“Please cooperate with our investigation for the time being, Sister Emilia.”
Dorias Angus said in a low voice to Emilia. The pale-faced nun only nodded slightly before being led out of the conference hall by the saint.
Ileil watched as Dorias Angus escorted Emilia away. She felt that the situation was progressing a little too smoothly.
“You’re just taking Sister Emilia away like this? Even without solid evidence.”
It was obvious that Gro was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. Ileil gave him a questioning look:
“Now you can finally tell me—how exactly did you make both the saint and the duke believe there was something suspicious about Emilia?”
“Kid, are you that curious about what methods I used to gain their trust? Being so inquisitive isn’t like you.”
Gro replied unhurriedly. Ileil had thought Gro would only give half an answer like many times before, but this time he didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding the truth:
“The simplest method is often the most effective—just investigate the church where she stays while she isn’t paying attention. The moment you suspected something was wrong with her yesterday, I already sent people to do exactly that.”
Gro’s way of doing things had always been like this—he wouldn’t bother with proper procedures once he set his mind on a goal.
“I have to say, that nun really has guts. She actually dared to set up an altar for a foreign god right under the nose of the Dawn Goddess. That place is supposed to be the Dawn Goddess’s territory, after all.”
Gro watched Emilia’s receding figure and continued:
“I’m wondering… what exactly drove her to do something so outrageous. According to Sister Emilia’s records, she has almost no stains on her reputation.”
…….
While the meticulous Gro was still pondering the secrets hidden behind the scenes, Ileil seemed to have some idea about what he was thinking.
“Last night, it was Dorias Angus who escorted Emilia back to the church, right?”
Ileil spoke up. Seeing her thoughtful expression, Gro immediately understood what Ileil was getting at.
“Yeah. This morning Dorias told me he didn’t notice anything particularly wrong with Emilia—if I hadn’t placed the evidence in front of him.”
At this point, Gro paused. He stared into Ileil’s eyes and asked:
“What did you discover? Every time you make that face, I know you have something to say.”
“…….”
Ileil slightly regretted saying those unnecessary words. But she knew Gro had already seen through her, so she might as well voice her speculative thoughts.
“Dorias Angus talked with Emilia on the road last night about some old friend of his.”
“Old friend?” Gro repeated, slightly surprised. “Tell me more. Dorias didn’t mention this to me.”
“It’s that—” Ileil recalled the heavy sorrow Dorias Angus couldn’t hide when he returned to the mansion last night. To Prinshitt, that person’s name was practically taboo.
“Dorias Angus told us last night that Sister Emilia suddenly brought up the name of his deceased comrade-in-arms—something like… Sertant? Apparently he was also a saint.”
Upon hearing the name, Gro’s expression turned serious. But he said nothing, simply standing there in silence.
Does Gro know this name?
Ileil observed Gro’s reaction. She carefully recalled the few memories of her interactions with Dorias Angus, and in the corner of her memory, she found a faint clue.
It seemed that when Dorias Angus was talking about the past relationship between her father and Gro, the saint had unintentionally mentioned that he had once captured Gro and Isende on the battlefield. Dorias Angus had intended to execute the two northern commanders on the spot, but someone had stopped him…
The person who stopped Dorias Angus from executing Gro and her father—wasn’t that the man named ‘Sertant’?!
Last night, Ileil hadn’t realized the significance of the name ‘Sertant’, but seeing Gro’s current reaction, she suddenly remembered this detail.
“You think… Emilia’s actions are connected to a man who died more than ten years ago? Kid, your thoughts are really jumping all over the place.”
“You obviously know this name.”
Ileil responded coldly.
“Don’t overthink it, kid. The reason I remember this name is only because…”
Gro tried to explain something to Ileil, but when he actually started talking about the past events, he hesitated, as if considering what he could and couldn’t say. Ileil wasn’t going to let him off so easily.
“I know what happened between you and the saint’s old friend. He convinced Dorias to spare your life, giving you the chance to survive the hands of Aressto’s soldiers.”
“Ah?” Gro could no longer maintain his nonchalant act. He said with slight surprise, “You even know about that? That guy Dorias really can’t keep his mouth shut…”
“Tch. I actually think it’s a shame that the one named Sertant didn’t take your head.”
Ileil commented. Just from the fact that the saint named ‘Sertant’ had the naive idea of sparing an enemy, Ileil was not at all surprised by his death.
“You can’t put it like that, kid.” Gro sighed helplessly. Being forced to mention that part of the past in front of Ileil seemed to tire him greatly:
“Although he did spare my worthless life—but no matter what, that man also spared your father.”
Upon hearing Gro’s words, Ileil’s expression wavered slightly.
“If Isende had died on the execution ground with me, there wouldn’t be a prickly kid standing in front of me right now.”
Gro’s words left Ileil momentarily speechless. Her golden eyes flickered as if touching upon memories she didn’t want to recall. But soon, the girl regained her cold, hard expression, and the corners of her mouth pulled into a mocking arc.
“So what you’re saying is…” she asked in a low voice, “you want me to thank that saint named Sertant? Thank him for letting you live so you could personally kill my father?”
Gro looked at Ileil, who remained unmoved by his words, and shrugged, trying to avoid the sharp question:
“I didn’t say that. Let’s end the topic of reminiscing about the past here. You still haven’t told me—why did Sister Emilia mention Sertant? What is her relationship with that deceased saint?”
“Dorias didn’t tell me that. He only said that Emilia knew the one named Sertant.”
“Fine. Rather than guessing blindly here, it’s better to ask Dorias personally before we set out…”
Before Gro could finish speaking, an urgent voice rang out from the entrance of the conference hall, drowning out his words.
“Y-Your Grace! This is bad!”
Everyone in the conference hall turned their eyes toward the guard. Duke Lokas frowned deeply as he quickly stepped forward:
“What happened?”
The guard was panting heavily, his voice trembling:
“We searched the church basement as you ordered… and we found… we found…”
He swallowed hard, as if finding it difficult to speak:
“There was an altar there… covered in unknown runes, and… a corpse.”
“A corpse?” Lokas’s pupils shrank sharply. “Be clear—who’s corpse is it?”
“It’s… it’s the body of a blonde girl. She looks only about ten years old or so…”
Gro’s eyes sharpened. He subconsciously murmured in a low voice:
“Lilian….”
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