Edward’s eyebrows twitched.

“…Is that the Viscount’s opinion?”

“Yes, it is.”

Adeline smiled gently. As if by habit, she wrinkled her nose bridge and continued speaking.

“There are too many unreasonable rules in this world. However, shouldn’t people not die just to follow those rules? They say the law is above people, but the law cannot be above the lives of many. Not if it’s not God’s will to kill all those humans.”

Edward’s pupils shook at those words. His chest swelled. This was certainly a phrase he had heard to the point of boredom. Leira, that girl…

‘I don’t think the law can be above human lives. Not if God hasn’t decided to freeze us all to death. Think about it, Edward. Aren’t demons also God’s creatures? Wearing a fur doesn’t turn a person into a demon.’

Adeline wrinkled her nose bridge once again. Edward bit his lip slightly. It was the expression Leira showed when she was lost in thought. Edward swallowed hard. Without realizing, he grabbed Adeline’s arm.

“Ah…!”

“I’m looking for a woman named Leira. Do you know any information that could help me?”

The words were shot coldly and quickly. Adeline blinked.

‘He’s looking for me? Why?’

Adeline thought quickly. If she said she knew Leira right now, it would certainly help with what she was trying to do. Judging by Edward’s reaction, it didn’t seem like he was looking for Leira for any malicious reasons.

That somewhat pitiful look in his eyes didn’t contain any malice. Moreover, Leira and Edward had been quite close at the academy.

Deciding it probably wouldn’t be dangerous, Adeline opened her lips.

“Leira… she’s a friend I’ve known since I was young. We used to exchange letters frequently.”

A blatant lie.

“Would you please let go of this?”

Edward held his breath and released his hand. However, he didn’t move his large body blocking the front, as if afraid Adeline might run away. Adeline let out a faint sigh under Edward’s intense gaze.

She chose her words carefully to give the most natural and calm response. Edward is a sharp person. He wouldn’t like it if he found out Adeline was approaching him to use him.

“If you want to hear about Leira from me, I think Your Excellency should first reveal the reason.”

Edward let out a sigh. Adeline was right. It was natural for Adeline to act like a herbivore placed in front of a wolf’s muzzle right now. Edward released Adeline’s arm. Adeline gently rubbed her arm and exhaled softly.

“I was hasty. I apologize.”

Edward, who cleanly admitted and apologized, took a step back. Viscount Wesley, wasn’t it? Edward mulled over that name.

“…It’s alright.”

“I think we need to talk in detail about what the Viscount said, and about Leira.”

“If you let me know the time and place, I’ll come to you.”

“No. I’ll send a carriage myself. Should I send it to the Wesley estate?”

“No. I plan to stay here for three days. Please send the carriage to the temple.”

“Tomorrow at noon.”

“Alright.”

Adeline nodded. As Edward said, these weren’t conversations to have at length in a place with many listening ears. Moreover, it was better for Vincent’s carriage to come to the temple rather than to Wesley.

“However, Your Grace.”

Edward nodded.

“If I leave the temple without my mother’s permission, she’ll surely worry.”

If Esme found out about the connection with Vincent, she would surely cling like a minnow. This was to prepare for that. It would also be better for Edward to handle things rather than Adeline.

Hearing my words, Edward smiled crookedly.

“I’ll make sure there’s no need to worry.”

Was Edward’s personality like this? I don’t think it was. I nodded with an awkward smile. I thought too lightly of this.

*

Edward left the temple with a cold expression. He had found answers to things he had been seeking, from an unexpected place and an unforeseen person. Edward clenched his fist. The cold wind seemed to gather around Edward.

‘Leira.’

He couldn’t find a single hair of her, no matter where she had hidden. She had definitely said her father was in the logging business. Judging by her disappearance from the academy midway, one could infer that the logging business had failed. So he had tried tracking those who were in the logging business, but Leira could not be found.

“You couldn’t solve it, but that Viscount did.”

Royce cleared his throat.

“Shall we look into Wesley?”

“We have to do at least that much.”

“Yes, Your Grace. I’ll hurry.”

Before getting into the carriage, Edward slowly turned his head to gaze at the temple. The temple, emitting a pure white light, exuded an inexplicable gloominess.

“What should we do about the donation the temple requested?”

“Pack it generously. Today, right away. And tell them to strictly control the priests. What use are they if they go around gossiping about guests like rats?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Tomorrow, he would learn the secret about Leira. How many years has it been since they met? In the academy full of snot-nosed kids, Leira felt like the only intellectual. Unlike the peers who only moved by their parents’ will, she was different.

Leira had her own will and thoughts. Talking with Leira made him feel like his stuffy insides were clearing up. Just when he started to feel Leira was far better than the old-fashioned teachers of the family, she disappeared.

Edward rubbed his lips with his finger.

‘Let’s go together after we graduate.’

‘What are you saying, Edward? I have to go to my home. Why would I follow you, leaving my home behind?’

‘…I really like you.’

‘I like you too, because you’re my friend. Is it easy to find a friend who understands? Even if I go back later, don’t turn your back on me.’

She was a bit slow in some genres, but anyway, she said not to turn his back. To never forget her. The one who broke that promise wasn’t Edward, but Leira.

Edward smiled coldly. If Leira forgot, he just needs to remind her again.

“Wait, Leira.”

I will definitely find you.

*

“Oh my, Viscount! Where on earth have you been!”

Daisy scolded me with a sulky face.

“Ah, sorry. I just met someone I know, that’s all.”

“I found a trustworthy one. But did you do something wrong to the High Priest, Viscount?”

Daisy lowered her voice and whispered. Looking around, she clung to me as if we had become close friends in just a few hours of meeting.

“Why? Did something happen?”

“The High Priest told me to serve you alone! He said to absolutely not let other priests come near you.”

“Is… that so?”

I glanced at the door where Edward had disappeared. He handles things really quickly.

“Did the High Priest say anything else?”

“And he said not to mind whatever you do. That you’re a trustworthy believer and wouldn’t betray God’s will. And not to breathe a word about your whereabouts. He said we shouldn’t carelessly divulge God’s will. Are you perhaps a saint? Like Saint Lorel?”

“How could that be? It’s just that the High Priest probably understood that what I’m trying to do aligns with God’s will. The High Priest represents the temple, after all. He must know things we don’t.”

“I see…”

I let out a small laugh. He’s quite good at self-promotion. I wonder what he used to move the High Priest. Money?

“You’ll have to work hard from now on, Daisy. Please take good care of me for just three days.”

“Oh my! You don’t need to say such things.”

“No, really.”

I slipped Daisy another gold coin. Nodding at her face that broke into a wide smile, I became strongly convinced that what moved the High Priest was indeed money. Next time, I should try to use him too if I can.

I asked the gleeful Daisy:

“So, where’s the errand boy?”

“He should be waiting in front of the room you’ll use, Viscount.”

“Thank you, Daisy.”

I gave the errand boy one gold coin and promised to give him three more if he succeeded in the task. Of course, the errand boy gladly accepted my request. The mission I gave him was simple:

‘There used to be a maid named Josephine who worked in the northwest. Find her for me.’

To bring the only person who was on my side.