Episode 53
No matter how clever and brilliant Belzeon was, he was still young and lacked experience.
Compared to Kierne, who had been stained by the filth of society and evolved into a venomous serpent, he was nothing more than a baby snake.
There was Kierne, soaring high above the leaping Belzeon.
If Belzeon planned several moves ahead, peering into the future, Kierne would simply flip the entire board and rebuild it anew in a direction that favored him.
At this point, even if they managed to cross the border safely according to the original plan, it would be pointless.
Not if Kierne wielded the power of the underworld and had the aid of Duke Ivroiel.
‘He’ll mobilize every method, legal and illegal. I’ll be caught no matter what.’
Duke Ivroiel was a man with connections abroad, which made it all the worse.
But in truth, Chesha had no desire to crush the heart of a young boy.
Instead, she gently steered Belzeon, who was intent on heading straight for their destination, in a slightly different direction.
“Can we buy just one flower?”
“A flower?”
“Yes.”
It was common knowledge among all the men of the Basilian Territory that Chesha loved flowers.
So she could herd Belzeon toward a flower vendor’s stall without raising much suspicion.
She also sent a single butterfly to lure Hailon to the stall.
Not one of her witch’s butterflies, but an ordinary white one.
Hailon would surely follow it.
And sure enough, he did, trailing the butterfly until he came face-to-face with Belzeon in front of the stall.
Chesha’s eyes widened as she met Hailon’s gaze.
She beamed as if their encounter was pure coincidence and cried out with delight.
“Knight uncle!”
At her familiar greeting, Belzeon’s wariness eased, if only a little.
Hailon briefly introduced himself.
“I am Hailon, a holy knight assigned to escort the child participating in the Little Saints’ Prayer Assembly.”
“…!”
Belzeon’s eyes lifted slightly.
The clever boy quickly realized that this was a rather favorable opportunity.
A relatively safe domain where Kierne could not easily lay a hand.
A chance for little Chesha to avoid the hardships of a grueling journey.
Having swiftly weighed his options in his mind, Belzeon responded to Hailon without delay.
“I am Belzeon Basilian of the Count Basilian family.”
It was anything but natural for the heir to the Count Basilian title to be loitering on the street with Chesha.
He was dressed in threadbare clothes, looking every bit the fugitive.
Hailon’s eyes narrowed.
The sharp gaze might have cowed anyone else, but Belzeon calmly continued with what he had to say.
“I wondered whether it was right to bring such a young child to the Little Saints’ Prayer Assembly… The count and I disagreed, and in my immaturity, I acted rashly.”
It was a story seasoned with just enough truth, hidden behind a veil, to tempt a holy knight like Hailon.
Hailon and Belzeon regarded each other.
Their eyes locked in silence for a moment.
Had they confirmed, through that wordless exchange, that their desires aligned?
Hailon’s tone softened noticeably as he spoke.
“If you wish, the temple can provide protection.”
“That won’t be necessary. I couldn’t trouble you, sir.”
“As the knight entrusted with your escort, I cannot simply pass by. Even if you choose not to attend the assembly, I’d like you to accept my offer without reservation.”
“Then I will gratefully accept, though I feel unworthy.”
The conversation, its conclusion already decided, flowed smoothly through polite demurrals until it arrived at their shared goal.
‘Belzeon… he’ll do well in high society, won’t he?’
Chesha was genuinely impressed by his remarkably deft social grace and eloquence.
In truth, there had been no need for such a plausible lie.
Even if Belzeon had refused, Hailon would have taken Chesha with him regardless.
As an inquisitor investigating the Count Basilian family, securing a related individual was only natural.
“Oh, wait.”
She nearly forgot an important question.
“Um, can I bring Hata too?”
Chesha showed them Hata, whom she had been cradling in her arms, bag and all.
From behind Hailon, his adjutant, Daren, muttered.
“Is that a doll?”
“It’s a puppy.”
Her blue eyes tensed slightly as they turned toward Hata, but she puffed out her chest with confidence.
Even beastly Karha had failed to see through it, and Hailon was only human, so it should be fine.
Hata made a sullen face at Hailon.
Of course, it only made him look like an adorable puppy.
After gazing at Hata for a moment, Hailon looked away indifferently and said,
“Do as you like.”
And so the boy, the baby, and the puppy set off for the temple with the holy knight.
The place Hailon took Chesha was the temple in the capital.
Given its location in the capital of the Palen Empire, the temple was grand in scale.
The outer walls, built of pristine white marble, were maintained so impeccably that they gleamed dazzlingly.
At the main gate, massive columns stood in a solemn row, naturally imparting a sense of overwhelming pressure to anyone entering, as if crushed beneath the straight line of pillars extending ahead.
A vast circular window pierced the domed ceiling, casting a soft light into the temple’s interior.
Hailon’s adjutant entered first, announced his identity, and informed them of Hailon’s arrival.
Hailon waited briefly at the main gate with the other knights.
From snippets of conversation drifting from afar, it seemed this temple also knew Hailon as a holy knight of the First Order of the Holy Knights.
‘Well, the inquisitor role is officially a secret, after all.’
Though not comparable to an inquisitor, the First Order of the Holy Knights was a position of considerable prestige.
Enough that even the capital temple of the Palen Empire would receive him with reverence.
“Sir Hailon!”
Priests and knights came out to greet him warmly, as if he had visited several times before.
Then they flinched at the sight of the group trailing behind him.
It was only natural—suddenly bringing a baby, a boy, and a puppy.
Especially since Hailon was not known for taking an interest in children or showing compassion to strangers.
Of course, whatever their reaction, Hailon paid it no mind.
Thanks to that, Chesha and Belzeon were able to stay safely within the temple.
Draping the white cape provided by the temple over her clothes, the reality finally sank in.
‘A witch staying as a guest in a temple…’
The end of the world had come.
‘I must never let Hailon find out.’
If he did, she would be mortified to her grave.
Chesha briefly imagined the scene of Hailon discovering the truth, and her face turned as white as the cape draped over her shoulders.
She resolved to avoid Hailon as much as possible within the temple.
But then,
“Lord Belzeon. Could you spare a moment?”
Hailon’s adjutant, Daren, whisked Belzeon away, saying he had something to discuss.
Left alone with Hailon, Chesha glanced at him furtively and startled.
He had scooped her up into his arms without warning.
In a cool voice, he asked,
“Have you eaten anything?”
At Hailon’s question, Chesha’s eyes widened, as did those of the holy knight standing nearby and a passing priest.
“I’ve heard babies need to eat often.”
This wasn’t the sort of thing he would ask while checking on someone.
Had he eaten something strange while she wasn’t looking?
While Chesha stared in shock, Hailon continued calmly, as if nothing was amiss.
“Until the Little Saints’ Prayer Assembly, I am your escort knight. It wouldn’t hurt to get a little closer. I have some questions, too.”
“Wh-what are you curious about?”
“Well…”
To the flustered, stammering Chesha, he whispered with a meaningful tone,
“Your real father, for instance.”
