"I'm telling you, old man."
Oswald narrowed his eyes beside them and spoke without any apparent context. "I know you've had your difficulties, but you've gone too far this time. We have to take note of it."
"You should."
The square-faced elf, his expression full of righteousness, merely nodded solemnly. "I've already done everything I could. What happens next has nothing to do with me."
At that, he looked toward Iver and reminded him in a low voice, "Be careful lately, Bishop Moriarty. If there's nothing special going on, don't go outside. You don't even need to go to church. Wherever candlelight burns eternally is naturally the sanctuary of the Candlebearer."
Though it seemed extremely bizarre for a butler to lecture a bishop on matters of the church and faith... if one knew that the other party was a Pope Guard, it suddenly made perfect sense.
"Stop going on about the young master. You be careful too, old man..."
Oswald walked over and placed a hand on Diomedes's back without the slightest courtesy, as if pushing him away.
Diomedes obediently followed Oswald away... If nothing unexpected happened, once they left Moriarty Manor, Oswald would probably ask him about certain matters.
Once the old butler had left with the other butler, old James turned back and looked at Iver with interest. "Did you notice something? Can you tell Father when you sensed that something was wrong?"
Iver did not answer. Instead, he asked, "Then why didn't you attend the banquet?"
"Don't answer a question with a question, Iver."
James leaned back against the sofa, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Even so, he answered in his usual good-natured manner.
"Because all those matters were too troublesome and unsuitable for me. Since I'd declined the invitation, it wouldn't have been appropriate