When Ines first came to Edmont, she didn’t meet Charlotte right away. The temple maids mostly stayed in their designated buildings, so it was three months later when they were both assigned to the same place.

Seeing her after a long time, Charlotte immediately shed tears. No rash words of comfort or advice were given. They simply hugged each other, sharing warmth.

Initially, Ines faced isolation. On reflection, there was no particular reason. Perhaps it was because one could regain noble status after enduring three years as a commoner.

Mistakes were purposely made, like messing up the water or giving wrong prayer times, or continuously assigning her the hardest tasks. These things happened regularly.

While others would have found it hard, all these events seemed laughable to her.

But time passed faithfully. As Ines performed her tasks better than those who had lived doing menial jobs all their lives, the maids started to see her differently.

Now, fully integrated, no one harassed Ines anymore. In fact, people who relied on her emerged.

Most temple maids came here with a lot of backstory. Ines listened seriously to them and never neglected to comfort them.

Ines quite enjoyed her life here.

After preparing lunch for the priests, the temple maids also had to attend classes.

Called indoctrination, this stage was the most basic in the priest training course.

And there, Ines met a familiar face.

“You’re the first one here again, aren’t you?”

The man, with hair the color of the reddest sunset, always reminded Ines of the evening sky.

“Yes, Sir Marcus.”

Priests also held legislative positions. Those who didn’t want to be priests but wanted to be legislators also learned ethics here.

Marcus Knights, born into a knight family and purely wanting to be a legislator, had given up his knighthood not long after speaking with Ines in the castle garden. In the past, only priests could become legislators, but that was changing.

Major families still had priests as their physicians, but most other families did not.

“I still can’t believe I met you here.”
There used to be talk of priests healing people with sacred power. Undoubtedly, the reason for becoming a lawmaker existed within the temple for that reason.

People still often believed that pain could be healed through divine power. Therefore, all those in the process of becoming lawmakers also had to take the most basic indoctrination course that Ines heard. At that time, they too wore the priestly garments worn by priest candidates.

“Is this course almost over now?”

The indoctrination course lasted one year. Marcus arrived in Edmont five months earlier than she did.

“Yes, but there is still a long time left.”

Those who wished to become priests went through a training course of 10 years. However, for lawmakers, it was a shorter course of four years. After that, they either continued training at the academy or joined those who had already become lawmakers.

“Don’t you feel stifled?”

“Do you mean me?”

Ines nodded her head.

“Do you feel stifled here, Your Grace?”

“I am not Your Grace.”

“But once this period is over, you will regain your noble status.”

It was natural for Marcus to know why she had come here. When Ines came to Edmont, she was already a famous figure here. Ines smiled brightly and replied.

“Still, don’t call me that here. If the other maids hear, there might be a dead rat in my room by tomorrow morning.”

Then, a maid with a thick brown bob and full of freckles walked quickly past Ines.

“Amy, where are you going?”

“Huh? Ines. I’m fetching water now.”

“Be careful, the bridge is almost entirely submerged.”

“Really?”

Ines looked up at the sky. It was fine for now, but one could never tell when it would change and rain. Amy quickened her pace and waved her hand.

“Got it, thanks. Ines.”

Turning her head after passing the message to her, Ines felt that Marcus was staring intently at her.

“Is there something on my face?”

“No. You just…look very bright.”

Ines felt a bit embarrassed. Was it because she found inner peace even while carrying guilt?

“You asked me earlier if I find this place stifling?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve realized many things since coming here.”

“Like what?”

Ines’ face, purely inquiring, emitted an even clearer light than before.