"Good morning, Your Grace."
A Holy Knight of the Order Church greeted the archbishop standing before the Church.
Annan imitated Valencia's nod and returned to the Office.
It was still early. Annan took up a quill and began sketching a plan on a blank sheet of parchment.
Creak—
The carved wooden door swung open without a knock. Valencia's prized student had grown suspicious again.
"You didn't knock, Rainer," Annan said with a hint of resignation.
Was he really a Holy Knight? Even the knights of the Inquisition weren't this Minrui.
Lai seemed relieved. "Sorry, teacher..."
"Leave it there."
Valencia couldn't possibly have kept everyone out of his Office.
Lai placed the paperwork on the desk and glanced at his teacher's drawing. It looked like the outline of something.
Archbishop Valencia seemed just as he always did.
"Lai..."
Annan stopped Lai as he was about to leave.
"What is it, teacher?"
"Bring me some of the flowers sent from the Flower Capital, and prepare a Carriage."
Lai acted quickly. Annan took the flowers to Rosella House. As on his previous two visits, he saw Colette without trouble and invited her for a walk.
"Do you remember Madam Soma and Dies?"
It was the same question, but this time Annan was the one asking it.
"Uncle Dies? What happened to him? Madam Soma... Is she the heretic you've been hunting?"
Colette really had hidden a trap in her question.
"I was just remembering the past. Dies used to visit our home all the time..."
As soon as he said it, Colette gave Annan a strange look.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Annan discreetly scanned their surroundings. There was no sign of the Order Church's pale armor.
"No. It's just that you're... a little strange today." Colette wasn't used to seeing her father