SOTB - 41

“Why? Why would someone who casts curses for money be…?”

“Well… I don’t know why Archbishop Venus would do such a thing to you. He may be political, but he’s not a corrupt priest….”

Gwyneth furrowed her brows slightly, as though unable to understand. Venus was a priest who would stop at nothing to become the Pope. He wouldn’t knowingly involve himself in something that could create problems later. Unless engraving a curse on Najane somehow helped him become the Pope, it didn’t make sense.

Gwyneth tilted her head in thought and glanced at Najane. Her face had gone pale, and she looked as though she no longer had the strength to continue the conversation.

“…I truly hate to say this, but I hope you don’t entertain thoughts of seeking revenge against him. That would be tantamount to suicide. Venus is the younger brother of Duke Luamars. The Luamars family is one of only three ducal houses in Bastronia. Who could possibly touch Venus?”

What’s more, the Luamars family had already produced three Popes in history. The Holy Church’s support was crucial in the fight against Serith, and the Luamars family would stop at nothing to make Venus the next Pope. The current Pope, though a blessed holy practitioner, was so old that his survival could not be guaranteed past tomorrow.

As Gwyneth explained, Najane’s expression shifted from disbelief to despair. Instead of feeling triumphant at identifying the one responsible for her curse, she felt a crushing weight descend upon her. Slowly, a stifling sensation grew in her chest. Najane lowered her gaze, struggling to stop her trembling hands.

Her throat felt tight with injustice, but after venting her emotions at Maximón, there were no tears left to shed. Thankfully, she quickly gathered her composure. As a knight of Romsoa, she had briefly indulged in the illusion that she was someone important. But this was the harsh reality.

Najane knew it too. How could she possibly seek revenge against a man destined to be the next Pope? Such a thing was utterly impossible.

There was no one here who could help her. She had no choice but to forget. Forget those who had inflicted such wounds upon her and live on. That was her best option.

“…Do you know of a way to break the curse?”

“That curse is related to lust, so there’s no specific method to break it. The solution… you probably already know it, don’t you?”

“And if I don’t resolve it using that method…?”

“The curse will remain forever.”

It was the answer she had expected. Najane nodded with a calm expression, as though she hadn’t hoped for much to begin with. Draining her teacup quickly, she stood up.

“I should be going now.”

“Do you have somewhere to go?”

Gwyneth urgently grabbed Najane’s arm. Najane didn’t reply, offering only a faint smile—a smile clearly meant to keep Gwyneth at a distance.

Gwyneth hesitated, wanting to suggest that Najane volunteer at a Holy Church shelter. With a letter of introduction, Najane could secure temporary lodging and meals there. But the problem was, the person responsible for Najane’s curse, Venus, oversaw the Noctis Fortress branch of the Holy Church.

Knowing the truth, Najane would likely want nothing to do with the Church.

Understanding that she could no longer keep Najane there, Gwyneth grasped her hand one last time and fastened a bracelet onto Najane’s wrist.

It was the Bracelet of Rest, a gift from the Pope himself to Gwyneth out of concern for her safety. Crafted through the prayers of dozens of pure and devout priests over hundreds of days, the bracelet offered temporary protection to its wearer.

Though bracelets claiming to offer such protection were common in the marketplace, ones with actual efficacy were exceedingly rare. Gwyneth tied the bracelet securely to Najane’s left wrist.

“Your curse is unusually strong, so this bracelet’s effects will only last a week or ten days at most. But it’s better than nothing.”

Gwyneth pressed a kiss to the back of Najane’s hand, offering a bittersweet smile.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. May Sylin’s blessing be with you on your journey.”

________________________________________

Najane left her lodgings, intending to part ways with the Romsoa Knights. At the gate, she spotted a few familiar faces: Daniel, Jacob, and Belshua.

With a resolute expression, she approached them. Ignoring their stares, she made her way toward the gate, only to be blocked by Daniel.

“You can’t leave like this, Najane.”

“Step aside, Daniel.”

“...If you leave like this, many people are going to be in trouble. You know that, right?”

Daniel spoke cautiously. Najane deliberately avoided looking at him. She no longer had the desire to continue the conversation. But Daniel didn’t move, instead keeping his gaze fixed on her.

It was obvious what would happen if Najane left the order. Maximón would punish the guards at the gate, and the atmosphere in the knights’ order would become colder than ever.

Daniel didn’t want to force any sacrifice on her, but he wished she wouldn’t leave after fighting with Maximón. Everyone in Romsoa knew how special Maximón considered Najane.

Daniel couldn’t let her go. They needed her here. But if Maximón’s actions had driven her to this point and she was determined to leave, Daniel wouldn’t hesitate to help her escape.

“Tell me what happened with the captain. I’ll help you.”

“Step aside. That’s how you can help me.”

“Najane…”

At that moment, there was a loud noise behind her. Najane unknowingly turned around. Someone was running from the distant maid’s quarters. It was Amelia.

Amelia, pushing past the others, was running toward the gate, crying. Her usually neat hair was now a mess from how fast she had been running.

Surprised, Najane tried to approach Amelia, but someone blocked her path. It was Belshua, with a stern expression, looking down at Najane. Najane was taken aback by Belshua’s actions. She couldn’t understand why he was preventing her from meeting Amelia.

The guards also grabbed Amelia, who was trying to break free from their hold as though she were a criminal. Despite her desperate struggles, it was in vain. With her face drenched in tears, Amelia cried out like a child abandoned by her parents.

“You promised you wouldn’t leave me! Why are you planning to leave alone? At least you could have said, ‘Let’s go together,’ you idiot!”

Amelia’s crying was so intense that her nose was red. Najane was flustered. She had never expected Amelia to want to come along.

If she left now, Najane couldn’t guarantee what would happen to her. She might have to live on the streets or endure a harsh life filled with mistreatment.

She couldn’t suggest such a life to Amelia. Though they had become close during their time in the order, they weren’t at the point where they could endure hardships together. Najane believed it was better for Amelia to remain as a maid in the knights’ order.

But when Amelia cried as though she had been abandoned, Najane didn’t know how to respond. This was an unexpected situation.

“Amelia, I…”

“This woman can’t leave the knights’ order.”

Belshua whispered in a voice that only Najane could hear, his tone as though speaking to a slave. Najane furrowed her brows.

“Amelia is not a slave. If she wants, she can leave anytime.”

Najane retorted with a surge of anger. Belshua, still looking straight ahead, answered calmly.

“Right. She’s not a slave. Not yet.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Belshua continued to stare into the distance and didn’t respond. Najane followed his gaze and saw someone coming toward the gate from the building with Didina…

Najane’s lips tightened as she recognized Maximón. Turning her back toward the gate to leave, Daniel once again blocked her path.

The heavy sound of footsteps grew louder. Najane didn’t turn around. No matter what Maximón said, she had no intention of turning back. Her mind was set.

“You haven’t left yet.”

“…”

“If you had crossed the gate, I would have killed the ones who let you go.”

At those words, Najane glared at Maximón. He handed her some papers. She didn’t take them. Maximón chuckled briefly.

“You’ll regret it.”

“I’ve regretted enough, to the point of disgust. Please let me go.”

Najane remained unfazed. Maximón, as if expecting this, handed the papers in his hand to Didina. Didina’s face gradually turned pale.

Maximón gave an order to the soldiers.

“Take her away.”

At his command, the soldiers who had followed Maximón grabbed Amelia and began to drag her away. Panicked, Amelia screamed. She resisted by bracing her legs, trying not to be dragged.

Surprised, Najane threw down her bag and rushed toward Amelia. But Maximón stepped in front of her. He no longer smiled.

“She can’t go with you.”

“You’re being unreasonable. Amelia has the freedom to leave this place. No matter how powerful you are, you can’t keep her bound here.”

“Right. I agree with your opinion. But I’m not sure if others think the same way.”

Maximón looked at Didina.

Didina, holding the papers, alternated her gaze between Najane and Amelia, and then spoke with a resigned expression.

“...Amelia Royan has borrowed 2,700 Lirangs from 21 people and has not repaid them yet.”

“Wait, Head Maid! You know the situation, don’t you… you know!”

Amelia, her face drained of color, shouted desperately.

But Didina, succumbing to Maximón’s pressure, continued speaking.

“When the principal and interest are combined, it exceeds 3,500 Lirangs. If this is reported to the authorities, Amelia Royan will lose her citizen status and will be forced into a life of slavery until the debt is paid. The Romsoa Knights have no obligation to protect or guarantee the safety of the debtor, Amelia Royan. And if...”

“Head Maid, please!”

Amelia cried out in anguish.

Didina’s voice began to tremble.

“...If Najane Schnicks relinquishes her knighthood, Maximón Elgort, as the captain of the knights, will be forced to report Amelia Royan to the authorities in accordance with the laws of the Noctis Fortress.”

After finishing her words, Didina extended the papers she was holding toward Najane. Amelia collapsed on the ground, bursting into tears.

Najane slowly read the contents of the paper with a blank expression. The names of people who had lent money to Amelia were listed, and among them was Didina’s name.

Being clever, Najane quickly realized why Maximón had shown this to her. Maximón was using Amelia as a hostage to keep Najane bound to Romsoa forever.

Najane’s face twisted in anger. Amelia’s cries, begging her not to leave, echoed in her ears. She crumpled the paper and glared fiercely at Maximón.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Yes.”

Maximón responded calmly. It was as if he had planned everything, knowing this moment would come. Najane threw the paper aside and gritted her teeth.

“How can you, the captain of the knights who are supposed to protect the city...!”

“As I’ve said before, I don’t care about protecting anyone. I only fight against Serith.”

“You’re the worst. Really, truly the worst!”

“I know. I’m a damn bastard.”

Maximón lowered his head and whispered into Najane’s ear.

“It wouldn’t be hard to drag you in like this. I could cut off your tongue and break your legs so you can never say you want to leave Romsoa again. But I won’t do that. I... at least I don’t want to treat you barbarically.”