While Lin Ling was eating lunch at Dashi’s home,
Inside the Saintess’s room in Camillaya.
Heavy curtains hung on both sides, pure white veils remained neatly draped, and even unburnt wax remained on the silver candlesticks.
Everything here was exactly as it had been before Leticia left.
However, the Saintess, who was supposed to be here, was gone.
Bishop Karl stood in the center of the room, his face so dark it looked like it could drip ink.
In front of him, a maid stood with her head bowed, her fingers tightly clutching the edge of her apron, her shoulders trembling slightly.
“So you are saying...”
Bishop Karl spoke slowly.
“The Saintess was in her room at the time?”
The maid’s face turned even paler.
“Y-Yes.”
Her voice shook violently.
“The Saintess returned to her room on time the night before last, and the door has not been opened since.”
“W-We didn’t hear any unusual sounds either.”
“But when I came to serve the Saintess as usual yesterday morning, she was already...”
Her voice trailed off at this point.
“Gone.”
Karl looked at the maid, who could barely get the words out.
He took a deep breath.
Then he exhaled slowly.
“Sigh.”
“Forget it.”
He waved his hand.
“You may leave.”
As if granted a great pardon, the maid hurried to bow.
“Yes, My Lord.”
The door was carefully closed.
Once the sound of the maid’s footsteps had completely faded, the calm on Bishop Karl’s face finally shattered.
He threw his cane to the side.
The cane hit the carpet with a dull thud.
“Seriously!”
“I told you people to watch her!”
He paced back and forth in the room, becoming more frustrated the more he thought about it.
“Now look at this.”
“The former Hero is lost.”
“The Saintess is lost too.”
“Did they not even know how to use Urgent Magic? They had to wait an entire day to send the notification.”
“Why don't you just lose the entire Holy See while you're at it!”
Karl felt his head begin to throb as he spoke.
The disappearance of the former Hero after being discarded was already troublesome enough.
The Holy See had barely managed to suppress that matter.
But now, Leticia had vanished as well.
And she had disappeared from within the White Tower, from her very own room.
There were no signs of a struggle, nor any signs of forced entry.
Not a single person had noticed.
What did that mean?
It meant that the person who took her was either intimately familiar with the Holy See's defenses or possessed strength far exceeding the security of the White Tower.
Either way, it was a catastrophe.
To make matters worse, that idiot First Prince on the border was still provoking the Demon Race.
At the thought of Keith’s face—always looking like he had everything under control—Karl couldn't help but clutch at his hair.
“We really have to perform the Hero Summoning again.”
“Those foolish nobles are still busy with their internal power struggles.”
“While constantly making enemies outside.”
“And at the worst possible time, the Saintess goes missing!”
No one answered him in the room.
Only the pure white decorations of the Saintess’s room stood there in silence.
“I'll be dam—”
Karl grit his teeth, about to curse some more, when a soldier's voice came from outside the door.
“Bishop Karl.”
“Lady Nadia is looking for you.”
Karl froze.
His expression became visibly more strained.
After a moment, he let out a long sigh.
“Sigh.”
“I understand. I’m coming.”
He bent down to pick up the cane he had thrown on the floor and casually patted off the dust.
Then he straightened his collar and cuffs.
By the time he opened the door again, the frustration on Bishop Karl’s face had been suppressed.
At least on the surface.
Leaning on his cane, he walked toward the Holy See’s reception room.
...
Inside the reception room.
Sunlight filtered through the stained glass, painting the white stone tiles with fragmented patches of light.
Lady Nadia sat in the main seat.
She wore a dark gown, her fingers interlaced over her lap, her posture as poised as ever.
However, she looked exhausted.
There were faint shadows under her eyes, and her lips had less color than usual.
Only those emerald eyes remained as cold as a viper’s.
Karl pushed the door open and entered, closing it behind him.
“Good afternoon.”
He bowed slightly.
“Are you well, Lady Nadia?”
Nadia looked up.
Those green eyes stared at him coldly.
“I haven't had a very good couple of days, Bishop Karl.”
Her voice wasn't loud.
Yet it felt like it was laced with fine, poisonous needles.
Karl acted as if he didn't hear the sarcasm.
He walked over to a nearby seat and sat down.
“It seems the Saintess’s disappearance has affected you deeply?”
Nadia’s fingertips tightened slightly, as if he had struck a nerve.
“Karl.”
Karl ignored the dangerous tone in her voice.
He picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a cup.
“So, is there a reason you’ve come to see me today?”
Nadia watched him.
Karl only gave her a brief glance before lowering his head to blow on the hot tea in his cup.
This attitude made the expression on Nadia’s face even colder.
“Heh.”
“Karl, have you even lost your respect for me now?”
Karl held his teacup and chuckled.
“Not at all.”
“Respected Lady Nadia.”
As he spoke, he placed the teacup in front of Nadia.
“Since you are the mother of the Saintess, I must naturally maintain my respect for you.”
Nadia looked down at the tea.
She did not reach for it.
“Heh.”
“You know perfectly well I don't drink this kind of tea.”
The smile on Karl’s face didn't change.
“Is that so?”
“How unfortunate.”
Nadia stared at him for a moment.
Ultimately, she did not continue to dwell on the meaningless topic.
“Forget it.”
She said coldly:
“I want the Holy See to put all its effort into searching for Leticia’s whereabouts.”
“Immediately.”
Karl leaned back in his chair.
“Of course.”
“That is what the Holy See ought to do.”
He agreed quickly.
But his expression showed little sincerity.
Nadia could naturally tell.
Her gaze grew even colder.
“It had better be, Karl.”
Karl raised his eyes to look at the woman sitting in the main seat.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then, he spoke slowly:
“Lady Nadia.”
“Do not forget.”
“I am the Bishop.”
Nadia’s face darkened completely.
In those emerald eyes, it looked as if venom was slowly flowing.
“Karl.”
She spoke each word with emphasis:
“You will regret what you said today.”
Karl didn't answer.
He simply picked up his teacup and took a slow sip.
Seeing that he had no intention of continuing the conversation, Nadia finally stood up.
Her movement caused the chair to make a harsh scraping sound.
She turned and walked toward the door.
The door was pulled open violently.
Then slammed shut heavily.
Thud.
Rate on N.U.
