The Villainess Captured The Grand Duke - Chapter 54

Chapter 54

In reality, most marriage dates were decided by the high priests, but even this was a chance for powerful families to have the Grand Steward personally choose. Given the nature of the temple, funded by donations from aristocrats and nobles, simply determining a date earned them a considerable amount of money. Sevi was the only one exhausted by this.

And there was more. Why were there so many reports about slabs? There was even a baseless claim that all the rocks in the Dolsan were slabs. Sevi had to climb the mountain to verify this, and he had to confirm the authenticity of the slabs. Additionally, he had to restore and translate them. If only he could pass all these annoying tasks to Koa. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible because only the Grand Steward could distinguish real slabs. The slabs revealed the language of Raphael, absorbing a tremendous amount of divine power as payment. For ordinary people, this was not a problem since they had no divine power to be taken. However, if someone with mediocre divine power meddled, they could even lose their life.

Priests with ambiguous divine power couldn’t even think about dealing with this. In the end, Sevi had to take full responsibility for this. At a time like this, another problem arose. Forced to the palace, when Koa brought news of the shocking discoveries of slabs, it felt like a disaster to Sevi.

“Slabs are being found everywhere in the royal palace right now.”

Sevi, who was lying on his bed, observing the ornate royal ceiling, was irritated when Koa forcibly dragged him out. Everything must be lies anyway, but when he saw the slabs, all his thoughts changed in an instant. The unique proof of the slabs that only he could recognize, the pattern of Raphael, even if it was crude and made no sense, the pattern consistently engraved on twelve slabs was something that couldn’t be copied without seeing a real slab. Moreover, even the faint flow of divine power.

“It feels a bit different to call it divine power precisely, but…”

Due to the faint trace, it was difficult to track. Yet, this was enough. Someone who survived seeing the real slabs. This fact alone was enough. In such a situation, another issue arose.

The marble floors were torn off, and the walls were smashed. Koa’s trembling voice continued to convey the shocking reality. Even the royal palace, the symbol of power, was not free from the influence of the slabs. The influential figures were all looking at Sevi with desperate eyes. Sevi sighed deeply. He was already annoyed just thinking about going up and down the royal palace to check every slab, but it seemed that the problem was not so simple.

“They are different from the ones on the mountain. The language is unknown, and they seem to contain a different power.”

Sevi stared blankly at Koa. The slabs in the palace were different from the ones on the mountain. The language was unknown, and they seemed to contain a different power. It was difficult to understand just how the slabs appeared in the palace. Not only that, but they also contained a different divine power. If the slabs on the mountain were related to Raphael, the God of Knowledge, then these slabs contained a mysterious power that was beyond Sevi’s understanding.

“Sevi, you have to investigate this matter thoroughly. Find out where these slabs are coming from and why they are appearing in the palace.”

Sevi couldn’t help but frown. Investigate where the slabs were coming from. It was easier said than done. The real slabs were hidden deep in the mountains. How could the slabs be found in the palace? Moreover, the appearance of slabs in the royal palace raised many questions. Why did they appear there? Who brought them? What was the purpose? Many doubts clouded Sevi’s mind. He realized that the situation had become even more complicated and dangerous than before.

***

The hall was filled with silence. The first to break the stillness was Silcaro.

“In what aspect did you feel that way?”

Sevi, with his long silver hair falling behind his ears, replied coldly, 

“I cannot disclose that due to the regulations of the temple.”

Contrary to his words, Sevi turned away and kicked the knights, urging them to find the culprit immediately. Leakage of slabs was a serious matter, and Sevi, looking at the busy priests, couldn’t help but feel proud.

“It seems that we’ll have to postpone the public announcement of the contents of the second slab for the time being.”

At the waiting-for-words, Scheuer internally cheered. The Grand Steward managed to implement the original work so well. His pride overwhelmed him. He tried to copy the novel’s illustration images exactly. He didn’t want to draw too much attention to the fact that it was a forgery.

On the other hand, Erina wanted to say something more to Sevi about the slab forgery incident, fearing potential harm to the central region. However, her attempt was brushed off.

“Well, I have nothing to say until we find the culprit.”

With the same words, they couldn’t continue the conversation for long. The situation unfolded as Scheuer desired, but a strange feeling lingered. It wasn’t because the Grand Steward Sevi Meltre’s appearance was significantly different from Erina’s memory. Although in the common world, he was evaluated as having a gentle and kind temperament, Scheuer wasn’t sure about the gentle part.

“Koa, I will soon be free.”

“Please grant me freedom in my mind.”

Koa’s head was gripped by someone—what an unexpected thing to happen. Scheuer, pulling at the hem of Raygrain’s sleeve, whispered softly in his ear as he stooped reflexively.

“Grand Steward, is it okay to trust him?”

“Despite appearances, he has not caused any trouble so far.”

Though the phrase “so far” bothered her, Scheuer obediently corrected her posture. Even though he looked cold because of the weather in the South, it was due to the weather, not his fault. So, even if problems arose, it was not his fault but a problem with the strange Grand Steward. In fact, the situation was such that the temple could pass all responsibilities to the Central. The forgery of the slab was a humiliation to the temple and its clergy.

“It’s so enjoyable for you, even though it’s like that…”

How should they accept him, who danced around the frozen hall, singing and appearing overly pleased? The stewards were all watching Sevi with stern faces. The assistant priest, in particular, did not blink even once, as if he was determined not to miss any action from the Grand Steward.

Joining them late, Jess looked around at the strange state of the hall and greeted Sevi with a disdainful look. He made a face, expressing his displeasure at the sight of the Grand Steward, even though he barely knew what was happening.

“If I had been a little later, I wouldn’t have been able to enter.”

It seemed he was always sticking close to Raygrain but was out of sight. Scheuer, curious about his whereabouts, asked casually.

“Where did Jess go?”

Without saying a word, both men kept silent, maintaining their solemnity. Given Jess’s pale complexion, it seemed he didn’t want to talk. If it wasn’t about Raygrain, Scheuer wasn’t interested. Since it wasn’t about Raygrain,

Politely answering the question, Scheuer slightly backed away and said, 

“Then, you can continue your conversation. I’ll take a short break.” 

It was already irritating enough.

Raygrain’s gesture prompted Jess to quickly fetch a chair and place it in front of Erina.

“Thank you!”

“Uh…”

With an awkward response, Jess bowed and returned to his place. Scheuer could now take a closer look at the surroundings. Everyone, even close acquaintances, was too anxious to engage in casual conversation.

The priests were no exception. Scattered throughout, they all had determined expressions, focused on one specific point. At the end of those collective gazes stood only one person: Grand Steward Sevi.

Sevi seemed accustomed to the scrutiny of countless eyes. Occasionally, he would issue unilateral instructions to the nearby holy knights. The knights would react with surprise, and the assistant priest would quickly intervene, sometimes making it awkward.

While Scheuer got the results he wanted, she was still bothered by Sevi’s decision to postpone the announcement of the slab content. In the midst of pondering whether he should initiate a conversation, some of the girls who went to the ritual together cautiously approached.

“Are you okay, sir?”

Scheuer smiled awkwardly and replied, 

“Oh, yes! Just some minor muscle soreness. I guess we walked for too long.”

“No, it’s not that. After hearing that it’s hard to get out of the North, maybe we overdid it.”

Erina’s question seemed overly kind, perhaps due to the fact that no response was given when she asked before.

“Smile Love”