A Clue (1)
Agreeing to get married meant our plan had already succeeded. It was a moment that called for celebration, so a sigh of admiration and a round of applause came naturally. The problem, however, was that Cardinal Bella didn’t look the least bit happy about the decision.
“Isn’t this good news? It seems like something worth celebrating, yet your expression suggests there’s another issue.”
“I couldn’t persuade him to accept the cardinalship.”
“So he made his decision after all.”
Simply obtaining permission for the marriage was an impressive feat. For a man like him, even that wouldn’t have been easy. He had always disliked burdening others with the uncertainty of whether he would return alive from his duties.
“Did you ask him why?”
“Yes. It was exactly what I expected.”
Since it was a personal matter, he had said he couldn’t speak of it lightly. Pressing for details now would be rude, so I was about to let it pass when Cardinal Bella continued.
“It’s because of Uncle—no, Bishop Saul. He has old comrades. Colleagues who died in the line of duty during missions.”
“Line of duty….”
The phrase was familiar. I had heard that many heretic inquisitors met such ends, vanishing from the world without recognition. That was precisely why inquisitors earned such respect. After all, no one wants to do the job others avoid.
“Perhaps because of them, he agreed that for events from long ago, their stories should be made public so their honor could be acknowledged.”
“!!”
“The exact mission details can’t be revealed, of course. But at least people will know what kind of work they did, what they sacrificed themselves for, and how they served the world.”
“So that’s why he didn’t become a cardinal for nothing.”
“The Pope is truly vile. I have no idea how he thought of such a thing. It was an offer that couldn’t possibly be refused.”
She bared her teeth in clear frustration, then let out a heavy sigh.
“That’s why I couldn’t stop him.”
“Exactly. And he said it was all right to tell you this.”
The fact that he had permitted her to share this with us was likely his way of telling her to stop opposing his acceptance of the cardinal position. The way he had slipped away at dawn was probably to deliver his answer to the Pope.
“What about the marriage?”
“At first he refused. He said that since he was returning to dangerous work, I should live with someone who would live a long life. So I swore to God that if he wouldn’t have me, I would grow old and die alone.”
“!!!”
“Sister Saintess!”
Even Melody, who had been listening quietly, widened her eyes in shock.
“When I made the vow, he finally believed me. He hadn’t trusted me even after I told him dozens of times. It feels unfair, but since I got what I wanted, I can’t complain.”
She seemed so focused on the marriage itself that I decided to ask about the matter that had been worrying me.
“Still, congratulations on confirming each other’s feelings.”
“Feelings?”
“To be honest, I never expected it to reach marriage. I thought the important thing was that your hearts had connected. Seeing that you’ve promised to marry, I’m truly relieved.”
Frankly, I had thought he would refuse until the very end. Even after becoming a cardinal, since the two of them were entering a marriage based on genuine affection rather than political arrangement, confirming their feelings was only natural.
“Of course. That’s why he accepted, isn’t it?”
Cardinal Bella spoke confidently, but then her pupils suddenly trembled violently as if something had just occurred to her.
“What is it?”
“Now that I think about it, I heard him say we should get married, but the words ‘I love you’…”
She hadn’t heard them? They had spent an entire day together—what exactly had they been doing that she missed something so important?
“You can hear it later. It’s not difficult. You’re moving beyond lovers and becoming family now.”
Becoming lovers had already been monumental; achieving something even greater was a victory worth celebrating.
“It will… be all right, won’t it?”
She couldn’t fully embrace her joy because she felt uneasy about failing to stop him from accepting the cardinal position. I comforted her repeatedly, telling her everything would be fine. Since I was worried about my master too, some of those comforting words unavoidably contained lies.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—
The thunderous applause echoed through the hall. Through the noise came the Pope’s congratulatory words.
“Congratulations.”
It was clearly a congratulatory message, yet the recipient wore an expression as if he had bitten into something foul. The people watching lowered their voices and began whispering excitedly to those beside them.
They were wondering where on earth this man had come from, to show such rudeness toward the Pope and still rise to the position of cardinal.
“What sort of person was he originally?”
“I’m not sure. There seem to be a few who know him, but they’ve all clamped their mouths shut…”
No one could understand why they avoided speaking of him. It was rare for the Pope to unilaterally elevate a bishop to cardinal, so the hall was filled with people trying to piece together the situation.
The same atmosphere continued even after the appointment ceremony ended and the banquet began.
“Congratulations, Cardinal Saul.”
Many approached with smiling faces and friendly greetings, even though they didn’t know who he was. After all, he had been appointed cardinal. No one was pleased by the sudden emergence of a new power, but they couldn’t openly show hostility, so they approached with smiles.
The problem was that the new cardinal was the type of man who would spit without hesitation on those smiling faces.
“I believe I’ve shown sufficient courtesy by accepting this much, so I’ll be taking my leave.”
The statement left everyone attending the banquet held in his honor completely dumbfounded.
“Pardon?”
If the guest of honor left, what was the point of the celebration?
“Is it because I’m old? Or because it’s been so long? It really doesn’t suit me at all.”
After dropping that bombshell with an indifferent expression, he shook his head and loosened the tie around his neck.
“Good grief. A priest is perfectly fine in a white robe—what’s with these party clothes? The Pope for suggesting we dress like this, and me for actually going along with it. Pathetic. Utterly pathetic. Bah!”
Instead of taking the glass on the table, he swiftly snatched an entire bottle from a passing server and drank straight from it, gulping loudly.
“!!”
“!!!”
Everyone froze at the appalling sight, staring in stunned silence. After emptying the bottle, he set it down on the table and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
“Burp! Haa~ That’s better. Nothing like alcohol to wash away all the filth.”
Chuckling as if drunk, he began walking. It looked like he intended to leave the banquet hall entirely.
The current gathering included the Pope, the cardinals, and diplomats hastily dispatched from various nations. For an ordinary person, such erratic behavior in this setting would be unthinkable.
“Y-Your Holiness…”
The flustered attendees turned to the Pope. Just where had he found this insolent man and placed him in the cardinalship? Normally, if the recommended individual caused trouble, the one who recommended him would also face consequences.
Yet the Pope remained perfectly calm, as though he had anticipated this exact reaction.
“It seems the seat was uncomfortable for him.”
Not blinking once, the Pope watched Cardinal Saul’s retreating back as he left the hall.
“Is this really all right?”
“He has always been a man without pretenses. Please accommodate him.”
“Even so, leaving without so much as greeting Your Holiness is rather…”
The unspoken question was why they should accommodate such a man. The Pope turned to the priest who had spoken and replied.
“He is someone I personally invited. I hope you will all follow him well and ensure there are no inconveniences. As far as I know, among those currently serving, there is no one of higher standing. I ask that you treat your senior with proper respect.”
“…Understood.”
At the Pope’s blatant show of support, those who had been about to criticize him immediately fell silent.
Cardinal Saul… I need to look into what kind of man he is.
The Pope’s level of support suggested he was no ordinary lightweight who could be easily removed. The banquet hall grew noisy with curiosity about the suddenly appeared Bishop Saul—no, Cardinal Saul. It was strange that not a single person seemed to know anything about him.
Eventually, all eyes turned back to the Pope. Sensing that the truth would come out anyway, he spoke again once everyone’s attention was on him.
“Cardinal Saul is the bishop who oversaw the Palmore Church. However, that was merely a hobby he took up after retirement. His true career was as a heretic inquisitor for many years.”
“A h-heretic inquisitor?”
Several priests who had been frowning at the title were about to voice their repulsion when the person beside them stopped them.
‘Shh!!!’
‘What is it?’
‘Have you forgotten? Or do you not know? Where the Pope himself came from!!’
‘Gasp!’
Those who rose to power in the Holy Empire inevitably learned the nature of an inquisitor’s work and naturally felt reluctant. But the priests who remembered that the Pope had once been an inquisitor had no choice but to watch their words. Criticizing his past deeds would be the same as criticizing the Pope himself.
“He is a man of exceptional ability. With all the recent disturbances both inside and outside our borders, he is the one who will resolve them.”
Everyone understood what those “internal and external disturbances” referred to. They were all seasoned politicians, after all.
“Couldn’t you have chosen one of us for such a task?”
The Pope stared silently at the cardinal who had spoken. The man was speaking smoothly while knowing full well he would collapse in terror if actually assigned the job. Unable to withstand the Pope’s unwavering gaze, he eventually looked down.
“I understand that this sudden development has surprised everyone. However, there is no one more qualified than him. If any of you believe my judgment was hasty, please speak now.”
Anyone who stepped forward here would undoubtedly be assigned to hunt creatures in the labyrinth or confront demons.
Gulp—
For a moment, tension gripped the banquet hall. A heavy silence wrapped around the room and lingered for a long time.