Angel's Tear

Ding—

The church bell rang out over Eagle Town, heralding the beginning of a new day.

Laxus set down the bell hammer, tucked back a strand of golden hair that had escaped from behind her ear, picked up the wooden bucket and mop in the corner, and began cleaning the church bit by bit.

As the only Priest at Eagle Town Church, she was responsible for nearly everything.

Aside from collecting the tithe, she rang the bell and cleaned the church every morning. On weekends and at the end of each month, she led the townsfolk in prayer, while every August and March, she had to organize two grand ceremonies to worship the gods.

As a Second-tier Divine Spellcaster, Laxus had mastered divine spells that could clean quickly, but she did not wish to abuse them. She preferred to express her devotion through action.

Divine spells were gifts from the Lord of Light.

After cleaning less than half the church, Laxus straightened up on the second floor and let out a breath, a faint smile appearing on her face.

Raven had only begun training troops a little over ten days ago and had not issued any decrees for Eagle Town, yet visible changes had already taken place during those days.

The streets and buildings were still dilapidated, but the standing water in the streets had disappeared. The once-pitted roads had been filled level again with gravel and furnace ash, and the annoying mosquitoes had grown far fewer.

Smiles had begun to appear on the faces of the people as well. Children chased and played in the streets, while neighbors greeted one another when they met.

All of it stemmed from the fifty kilograms of Coarse Wheat Flour Raven distributed to every Private Soldier each month.

Thirty-four Private Soldiers meant thirty-four families behind them. Nearly one hundred and fifty people had benefited, and their lives were visibly improving.

Those without family members serving as Private Soldiers were not discouraged either. The Baron had begun to take action, and he had truly provided tangible benefits.

Lord Raven would not need only thirty-four soldiers forever. They had opportunities too.

Only when people had hope for the future would they pay attention to the environment in which they lived.

It seems he truly is a kind man. Thinking of Raven, Laxus's lips curved into a faint smile.

Helping Raven conceal the truth of Donald's death had once caused Laxus considerable inner conflict.

What if Raven had lied to her?

Yet as Eagle Town changed over the past several days, especially after she went to Eagle Fortress the night before last to treat Simon, Laxus no longer struggled with the matter.

Because she had seen the changes in those Private Soldiers. Their bodies were no longer hunched, and their eyes no longer held confusion.

And through Simon's account, she had also learned of Raven's care for them—they could eat three meals a day, and there was even meat for dinner.

If it were not genuine kindness, what lord would feed meat to his subjects?

Ding, ding, ding—

The sound of the doorbell as the main doors opened interrupted Laxus's thoughts. She set down her bucket and hurried downstairs.

Today was not a prayer day. Who would come at such a time?

Before the statue of the Lord of Light, a black-haired young man was kneeling with his eyes closed. His lips moved in prayer as his right and left hands traced sacred symbols representing the sun and moon over his left and right chest.

Laxus's eyes lit up. Even in the royal capital, one rarely saw such standard prayer etiquette.

The black-haired young man turned around and smiled brightly at her. "Priest Laxus, hello."

Laxus said in surprise, "Baron Raven, why are you here?"

"Of course, I came specifically to thank you." Raven picked up a basket from the floor. "May I have the honor of sharing breakfast with you?"

"The honor is mine." Laxus nodded. "Please follow me."

Out of propriety, Raven naturally could not stand too close. Yet Laxus had just been exercising and was lightly sweating. In the sweltering summer heat, her clothes clung tightly to her damp body, fully revealing her alluring curves.

As she swayed with every step, her full figure shifted and rippled as though made of water. The occasional folds in her Priest Robe constantly drew Raven's gaze.

Especially the sun and moon upon her chest—even from behind, he could vaguely make out their outlines.

The staircase was narrow. The scent of sweat on Laxus drifted into Raven's nostrils, moist and warm, carrying a maiden's uniquely enticing, milk-like fragrance that made him almost unable to resist pulling her into his arms.

Raven could practically picture what she looked like beneath her Priest Robe. He swallowed and barely suppressed the beast within his heart.

They finally reached the dining room. Ignoring etiquette, Raven sat down directly beside the table, finally concealing the embarrassment caused by his physical reaction.

"My apologies, Priest Laxus. I am rather hungry."

Laxus nodded in understanding and sat across from Raven.

Raven placed the basket on the table, opened it, and brought out the food one item at a time.

There was a basket of sliced bread spread with garlic butter, two bowls of steaming oatmeal porridge, two perfectly fried eggs, roasted beef shoulder with a crisp charred crust, and a glass bottle filled with purplish-red liquid.

The instant she saw the Red Wine, Laxus's eyes lit up. "Baron Raven, is this... Red Wine?"

"Of course." Raven smiled and asked, "Are clergy forbidden from drinking outside fasting periods?"

"No, of course not." A trace of shyness appeared on Laxus's face. "I am a devoted admirer of wine. It is simply that my teacher rarely allowed me to drink."

Raven smiled. "Then I believe this bottle will certainly satisfy you today."

As he spoke, he poured Laxus a cup and pushed the silver goblet before her.

She accepted the cup and took a gentle sip. Her eyes immediately curved into adorable crescents, and then, like Little Rabbit secretly eating carrots, she took sip after sip without stopping.

Watching her, Raven finally understood why Laxus's teacher did not allow her to drink.

Perhaps she was overly sensitive to alcohol. A rosy flush rose across her cheeks, red as rouge, making her porcelain-white skin even more alluring.

A hazy look appeared in her eyes. Beads of sweat emerged on the tip of her nose, her breathing grew heavier, and her crimson tongue swept over her soft pink lips.

Raven had seen countless battlefields and could tell Laxus was not deliberately trying to seduce him. Precisely because of that, her actions made her even harder for him to resist.

"My apologies. I lost my composure." Laxus sat up straight, the sun and moon upon her chest trembling faintly above the table.

She swept the hair from her shoulder behind her back, revealing a shy expression. "This wine is simply... too delicious. Could it be the Frosty Pearl, famed for its rich and gentle taste?"

Frosty Pearl was a famous high-end Red Wine, with a single bottle costing as much as three Gold Coins.

"No. I am merely a minor baron; I cannot afford such a luxury." Raven tried to keep his gaze on Laxus's face rather than lower down. "This is a wine I developed myself."

"My apologies, I do not quite understand." Tilting her head, Laxus looked at him with her watery eyes wide open. "Could you explain in detail?"

That was exactly what Raven had been waiting for. "It is a long story. Please do not laugh, but I have a rather unusual hobby—cooking."

"A few days ago, during one cooking session..."

This time, Raven did not embellish the tale. He barely changed the process at all, merely concealing certain details and obscuring both his purpose and the result to some extent.

In his version, he had not intentionally carried out a Saponification Reaction. Rather, while cooking, he accidentally discovered Glycerin, and through a series of coincidences, it fell into a wine jar. In the end, out of thriftiness, he tasted it, only to discover an entirely new fine wine.

Such a story was not difficult to make up. After all, in his previous life, nearly every snack and regional delicacy had a similar origin story.

"The Lord of Light always grants blessings to devout believers," Laxus said. "Your determination to improve life in Eagle Territory must have moved Him, so He guided you to discover this method."

Lord of Light? Was his name Eugene Chevreul too?

Raven mocked inwardly, but naturally did not refute Laxus. "That is right. This is all the Lord of Light's finest arrangement."

Then he suddenly sighed. "It is only a pity... such excellent wine may remain trapped within Eagle Fortress forever."

"How could that be?" Laxus's curiosity was piqued. "Is the cost very high?"

Raven shook his head. "No. To be honest, the primary cost of this wine lies in the bottle."

Laxus asked, "Then what exactly is the problem?"

"...Sigh." Raven sighed again, then suddenly smiled and refilled Laxus's cup. "Look at my memory. I came to thank you today—why am I talking about such discouraging matters? Let us drink instead."

That only stirred Laxus's curiosity further. She stared into Raven's eyes and said, "Baron Raven, we swore that we would work together to make life better for the people of Eagle Town."

"I have already seen your efforts, and I am also doing my best to fulfill my duties. But you should understand that agricultural production alone cannot truly improve their lives."

"If, as you said, this wine is not costly to make, then it can surely generate substantial profits. Would that not be ideal for improving the lives of the people?"

Raven was startled by Laxus's words. He had still been thinking of how to persuade her, never expecting her to possess such far-reaching vision and such a pure, untainted wish.

Thinking Raven was still hesitant, Laxus covered the back of his hand with her fair little hand. "Baron Raven, you are the lord of Eagle Territory, and I am the Priest of this land. Our goals are the same. I believe you possess a kind and courageous heart."

"No matter what difficulties we face, as long as we work together, we will surely overcome them!"

Laxus's hand was not large. It barely covered most of Raven's hand. The touch was soft and boneless, her palm faintly damp with sweat, and Raven's heartbeat suddenly quickened.

At that moment, he nearly could not stop himself from clasping Laxus's hand in return, but he forcibly restrained himself.

He did not wish to ruin the image she had of him, nor could he bear to disappoint her goodwill.

"Priest Laxus, thank you for your trust!" Raven displayed sincere emotion. "In that case, I shall tell you my concerns."

After a brief pause, he laid out the speech he had long prepared. "Eagle Territory is simply too remote! To the west lie the Bloody Highlands, to the south is Viscount John's territory, and to the north, the Worton Family blocks us off. Though Shining Gold Town is prosperous, its market is ultimately too small."

"To earn sufficient profits, the only way is to sell in Monen City. But it is a full three hundred and thirty-seven kilometers away. As you know, in this day and age, superior quality alone is not enough to open up a market."

"To sell the wine, we must first make others acknowledge its quality and establish its reputation."

Laxus slowly nodded after hearing him. "I understand what you mean. As the saying goes, 'Gold buried deep cannot shine.' This truly is a serious problem."

"Since you have considered this issue, do you have a suitable solution?"

Raven had naturally thought of one long ago, or he would not have come so early today. But he could not reveal that now, so he could only shake his head.

Laxus withdrew her arm. Her slender, fair fingers gently pinched her delicate chin. After a while, her eyes suddenly lit up. "I can promote this wine in the name of the Church."

"You said earlier that you discovered this method for improving wine by accident. Without question, it is a gift from the great Lord of Light."

"I can designate this wine as the official sacramental wine of Eagle Town Church. I can also send some to my teacher. It will certainly help!"

Raven was even more surprised. He realized that though Laxus seemed innocent due to her lack of experience, she was not foolish. On the contrary, both her insight and comprehension far surpassed ordinary standards.

She truly was a rare partner.

He had struck gold!

And with those words, he could finally put forward his own idea. "Priest Laxus, your words have given me great inspiration."

"In that case, could we use this wine at Uncle Donald's funeral three weeks from now—my succession ceremony?"

"There will be many nobles in attendance. After the ceremony concludes, you could announce that it has been designated as the Red Wine for sacrament use. I believe it would have an excellent effect!"

If Raven had proposed this idea directly, then no matter how favorably Laxus viewed him, she might have seen through his intentions and believed he was using her.

But now that Laxus had proposed the idea first and Raven was merely adding to it, the nature of the matter was entirely different.

"Baron Raven, you truly are a born lord." Laxus smiled. "This method is much better than mine, and it should work faster as well. It can also open up sales channels."

Raven said modestly, "No, it was thanks to you for broadening my perspective. Once this wine opens up its market, I will certainly allocate funds to help you rebuild the church."

"If your wine sells well enough, the tithe will become quite significant." Laxus smiled. "I would prefer that you use its profits for the people of Eagle Town."

Raven nodded. "You may always trust me in that regard. After all, this is my territory!"

A smile appeared in Laxus's sapphire-like eyes. "Of course. Then have you decided what this wine should be called?"

"Since it is a gift from God..." Raven considered it briefly before suggesting, "How about Angel's Tear?"

"That is... so beautiful!" Laxus praised. "Angels cannot bear to witness the suffering of the mortal world, so they shed tears of compassion and mercy to comfort the lambs of the Lord of Light."

"This wine shall be called Angel's Tear!"

Buoyed by Laxus's enthusiasm, the two ate and talked, discussing many more details. The more they spoke, the more excited they became.

Of course, Raven's source of excitement was not entirely the same as Laxus's.

The sight of the young Priest dining was truly a rare feast for the eyes. Every movement of her fingers, every parting and closing of her lips and teeth, every rise and fall of her throat tugged constantly at Raven's nerves.

Being able to look but not eat was truly unbearable torture.

So after the meal, Raven made a clean, decisive farewell and left.

By the time he returned to the castle, Old Gordon had long been waiting in his office. "My lord, the invitations have all been drafted. Please review them."

Raven accepted the invitation and satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

The invitations used premium Parchment, carefully dyed black. The four corners were decorated with gold powder in the form of eagle motifs representing the Griffith Family. The contents were written in Gothic blackletter using ink mixed with silver powder, clear and elegant.

There were two signatures in the lower-right corner. The upper one was red, bearing the Griffith Family seal, while the lower one was Raven's personal seal.

The script on his personal seal was neither the most fashionable cursive nor the recently popular Rococo script, which was even more ornate and delicate. Instead, it was a rigid, sharp-cut engraved script, displaying an ancient and elegant beauty.

"You have worked hard." Raven placed the invitation on the table. "Send them out at once. Do not be stingy with the money. Do not use Imperial mail under any circumstances—hand this to the Mercenary Guild."

"Yes, my lord." Old Gordon adjusted his monocle. "Also, I have invited Master Lawrence to the castle. Whenever you have time, he can take your measurements and tailor your formal attire."

Raven asked, "How much money remains in the treasury?"

"My lord, after the previous purchase of armor and spears, deducting the three hundred and sixty Gold Coins paid to the Imperial Council and the payment for alchemical equipment, fifty-eight Gold Coins remain."

Gordon reported with perfect orderliness, "Yesterday, Lady Denise sent another Three Hundred Gold Coins, bringing the total to three hundred and fifty-eight."

"We need to deliver sixty-seven invitations. Through the Mercenary Guild, it is estimated to cost between thirty-eight and forty-two Gold Coins. Renovating the castle will cost at least one hundred Gold Coins. As for your formal attire, I believe it will require at least one hundred and twenty Gold Coins."

"That would leave ninety-six Gold Coins..." Raven had a headache.

He had originally wanted to purchase a First-tier God-Given Potion, but it seemed he would not have the funds anytime soon.

Thinking Raven was reluctant to spend the Gold Coins, Gordon advised, "My lord, please do not begrudge the money. This will be a crucial step in your entry into noble society."

"I know." Raven let out a breath and walked to the window, looking at the Private Soldiers training in the courtyard. "This will be the first hard battle we face."

"Whether we can restore the Griffith Family's reputation depends on this one battle!"