Chapter 16: Horse

Under a gray, overcast sky, fine raindrops fell, striking the heart.

The church perched high in the village had long fallen into disrepair, its structure crumbling.

Only a devout old nun still resided within, her aged hands scarred from years of using healing magic and rough with calluses from decades of labor.

In the dim light filtering through the stained-glass windows, fragmented patterns of color danced across the stone floor.

She knelt before the statue of the goddess, her plain, yellowed headscarf draped over her shoulders, her lips moving silently in prayer, with only an old silver cross swaying gently at her chest.

Her entire life had been dedicated to living without guilt, never charging a fee or accepting money, faithfully following the teachings of the goddess.

She sought no recognition, only to quietly help those in need.

Over time, the church, seeing no profit, had naturally forgotten this place, leaving it to fend for itself.

Even though this was where Emilia had grown up… perhaps that was for the best.

The children once taken in by this church had long grown up and scattered to the winds.

At her age, the old nun had little left to worry about.

Yet today, someone ascended the muddy steps, climbing steadily upward.

It was Duke Ole, braving the light rain, his gaze unwavering, resolute in his determination to never give up hope of finding Emilia.

This was not only for his own reasons but for the sake of the countless citizens of the empire.

Following closely behind him was Delly, who seemed somewhat at a loss.

The once assertive and imposing demeanor she carried had vanished, replaced by a cautious restraint.

She, too, had grown up here… though she harbored some unspoken secrets.

“Can I not come, Lord Ole?” she asked.

“No.”

Ole, with no time to spare for Delly’s hesitations, climbed to the top without a trace of doubt.

His eyes were fixed solely on Emilia.

He paid no mind to Delly’s emotional state; for now, he needed her cooperation, and that was that.

Soon, he pushed open the dilapidated church door.

His eyes fell upon rows of worn but clean pews and, at the center, an elderly woman kneeling in worship before the statue of the goddess.

He approached her, engaging in conversation with an air of approachability.

“Dear Sister, may the Lord bless you. I apologize for interrupting your prayers. I was passing by, seeking shelter from the rain, and happened to meet someone familiar.”

But his intentions were too obvious.

Under the guise of small talk, he extended his influential hand, forcibly pulling the reluctant Delly—who had been lingering outside, unwilling to enter—into the church.

He grabbed her with no trace of gentleness, as if refining her in an instant.

The scene grew intensely awkward, like a mouse encountering a cat.

“Delly? It’s been a long time. How have you been?”

The old nun slowly rose, turning to face them.

Her aged face remained calm and composed, as if she had anticipated something.

She let out a quiet sigh.

She likely guessed they were here for Emilia.

That girl had finally found a new home, a new place to belong.

They had abandoned her, so why were they now coming back to find her?

She could still feel the genuine joy and freedom Emilia had radiated back then—not the forced, strained endurance she had shown before.

“I’m… doing alright, Mother. I’m back,” Delly said, shrinking like a timid young girl, as if wishing she could disappear into a hole in the ground.

She didn’t call the nun “Mother” because she was her biological parent, but because she was the one who had raised her.

She was also Emilia’s mother, and Gerald’s, having taken in these children who had lost their families.

Not to mention, Delly had parted with her “Mother” on bad terms… even leaving without a proper goodbye, for reasons…

But the man before her suddenly strode forward, interrupting Delly’s thoughts.

Duke Ole, understanding that haste wouldn’t yield results, had initially planned to exchange pleasantries and fish for information.

Yet from the moment he saw the nun, he abandoned that approach.

Perhaps it was his years of experience.

He no longer wanted to waste effort or words.

Time was running out.

Even if he could afford to wait, the empire could not.

Every second counted.

Step by step, he walked respectfully toward the nun, neither humble nor overbearing, with righteous words and a slight commanding tone, in the most direct manner.

“I want to know Emilia’s whereabouts. You must have seen her. I can sense her aura on you, very strongly. You’ve definitely met her recently.”

As Emilia’s devoted follower, Duke Ole was extremely sensitive to everything about her.

He was nine-tenths certain he wasn’t mistaken.

After all, the other party was just an ordinary mortal with no possibility of deception.

“That child has grown up. She’s made her own choices based on her heart and will no longer be bound by anything. As her foster mother, I’m very happy—happy with the choice she’s made. I hope you, noble sir, will stop pestering her.”

Perhaps realizing she couldn’t avoid the confrontation, or due to her faith that forbade lying, her words carried a plea and a mother’s responsibility.

She didn’t know this noble, but from his words and actions, he seemed very familiar with Emilia, perhaps even a bit obsessive.

How could Duke Ole, who was on the verge of finding redemption, give up so easily?

He reached out unceremoniously, placing a hand on the old woman’s shoulder, his eyes wide as if he wanted to devour her, using moral coercion.

He packaged himself as a noble and righteous figure, standing on the moral high ground.

“No, this is for the empire, for the millions of its people. As a follower of the Goddess of Justice, can you bear to watch millions lose their homes and be displaced? Only Emilia can turn the tide and save everyone, save this crumbling empire. You just need to tell me where she is.”

“I understand what you’re saying, and indeed, I am a follower of the Goddess, no doubt about that. After years in the faith, I know every page, every word of the Goddess’s revelations by heart. What you say may be true, but beyond this identity, I am also Emilia’s foster mother. She is my daughter.”

“So I cannot comply, even if it means going against my faith or abandoning the Goddess… Please, you and the empire, stop entangling her. You all abandoned her, devalued her years of hard work to nothing, tied her to a prison cart, and humiliated her to the end. And now you use such reasons to bring her back? Don’t you think that’s despicable and shameless?”

The old nun spoke from the depths of her heart, her words piercing like daggers.

Though she was somewhat afraid, she mustered the courage to speak for her child.

Perhaps struck at his core, Ole stumbled back a few steps, his face contorted.

Filled with guilt, he made a solemn promise, his noble and righteous facade stripped away.

It was clear he deeply regretted his past choices and only wished to make amends.

“Nun, I swear, I promise, if Emilia returns to the empire, I will protect her with my life. This will never happen again.”

“Damn it, these hypocritical bastards, always swearing and promising, yet not one of them follows through. They talk better than they sing. Next time, I’ll make them sign a contract to avoid another slave trader situation.”

Far away, Sig stood drenched, crouching by the fireplace in a small cabin.

Not wanting to waste magic, he dried himself the old-fashioned way.

He was still grumbling about the slave trader’s behavior from before.