Chapter - 84

"You'll stop acting stupid and leave."

Jenny laid on her back, the duchess sitting on her midriff. Jenny had her hands around the woman's waist, caressing Gizelda's lower back gently. "But—"

"No," Gizelda interrupted. She leaned forward, grabbing Jenny's head on both sides before she looked Jenny in the eyes; their faces almost touching. "Staying here is too dangerous now with the inquisition's arrival." Gizelda kissed Jenny's mouth again, interrupting when Jenny tried to speak.

The kiss lingered, but not for long. Once they pulled away for air, Jenny asked something that had been on her mind for a while. "Why did Gregory blame me?"

Gizelda stayed silent for a while. "I threatened Gregory to make his life hell if anything ever happened to you." The duchess said in a non sequitur.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Gizelda sighed. "He won't admit it, but I think he panicked. Thought the only way to save you was to declare you dead, to hide you from the church, after the magic mess left at the front door."

Jenny's hands tightened on the woman's waist, nails digging into her skin, drawing a gasp from the duchess. "It doesn't explain why he blamed me for your father's death."

Gizelda nodded, eyes half-lidded, face rosy. "Leave the investigation of the necklace, Gregory's involvement, and the killer's whereabouts to me. Meanwhile, go to the capital and form a mercenary team like you planned. Get stronger, learn more magic from your patron." The duchess kissed Jenny again, pulling away a moment later. "Once I find him, I'll send for you, and we'll kill the bastard." The anger clear in Gizelda's eyes was contrary to the many pecks she showered Jenny's face with. "You can't help me if you're dead, my love." She whispered amid a flurry of kisses.

Jenny pulled the woman into a deeper kiss, but a knock on the door interrupted them. "Duchess?" It was the voice of the guard with the burned face. "Is everything alright?"

Gizelda sat up and looked toward the door, Scowling. She stood and gathered the discarded articles of clothing scattered around. "Nothing is amiss, Anderson. Thank you for your concern."

"Of course, duchess."

Reluctantly, Jenny followed her lead. They dressed in silence, even if Jenny eyed Gizelda the entire time.

Gizelda stopped midway through putting on her dress, and looked at Jenny. "You never told me why you didn't come with me to the capital? Why did you refuse Father's offer?"

Jenny looked away and sighed. "If I went with you, I'd be no more than a servant, to be hidden and out of the way. And I can't be your sister."

Gizelda finished donning the dress. Still barefoot, she approached and hugged Jenny from behind. "Silly girl, you'd be a servant only in name."

"I just can't," Jenny whispered.

"I understand," Gizelda said. They stayed there like that a few moments longer before they finished dressing. Jenny helped ensure Gizelda didn't look out of place, and Gizelda did the same for Jenny. Once they were ready to leave, Jenny spoke again.

"I need to visit my room. All the coins I've saved are hidden there."

Gizelda gave Jenny a curt nod. "I'll take care of it."

Yuki sat facing the tin-can man, or maybe she should call him by his name and title: Templar Robert Thomasson. If she understood things, Robert learned about Jenny from Bee, and now the man wanted to talk with the blonde about something related to Yuki, something regarding magic.

The man had tried to pick Yuki up, but she opposed that. Followed by a few minutes of dancing around the man's legs. He was tall, bulky, and wearing heavy armor. He didn't have the speed or mobility to catch a small agile rabbit hopping around. Yuki didn't miss that the man could have taken Bee hostage, or worse, Whisker. But maybe he didn't think of such or wasn't the type to act on such drastic measures.

In the end, Robert decided to talk again, so here they were. It was worse than when she tried to talk with Jenny. Somehow, Yuki started to believe the contract helped with communication because things Jenny easily understood, didn't make sense to Robert.

Since he couldn't understand her, she took to drawing again. Which wasn't as easy as it sounded. But Robert was patient, and after a few hours, the man explained things. First, he was confident that magic was detrimental, one way or another. Something related to madness and disaster. Second, he wanted Yuki to follow him to the church, which was a big no-no. After that, they got to an impasse again, which turned into more conversation attempts. Yuki understood some of what the templar spoke of; it was probably the tale of the creation of his religion.

It went something like this: From nothing to something. Gods toiled day and night to create the world, and for a time, creator and creation lived in peace, and harmony flowed on the land. Then, there was war in the heavens, and the gods were forced to leave the world. The harmony they kept left with them. The war shattered the world, and the madness sneaked out from the cracks. To fight this madness, the gods sent a savior using their last vestige of influence. A savior who fought madness itself and sealed it under the vortex.

Or at least that was what Yuki understood from the whole tale. There were a lot of assumptions and blind guessing; most of the words she didn't know, but the story's shape was familiar, similar to any tale of creation and religion she'd heard. Yuki didn't discount the story as just that, this being a world of magic; but the tale didn't explain what she had to do with everything. She was guessing some sort of propaganda bullshit.

Bee seemed to know the tale. She nodded at the appropriate times and even repeated a few of the ritualistic-sounding phrases. Did they have Sunday school here as well?

A few minutes after the tale ended, Yuki heard it. Firm, unhurried footsteps. The loud clanking of the metal spear rhythmically tapping the cobblestone. She recognized Jenny's footsteps. Yuki did her best not to attract attention to that. It even worked.

Jenny ducked under the passage and entered the grotto. She had a huge smile on her face. In one hand, she carried.. a duck? Tied to her belt were ropes attached to two goats and a piglet. But Yuki zoned in on the important part: Was that a hickey on Jenny's neck? 

Robert turned around to stare at the newcomer. Jenny's smile faded like it had never been there in the first place. The woman juggled the duck to her left arm, gripping her spear with her right. Face serious. "Who are you?" Jenny demanded.

Yuki's mind buzzed. Did her pet do a pervy-sage routine?