Twilight Hour (2)

(Also, one hour later means there’s barely any time at all!)

Taking away the time to think and forcing an unfavorable agreement was a tactic often used by shady merchants. She knew it — yet now she had no choice but to play along, and that frustrated her.

(I was just told to be careful by His Highness… he’ll scold me again.)

Cordelia apologized inwardly to Isaac, then stood straight.

“Lily. I’m very hungry. Could you bring more food?”

“Yes! Is there anything you’d like? Since you’re recovering, perhaps something easy to digest?”

“No, today I want something extremely spicy. The kind that makes me cry.”

“Spicy… food…?”

Lily tilted her head in confusion. Naturally so — Cordelia almost never ate spicy food.

Cordelia urged her along from behind.

“Yes, spicy. Ah, I want it quickly. Please, Lily. Take your time, but bring a lot.”

“Y-yes! I’ll ask the cooks immediately!”

After confirming Lily hurried off, Cordelia quickly changed clothes alone. A very simple one-piece dress like when she once disguised herself as a town girl. Then she addressed the guard knights in the corridor.

“I have a request. I want to prepare flowers for His Highness — could you select a bouquet? And you there, could you buy the latest sweets? Please, I need them immediately.”

Since she had never made such requests before, the knights hesitated, but they could not refuse a direct request from the Holy Maiden.

After neatly sending them away, Cordelia quietly put on a cloak, slipped out of the palace, and headed alone toward the Gridal Grand Cathedral.

“Uu… was the church at night always this frightening…?”

By autumn the sun set far faster. The deep purple sky that still held traces of sunlight moments ago had become completely dark by the time she reached the church.

A chilly wind brushed her cheeks and she hugged herself over her cloak.

Then she cautiously placed her hand on the massive doors. Creak… the sound echoed loudly.

The Gridal Grand Cathedral was one of the largest churches in the royal capital. During festivals it was crowded, but now no one was there. Because it was so vast and solemn, the silence felt heavy — almost terrifying. Only magically lit lamps flickered.

“As the letter said, I came alone.”

She called into the hall, but no one answered in the silent church. Moving carefully, Cordelia gathered dark magic so she could activate it at any moment.

(My dark magic has been overwritten quite a bit by Holy Magic… but I should still manage basic self-defense.)

As she advanced step by step, she saw someone sitting in the very front pew. Facing forward so only his back was visible, but the broad shoulders were familiar.

Taking a breath, she ran forward calling his name.

“…Samuel-sama, you were the one behind this!? …Hm?”

Her voice was swallowed by the church.

What awaited her was not a scheming villainous Samuel — but Samuel fast asleep, drooling, sitting foolishly.

“Why are you sleeping here? Wake up! Wake up!”

She slapped his face repeatedly, but his sleep was deep — only a relaxed snore returned.

Cordelia began striking his cheeks with force that could hardly be called anything but slapping.

“Wake up! Where is Hina!?”

“Hina-sama is over here.”

A man’s unfamiliar voice spoke, and Cordelia spun around.

Standing in front of the door she entered, blocking the way, was a single man.