The Secret Meeting

“Even if you have such selfless thoughts, it doesn’t change the fact that you are mine. We made a contract.”

Jeha was suddenly frightened that God might take Hereis away again. So he spoke stubbornly.

Hereis hugged him tighter, as if to soothe his anxiety. Jeha also wrapped his arms tightly around Hereis’s waist and buried his face in his chest.

“I am someone who has already forsaken God. By doing so, I have forsaken everything in this world. The only place left for me now, the only one I can lean on, is you, Jeha-nim. I will become entirely yours. I am doing everything for that moment.”

Jeha raised his face from Hereis’s chest. When their eyes met, he saw brilliantly shining blue eyes. His eyes were filled only with Jeha.

Jeha lifted his arms from around Hereis’s waist and wrapped them around his neck. He pulled him close and kissed him. And he made a resolve. This person is absolutely mine. I will never let him be taken away, whether by God or by any other human.

****

On the way back from the Grand Temple to the Belgarr mansion, the sunset was already settling in vivid colors. Jeha rested his chin on the carriage window and gazed blankly at the reddened sky. Even though he was certain of Hereis’s heart, he felt inexplicably uneasy. Perhaps it was because of the sunset. The evening glow has a way of confusing one’s eyes and heart.

“You seem to be in a bad mood,” Paimon quietly spoke.

Jeha glanced at Paimon and let out a sigh. “It’s just… my mind is a bit complicated.”

“Because of your contractor?”

“Well, yes and no?” Jeha answered ambiguously. His head was full of thoughts of Hereis, but he didn’t want to blame him for his own complicated feelings.

“Ah, I need to go to Countess Delfard’s mansion late tonight. Prepare for me. I need to go discreetly, without being noticed.”

“As the Marquis of Belgarr?”

“Yeah. I need to go as a human. But I still must not be discovered.”

“Understood. I’ll prepare accordingly,” Paimon replied promptly. Jeha glanced at the sky, which had begun to darken completely, and then withdrew his gaze into the carriage.

****

Late at night, Jeha mounted his horse, wearing a jet-black cloak over his clothes that Paimon had prepared, pulling the hood over his head. Paimon and Zephyr were with him.

To avoid attention, they had to take small side streets instead of the main roads. Zephyr took the lead in guiding the way. He knew the streets of Enkarosha so well that he used strange alleys where no one would notice them. They rode until they reached the back gate of the Delfard mansion.

Paimon knocked on the gate. After a moment, a servant cautiously opened it. Seeing the three figures completely covered in black cloaks, the servant was startled and tried to close the gate. Paimon quickly grabbed the gate to stop him and spoke in a low voice.

“We are here to secretly meet the Countess Delfard and the Marchioness Scarlet,” Paimon whispered.

The servant, lowering his voice as well, asked, “Who are you?”

At that question, Jeha stepped forward and pulled back his hood, revealing his face. The servant didn’t seem to recognize Jeha, but judging by the expensive clothes visible beneath the cloak, he seemed to guess his status.

“I am the Marquis of Belgarr. I have something to say to the two ladies. Inform them discreetly that I am here,” Jeha said.

The servant hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He closed the gate and hurried away with quick steps.

How long did they wait at the back gate? The closed gate creaked open. The same servant confirmed the three figures and then opened the gate wide.

“The lady says to bring you inside. Please follow me,” the servant said, starting to walk ahead.

The three entered through the back gate and walked along a corridor lit by lamps here and there.

“This is the room. Please enter,” the servant said, pointing to a door, indicating he dared not enter himself.

Paimon turned the doorknob first. As he opened the door, a brightly lit interior came into view.

“Your Excellency, the Marquis of Belgarr.” The mistress of the mansion, Countess Delfard, rose from her seat and greeted him.

Jeha looked around the room. Unexpectedly, besides Countess Delfard and Marchioness Scarlet, several other nobles were seated in the reception room.

With a glance, Jeha signaled Paimon and Zephyr to stay outside and entered alone. A hired servant waiting inside closed and locked the door. When Jeha took off his cloak and handed it to the servant, those who could clearly see his face each offered brief greetings or bowed.

“I never expected Your Excellency the Marquis of Belgarr to visit at this hour,” Countess Delfard said, offering him a seat.

Jeha sat where she indicated and smiled faintly.

The reception room was not very large, but all windows were covered with thick curtains to prevent the bright light inside from leaking out. On the table, tea was set instead of alcohol, and the faces of those seated were very serious. In the center sat Marchioness Scarlet, dressed in black mourning clothes and a black veil, sitting upright.

“Is the reason for Your Excellency’s secret visit at this hour what I think it is?” asked the red-haired widow, Countess Delfard, in a subtle voice.

“I don’t know what the Countess’s thoughts are, but I have come to help restore the honor of Marchioness Scarlet,” Jeha said bluntly.

At his direct words, the nobles in the reception room exchanged glances. The four or five nobles besides the two ladies were all young. Just by looking at them, Jeha could guess the reason for their visit. It was probably the same reason as his, or at least a similar one.

“It seems unexpectedly that those who share my intentions have come first,” Jeha said, looking around at the young nobles with a friendly voice. And as the high-ranking Marquis of Belgarr became an ally, their eyes filled with confidence, as if greatly reassured.

At that moment, Marchioness Scarlet, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly lifted the black veil covering her face and pushed it back over her head. Her pale face was revealed. She wore an expression as firm as her upright posture.

As she revealed her face, everyone in the room looked at her with serious attention, as if ready to listen to her words. Marchioness Scarlet slowly glanced around at the assembled people and then spoke.

“I understand well the reason you have gathered today. To a noble, honor is more precious than life. But I have already preserved my honor by being found innocent in the trial. I do not wish for any more commotion to arise in my name. I am merely a widow who wants to live quietly.”

“But, Marchioness, you have not been completely declared innocent. Are the witnesses not still being interrogated? Even if you are later found innocent, your already tarnished honor will not be easily restored. If things continue like this, you will have to endure suspicious glances for the rest of your life, forever doubted as a witch.”

“That’s right. Once rumors attach themselves, they do not easily fade. Unless you receive a proper apology from the Temple, you will carry this misunderstanding your whole life. It is insulting enough that you, a honorable noble, had to stand in court. How can you bear such an insult for a lifetime?” the young nobles enthusiastically persuaded Marchioness Scarlet.

But the Marchioness’s face remained calm. Jeha understood her feelings. She probably didn’t want to get caught up in any more noisy affairs. Just holding out this far might have been her best effort. And as a widow with no one to protect her, she might also be afraid to confront the Temple.

“Marchioness,” Jeha spoke after listening quietly for a while. At that, the other nobles fell silent and looked at him.

“It is a frightening and difficult thing to protect vast wealth as someone alone without a spouse or heir. It is a lonely position where you must always defend yourself from those who covet the opportunity. If you had been found guilty, perhaps I would have been the next target. Because I am in a very similar situation to you.”

At Jeha’s words, Marchioness Scarlet’s expression hardened slightly. She opened her mouth, which had been tightly shut until now.

“The Marquis of Belgarr says we are in a similar situation, but I do not think so at all. Your Excellency has your own title, and you also have immense backing from the Temple, don’t you? Archbishop Hereis will protect you. Is that not so?”

Her tone was quite aggressive. Her feelings toward the Temple seemed to have transferred to the Marquis of Belgarr, who had a personal relationship with Hereis.