At the center of the Chapel, Bianca stood quietly with her eyes closed.
At this hour, as always, she was the only one left in the Chapel.
Moonlight streamed through the stained glass above, its silvery glow illuminating even the tiniest particles in the air.
She stood precisely in the center of the Chapel, where the light poured down.
In that moment, she was as sacred as the Virgin Priestess who served the Goddess Fara in myth—so beautiful that not a single flaw could be seen.
This beauty was not only physical, but also the sacred beauty of her presence.
Long lashes fluttered open as she slowly opened her eyes.
Bianca reached out and touched her chest and forehead.
The prayer was over.
Her pious, sacred beauty ended there, because next, she was going to kill.
In her right hand, Bianca held a Magitek Weapon not yet fully unfolded.
As she raised her hand, the weapon extended gracefully, its curves as elegant as wings, until it formed the shape of a Bow.
Magic crackled along the bowstring.
Bianca turned with elegance and cold resolve, her pale golden hair billowing behind her.
For the sake of His Highness the Holy Child.
With that thought, Bianca pushed open the Chapel doors.
The moment she lifted her leg, she vanished from sight at a speed impossible to perceive.
On the surface, she was a nun serving the Light, but in truth, she was also an Apostle walking in darkness.
Tonight, she would act once again.
By chance or fate, the place she headed for was where Roman had once lived.
And in her hand, she held a Sacred Arrow bestowed upon her by the Pope.
With the decree of the Sacred Seal in hand, all she did tonight was an act of justice, for some had dared to offend those they never should have.
***
Elsewhere.
When Sylvia opened her eyes again, she found herself back in Roman’s room.
She silently opened her right hand, and the Space Mark she had left earlier appeared in her palm.
Her ‘Space’ Sacred Seal was certainly useful, but operating it was taxing.
Compared to regular space transfer, it was difficult to reach the exact point she wanted without error.
So when she left the room that afternoon, she’d left her own mark behind as a teleportation beacon—next time, she could arrive precisely by activating the mark.
The instant she landed, she suppressed her presence, scanning the room as she looked around.
Suddenly, she frowned.
Something felt… off.
She reached out and touched the bedsheets—clearly freshly changed, clean and tidy.
Was there a strange smell?
She glanced at the wide-open window, then silently moved over to close it.
At the same time, she thought how unreliable the Maids here were.
It was already so dark, yet no one remembered to close the window for the master.
What if something unclean slipped into the house at night?
What is Roman doing now?
With a thought, her consciousness swept across the entire Estate and found Roman in the Living Room on the first floor.
At this hour, he was probably having dinner.
Then, she noticed something that caught her attention.
Catherine was also dining with him, and had even seated Roman on her lap, personally feeding him.
The scene transmitted to her sparked an inexplicable anger within Sylvia.
She snorted coldly.
Well, it was the last night anyway.
Once it was over, that would be that.
She couldn’t imagine that tonight, she would face the greatest shock of her life.
***
Downstairs, Lady Catherine stroked Roman’s head and asked softly,
“Are you full?”
Roman touched his slightly bulging stomach, looking incredibly embarrassed.
Tonight, he’d been convinced by Lady Catherine and finally let go, earnestly enjoying dinner—and this was the result.
“Uh…”
Suddenly, Roman clapped a hand over his mouth, suppressing a burp.
“Want to go out for some exercise?”
Lady Catherine placed her hand on Roman’s belly as well, laughing gently.
“Exercise?”
Roman looked confused.
Lady Catherine nodded.
“Let’s go for a walk.”
Naturally, Roman didn’t refuse.
After getting off her lap, he let Lady Catherine take his hand and lead him outside.
The sky was fully dark.
Roman used to be very afraid of the dark, and would always stick to well-lit paths, even taking longer routes just to avoid pitch-black shortcuts.
At the root of it all, it was because he lacked a sense of security.
At that time, he was alone, surrounded by countless people who either coveted or admired him.
He’d grown used to being taken advantage of at work, but his wariness toward strangers only deepened over time.
Here, the night paths had no lights like in his previous life.
Roman unconsciously tightened his grip on Lady Catherine’s hand.
“Are you afraid of the dark?”
Lady Catherine pulled Roman closer to her and drew a symbol in the air with her other hand.
Above them, a Light Sphere appeared, illuminating their path.
For one who mastered Starry Sky Magic, this was a trivial feat.
Yet, as she watched Roman’s eyes grow bright with wonder, a warm satisfaction filled her heart.
“Let’s go.”
Lady Catherine released Roman’s hand, circled behind his waist, and took his other hand, intertwining their fingers tightly.
An elder’s embrace was always the greatest source of security.
Roman leaned into Lady Catherine’s arms, resting against her shoulder beneath the shining light, his previous fear already forgotten.
“There are still many interesting places around here. Let me show you.”
With that, Lady Catherine walked with Roman through the light in the darkness.
What neither of them realized was that, from a second-floor window, someone was watching their every move.
She saw their expressions clearly—Roman’s longing and Lady Catherine’s protective affection.
The nameless fire in her heart, which had faded, suddenly blazed up again.
This time, it wasn’t just directed at Lady Catherine, but even at Roman beside her.
Your mother hasn’t been gone that long, and you can already call another woman ‘Mother’ so easily?!
Yet as soon as the thought arose, it collapsed.
Because she tried to see from Roman’s perspective—a child whose mother was frail and sickly from birth, how much warmth and protection could she have given him?
How had he managed to protect himself and grow up?
Perhaps Lainie had given him maternal care, but even more, she’d weighed him down with heavy burdens.
And in her memory, Catherine was undoubtedly a woman who made people feel safe.
How could Roman be at fault?
Sylvia was now wavering.
It wasn’t a question of whether to take Roman away, but of how to make him leave willingly.