The Price is Everything of Yours (76 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 165

Trofure, with the Festival of Resurrection just a few hours away, was blanketed in vibrant decorations.

In other parts of the Empire ruled by the Timaeus faith, it was customary to adorn homes with red artificial flowers for the festival. But Trofure had slightly different customs. Though they, too, were followers of Timaeus, their practices were blended with the culture of the Lerdin people from Verlen, so many houses were decorated with blue flowers.

In truth, whether red or blue, the flowers held no real meaning. After all, God would hardly send someone to hell just because He had dyed the flowers used in His honor a different color.

Yet lately, the people of Trofure seemed determined to despise anyone who decorated with a different-colored flower.

“Damn Lerdins!”

The Vista folk, who hung red flowers, spat and cursed whenever they saw a house adorned with blue blooms.

“Unlucky bastards!”

The descendants of the Lerdins, who hung blue flowers, muttered under their breath when they passed houses decorated in red.

Just by observing whether people shouted their insults aloud or merely mumbled them quietly, it was clear who held the upper hand. Yet recently, the Vista folk had begun saying among themselves that they feared the Lerdins.

“They’re mad, I tell you! Didn’t you hear what the priest said? Blue flowers are heresy. The Lerdins don’t follow doctrine—they’re infidels who kill each other. Did you know their traditional food contains hallucinogens?”

“Never leave your children alone. Who knows if those Lerdins might suddenly turn and snatch them away? Remember Karl? His son was taken just because he couldn’t pay his debt.”

“I’m terrified something might happen to our house too.”

No one actually knew whether their traditional food truly contained hallucinogens or whether Karl’s son had really been taken. Yet such stories circulated in every tavern.

Though Trofure’s streets were nearly empty under the fierce cold, those eagerly awaiting the festival continued chattering recklessly among themselves—unaware that among them sat someone who, smiling faintly, believed he alone knew the truth.

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