It was impossible to see the surroundings due to the persistent rain. A carriage with Chihenâs pattern pulled up in front of the imperial castle through the pouring rain. The horses exhaled heavily and stamped their feet.
After examining the Chihen familyâs pattern, the soldiers manning the royal palace immediately made way.
The carriage soon arrived at the front of the detached palace where the Huizeniac Empire delegation was staying.
âBishop Berg!â
When the servants of the detached palace checked the passenger who got out of the carriage, they were taken aback.
Itâs also surprising that he came through the rain, despite the danger. Berg resembled a drowned mouse after being caught in the rain.
First and foremost, it was impossible to move in this pouring rain.
âI came to see the delegates.â
Although there was a formality to meeting the delegates, the servants chose to allow him in for the time being. The Chihen family was the second most important family in the Kingdom of Sadin, after the royal family. In this torrential downpour, they couldnât abandon a Chihen family member.
âLetâs go inside for now.â
Then Berg was brought inside the detached palace by the attendant, who also brought towels and blankets.
The servant handed Berg a towel, which he used to quickly dry himself off. He then stated the reason for his visit once more.
âI need to speak with Viscount Yurpheon.â
The employee sighed inwardly. If he was so desperate to locate a delegation member, it must be for something very important.
The servantsâ chief decided that it was not a matter for him to decide, so he directed another servant to inform the delegation of his visit.
âBishop of Berg?â
Fortunately, Adelia, who Berg had been looking for, appeared shortly afterwards.
Adelia stared at Bishop Berg, who was in a state of disarray.
âWhat happened? Did you fight with the Marquis of Chihen?â
âI have something to tell you. I think itâs better to talk somewhere else.â
ââ¦â¦Okay. I think you need to change first.â
âIâm fineâ¦â¦â
Tak.
Berg realized what he was doing at the last minute. The blue Sudan he likes to wear got soaked in the heavy rain and was rendered useless as a garment.
âIâm like a rag.â
He reasoned that he shouldnât be standing in front of Godâs representative in this manner, so he nodded. The head servant, who was observing them, guided Berg.
âIâll take you to the bathroom.â
Berg followed the head servant to the bathroom. He changed his clothes and warmed up his wet, cold body as soon as he arrived.
Click~
âYouâve waited a long time.â
Bishop Berg returned in neat clothes with a small box in his arms. Adelia had a feeling. That thing in the box has to be Chihenâs relic. Adelia was correct in her prediction.
âItâs the relic.â
Berg handed Adelia the box while attempting to conceal his complicated expression. Adelia gratefully accepted the box he had given her. When she opened the box, she discovered a pocket watch small enough to fit in one hand.
This is the relic.
It was truly a relic. She felt a great deal of divine power as soon as she opened the box. Adelia slowly closed the box, feeling the divine power that touched her skin.
âThank you; without Bishop Berg, we would not have been able to obtain this relic; youâve been through a lot.â
Adelia thanked Berg from the bottom of her heart. Did Adeliaâs sincerity reach him? Bergâs previously slightly rigid mouth now had a proud smile on it.
âNo, my role wasnât that important; if Adelia-nin hadnât told him properly, he wouldnât have given me the relics.â
Berg spoke in an unassuming tone. Adelia smiled awkwardly and accepted Bergâs gaze, which was full of trust in her.
âAndâ¦â¦ Iâd like to ask you a favor.â
âDonât feel pressured and tell me. Iâll do whatever I can.â
Adelia wanted to compensate him for recovering the relic. Berg started to speak slowly while grinning bitterly in response to Adeliaâs affirmative response.
âAbout our workâ¦â¦ Please make Chihen unrelated to it.â
Adelia was stunned for a brief moment by the unexpected request. She thought about Bishop Bergâs request quietly. His request was not to involve Chihen in their work. Heâs hoping Chihen doesnât become a victim of this intangible conflict.
âIt doesnât look like it, but his affection is quite deep.â
Adelia smiled. If it was a request like this, she could easily fulfill it. She didnât want to involve Chihen in the first place, so it goes without saying that she agreed.
âThatâs not difficult; letâs do what Bishop Berg says; Chihen is now a family that has nothing to do with us.â
Berg swept his chest with a relieved expression in response to Adeliaâs determined remarks. Berg, who had struggled in his own way, felt he had relieved some of his burden. Of course, there is still a long way to go.
âThank you, Adelia-nim.â
âI should rather thank you. You did a great job.â
Berg asked Adelia with a relaxed smile.
âMay I ask what youâre going to do from now on?â
âWell, we should go back to the Empire first. We need to find out where the rest of the relics are. â
âI see. Iâll do my best.â
âOh, and I think itâs best to step out from under the Duke of Valkyr right now because Bishop Berg might be under suspicion now that Sadinâs relic has been given to us.â
âI see. Iâll try to keep my step as quietly as possible.â
âBut Iâm worried. Now that this has happened, Chihen will have to reject Duke Valkyrâs request. Will you be able to avoid his anger?â
With Adeliaâs concern, Berg shook his head with a laugh, as if her worries were of no use.
âYou donât have to worry. Even if the Sardin Kingdom falls, Chihen can save it.â
Berg knew his brother well. He wasnât someone who could easily be crushed or shaken by this.
âAs expected, you get along well.â
Adelia finally said what she had been thinking. Bishop Berg then looked at Adelia, perplexed.
Adelia added with a smirk.
âI meant as brothers.â
Bergâs brow furrowed, as if he had heard something he shouldnât have. He might have gotten angry if it hadnât been Adelia who said those words. But Berg simply shut his mouth because the person in front of him was Adelia.
â⦠itâs not so good.â
âWell, letâs leave it like that.â
Ivan clicked his tongue briefly and issued an order between Adelia and Berg, who shared a friendly atmosphere.
âItâs late at night, and you must be tired from the rain, so I think you should get some rest.â
âI donât deserve to hold a sword if I get sick after getting wet in the rain like that.â
âCarelessness can cause fatal injuries.â
âHow can you think of this as being careless? Youâre softer than I thought.â
With a cold sneer, Ivan looked at Berg. Berg opened his eyes wide and refused to back down.
Ivan and Bergâs eyes locked, and at the same instant, the warm atmosphere vanished, the air turned chilly. Adelia shook her head in disapproval at the childish stare-off between the two childish individuals. Adelia, on the other hand, did not refute Ivanâs words. Berg was exhausted.
âBut I think itâs better for you to rest today; thereâs a saying, âone in a million.â I hope you donât catch a cold, so rest, because we have to leave soon.â
ââ¦â¦youâre right.â
Unlike when Ivan spoke, Berg nodded gently. Ivan was amused by the scene.
But given the heavy downpour, I worry about whether weâll be able to move to the teleport hall.
At Bergâs remarks, the three pairs of eyes shifted to the window. The rain continued to fall, making visibility impossible. At that moment, Berg and Ivan noticed something white. It was headed in their direction.
âSomething is coming.â
âI think itâs a birdâ¦â
Adeliaâs eyes widened as she cast a wide-eyed glance around, but she was unable to spot any flying objects. What did you see despite the drizzle? But soon Adelia was able to see what the two men were seeing.
Beep!
Adelia stood up when she heard the familiar cry and went to the window. The white figure, which had been obscured by the heavy rain, finally came into full view.
âItâs Cardinal Eustafâs holy bird.â
Bishop Bergâs expression was gloomy as he described the birdâs identity.
âDid you just fly through the rain?â
Beep!
The collar, which was long and white and flaunted its splendor, was wet and drooping. It must have been challenging to fly through the rain, but because it is a holy bird, it was able to make it all the way here.
âThis isâ¦â
The bird turned the tiny bag he always carried in the direction of Adelia. She quickly checked the contents of the bag even though she wanted to take her time to really enjoy how oddly adorable it was.
âItâs a letter.â
âI think Cardinal Eustaf has something urgent to say.â
Adelia nodded as she slowly opened the letter. Her expression hardened as she concentrated on reading the letter.
âWhatâs going on?â
Adelia pondered Ivanâs query for a moment. Soon after, she carefully popped open her mouth.
âI believe Cardinal Eustaf guessed as to the location of His Holiness the Pope.â
Berg and Ivan were both taken aback by Adeliaâs response.
âAnd I believe he knows where the remaining relics are.â