An inexplicable silence fell over the castle study.
The butler glanced at his master's face, which had suddenly gone pale as paper. Recalling certain events from the past two days, his expression shifted subtly.
"My lord?"
He called softly. Only then did Baron Carter come back to his senses. He gave a hurried "Ah," reached out with a faintly trembling hand to take the official document, and covered it up. "I'm a little tired. You may leave first."
"Yes, my lord."
Once the butler had left the study and gone downstairs, the dark-brown room contained only the baron.
The slightly stout middle-aged man suddenly seemed to be holding his breath. His entire face flushed red, and the document in his hand felt scorching hot, making him want to throw it away.
Yet he ultimately restrained himself. After several seconds of silence, he dragged his heavy feet to the desk by the window and violently shoved it open.
Though spring had arrived, winter's chill had yet to fade, especially in the early morning. The bracing cold wind struck him head-on, finally clearing some of the chaos from Baron Carter's thoughts.
Dragging over the heavy wooden chair, he slowly sat down and unfolded the official document from the Church. Tense as he was, he failed to notice the slight damage to its seal.
The document was short and official.
Its general meaning was that the local lord, Baron Carter, was to cooperate with the Church Knights in further searching for and arresting the Heretic Wizard listed on the wanted notice, who was suspected of hiding in Oak Town.
"As expected..." His hands trembling, Carter set down the thin, cool sheet of paper. Leaning back, he closed his eyes in pain.
Everything was exactly as he had feared. The Church had indeed come