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Archbishop Victor, who was boarding the carriage, clicked his tongue. It was because of Iris Achen, who was running without dignity, having just passed through the monastery's main gate.
The monastery courtyard was a muddy mess due to the overnight rain, and her running wildly without caring about the splashing water was undignified and chaotic.
"Iris, what will you do if you get soaked in the rain?"
Priest Marid, with a pale face, snatched the umbrella from the knight standing beside him and held it over Iris.
Since it was the umbrella that had been held for Archbishop Victor, the knight looked at him in bewilderment, but Priest Marid remained nonchalant.
Iris asked quickly, even while panting.
"Am I late?"
"No. You've arrived just in time."
Abbot Wilbert, standing beside them, smiled benevolently.
In truth, the departure was scheduled for an hour later. However, Archbishop Victor, who hadn't slept due to the sound of the rain, had become irritable and urged them to leave early, leading to this situation.
He had even said he would leave Priest Marid behind, as if something had displeased him.
'What? But...'
'Would Holy Water and Lady Achen not be enough? Besides, I have something private to discuss with Lady Achen.'
This was all that man's fault.
Of course, he couldn't say that in front of Archbishop Victor, so Priest Marid only glanced at the Archbishop and signaled to Iris with his eyes.
Iris's face showed she understood. Archbishop Victor, who was already in the carriage, grew irritable.
"Lady Achen. Get in quickly."
"Um, Archbishop! I have something to ask. Could Rahan come along too? He's my husband, and it's not right for me to travel alone."
The Archbishop's face now looked purely annoyed. It was already absurd enough to fit Priest Marid and Iris into the cramped four-horse carriage, and now she wanted to bring someone else?
'That child of a demon cannot ride in my carriage!'
"Lady Achen. I have ten knights with me. I believe Sir Norwich's escort will not be necessary."
"But..."
"Lady Achen."
Archbishop Victor narrowed his eyes. Iris looked at Abbot Wilbert with a face that looked like she wanted to stomp her feet.
However, Abbot Wilbert already knew why Archbishop Victor was acting this way. And he knew the Archbishop would absolutely refuse to share a carriage with Rahan.
In the end, he had no choice but to shake his head.
"Iris. The Archbishop's knights are excellent people, so it will be fine."
"Still..."
Just as Iris was about to say something, her expression suddenly became emotional. She had vaguely realized why Archbishop Victor was rejecting Rahan.
Of course, Iris didn't know that Rahan had been accused of having some sort of relationship with a demon. She likely guessed that Archbishop Victor was simply averse to Rahan's red eyes.
"I don't want to! I want to go with Rahan!"
"...Iris."
But that stubbornness did not last long. Iris did not have the personality to keep holding out in front of the troubled Abbot Wilbert.
The fact that Priest Marid was at a loss and getting rained on with her also played a part.
Ultimately, Iris had to board the carriage while huffing. Abbot Wilbert apologized on her behalf.
"I'm sorry for the trouble, Iris."
"It's okay. What about Priest Marid?"
"Ah, I have work today as well..."
Priest Marid trailed off, and Iris glared, knowing this too was Archbishop Victor's doing.
However, Archbishop Victor only scoffed.
"Are Holy Water and Lady Achen not enough? Why bother so many people on a rainy day?"
"..."
"Does Lady Achen wish to see her old foster father ride in a cramped carriage and soak the hem of his Dalmatica in this rain to feel satisfied?"
That wasn't it.
"...I didn't say anything."
In the end, Iris spoke as if surrendering and sat down, tidying her skirt.
As if he hated the thought of touching Iris's wet skirt, Archbishop Victor quickly pulled away his Dalmatica with a prim expression.
Finding even that obnoxious, Iris glared at the Archbishop as soon as she sat in the carriage.
It was then.
"Um, Iris."
Priest Marid called her cautiously. Iris opened her eyes wide.
“Yes?”
However, Marid soon shook his head and smiled.
“Nothing, let’s talk after you get back.”
What was that? Was he going to badmouth the Archbishop with her?
Thinking so, Iris nodded. The carriage door closed quickly. The four-horse carriage was incredibly comfortable and as large as Iris's new bed.
‘How could anyone call this cramped?’
If she could, she wanted to demand an explanation from the Archbishop. However, as soon as the carriage departed, the Archbishop closed his eyes and leaned back, pretending not to notice her. It was as if he didn't even want to exchange a single word with Iris.
‘Hmph.’
She hadn't even gotten to talk to Rahan properly.
Outside the carriage window, the cabin where Rahan was undoubtedly asleep passed by.
Feeling upset for no reason, she leaned her face out the window, when suddenly, with a bang, the door of the receding cabin flew open.
And there was Rahan, his bewildered expression visible even from a distance.
Unable to resist, Iris leaned her body out the window.
“Rahan! I’ll be back soon!”
However, she was quickly blocked by the Archbishop's knight, who was on horseback outside, restraining her while saying, “It is dangerous, Lady Achen.”
Left with no choice, Iris reluctantly sat back down. Blocked by the knight, she could neither see nor hear clearly what Rahan was saying.
‘Well, it’s fine. I’ll be back from Arnsberg in the north soon...’
The road to the northern village was rugged because it was a mountain path, but it was only a day's journey.
‘What could possibly happen?’
Despite her efforts to calm her heart, Archbishop Victor muttered softly, “How undignified,” which made Iris irritated again. She gripped the strap of her bag tightly, suppressing her anger.
O Eridrahan. Is this man truly the Archbishop who serves you?
He is, right?!
Regardless, the carriage rolled peacefully toward the north.
Carrying the two of them.
* * *
“What? They’ve already left?”
The sound of the four-horse carriage passing the house was too loud to sleep through. Rahan rushed out in surprise, but it was already too late.
Archbishop Victor's carriage was already far off, speeding down the road.
‘Rahan! I’ll be back soon!’
The words had reached him just as he wondered if Iris was perhaps on board.
Seeing Iris dangerously leaning her body out the window and shouting those words, Rahan stood there dazed.
Fortunately, the Archbishop's knight escorting the carriage from the outside stopped her, and Rahan saw Iris squeeze herself back inside the window.
Then, Abbot Wilbert, who had rushed over from the monastery, told him with an apologetic look that ‘the Archbishop had departed taking only Iris.’
“No, I should be the one escorting Iris...”
“I am aware. My apologies. Archbishop Victor insisted he had something to discuss with Iris privately, and I had no way to overcome his will.”
Abbot Wilbert smiled at him, looking truly sorry.
“Fortunately, the village is only a day's journey away, and ten knights are escorting them, so nothing unusual should happen.”
Since the elderly monk looked so apologetic, Rahan couldn't bring himself to argue further.
Rahan sighed. It was partly his own fault for oversleeping, so he had nothing to say.
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
As Rahan turned to go back to the cabin, Abbot Wilbert offered gently. Rahan scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
“I will.”
It seemed the Abbot also had something to say. Rahan followed the Abbot along the cloister.
He thought the monastery would be quiet since it had started raining, but on the contrary, it was quite noisy.
“There seem to be a lot of people?”
Abbot Wilbert smiled brightly and explained.
“The rain has grown heavy. People from the nearby villages are coming here to take shelter.”
Besides Vandel, there were several small villages near Wind Rock Monastery.
Around this time of year, it was common for people to be killed or injured by the large and small summer typhoons, so whenever the rain became heavy, people naturally sought refuge at the monastery.
“It’s a relief the wheat was harvested yesterday.”
“Eridrahan looked after it. Of course, the people of Vandel helped as well.”
Contrary to the Abbot's warm response, the crowded monastery was dark and noisy. The rain was becoming heavier than before.
Rahan glanced at a rain gutter on one side of the cloister garden. The gutter, which collected rainwater falling from the monastery roof, had already overflowed and was streaming down onto the ground.
Why?
For some reason, he felt as if something big was about to happen.
* * *
Meanwhile.
Among the people sheltering from the rain, Akim gazed intently toward the monastery's cloister.
He was lucky. He had been worrying about how to disguise himself, but thanks to the summer typhoon, he was able to join the villagers from the surrounding areas evacuating to Wind Rock Monastery.
“Oh dear, I'm soaked!”
“Mommy! Hold me!”
Among the people sheltering from the rain, Akim gazed intently toward the cloister.
There was Rahan Norwich. The younger brother whose face he had never seen in his life.
But perhaps because of those Red Eyes, Akim was able to find Rahan immediately.
Seeing the back of him walking with a high-ranking official of the monastery, he remembered his mother's words.
‘Do as Prince Elio wishes.’
Lady Norwich had said so. But why?
Akim simply did not want to do so.
‘Shall I watch for a bit?’
There was some time before the typhoon subsided.
So, it would be fine to watch for a while.
That was what he thought.
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