Chapter 16 Part 4
He appeared to be a member of the House Feros knights.
Is flying a hobby for all of House Feros? Hyle does it too, and quite well at that.
Since I can’t fly for long due to motion sickness, I simply found their free movement through the air fascinating.
This was also why I preferred using teleportation magic.
But more importantly, how had they searched so quickly? It couldn’t have been long since I told them about the space beneath the Grand Temple…
I guess they’d been preparing for this all along?
“Have you checked inside?”
“The space itself is sealed with magic, so we couldn’t enter, but there are faint life signs inside. It’s almost certain.”
After hearing the knight’s full report, Hyle immediately turned to me.
“Rosiel, you’ll come with us?”
There was no need to answer; it was obviously something I had to do.
Nevertheless, Hyle was asking for my opinion with an expression that showed he would respect my decision.
“Yes, if it’s sealed with magic, I can break it.”
With my answer, the knight received Hyle’s orders and quickly returned to the Grand Temple.
Today, on the founding celebration, while everyone’s attention was drawn to the palace’s brilliant lights, we planned to swiftly excavate beneath the Grand Temple.
“So here you are.”
As Hyle and I were about to leave for the Grand Temple, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind us.
“…Abel?”
Somehow aware of our location, Abel had entered the terrace and was standing there, looking at us.
The spot where we were was quite secluded and should have been difficult to find, so their search abilities weren’t to be underestimated either…
I wasn’t the only one surprised by Abel’s appearance.
Hyle stretched out his arm to block me. It looked exactly like he was trying to protect me.
“I don’t recall requesting another private meeting.”
Despite Hyle’s cold words, which clearly didn’t consider this a coincidence, Abel maintained his calm expression.
Without showing any particular reaction, Abel began to move closer to us.
“If it’s not too late, I’d like permission to help.”
“Help with what?”
In response to my question, Abel simply raised his arm and snapped his fingers with a sharp sound.
Then, from nowhere, a black shadow silently appeared.
“There’s no one more suitable for an on-site arrest than the Imperial Guard. If you’re heading to the Grand Temple, I’ll provide the guards.”
“Moving the Guard requires procedure, and we don’t yet have sufficient documentation to submit for that procedure.”
Realizing Abel’s intention, Hyle quickly pointed out the problem.
But Abel didn’t seem particularly concerned.
“Since I’ve authorized it, no separate procedure is necessary. If abduction or imprisonment is confirmed, they can be arrested immediately without going through other channels.”
“In that case, apart from the Guard, I’d appreciate if Your Highness would keep an eye on the Cardinal who remains in the palace. He’s perceptive and likely to disappear if he senses danger.”
“I’ll do that.”
Having efficiently concluded their conversation, the two men appropriately divided their tasks and then looked at me with satisfied expressions.
Huh? Why are they suddenly looking at me?
Somehow, both men seemed to be seeking final confirmation from me.
If I said no here, they looked ready to immediately call everything off.
“…That sounds good.”
As I slowly nodded, Abel instructed the shadow that had appeared earlier to mobilize the Imperial Guard discreetly.
“Hyle, the spirit stones?”
“I have them. Their divine power must be depleted by now, so we’ll need to give them some as soon as we find them.”
Since divine power originates from life force, if all their divine power had been drained, only the thinnest thread of life force would be sustaining their bodies.
And those who were captured were young, so they wouldn’t have much energy to begin with…
It was a moment when their survival seemed precarious.
But if Hertiana was with them, things probably hadn’t reached the worst-case scenario, right? Though she couldn’t become the Holy Maiden in this life, she was certainly qualified.
“We don’t have time to waste. Hyle, let’s go right now. I’m somewhat relieved that Lady Brissel is there, but…”
“Lady Brissel is captured too? I thought she’d returned to her hometown.”
Looking stunned, Abel stared at me, seemingly at a loss for words.
“That was the original plan… but it seems the Cardinal deliberately targeted her. After all, she was a Holy Maiden candidate.”
“This is even more vile than I thought.”
Abel left the terrace, saying he would depart for the Grand Temple as soon as the Guard was ready.
Now Hyle and I needed to move too…
Magic would be better, right?
“Rosiel, come here.”
“Huh?”
As I was about to cast a spell, Hyle called me over with a somewhat peculiar expression.
When I looked up, he was already close, looking down at me from right in front of my face.
And then…
“W-what are you doing!?”
Suddenly my view tilted. My field of vision was instantly filled with the starry night sky.
It was because Hyle had lifted me lightly into his arms.
“The teleportation magic you use consumes a lot of energy. It’s faster and more efficient for me to fly while carrying you. You need to save your strength to break the seal.”
It was a plausible reason that I couldn’t easily refute.
In the end, I put my arms around Hyle’s neck. His lips curved upward in a straight line.
“If you’re scared, tell me, and I’ll put you down.”
What followed was a generous offer that didn’t quite match his determined expression.
“As if you would.”
“You’re right. I’ll never let you go.”
With a clean laugh, we quickly cut through the empty air.
Come to think of it, Hyle had always been fond of flying.
He’d flown me directly to my room at the Feros mansion before, too.
“Is flying your hobby? You’re not a bird.”
“You seemed to like birds.”
By now, Hyle countered all my remarks with light jokes.
It had been quite nice to see him flushing with embarrassment at my teasing, but when did he become so smooth…
We were flying at considerable speed, and the sound of wind cutting past us was fierce. Yet my ears didn’t hurt.
That was because Hyle’s warm divine power was protecting me.
He’s unnecessarily attentive, as always…
Before long, we quickly arrived at the Grand Temple.
The temple was already in chaos due to the armed entry of the House Feros knights.
“The gods will be angry! How dare you storm the Grand Temple armed? I will officially protest to the former Marquis Feros!”
Seeing Hyle and me arrive, the priests rushed out and shouted angrily with pale blue faces.
“No need for that. My father has already delegated all authority to me.”
“Renesia will never forgive you!”
“Haha.”
Regardless of their protests, Hyle offered a warm smile, lightly patted the angry priest’s shoulder a couple of times, and gently curved his lips upward, ignoring the incoming criticism.
“Indeed. If she knew what you’ve done.”
She would never forgive you.
Hyle’s final words dispersed eerily in the fierce wind.
It was as if a biting chill radiated like a halo behind him.
At this magnificent sight, the shouting priests closed their mouths in unison, as if by prior agreement.
“I-I don’t understand what you’re saying. I heard the reason you brought the knights here is because young clergy are imprisoned… the Grand Temple would have no reason to do such a thing, would it?”
“Then would other temples have a reason? That’s not an excuse, Priest.”
The thin smile on his lips was unbearably cold.
Calmly composing his expression, Hyle took my hand and proceeded into the Grand Temple.
“Your Grace, this way.”
