novelraw Chapter 367: Lena Ep – Ophelia
Chapter 367: Lena Ep – Ophelia
365: Lena Ep – Ophelia
A goblet made of brass rested in my hands. I fiddled with it as the creaking of the carriage accompanied our journey.
“It’s definitely important…”
This was the reason I had come to the capital’s churChapter Rev insisted I retrieve it, and the Saintess handed it to me under the guise of bestowing divine power.
But the problem was…
“What does this thing do? How do I use it?”
No matter how much I examined it or infused it with divine power, the goblet remained inert, merely absorbing the energy without producing any effect. It wasn’t like a staff or any other recognizable artifact.
Well, no point dwelling on it.
I gave up on deciphering the goblet’s function and tucked it into my robes. Looking out the window, I watched the scenery blur past. The carriage raced forward, far too fast to fully take in the view.
I wish we could go slower…“Hyah!”
Rev’s voice rang out as he urged the horses onward from the coachman’s seat.
Watching him tirelessly whip the reins, I clicked my tongue sympathetically.
If there were a competition for the busiest person in the world this year, Rev would undoubtedly be in the top five—likely first.
From the moment we departed our village last summer, he hadn’t stopped.
He had rushed to intervene in the war between the Kingdom of Aisel and the Kingdom of Bellita, then hurried north to eliminate someone named Rera. After that, he’d come straight to fetch me.
He’d practically circled the continent, and now we were headed to Orville—within a month, no less.
To arrive around the same time as the warrior couple who were engaged, we’d have to push the horses almost to their limits.
“Hyah, hyah! Faster!” Rev’s sweat-soaked cries filled the air.
While Rev labored so intensely, I sat idly in the carriage, feeling guilty. I should at least figure out how to use the goblet.
“This is my first time on such a rushed journey. And the first time traveling without a paladin escort,” said Priestess Ophelia, seated across from me. She had just woken up, likely disturbed by my fidgeting.
“True. Though my travel experience is limited to our last journey together.”
“Hoho. That was a year ago already. Or should I say, only a year ago? I never imagined you’d graduate so quickly, Lady Lena.”
Because I cheated.
I had presented a thesis based on one written by my dream self. For the parts I couldn’t recall, I’d filled in the gaps with questions to Veronian. It had spurred him to complete his own thesis faster, though he had ultimately become a monk, not a priest.
The results of the ritual hadn’t favored him, and he had gracefully accepted my congratulations, mixed as they were with consolation.
“I don’t mind at all. Divine power isn’t necessary for what I plan to do.”
In retrospect, I remembered a future where Veronian, as the first monk to become a cardinal, rose to prominence. Trusting in his success, I returned to the present, engaging with Priestess Ophelia.
“You flatter me.”
“Not at all. Even for someone chosen by prophecy, graduating is no easy feat. At least the divine power issue is resolved now. By the way, I enjoyed your thesis.”
Priestess Ophelia winked knowingly.
She was privy to many of my secrets, likely the reason the Saintess had instructed her to accompany me. She had supported me through the challenges of trainee life and had even featured in my dreams. Naturally, I’d gladly accepted her companionship.
We chatted briefly about my thesis, which discussed the autonomy of priests—a topic rife with debate. As rare female priests, we also delved into a related but sensitive subtopic: childbirth.
“I believe it was around the Empire’s 3900s. The first recorded case of a priest being stripped of their position for giving birth. That record strongly suggests that by then, priestly marriage was already frowned upon.”
“Oh! I remember that. (Did I see it in a dream?) That was before marriage and sexual relations became formal disciplinary issues. It seemed unfair at the time.”
“Exactly. Punishing someone for something not explicitly forbidden—it was unjust. It’s not something I can discuss openly, but I think that incident marked the greatest erosion of priestly autonomy. Honestly, matters like sexual relations… they shouldn’t matter, should they?”
Priestess Ophelia voiced her opinion cautiously, as such topics were still taboo for priests, regardless of gender.
I quickly agreed, sensing her discomfort.
“Of course not. Why should it matter in serving the divine? Ancient priests seemed to marry as a matter of course. There’s even a passage in the Saintess Chronicles suggesting that contemporaries found it odd when a Saintess chose not to marry.”
“Exactly. While I can’t claim to know the Saintess’s thoughts, there’s no reason to vilify what the divine gave us. Childbirth is even stranger. It’s clearly a blessing, yet a priest giving birth is deemed profane? I feel like having a drink now.”
“Pfft!”
Ophelia rummaged through a cabinet and retrieved ceremonial wine. I hesitated, unsure if this was appropriate, but she had already begun pouring.
Truly an experienced senior…!
“Would you like a glass, Lady Lena?”
“Just one, please.”
Though I’d never drunk before, I knew I was a lightweight. I accepted a half-pour and clinked glasses.
Sorry, Rev. But this is delicious.
Sipping cautiously, I savored the wine while continuing our conversation. After a while, Ophelia’s cheeks reddened slightly.
“By the way, there’s something I wanted to ask. Would it be all right if we stopped by my hometown? It’s a bit off the route to Orville, but not too far.”
“Huh? Priestess Ophelia, you’re from the Bellita Kingdom?”
“Yes.”
“Wow! I had no idea. I thought you were from our kingdom, given your accent and demeanor…”
“I spent many years stationed in the Kingdom of Aisel. Fooled you, didn’t I?”
“Completely. It must’ve been ages since you’ve been back. I’ll ask Rev, though I’m not sure if we’ll have time.”
“If it’s not possible, don’t worry. It’s not a pressing matter.”
Her voice carried a touch of nostalgia, though no urgency.
Priestess Ophelia spoke as if trying to ease my burdens.
Still, I felt a pang of sympathy; it seemed the request was one she’d never normally make but had mustered the courage to voice under the influence of drink. I resolved to speak to Rev about it.
Later, Rev initially dismissed the idea, saying we didn’t have time. However, as we approached the Bellita Kingdom, he changed his mind.
For reasons unknown, the engaged couple heading to Orville like us had stopped mid-journey. Their delay afforded us some extra time.
Priestess Ophelia was elated, though she tried to hide it. I noticed her combing her hair more meticulously and occasionally scribbling something on a piece of paper. She even murmured under her breath.
Who could it be? Who does Priestess Ophelia hope to reunite with so eagerly?
Rev pushed the horses tirelessly, and soon we crossed the border into the Bellita Kingdom. For the first time in my life, I beheld the lush western plains, said to be the most fertile land in the world.
This was the domain of Marquis Benar Tatian, the so-called “Lord of the West.”
***
The marquisate of Benar Tatian was unimaginably vast, encompassing five cities and dozens of smaller towns. It was less an estate and more akin to a kingdom.
According to Rev, three key reasons explained the Tatian family’s massive holdings:
Loyalty to the Bellita Crown, During the Arcaean Empire’s fracturing, the Tatian family could have declared independence, much like the Kingdoms of Aslan, Jerome Holy Kingdom, or Aisel. Instead, they chose to remain loyal to Bellita.
This loyalty earned the Tatian family recognition of their sprawling lands—territories of imperial proportions—as a single estate under Bellita law.
Border Marquisate Lands, While noble families were generally limited to one estate, marquises governing borderlands were granted an exception: a secondary estate near the border.
The Tatian family secured their secondary estate in the west, adjacent to their primary lands, effectively expanding their territory. Considering the Jerome Holy Kingdom posed little threat due to their ties with the Cross Church, the Tatian family essentially acquired this additional land for free.
Vassal Territories, The sheer size of the Tatian estate made it inevitable that smaller, adjacent estates would become economically and politically dependent on it. Over time, many of these smaller territories were unofficially absorbed as “vassal estates.”
Most of these were minor baronial families whose names were scarcely known, and one such estate was Priestess Ophelia’s hometown.
Our carriage arrived in Oldenburg after coaxing the exhausted horses to keep going. The city gates bore its name, and it seemed to house a population of around three thousand—a fairly large settlement.
Excited by the novelty, I remarked, “Priestess Ophelia, you grew up in a city! I’m curious what it was like.”
“It’s not so different. Besides, I went to church at a young age. Oh! Look at that—it’s still here.”
While Rev sought accommodations for the carriage, Priestess Ophelia and I strolled through the streets. Though much smaller than Lutetia, the city was well-equipped with everything it needed.
However, Priestess Ophelia seemed less interested in the prominent shops and landmarks. Instead, her attention lingered on small, subtle remnants of the past—alleys, open spaces, and other places where children might have played.
She’s walking a different path than I am.
I was walking the present streets of Oldenburg, an ordinary cityscape. Priestess Ophelia, on the other hand, was clearly treading the streets of her childhood.
She seemed to see a version of Oldenburg from decades ago, before some walls and buildings existed. Perhaps she was imagining herself running with a gang of childhood friends.
Though a bit dull for me, I stayed close, offering an occasional comment to help her savor her memories.
At one point, she stopped abruptly, staring at a particular wall with an astonished expression.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“This… this can’t be right. Why is this here?”
She hurried to a nearby shop and called for the owner. Gesturing toward the wall, she questioned him.
“Why is that wall part of the lord’s estate now? Wasn’t there a warehouse there before?”
“Ah, that? It’s been like that for a while now. The lord claimed it since no one was using the warehouse.”
“...Claimed it?”
“Yes, Priestess.”
Her face froze in shock.
Though I didn’t fully understand the situation, it was clear something about the wall’s presence deeply unsettled her. She wandered around the area, examining it repeatedly before finally turning away.
We visited other parts of the city, meeting a few acquaintances and exchanging brief pleasantries. However, it became apparent that none of them were the person she had been so meticulously preparing to meet.
No one seemed deserving of the carefully written letter she had carried or the rehearsed words she seemed ready to deliver.
The next day, we left Oldenburg.
Priestess Ophelia acted no differently than usual, though she frequently glanced back toward the city as we departed.
***
Footnote:
Scholars debate whether the Tatian family’s decision to remain with Bellita was motivated by loyalty or self-interest. Many believe they aimed to retain their lucrative imperial right to mint currency. After the Empire’s collapse, the family’s wealth reportedly increased by tens or even hundreds of times, and it became nearly impossible to find a noble house—including the six royal families—that wasn’t indebted to them. This suggests the Tatian family briefly monopolized the continent’s economy.