episode_0082

Faithfully following the lord’s command is one of the duties of a knight.

Every knight understands the heavy burden that comes with the land they are assigned to. Although it was a service provided on a temporary basis, it was generally carried out faithfully.

In that context, I was occasionally called upon to deal with local disputes among the knights and nobles under the marquis, or external invasions.

If it was a matter significant enough to send a messenger, it was unlikely to be a simple invitation for a meal.

Then, could it be another task? Unless it was something urgent, I could probably make time for a week to send Lycia.

“Raven, I’ll go first.”

“Sure. Have a safe trip. Let’s meet again in the afternoon.”

Watching Lycia hesitate for a moment, she left for the university first. Since she mentioned morning classes, she should hurry to check.

After briefly watching the girl’s back, I turned my head to carefully open the seal. As I scanned the parchment that unfolded, my eyes stopped at the first sentence.

-At the beginning of this spring, His Holiness the Pope excommunicated His Majesty the Emperor.

I couldn’t help but doubt my eyes, which I had always trusted even on the battlefield.

“Do you know what’s written in this?”

“Yes. And I was told to bring back the answer immediately.”

“Is this real? No, more importantly, why did this happen?”

“The marquis was also very surprised. He said he had understood the situation until I left, and he will explain the details later.”

“Oh my.”

I roughly understood the meaning contained in this one sentence.

A position sandwiched between the Pope’s decree and the Empire. Both the Emperor and the Pope were their subjects.

War was looming before the eyes of Marquis Canossa. My fate was no different.

Writing cannot capture the emotions that emanate from tone, expression, and subtle tremors in the voice.

However, the emotions of the writer could be reflected in the handwriting.

The characters written in the letter were clearly composed with minimal neatness.

Yet, the urgency and haste in writing from beginning to end seemed to be the purpose. The image of Marquis Canossa holding his head involuntarily appeared before my eyes.

I continued reading the letter to the end.

The content was filled with noble-specific investigations and complex vocabulary, but it could be summarized in three sentences.

‘Requesting mediation between the Pope and the Emperor. Help. Help.’

It was a development I had seen many times before.

It felt like I had been dragged into being a messenger all day long back then.

No, let’s save that thought for later.

I handed a silver coin to the messenger who had waited until I finished reading the letter, telling him to return the exact message to the marquis when he got back.

“He mentioned mediation. After a brief stop in Alpen, I will go straight there.”

“Understood. May the gods be with you in this adversity.”

As it was an urgent matter, the messenger, leaving only a brief farewell, disappeared on his way.

I, too, had to prepare quickly. However, I had to think about what that preparation was for now.

Mediation sounded good because it was mediation, but the relationship between the Emperor and the Pope had already surpassed the point of no return.

If he wanted to pronounce excommunication, he should have been prepared to freeze the Emperor to death in front of Canossa Castle, and if that failed, he should have remained silent.

A decision without a backbone raises doubts about judgment and makes the weight of excommunication even lighter.

Even if he wanted to assert his legitimacy, what value did legitimacy have to the nobles who had already rebelled?

It was time to pick a side. Standing in the middle and trying to resist would not make an individual withstand the flow of the times.

I suddenly remembered a conversation I had with the Emperor in the Kanoza Castle.

As I was about to open the door and leave, he clearly said to me,

“The time will come when you have to choose a side.”

Perhaps he had anticipated that the situation would unfold like this from the beginning.

If the Emperor’s words were not meant for now, then when?

Instead of that, I should hurry back to Alpen for reorganization and head to the Kanoza Castle to meet the Viscount.

How should I tell Licia, who must be looking forward to our meeting?

Surely she will understand if I explain the situation, but she will be very disappointed.

*****

Being interrupted during Lavender’s farewell was a bit disheartening.

However, knowing that it was a serious letter, I discreetly left the place.

What other news could be delivered to him at this moment?

If Heine had received the news, it wouldn’t be long before Lavender would also receive it.

The repercussions were not something that could be easily hidden, so within a week, everyone in this area would know.

With each step towards the university, the doubts only grew.

What should I do at this point?

Although I managed to stay focused until the end of the class, as soon as it was over, my mind became complicated again.

“This part will be referenced when you learn magic later on. It won’t be included in the exam, but it’s good to keep a record if needed.”

“Yes-”

“If you want to take notes, you can mark the page and write it down. Thank you all for your hard work today.”

A little past lunchtime, Amelie glanced at the sky and closed her book.

The students slowly got up and headed out of the classroom. They seemed happy discussing how to spend their time after class.

Normally, she would have happily gone home quickly after the class ended, but her feet didn’t move easily.

“Not going back? You’ve been waiting for Lavender’s return.”

“Oh, I have a question to ask the Lady about today’s lesson. It might take a while, so you can go ahead, Lady.”

“You’re studying hard. At this rate, you’ll graduate before me. Well, I’ll go ahead then.”

It was a common excuse to have many leftovers due to such reasons after the class ended.

When Heine, who had been waiting with his head tilted for a moment, also left, only Amelie and I were left in the classroom.

Amelie was slowly organizing her desk. The scattered pieces of paper were neatly moved to the bookshelf, and the used pens were neatly arranged.

Approaching the podium where Amelie was, in the now quiet classroom, the echo faintly followed at the end of the voice.

“…Amelie.”

“Yes. Feel free to ask me anything.”

“Did you know this situation would come someday?”

“If you’re talking about the Pope’s repercussions, then yes, I knew. It would be more accurate to say that I found out faster than others rather than predicting it. I can’t see the future, only the present.”

Of course, she didn’t know that the Pope would go this far.

Amelie prepared to leave while mumbling. After closing the window in the classroom, she put on her coat.

“Adults shouldn’t interfere with the secular world.”

“Yes. So I’ll just stay at the university this time as well.”

“Then what should I do…?”

“That’s up to your choice. Unlike me, no one knows that you’re the Lady.”

It was not common for an adult’s existence to remain unknown.

In that sense, it could be seen as a kind of luck. At the same time, it was also a shackle that made one cautious about their actions.

“Just remember this. I said it before. If you want to reveal yourself as the Lady, you need to be prepared for the consequences.”

“…I have more knowledge now than in the past, so I have confidence that I won’t be caught.”

“Still, you never know what might happen, so you should be careful. And maybe… ignoring it could be a solution too. No one will blame you.”

Watching. That was also an option.

If he did that, he wouldn’t have to worry about being caught. Lavender would be swept up in the war, but he could also pretend to be neutrally involved, seeming neither for nor against.

But as he thought about it, his heart felt uncomfortable, aching.

He knew what it was. It was something he had learned while being with Lavender, something he had done to please him.

It was a rare kindness in this desolate world.

At the same time, a question arose.

“Amelie, what is salvation?”

It was a question he had wanted to ask the saint who was at the university. Back then, almost three years ago.

What must an individual do to be saved?

Not to enter the kingdom above the sky where God resides after death, but what we can do on earth to be saved while living and breathing.

“It’s about the salvation of others, not me.”

Now, after a long time had passed, the question had changed slightly.

He was already content with himself. Yet in a confusing world, many others were not.

Having once lost everything himself, he knew how sad that could be.

Miracles and saints existed for salvation, they said. Yet many adults had grown tired of such a world.

So he couldn’t just close his eyes and ignore it.

And even if Lavender told him to stay put, he was not one to sit still.

If he left now, he would surely come back injured from somewhere, so he had to stay by his side.

“You already know, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

Amelie replied with a smile. If that was the case, then the task ahead was clear.

“Will you approve my leave of absence?”

“Of course. Why, are you interested?”

“I’ll just get your permission and come back. Please wait a bit!”

Even though he was still a guardian, he needed Lavender’s permission.

Leaving Amelie behind, he quickly gathered his belongings from the desk and ran towards the house where he would be.