The Forgotten Field

The woman, her eyes filled with open hostility as she stared toward the altar, flashed him a provocative smile.

”Maybe next time I’ll come wearing a Brishin.”

Varkas’s face instantly turned cold.

Brishin was a traditional eastern garment notorious for exposing most of the upper body. The mere image of her walking through the Grand Cathedral in a delicate silk dress that left her shoulders and back almost completely bare made the veins at his temples throb as though they were about to burst.

”Don’t even dream of it.”

His quiet reply immediately made her pout.

”I was only joking. You don’t have to look so serious.”

He said nothing.

Because he knew she wasn’t joking.

Before injuring her leg, she had often appeared at official events in outrageously revealing attire, causing one uproar after another. The Talia before him now reminded him of the troublesome young woman she had once been.

He couldn’t decide whether he should welcome the change or be wary of it.

He didn’t want her to spend the rest of her life hiding inside the castle to avoid people’s stares.

But neither did he want her flaunting her beauty everywhere and inviting trouble.

Above all...

She absolutely could not afford to provoke the spiritual leader of the Eastern people.

”After the ceremony, I intend to meet privately with the High Priest to discuss that monster... Khan.”

To keep his voice from being drowned out by the choir’s singing, he leaned close to her.

”I’ll negotiate with him so he can no longer use Khan as an excuse to criticize Your Highness. So please refrain from doing anything that might provoke the Church.”

”...I wasn’t actually trying to cause trouble.”

She suddenly looked flustered and awkwardly lowered her gaze.

”If they overlook Khan’s existence, I have no reason to keep provoking that stubborn old man.”

Relieved by her softened attitude, he straightened his posture.

Just then, the choir finished its hymn, and the High Priest stepped up to the pulpit.

After offering a blessing in ancient Osirian, the priest slowly surveyed the congregation before beginning his sermon in a booming voice.

”Today, I wish to speak about temptation. There are countless temptations in this world that lead mankind toward sin. We must remain ever vigilant against them.”

He soon launched into a passionate discourse about the dangers of physical beauty and the corruption it invited.

Varkas, watching the High Priest’s stern face with icy eyes, glanced sideways at his wife.

At first, she seemed relieved that the sermon wasn’t another warning about the dangers of monsters.

Then...

Her expression slowly stiffened.

As people throughout the cathedral began casting furtive glances in her direction, she apparently realized that the High Priest’s sermon was aimed squarely at her.

Varkas quietly covered the back of her hand with his own.

”Don’t worry.”

His voice was low.

”I’ll make certain he never speaks of you like this again.”

Talia parted her lips as if she wanted to say something.

In the end, she merely nodded.

Meanwhile, the High Priest’s criticism grew increasingly blatant.

Swayed by his inflammatory sermon, several members of the congregation began looking at her as though she were something vile.

The moment Varkas noticed those looks, his hand tightened around the armrest.

It seemed he would have to speak with the High Priest as soon as possible.

* * *

After practically forcing his wife into the carriage despite her insistence on waiting for him, Varkas headed straight for the High Priest’s residence.

As though expecting his visit, a young priest who appeared to be the High Priest’s secretary immediately escorted him into the reception room.

”It has been some time, Your Grace.”

Inside the neatly furnished room, the High Priest greeted him wearing a simple gray robe instead of ceremonial vestments.

Varkas returned the greeting with a slight nod before taking the seat opposite the old man.

A priest set a steaming cup of tea before him with a courteous smile.

”I’ve heard much about your achievements in the North. The Grand Duke’s devotion to the Empire deserves our gratitude. I am certain the Lord has watched over Your Grace with great satisfaction.”

”I didn’t come here to hear empty compliments.”

The old man’s complexion darkened as he lifted his teacup.

Varkas immediately got to the point.

”I’ll be direct.”

He looked the High Priest squarely in the eye.

”Stop your unjust attacks against my wife.”

”And what makes you so certain they’re unjust?”

the High Priest replied stiffly.

”Your Grace does not know the full story. The Eastern Church has exercised extraordinary restraint. Had I not intervened personally, the Grand Duchess would already have been tried for heresy.”

Varkas straightened from where he had been leaning against the chair.

That statement was no different from a direct threat against her safety.

Suppressing the urge to slam the priest’s stubborn face into the table, he instead smiled as though he had heard an absurd joke.

”You’re exaggerating the matter far beyond reason. My wife merely keeps a single wolf. If that alone were grounds for a heresy trial, not a single mage on the Roviden Continent would remain.”

”Mages merely use monsters as experimental subjects.”

The High Priest’s tone remained rigid.

”But the Grand Duchess treats that direwolf as though it were her own child.”

He sighed heavily.

”The only reason I have overlooked her behavior until now is because I sympathized with her circumstances. I witnessed firsthand the agony she suffered after losing her child. That is why I pretended not to notice her growing attachment to such a dangerous creature.”

”Then continue pretending not to notice.”

Varkas’s voice sharpened.

”I will take every precaution necessary to ensure that wolf never causes trouble. So I would appreciate it if you stopped tormenting my wife.”

”It isn’t only because of that hideous beast.”

Setting down his teacup, the High Priest let out another weary sigh.

”Surely Your Grace has received reports that the Grand Duchess has been leaving the castle more frequently since last spring. She often wandered the outskirts beyond the city walls accompanied by that wolf.”

”And what’s wrong with going outside for a change of scenery?”

”There are eyewitness accounts placing the Grand Duchess at a gathering of heretics on the outskirts of Kalmor.”

An icy silence filled the room.

Varkas stared motionlessly at the priest for a long moment.

Then he laughed quietly.

”That’s quite the joke.”

”I am hardly in the habit of joking about such matters in front of the Grand Duke.”

The High Priest remained perfectly solemn.

”This is not idle gossip. It comes directly from reports submitted by our inquisitors.”

Varkas answered without hesitation.

”My wife is under constant protection from House Siorkan’s warriors. Whenever she leaves the castle, over a dozen soldiers accompany her. Are you seriously suggesting she slipped away from every one of them to attend a heretical gathering?”

”According to the investigators, those gatherings took place before dawn.”

The High Priest folded his hands.

”Could the Grand Duchess not have slipped out of the castle while everyone else was asleep?”

”A ridiculous slander.”

Varkas practically growled.

”You know perfectly well that my wife’s leg was {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} injured. You also know she’s only recently recovered enough to walk properly. Yet you expect me to believe she somehow evaded scouts and guards alike before sneaking out of the castle?”

He let out an openly mocking chuckle.

”I’ve read stage plays written by third-rate poets that were more believable.”

”I have no intention of determining the truth here and now.”

The priest leaned back with visible fatigue.

”I simply wish for the Grand Duchess to refrain from behavior that invites suspicion before this matter grows beyond anyone’s control.”

He paused.

”Furthermore, we require the Grand Ducal House’s cooperation in eliminating the heretics who have become increasingly active these past several years.”

Varkas gave a dry laugh.

”So you accuse my wife of heresy...”

”...and then ask for House Siorkan’s assistance?”

”If Your Grace eradicates the eastern heretics, naturally the suspicion directed toward the Grand Duchess will also disappear.”

The High Priest spoke in a calm, persuasive tone.

”Our latest reports indicate that these heretics have even begun collaborating with the Zram people. For the safety of our citizens, the Grand Ducal House’s cooperation is urgently needed.”

The stream of troublesome news made Varkas press a hand to his forehead.

He couldn’t completely trust the crafty old priest.

Still...

Allowing inquisitors dispatched from the capital to roam freely throughout his territory would likely create even greater problems.

It would be better if he handled the matter himself.

Having organized his thoughts in an instant, Varkas answered evenly,

”Very well.”

”But I have one condition.”

”Please, name it.”

”Destroy the report submitted by your inquisitors.”

His gaze suddenly turned icy.

”If even a single word of what has been discussed in this room finds its way outside...”

He paused.

”...the next time we meet, it will be under far less amicable circumstances.”

The High Priest’s lips stiffened.

After a long silence, he gave a single nod.

”...I shall remember that.”