“Yes, he said there’s an illegally modified basement under the Grand Temple. It’s a space not shown on any blueprints, so he didn’t know the exact location.”
“That’s enough.”
Hyle smiled gently, then whispered something softly to someone nearby.
Nodding slightly, the person quickly left the hall.
“We’ll find it soon. Now that we know there’s a hidden space, no one can search the Grand Temple better than House Feros.”
While I was distracted by our conversation, the music had already ended.
Despite the crowd gathered for the founding celebration, the center of the hall was empty, as if reserved just for Hyle and me.
“I hope we find them before the Holy Maiden announcement.”
“We will. News will come soon, don’t worry.”
Having inadvertently drawn everyone’s attention, we gradually merged into the crowd as if by prior arrangement.
Afterward, with Hyle’s skilled escort, we safely made our way to the terrace.
Looking down from this height at the path we’d traveled earlier, the scene reminded me exactly of a night market in Korea.
The densely packed stalls and the countless people moving between them were truly impressive.
“I don’t usually like crowds… but this kind isn’t so bad.”
“If you enjoy it, let’s come again next time.”
When I casually commented while gazing downward, Hyle immediately responded with sweet words.
His expression was too solemn for it to be just a casual remark.
“That’s not right. You should enjoy it too. What’s the point if only I like it?”
“I already…”
Just as Hyle was about to respond to my playful teasing, we sensed someone rapidly approaching our terrace from not far away.
Raising my head in confusion, I locked eyes with a knight who was just setting foot on the terrace floor from the sky.
“Your Grace, we’ve found the hidden space.”
After giving me a slight bow, he delivered his message concisely.
