The Divorced Duchess

Chapter 20: IN THE TIME TO COME

IT was a splendid afternoon, drenched in the golden glow of the setting sun, and the gentle breeze rustled the leaves of ancient trees that had borne witness to countless generations of the Psycheberg family’s history. Thalia reclined gracefully upon a wrought-iron chair, her regal presence casting a dignified aura over the picturesque scene. Sooner or later, her divorce would be known throughout the entire empire. As she savored each sip of Darjeeling tea, she was reminded of back in the day, when Noxton would sneak out of his training just to accompany her for afternoon tea. She smiled bitterly because it was also the day Noxton became indifferent to her.

“She has arrived, Your Grace.”

Thalia looked up to welcome her guest. “Lady Selia Rownie, have a seat.”

Selia shyly sat opposite her, but the lady's warm charisma didn’t change.

“I am honored to visit you, Your Grace,” said Selia. After coming from the mage tower, she also decided to cut her ties with Kayne as she planned to break the Gordian knot.

“As you already know, I will soon divorce the Duke, and I remember you swore loyalty to me.”

Thalia was hesitant to ask Selia, but leaving a talented person in the Duchy would be a regretful decision for her.

“Yes, Your Grace, I remember that day, and I will fulfill my loyalty to you, but how can I serve you?”

She knew what was going on in Selia’s head. This young lady might be hesitating to leave the Duchy because of a large debt from the Duke.

“Worry not, your debt will be paid under my name, but if you still want to stay in the Duchy, I will not stop you.”

Selia smiled through her tears. “I will gladly accept your offer to serve you, Your Grace. I am also indebted to you because you are going to take me away from them.”

There was a scrutinizing visage written on Thalia’s face. “Do you mind explaining what you meant to say?”

“These past weeks after Her Grace left the Duchy, we’ve been under the control of Lady Klarine. We couldn’t disobey her because she has authority over the whole Duchy.”

The consort's audacity was getting on her nerves. She wasn’t yet a divorcee to the Duke, yet he had disrespected her as the current Duchess by giving his mistress the authority to govern the Duchy’s estate.

“Tomorrow you can start your duty as my assistant, not as a maid,” stated Thalia.

Selia, on the other hand, stood up and bowed her head in respect to the kind Duchess.

“I am truly grateful, Your Grace. Please expect my utmost commitment to serving you.”

Thalia picked up a tiny velvet box on the table and opened it. A luxurious hummingbird brooch came into sight.

“This is my gift to you for accepting my proposal.” Thalia pinned the brooch in the collar of Selia’s dress. Then she asked the maid to summon Gabe.

As Gabe came in, Thalia dismissed the maids and Selia.

“Sir Gabe, I have written a letter to the Duke. May you deliver it personally to Simone?”

“It is my duty to serve Her Grace, so your request will reach the Duchy in no time.”

Thalia handed an envelope to Gabe. “I hope to receive a response as soon as possible.”

****

In the ornate chamber reserved for the esteemed temple priest's council, an air of solemnity and purpose reigned. The room, richly adorned with tapestries depicting the temple’s storied history, echoed with the hushed voices of all the holy priests of the temple council, their presence a confluence of wisdom and devotion. Seated around a large, polished mahogany table, these priests donned robes of deep crimson, each one embroidered with sophisticated symbols representing the Goddess Enah. In the center of the table lay an aged tome, its pages brimming with prophecies and ancient wisdom, and the soft glow of candlelight danced upon its surface.

The assembly would start any time soon, and every council member was waiting for the Pontiff and the right-hand highest holy priest, Mikhail Wood, to come in. Not long after, the door opened and the two important figures of the temple strode with their grown staid.

“Let us give great esteem to the Pontiff,” the head of the council announced.

Mikhail Wood, who was the youngest, sat in the right seat while the other priest had an envious hostility towards him. This was the annual assembly of the temple council members.

The leader of the temple council, Holy Priest Tyran, presided over the assembly. He raised a weathered scroll, his voice rich and commanding.

“Brothers of the Temple Council, we gather under the watchful eyes of the Goddess Enah to discuss matters of great import. We begin with the retrieval of the Divine Scepter.”

All eyes inside the council chamber were now set on Mikhail Wood, as if they were expecting great news from him, knowing he had a good talk with the Emperor.

“Mind sharing with us your discussion with the Emperor regarding the disappearance of the Divine Scepter?” Tyran asked, and so the other temple council acceded.

Mikhail Wood cleared his throat. “Well… this matter is very concerning; however, the Emperor's claims have been convincingly reputed as the Earl denied purloining the Divine Scepter.”

“Unacceptable!!” Holy Priest Nerian objected. He had been quiet since the assembly started. Mikhail was sure that this man would prove his stance without listening to any of them.

“I have witnesses to prove that Earl Paschal was the culprit behind the disappearance of the Divine Scepter.”

“We must also take into consideration informing the Emperor to take this case into our domain, because once he knows we have charged an investigation to a nobleman, surely, he will intervene,” Mikhail said. The empire's law stated that the temple should not touch an Emperor's subjects without his permission.

“We had already inquired for the Emperor’s permission. Have you not the Highest Holy Priest, Mikhail?”

Mikhail could feel the hostility of the Holy Priest Nerian. A personal grudge, maybe?

“If the Holy Priest Nerian is saying the truth, his claims carry a responsibility. Now, Holy Priest Nerian, would you like to present the witness before the declaration of the presence of Hiraya?” The temple council head suggested.

“As the servant of Goddess Enah, I will pronounce only truths, so I will present the witnesses before the presence of the holy priests.”

Everyone agreed with the Holy Priest Nerian, then shifted their eyes to the head of the temple, the Pontiff.

Pontiff Gendro was quiet the whole time of the assembly as his subjects discussed the problems of the temple. Sitting at the head of the table, a man with an air of affable charisma always wears an impeccably luxurious robe. Their robe was a shade of deep sapphire with embroidered golden threads that symbolized the Goddess Enah. Anyone could distinguish that he was the Pontiff because the glistening sash of silver and amethyst gemstones was cinched around his waist, symbolizing his highest rank within the temple.

“If the investigation with the witnesses succeeded. Make a grand plan for welcoming the Hiraya on the coming festival of Goddess Enah,” Pontiff Gendro commanded.

“This is great news from the Goddess!” They all sang praises in unison.

“As the assembly has come to an end, may we have a light to walk in righteousness,” Holy Priest Tyran ended the assembly.

Mikhail Wood had planned to visit the Saintess Iris after the assembly, but unluckily, Holy Priest Nerian came to him with a smug smile.

“You thought being the right hand of the Pontiff would make you the greatest?” Let me remind you that you’re nothing in this temple…. A mere son of a fallen noble knight,” Holy Priest Nerian smirked as if he had won a lottery prize for provoking him.

“This is not the time to start an argument, Brother Nerian, because we both know that we are nothing but servants of the temple.”

“Tsk…. You talk virtuously as if not a single sin stains you, yet behind your gentle facade hides a concealed affection towards the saintess.”

Mikhail’s jaw clenched, and his eyes were cold as ice. “Stop presuming things, Holy Priest Nerian. I will slide your outrageous remarks at me, but disrespecting the saintess is a different matter. I’ll make sure you regret the next time you run your mouth against the saintess. “

“You talk too much about the saintess being the purest, but the truth is her ability to heal has been dwindling.”

They both stood face-to-face. Priest Nerian had a sly grin playing on his lips, continuing to taunt Mikhail. On the other hand, Mikhail’s patience, fraying like the threads of his robe, was drawn into the tempest of words. In a swift but controlled gesture, he gripped Nerian’s shoulder, halting their exchange. The hall was surrounded by an atmosphere of restrained aggression, a quiet yet potent reminder that beneath the surface of civility, primal instincts and ego could spark an unexpected and explosive confrontation.

“Your holiness!” A voice broke the tension between the holy priests when Saintess Iris approached them. Her angelic smile delivered a pure intention, and her steps were gentle like the flowers in the garden.

“I’m glad to meet both of you, Holy Priests,” Saintess Iris genuinely said while looking at them.

“Greetings, Saintess,” Holy Priest Nerian greeted her. “You seem in good disposition lately.”

Saintess Iris had a radiant smile, knowing the temple priests were concerned about her health. “I am indeed. I have been consuming rare herbs gifted by Princess Stella.”

“Nice to hear your body is doing well since you have been vomiting blood last time.”

Saintess Iris furrowed her brows. She was wondering how the holy priest knew about her deteriorating health. Could it be that one of her attendants was reporting every detail of her life to them, but Mikhail had never mentioned it to her?

“Pardon me, Your Excellency, but where did you get the news about my poor health?”

A provocative smirk appeared on Nerian’s face. “No secrets are kept hidden within the temple.” His statement was a quotable saying of the temple. As expected, this priest has access to everyone’s secrets that could be used for intimidation.

“Nerian! Your insolence truly knows no bounds,” Mikhail retaliated. He didn’t want Saintess Iris to fall into shame because her kindness was so pure to be tainted.

The Holy Priest Nerian shrugged his shoulders. “Keep your modest decorum, Holy Priest Mikhail, if you don’t want the temple head to be disappointed in you.”

Mikhail controlled his emotions despite wanting to hit Nerian. Saintess Iris calmly clutched at Mikhail’s robe to divert his attention away.

“Let him be. He was probably upset at failing to ascend to be the right-hand of the Pontiff.” She stated a fact.

Mikhail delicately chuckled. “He got bad blood against me.”

They both chuckled as they continued walking to the garden of the temple. Saintess Iris plucked a pink rose and smiled sweetly.

“This flower reminds me of the day I became the Saintess of this empire. I feel nostalgic because I came to know you.”

Mikhail also remembered that day. They formed a connection most unexpectedly.

“You must be feeling regret for leaving your village saintess.”

Saintess Iris felt dispirited emotions and regrets. “I’m truly glad that you are always by my side. This healing gift bestowed by the goddess might be a blessing to many, but a curse to me.” Saintess Iris was truly gifted with a healing touch that could channel a divine energy through her touch to restore health and vitality, instantly mending injuries and ailments.

Mikhail sensed a pang in his chest seeing the saintess’s fragility. He was aware of the saintess's wellspring of sentiments. This temple was like a prison to them. He might be in the highest rank next to the Pontiff, but throughout the years, they have been enduring hardship. In all honesty, Mikhail has an option to leave the temple, yet he was reminded to reclaim his family’s reputation, and he swore to never abandon the Saintess.

“I promise that we will be freed from this miserable expectation of life, and if that day comes, I hope you still have the sweetest smile on your face.”