Then, Riesch, brought into the room by Arnold, was forced to rest.
Arnold usually listens to what Riesch wants.
But this time, you won't forgive me if I say "I need to help clean up a little" or "I want to check on Miriam's condition."
There was nothing I could do about it, so I took a great rest and the morning after my health recovered, I heard from Schneider along with Arnold.
"The Cardinal of the Order was divided into several factions."
Schneider strokes his grey hair behind him today.
I saw a lot of tiredness around my eyes.I can see that there has been considerable hardship from yesterday until now.
"A faction that seeks to hide and nurture Miriam and hide his presence in Garchain.And like the Archbishop, it is a faction that fears Garchain and thinks that Miriam's presence should be eliminated. "
In painful fact, Rieschetto frowned.
"There were multiple people who wanted to harm Miriam."
"Yes, but it's also an extremely small minority.The witch princess, who draws the blood of the goddess, is the object of our faith. "
The words gave me a little relief.
But it doesn't mean you can trust Schneider's words in front of you.It seemed that Arnold, sitting next to him, agreed.
As far as being a subject of faith is concerned, I suppose I had that witch imitate you?
Arnold lowers his hips on the same bench as Riesch and puts a cheek wand on his armrest.
His sword was standing beside him.I should have left it with Oliver in the hallway.
"If you were willing to protect the witch, you shouldn't have taken her out of the Archbishop's reach.If there were a large number of factions that hide and raise witches, it would have been easy to proceed with a policy of keeping witches out of public. "
Arnold's right.
If Schneider, his assistant, had been aware of the Archbishop's plans, he should have moved to prevent this from happening in the first place.
"Factions that hide and nurture witches and those that should be eliminated.- I don't know which one you belong to. "
"I'm neither of them."
Huh?
Arnold looks at Schneider like he doesn't care.
Schneider put his fingers on his lap and said, "Get out front."
"I am certain that my plan was to put Miriam in danger.However, the Archbishop should have eliminated it as soon as possible.To do so, I had to prove the fact that the Archbishop wanted to eliminate the witch princess and was about to do it.It requires conclusive evidence. "
"... that's why you attacked the Archbishop and made many monks witness it?"
Schneider leaned over Riesch's question.
"To be honest, it was only a miscalculation that Prince Garchain visited the Grand Temple in this situation."
That must have been Schneider's heart.
"The Archbishop is our enemy, but at the same time you were our enemy.Whether you reveal the Archbishop's vision or not, it's over if Crown Prince Garchain finds out about the witch princess. "
"... that's why you sent Leo to me?"
"I received a report from Riesche-sama that she would know martial arts.... I didn't think the best kids in my orphanage would lose easily. "
And he smiled bitterly, "That kid is still alive," he said.
When I heard that, it seemed true what Leo said: "Not for my father."Rather, Schneider seems to be a watchdog.I'm sure the Archbishop didn't know that the orphanage was such a training institution.
"Why was Leo in and out of a trapped forest?"
"To understand and report the location of the archbishop's trap.I can't get into the forest where the Archbishop is grounded easily. "
Young children like Leo are seen as mere pranks.What Schneider says is not something he doesn't understand.
But it doesn't matter if it's honest or not.
"... I think the Archbishop has prepared a trap to make it look like an accident and kill her, assuming that her grandmother Miriam might enter the woods.And in fact, Miriam was in danger in that forest.Did you leave the trap behind when you realized it could happen? "
"Leo was supposed to protect you just before you got into danger.... and as a result, Miriam went into the woods and put herself in danger. "
Schneider looks at Riesch with quiet eyes.
"--In case anything happens, I would have punished Leo with this hand and apologized to the goddess with my own life."
…………
Rieschett frowned.
In the future that Leo knew, Leo lost one eye in a cage that wandered between life and death.
There was no man named Schneider at the top of the Kurshade Order, and there was another man on the Archbishop's throne.I'm sure that was the result of what Schneider called "just in case".
Thank you very much.
Arnold tells Schneider in a low voice.
"The question you should answer is, how did you create this situation?Whether or not you're willing to let the witch live, including how you treat the Father Emperor. "
"Will you listen to my thoughts?"
"White. I wonder if you'll be the next archbishop?"
"It depends on Lord Arnold's heart."
Arnold frowned at the words.
"As I mentioned earlier, there are several factions in the church.Raise the witch princess from Garchain or eliminate her before Garchain finds out.... I was naturally the former, but not now. "
What do you think of Schneider?
"I want to have a partnership with you."
As Leesher rounded her eyes, Schneider sighed bitterly.
"With His Royal Highness Prince Arnold Hein, not with His Majesty the Emperor, but with the Kingdom of Garkhain.... and soon to become His Highness, Riesh-sama. "
"That's...."
"I want His Majesty the Emperor to conceal the presence of His Majesty Miriam.And when I become Archbishop, I will return the favor of His Highness Arnold to the best of my ability. "
The offer was unexpected.
In the first place, Riesch visited the Grand Temple at this time to connect with Miriam.
A relationship with the world-renowned Kurshade Church, the witch princess Miriam, could help avoid war.
He hoped that Arnold might be able to burn down the church and avoid a future that would kill Miriam, like the coming future.
(... in the life I've known, His Highness Arnold and the Order have been hostile.If this partnership is realized, the future will certainly change.... but...)
He glanced up at the neighboring Arnold.
"'Cooperation'?"
As expected, Arnold looked at Schneider with a deeply offensive look.
"You're wrong about your position, Schneider?Whatever you wish, I already recognize the witch. "
"... you're right."
"I don't care about the power of the Order.For you, on the other hand, this is a matter of utmost confidentiality.--If you have time to make a long offer, keep your head down even deeper. "
"Lord Arnold."
Although Riesch lowers her eyebrows, Arnold does not glance at us.
Schneider turned blue and looked up at Arnold.
"My destiny depends on Lord Arnold's heart."
Schneider bows as if he were offering Arnold a neck.
"If you accept this by lowering your head, even if you get away from your body and fall to the ground.Thank you very much. "
"... when you're trembling. Your goddess won't help you like that."
"My faith is not to seek salvation from the goddess, but to devote my life to the goddess.If this life can save the Goddess' Son, then it's our only hope. "
――……
Looking down at Schneider like that, Arnold was about to say something.