Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Forbidden Eyes
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Lara was still somewhat frozen stiff.
She didn't seem averse to touring the temple, so it wasn't shyness about a new place. Theodor set out to uncover the real reason.
"I'm going to introduce you to the High Priest of the Pantheon. That's why I brought you here with me."
As expected, Lara's expression darkened further. She evasively avoided Theodor's gaze. Theodor added,
"If you don't want to, we won't. Just say the word if you'd rather go back. I don't want to force you into anything."
Even then, she couldn't bring herself to speak right away. She still seemed to be hesitating over something.
"It's not that I hate it."
"Then what's wrong? You don't look well."
"No. It's just..."
But the door standing firmly shut before them swung open faster than Lara could get the words out. She clamped her mouth shut at once and stared at it.
A kindly-looking old man stood in the doorway, a smile playing on his lips as he regarded the two of them.
"Heh heh, you must've been in the middle of a conversation. The Duke kept me waiting, so this old man got a bit impatient."
Theodor bristled at the High Priest for cutting Lara off.
Theodor offered the High Priest a curt bow, and Lara, clutching the hem of her dress at his side, dipped into a slight curtsy.
"Heh heh, that must be Miss Lara Diarc at the Duke's side. Miss Lara. A pleasure, a real pleasure. This old one's called Pastinus."
"...Hello."
"I've heard so much about you, Miss Lara. First time in Aren, I take it? Come in, let's chat at our leisure."
High Priest Pastinus stepped aside invitingly. Lara's anxious gaze lingered briefly on his face before dropping downward again.
"......"
Theodor kept a close eye on her.
The High Priest's quarters appeared to be a private reception room for clergy—a humble space that felt out of place amid the temple's grandeur. Once seated, the High Priest poured tea with his own hands.
"Today marks the festival of Saint Kucheanis. The Pantheon's bustling, and so are the streets."
"It's been ages since a festival lined up with your stay in Aren."
"The Duke's memory is sharp as ever. This old man's starting to forget things."
A fragrant aroma wafted from the tea the High Priest had poured. The comforting scent seemed to gradually loosen Lara's tension.
The High Priest watched her steadily.
"Miss Lara, is Aren too cold for you? Our winters drag on long. Folks unused to it often struggle."
"No. It's fine."
To Lara, Laden Orphanage had been far colder. The same winter here in Aren didn't feel cold at all. The High Priest nodded slowly at her reply.
"Heh heh, glad to hear you're settling into Aren so well, Miss Lara. Truth be told, this old man's knees have been aching something fierce."
Polite chit-chat had gone on long enough. Theodor cut straight to the chase.
"I have a favor to ask. Bestow your blessing on Lara."
"......"
"Lara needs a blessing from you, High Priest."
Beastkin had no need for divine blessings channeled through humans. But Lara was different. She was human. In Lepayrun, humans received blessings from Pantheon priests before coming of age.
That was why Theodor had brought her to see the High Priest.
Once Duke Theodor, ruler of Aren, finished speaking, the High Priest regarded him steadily.
Why would the Wolf Duke who governs Aren make such a request of me? Given the arrogance inherent to Wolfkin, it was unthinkable.
The High Priest wore an ambiguous smile.
"Miss Lara must be very precious to you, Duke. To come asking a favor of this backroom old man."
"I doubt the priests who follow you would agree with that."
"Making jokes now, are we? Heh heh, you live and learn."
The clear sound of tea pouring rang out. Only after filling a cup did the High Priest respond.
"But Duke, blessing Miss Lara... I'm afraid that's not possible."
It was an utterly regrettable answer for Theodor.
Theodor's icy red eyes fixed on the High Priest.
The spiritual leader of humankind defying the Duke's request surely had a sound reason. He wasn't a fool.
"...I'd like to hear the reason for your refusal."
"Naturally, Your Grace. But I'm afraid I can't say it here and now."
The High Priest said it while glancing sidelong at Lara.
Lara, ever sensitive to others' emotions, instantly realized he couldn't speak freely because of her presence.
Strangely, she had a feeling she knew what he was about to say.
Lara spoke up.
"I..."
She forced out a voice that wouldn't come. It took real courage to say it.
"If it's all right, I'd like you to tell us here."
Lara lifted her head. Her mismatched eyes met the High Priest's squarely.
"Please."
The High Priest stared at her a moment, then rose with a helpless air and turned away. After a pause of silence, he began.
"For ages untold, eyes of different colors have been among the taboos enshrined in our doctrine. Such eyes were thought to commune with demons. People so marked can't even set foot in the sacred Pantheon. Your entry today, Miss Lara, was permitted solely by my authority as High Priest."
Theodor, who had watched in silence, let out a scoff he couldn't suppress.
After all that buildup, the wait felt wasted.
Demonic aura?
"I'm starting to doubt those words really came from the High Priest."
"Nor do I relish saying them. But this is human doctrine. It must be upheld—and the Duke can't be expected to understand."
"What a laughably antiquated doctrine."
Theodor stood without another word. He had no intention of wasting more time.
Before departing, he turned back to the High Priest one last time.
"Diarc support for the Pantheon will continue. But High Priest, rather than foisting such doctrine on a clearly human child, you'd do better to look elsewhere. It doesn't suit the era that's coming."
"......"
"Lara. Come."
At Theodor's command, Lara rose from her seat in a daze.
The plainly offended Duke departed with his lady.
Left alone, the High Priest murmured at the window.
"The era that's coming..."
The seats they'd vacated held teacups untouched.
He knew the Duke's icy demeanor masked a raging inferno within, but to leave before the tea he'd poured with care had cooled...
"You'll need more patience yet, Duke."
"Huh? Why's the vibe here so off?"
Claude brazenly strode up to Theodor, his hands crammed full of paper bags.
It was a café near the Pantheon. The table before Lara and Rin was already piled high with their ordered desserts. Surprisingly, both girls were merely picking at them.
"Did something bad go down? In just two hours? Sheesh. No wonder I, the great Claude, can't step away without worry."
Theodor's gaze on Claude—who grinned as he dragged over a chair—was frigid beyond measure. Even braced for it, Claude broke into a cold sweat.
"Had fun, did you? Ditching your employer for two whole hours."
Ouch. He hadn't anticipated this level of frost. Caught off guard, Claude cleared his throat and tugged his shirt collar inside as he replied.
"Fun? Just a quick shopping trip. Place was mobbed—barely snagged anything. Here, a gift for my employer's employer. And this one's for Miss Lara."
Claude began pulling gift boxes one by one from the paper bag beside him.
"You have any idea how tough these were to get? Be grateful I skipped the lines all two hours."
"......"
"......"
Theodor, Lara, and even Rin met Claude's shameless display with utter silence. Claude groaned inwardly. The mood screamed that something had happened to Lara during those two hours.
'No shady humans spotted in the city today. Weird.'
Claude hadn't left Lara and Rin alone on a whim. The biggest risk in his absence? Lara wandering off, at worst.
And even if she did get lost, Claude could track her down in no time.
"Miss Lara. You didn't lose your way, did you? I was nice enough to point out the Pantheon."
"Ah, no."
"Then what? What happened to put Theodor in this mood?"
"Well..."
"Shut it and stay quiet, Claude. Not in the mood."
Theodor's warning forced Claude to pipe down. Grumbling, he ordered a coffee.
"Everyone's out to get me. Oh, right—you mentioned meeting the priest. All done?"
"......"
"Tch, if you're clamming up, fine. I'll ask Lara. So, Lara, how'd it go? Lepayrun's High Priest timing his Aren stay perfectly."
Claude shot Lara a friendly smile.
Lara awkwardly rolled her eyes. Theodor scowled.
Rin, eyeing the scene from the sidelines, sighed to herself.
Mr. Claude, the young lady's tutor... he really might have a hobby for strolling straight into blazing pits of fire...