The Sword and The Dress - V3C4 PART5

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Translator: iveyra | Editor: Ms. Sheepnn
Gasp! Is he mad because of that? To be honest, it pricked my conscience as I had completely forgotten that he had asked me to come often until a moment ago. I quickly bowed my head and apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

There was no response. Instead, I heard something rustling. I wondered what that sound was so I raised my bowed head, and saw that a hand as white as snow was extended in front of me. There was a round black chocolate in a half-opened wrapping paper on the palm of that hand. No, the appearance was obviously that of a chocolate, but since it was in the hands of the High Priest, its identity would not be so easily deciphered. Maybe it was made by clumping together some dissolved kelp.

“It’s not kelp.”

“Then, is it green laver?”

“… It’s chocolate.”

How come? Why does a thing like chocolate coming out of the High Priest’s hand? He said he didn’t like sweets. Don’t tell me the person in front of me isn’t the High Priest! I thought he wasn’t, until I saw his pale gray hair change to light sky-blue. Chameleons aside, I don’t think there’s any other person whose hair color changes other than the High Priest.

“Why chocolate….”

“It’s for Sir Roel.”

It was rude to be suspicious of the High Priest, but I looked at the chocolate with suspicious eyes. Even though I’ve shown that I don’t like it, he only ever feeds me weird things day in, day out, so what’s gotten into him all of a sudden? It can’t be that it has something like boiled lettuce in it, right?

I was very reluctant to accept it quickly, but I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t aware of the High Priest’s expectant gaze. Shouldn’t I be the one who is in the position of expecting something from him more than the other way around? For Captain Jullius’s sake, I accepted the lump which was claimed to be chocolate with determination.

“… It’s cold?”

I felt the coolness of the thing inside the white wrapper as if I was holding a bundle of snow. Chocolate melts easily, so it’s right to store it in a cool place, but this is too cold. The High Priest smiled widely at my question, then said.

“It’s frozen.”

“Frozen?”

Then this must be very hard. I tilted my head and put the chocolate into my mouth. The chilly air together with the sweet taste spread throughout my tongue. Since it must be hard like a rock, let’s just bite it slightly with my teeth–

‘… Huh?’

What is this? This isn’t hard, though? Even so, it doesn’t mean it’s compressed softly like ordinary chocolate either. It’s crunchy. The frozen chocolate crumbled with a crunch and the fillings inside leaked out and filled my mouth. What’s inside was an apple-scented soft cream. What is this! I’m sure it’s neither frozen chocolate nor non-frozen chocolate.

“I, it’s good.”

I’ve eaten various chocolates, but this is the first time I ever tried this kind of texture. No, I’ve never even tasted it in other desserts! How should I put it? It was like a very thin ice was stacked in layers.

“Where did you buy it?”

“I didn’t buy it~”

The High Priest replied with a proud look.

“I made it. I mean, I didn’t make the chocolate or the cream, but I’m the one who formed the chocolate into that shape.”

“Oh, then…”

“It’s impossible for ordinary people. You have to be a high-ranking priest to be able to imitate it.”

(T/N: Grandpa is referring to other high-ranking priests. If we take into account that the author seemed to use the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, then the high-ranking priests here are supposed to be the cardinals, while grandpa is the Pope.)

… I have nothing to say. Were you that bored? Since it can only be made by high-ranking priests other than him… that means it’ll be hard to taste it again after all!

“… Could you also make one for Captain Jullius?”

“Come together with him next time.”

“Yes!”

I’ll stop by the Church a bit more often.n
Not only the chocolate, but the taste of the tea the High Priest boiled himself was also amazing. In the past, most of the teas were slightly bitter and had earthy flavour, but the tea served now has a sweet smell that entices me into drinking it. I don’t know why he became like this, but it was a good change.

I put the emptied teacup down on the table and started talking business.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

The High Priest looked at me with benevolent eyes then nodded.

“Tell me.”

“Please protect Captain Jullius.”

“Sir Rizar?”

“Yes. So, for example, if His Highness Siegfred decides to get rid of Captain Jullius.”

Unlike usual, I deliberately used his title. The High Priest remained silent for a while, then opened his mouth.

“Sir Roel knows this already, but I can’t leave the grounds of the Church. Besides, it is difficult for the Church to actively intervene in worldly affairs.”

The only time the Church could actively intervene was when it was related to the demons, and I also knew that fact well.

“What I want is for you to protect him when Captain escapes to the Church, since he’s someone who is capable enough to escape all the way here.”

No matter how strong he is, it’s hard to withstand a large number of attacks alone. But if he escaped without fighting back, it wouldn’t be difficult.

“Please provide him a shelter so that he can avoid being in a situation where he has to run away all the time.”

Even if it wasn’t just to deal with Sieg, it wasn’t a bad thing to prepare a safe place where he could escape to. The High Priest looked at me closely with his tranquil deep blue eyes and let out a short sigh.

“It isn’t difficult to do that much, but what happened?”

“Nothing in particular. But, Ortzen was worried about the possibility of Sieg having a different mind. High Priest, you also told me to be cautious of him before, didn’t you?”

I didn’t feel it was necessary to mention about the matter between men and women and the like. Ortzen was making a fuss so I came all the way here, but to be honest, I don’t think Sieg sees me as a woman. So–

“You mean he was worried that Sieg might like Sir Roel?”

“How did you know?!”

Does this grandpa know how to read minds too? The High Priest grinned and tapped on the table with his index finger.

“I’m stuck here, but it doesn’t mean I have no ears. I’ve already heard about what happened yesterday. It also caused an uproar in the Church. Especially, Vice Captain Tess and Sir Vatein, who know about Sir Roel’s situation, seemed to be pretty shocked. I thought that it was a lie, but I stayed up all night wondering if it was possible.”

Actually, I would be shocked too if I were them. Hearing that Adjutant Sieg has an unrequited love for Captain Roel, gave me the creeps. What was worse, considering my apperance in the past, we would be perceived as a gay couple.

“It’s true that it’s a lie. But Ortzen was suspicious and said that it was only natural for something to happen between a man and a woman who have known each other for a long time.”

“He’s not wrong.”

… Even the High Priest also thought the same, what’s wrong with everyone?

“Actually, I think Sir Roel and Sieg would make a pretty good couple.”

“I’m going to marry Captain Jullius, though?”

“I’m just saying. If Sir Roel wishes for it, of course, you should marry Sir Rizar. Are you two getting along well?”

“So far. But…..”

“But?”

While I hesitated, the High Priest stretched out his neck towards me and urged me to go on.

“Did something happen? What happened? If Sir Rizar is rotten inside, please say it right away.”

“No, it’s not like that. Ortzen said Captain Jullius will become more popular because of what happened yesterday. So, wouldn’t that make Captain husband material since he beat a duchy prince? He said there must be people who think that the reason isn’t simply because of love–“

“So you’re worried that there might be a woman who seduces Sir Rizar?”

“Yes.”n
I nodded bitterly. No matter how much I think about it, it’s an unpleasant situation to think of a young lady approaching Captain Jullius with a wicked intentions to win his favor.

“Because Captain Jullius is someone who yearns for affection. If she smiles brightly and approaches him gently… he won’t be able to shake her off easily.”

I feel even more depressed. Even just thinking about the sight without being able to do anything is such a torture.

“It’s not that I don’t trust the Captain, but maybe it would better to lock him up at home after all?”

“… What?”

The High Priest, who had been listening to me in silence, asked back in surprise.

“Lock him up?”

“No, I mean, I don’t want to let him to go to the banquets and the like. I can’t stop him from going in and out of the Imperial Court due to his work, but other than that, I think it would be better to forbid him from going outside or make sure I go with him whenever he goes outside.”

I think it would be better to do so. If his fiancée is standing right next to him, no woman would dare to approach him unless she’s a very shameless lady.

“… Sir Roel.”

The High Priest looked at me anxiously and said.

“You mustn’t be delusionally jealous even before you get married. And not even after you get married.”

“Delusionally jealous?”

I think I’ve heard it somewhere before, but what was it?

“I’m referring to the symptoms of being obsessed over one’s husband and doubting him so much that you keep a close eye on him. Meanwhile, when it comes to men, it’s called Othello syndrome. When things get worse, it’ll go beyond mere suspicion and they also use violence or even confine their partner.”

(T/N: actually delusional jealousy=Othello syndrome. But in Korean, they differ it by using 의부증 for a wife who’s suspicious of her husband, and 의처증 for a husband who’s suspicious of his wife. Pls notice that one different character in the middle~)

“Eii, violence and confinement? If I fight with Captain Jullius, I’ll lose anyway.”
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