​Chapter 254. The Town of Senf (2)

​After being cautioned by Riley, things became awkward—or so Liliana thought, but Riley returned to his usual demeanor and interacted with her as if nothing had happened. For a moment, Liliana tilted her head in confusion, but if Riley didn't intend to dwell on it, she would simply follow suit.

​She decided, for the time being, not to mention her strategy of acting as a decoy to smoke out the enemy. On the surface, she maintained her composure and continued her conversation with Riley.

​Fortunately, the journey proceeded peacefully and without incident as they entered the Calvert Margraviate. Their target was the monastery near the Navy Baron’s territory, but there were no inns in the Baron's lands capable of hosting royalty. While an ordinary noble could stay at the Baron's manor, it was concluded that royalty should not stay there for security reasons. Apparently, Baron Navy himself felt it would be more comfortable that way and had insisted on the arrangement.

​Consequently, they established a base in a town within the Calvert Margraviate, which was close to both the monastery and the Baron’s territory, planning to travel to the Baron’s lands from there as needed.

​(Certainly, that manor was only impressive in its size...)

​Including the guards, this inspection involved quite a large party. If they were to provide proper security, they would likely have to reinforce every detail, from the locks on the doors to the windows and back entrances of the manor.

​Since she couldn't exactly admit she had visited once in secret, Liliana had simply responded with a vague smile and a "I see" when she received the itinerary from Riley.

​Moreover, Baron Navy had originally been a farmer. He had reportedly been chosen as an overseer in a region of the former Baron's territory that used to be part of the Calvert Margraviate, tasked with managing the other farmers. The previous Margrave Calvert, recognizing his work ethic and character, had granted him the title of Baron, so he had received no education as a noble.

​In the modest Navy territory, even the menservants and maids working at the lord’s manor were "the farmer next door" once you peeled back the surface. Looking at Baron Navy's personality, Liliana doubted they could perform well enough to host high-ranking nobility.

​For everyone's sake, staying within the Calvert Margraviate was the right choice.

​"Sasha, we’re entering Senf."

​At Riley’s call, Liliana peered out of the carriage. Though it was called a town, it wasn't as vast or vibrant as the capital. Still, it was plenty bustling for a regional city.

​"Was that spire a temple?"

​"Yes, that’s right. If I recall, it’s dedicated to the Goddess Formont."

​Formont was the goddess of the moon, and simultaneously, the goddess of fertility. She was a deity widely beloved, especially in farming villages.

​"Now that you mention it, this town flourished through agriculture, didn't it?"

​"Yes. Though nowadays it seems to thrive more on commerce because various goods from multiple regions gather here. However, I’ve heard the Senf Temple was built on the philosophy that one must never forget that they owe their current existence to the Goddess Formont."

​Riley affirmed Liliana’s words while adding further explanation. Of course, Liliana had also looked into the town they would be staying in and knew a fair amount already.

​She had heard that the Baron Navy’s territory was blessed with good land and never lacked for harvests. And the town where Liliana and the others would be staying was also originally a small farming village. However, geographically, various goods began to be brought in from surrounding villages and settlements, people gathered, and now it was widely known for trade.

​However, the additional explanation Riley provided was news to Liliana.

​"Apparently, the temple here has a poor relationship with the central authority. Reports have been coming in that they’re causing various problems."

​"—Are you aiming to kill two birds with one stone?"

​When Liliana asked instinctively, Riley gave a meaningful smile.

​As I thought, Liliana realized. Naturally, the goal of listening to the monk who supposedly knew about the Black Death at the monastery near the Navy Baron’s territory remained unchanged. But it wasn't strange to think he might investigate the temple in the town where they were staying while he was at it.

​Riley had said "reports have been coming in." In this case, one should assume the reports were sent by the main temple in the capital. The temple in the capital had the authority to oversee all temples within the Kingdom of Slibegrad. That was why Riley had the opportunity to see those reports directly. But that wasn't the case for a single temple. If a local temple were to submit a petition, it would be gathered at the capital's temple and scrutinized before being presented. In other words, a temple that had a feud with the capital's temple would have no opportunity to assert its own legitimacy.

​"If the relationship with the central authority is so severed, it wouldn't be strange for the High Priest to be dismissed. The fact that it hasn't happened makes me wonder if there is something more to this High Priest."

​"Something more? Like what, for example?"

​Hearing Liliana’s words, Riley’s eyes lit up with amusement, and he asked for a specific explanation. While suspecting that Riley already had the answer, Liliana gave a wry smile and continued calmly.

​The High Priests who governed the temples in various regions were, in theory, appointed and dispatched from the central authority in the capital. In reality, however, that pretense had become a mere formality. Currently, the system had shifted to one where the predecessor appointed the next High Priest, and the central authority granted permission. However, the central authority could dismiss a High Priest and appoint a new one if they were so inclined. While such examples were not common, she had heard it was a measure taken when a High Priest committed some sort of crime.

​In short, the central authority could dismiss a High Priest for any reason if they didn't like him. As long as the outward appearance was maintained, the commoners wouldn't care much if the priests working inside changed.

​This was because commoners did not go to temples. The temple was a place for priests and nobles to worship God; the place where commoners prayed was the church. Even so, the reason temples were often situated in the center of town was that the temple itself could serve as a symbol.

​Sacred and inviolable—the strong impression of having a temple alone made the commoners grateful that God was there.

​"If it were an ordinary influential person, the central authority wouldn't hesitate to cut them off. The fact that they don't suggests that the High Priest holds some leverage over the central authority, or that there is a reason on the central authority's side that makes it problematic to leave the High Priest unchecked."

​The corners of Riley’s mouth turned up. He looked extremely satisfied. As Liliana stared at him quietly, Riley’s eyes reddened slightly.

​"I am of the same opinion. However, no matter how much I dig, I can't see the answer. That’s why I thought I’d pay a visit myself."

​Liliana couldn't help but look exasperated. She felt a bit cynical thinking that he got angry when she said she’d be a decoy, yet he thought it was perfectly fine for him to go in person, but she was wise enough not to say it aloud. The difference in the degree of danger had slipped her mind, though she didn't realize it.

​Instead, Liliana voiced a question. "Do you have any leads?"

​"Hmm... a few. I've considered some possibilities, but none of them have any credibility."

​Liliana tilted her head slightly at Riley’s words. Since he was being vague, he must truly have no certainty or evidence. She could have pressed him further, but she decided not to. If Riley felt it was necessary, he would surely speak.

​"If I recall, various shops line the main street centered around the temple."

​"That’s right."

​Without looking suspicious at Liliana’s change of topic, Riley nodded. Smiling gently, he tilted his head. "Would you like to go?"

​"Yes. I am curious." Liliana nodded honestly.

​Riley said "I see" and flashed a bright smile. "We have time until tomorrow afternoon, so let's go together then."

​"—Is that alright?" Liliana couldn't help but tilt her head.

​She was sure Riley had told her not to do anything dangerous. Normally, it was unheard of for a noble who might be targeted by assassins to walk among the commoners to look at shops. For the Clark Ducal family, it was standard to call merchants to the manor rather than visiting shops themselves, and Liliana had always done the same.

​The only time she had ever walked through a place where commoners lived and looked at storefronts was once when she was young, but that had been during an emergency immediately following a mana beast stampede. Otherwise, Liliana would stay at an inn with her maid, Marianne, and send someone out for shopping.

​"You've never walked through a town like this, have you?"

​"No."

​When Riley said she might want to see it at least once, Liliana nodded.

​Even so, she couldn't quite accept it immediately. Perhaps noticing her conflicted expression, Riley looked slightly troubled. However, the eyes he turned toward her were kind.

​"It should be fine once in a while. The guards will be coming along."

​"We cannot leave Your Highness alone."

​"Sasha mustn't be alone either."

​Riley gave a little laugh, looking quite happy. Liliana gave a single nod and looked out the window again.

​The carriage carrying the two had entered the town. The streets were orderly, suggesting that the lord had carefully designed the entire town when it was being expanded. However, Liliana tilted her head slightly at the streetscape reflected in her eyes.

​"Sasha? What is it?"

​Riley, sharp as ever, noticed her change and asked. Liliana hesitated for a moment, but gave in to his gaze as he stared at her profile.

​"—I thought the streetscape looked similar to those in the East."

​"The streetscape?"

​It seemed this was news to Riley as well. He blinked and leaned forward, looking out the carriage window just as Liliana was.

​He had gathered information about the town they had arrived in through books and reports. However, there were no descriptions anywhere of the streetscape being influenced by the East.

​"True, I feel like this layout resembles Tuterary. Not that I've ever been there."

​Tuterary was the imperial capital of the neighboring Yunatian Empire. Since it was located on the eastern side of the Empire, it was quite far from the Kingdom of Slibegrad. Naturally, neither Liliana nor Riley had ever visited Tuterary. However, various books described Tuterary, the greatest city in the Yunatian Empire, and reports had been submitted as well.

​Based on the knowledge gained from those sources, the scenery they were seeing now was a miniature version of Tuterary. Roads running east-west and north-south intersected. The fact that the temple was located at the center differed from Tuterary, and the buildings were Slibegrad-style, but Eastern architectural styles were incorporated throughout.

​"Will. Do you know when this town was built in its current form?"

​"No—I think it took quite a few years. If I recall, it was about thirty years ago."

​Riley stared at Liliana’s profile as if to ask what of it. But Liliana didn't respond, her serious gaze fixed only on the world outside the carriage. Seeing his fiancée immersed in thought, Riley sat back in his chair and watched her for a while.

​Liliana, meanwhile, felt a sense of unease.

​Thirty years ago—twenty-six years ago, to be precise. Some nobles of the old royalist faction had plotted a coup, and a civil war had broken out in the Kingdom of Slibegrad. Since the leading noble had been a certain noble of the Alcasia faction, it was said that the Ealdred Ducal family had taken responsibility and withdrawn from the political stage since then.

​(That's absurd.)

​Thinking that the idea was too far-fetched, Liliana gave a self-deprecating smile.

​Just because the timing of the coup was close to when Senf began to be built in its current form didn't mean the two were related. In fact, it was more likely they were unrelated. Everything looks suspicious when viewed with a suspicious eye.

​Thus, Liliana did not voice her concerns.

​"I'm looking forward to going out into town."

​"—Yes."

​Riley looked as though he wanted to say something for a moment, but he immediately nodded with a smile. The party then headed toward their lodging for the duration—a building located behind the Senf Temple.

—-

Toc