The Crow's Message and the Monastic Madness
Sigmund hadn't let Idel down. Only a few seconds after sending the letter, the crow artifact had spat out the note.
She stared at the scrawled handwriting and the emotions swirling within it, and couldn't help laughing again.
It felt as if the heavy weight on her body had finally lifted a little.
Just as she was about to tear up the paper to reply, the crow artifact coughed up several more notes.
[Enough. Master. Suspicious.]
[Secretly. Meet.]
[Master. Pattern. Silence.]
Idel read the notes in one breath and understood exactly what Sigmund was trying to say.
He had said Viled was being suspicious and refusing to explain the pattern again, just like before. But why?
[My. Letter. Spring?]
After a moment's hesitation, she reactivated the artifact.
[Spring. Only me.]
It seemed Viled had grown suspicious and hidden the letter Idel had sent him.
Idel rubbed her chin with her small hand and slowly rolled her eyes.
She couldn't see any connection between the pattern, Melissa, Viled, and Patrick.
Is there even a single small clue?
Narrowing her eyes in thought, Idel suddenly widened them in surprise.
Patrick had said something strange recently. What was it again? Something about a rabbit hole and…
Ah, miss, have you ever heard that some people dig multiple rabbit holes? I found one under the tree by the well the other day.
You know, strange places always hide unexpected treasures.
She tried to recall his words, but the meaning still eluded her. It sounded like both a riddle and meaningless chatter.
While Idel frowned and continued to ponder, Sigmund sent the next note first.
[No. Small. Clue?]
No small clue? Patrick’s remark still hadn’t been explained, but this note at least had an answer.
The abandoned orphanage. It was the one place she had always wanted to visit. It was almost the only location where she could obtain clues about Melissa.
Even if Melissa’s connection to the Duchess had been revealed, she wasn’t sure what else remained. Still, there was a chance of finding information about her name or affiliation before adoption.
Perhaps the orphanage itself was connected to the pattern. Or maybe it was a group created by people from the same orphanage…
Wait, same orphanage?
Ah, but are you really not interested in rabbit holes or treasure hunting? I like abandoned-orphanage experiences, so I’ve found quite a few treasures in places like that.
Abandoned-orphanage experiences and the abandoned orphanage. Was this just coincidence? Or had Patrick simply been trying to confuse her?
Idel stared fixedly into empty space.
She could almost see Patrick’s annoying smile.
Honestly, this couldn’t be coincidence. He must have dropped the clues on purpose… but why? Was he testing whether she was following Melissa? How much did he really know if he was on her side?
Countless thoughts swirled through Idel’s mind, but in the end her conclusion remained exactly the same as the moment the crow had entered her room through the window.
There was only one answer for now.
Whatever the case, she had no choice but to go. Idel set her thoughts aside and wrote an affirmative reply to the note.
Sigmund’s response came back quickly.
[I. Also. Have. Clue.]
[When. Investigation?]
When… It was a difficult question to answer. She had no idea when Veronica would press her again, and how.
She was still holding out for now, but right now she needed something decisive instead of these small matters.
The first plan had been to provoke the servants and corner her into a tight spot, which was Melissa’s idea. If things dragged on, they would probably stay quiet too. They would act in some way, though Idel didn’t know what.
She would simply proceed with the plan she had set for that timing. Of course, she didn’t know the exact date yet.
The decision was quick. Sigmund wasn’t the kind of person who would be difficult like a duke or duchess. If she didn’t know, she could just say so.
[Don’t. Know. Later. Contact.]
[Yes.]
Idel smiled as the concise reply, which was nothing like what she had expected, tugged at one corner of her lips.
What remained was to deal with the note she and he had exchanged… and the reward she would give the visiting crow before sending it back.
“Caw!”
Karimba Monastery.
An unexpected commotion had broken out in the monastery renowned for its silent asceticism.
A priest named Repen had vanished just before the morning prayers after entering the monastery not long ago.
And the source of that commotion, or rather Farel Underwood, dressed in threadbare priest robes, was strolling the monastery’s streets.
“Excuse me, Father? Why are you dressed like that… Oh, are you heading to the temple in the monastery?”
“No need. That pattern embroidered on your priest robes is the one from Karimba Monastery. How difficult would it be for a silent-ascetic priest if you question him?”
“Ah, I see! I’m sorry, Father. I didn’t know…”
Farel bowed his head respectfully in response to the passersby’s greetings. Of course, unlike a proper priest, he ground his teeth beneath the hood he had pulled up over his head.
Damn it, damn it, damn it! I have to show respect to these lowly people!
His noble pride felt shredded. Farel’s blue eyes burned white beneath the dark hood.
This was all because of Ivan Earnest, Vivian, and that bratty little girl.
Farel’s eyes skimmed through the events of just a few days ago.
The day of Ivan and Vivian’s wedding.
That night when he had been humiliated in front of everyone, his father had spoken to him like thunder.
“Father, what… what do you mean? You’re sending me to Karimba Monastery?”
“That’s what you heard. The temple formally proposed to the family. From now on, you are no longer Farel Underwood. You are Divine Worker Repen.”
Divine Worker…?
Farel’s face twisted as he muttered the name his father had spoken.
A Divine Worker was a title granted only to priests and temple servants who followed the will of the gods. It was their vow to live solely according to divine will and their determination to sever all ties with the secular world.
Farel’s lips trembled at the unbelievable news that reached his ears.
“Are you expelling me from the family? Father! What are you doing to me?!”
“Shut up! Who told you to use such crude black magic? The temple and the count’s family stopped me, but if not, the entire Underwood family would have been implicated! And on top of that, you even touched the daughter of the duke’s family in a public cafe!”
“Huh? What…?”
“Countess Vivian Bright said so! The humiliation she and Ivan Earnest suffered together at the hands of the Clementine Duchy’s youngest daughter!”
“Surely…?”
“Surely? Farel, did you not even know who you were playing with? No matter how bad the rumors, she is a daughter formally admitted into the duke’s family! It may be quiet now, but if the Clementines come after you, then…”
The count’s father, who had been about to say more, glared at Farel as if there was nothing more to say.
“This matter ends here, Farel. Since you caused it, you will bear the responsibility. Go to the monastery quietly for the sake of the family.”
“But, Father…!”
“If you hate it that much, just drink this poison and end it!”
The count pulled a small bottle from his drawer as if he meant it. Thinking that simply handing it over wouldn’t convey his resolve, he even placed the poison directly into his son’s hand.
Farel’s face paled as he stared at the poison in his hand. He had truly been abandoned by his family and father.
After that, things moved quickly. Within a day, the temple had taken him away, conducted a simple investigation, and sent him to Karimba Monastery.
How much humiliation I endured from that day to today…
Farel’s eyes burned with rage as he recalled every shameful memory.
You know, Vivian? The one and only advantage of Karimba Monastery is that you have plenty of time to think.
And during those long hours, Farel had thought and thought. How he had ended up like this. How Ivan and Vivian had turned the situation around so quickly. After laying out every piece, his final conclusion was simple.
The Clementine Duchy had intervened. That girl had exacted revenge on him.