Chapter 7: You Are the Challenger!
"It seems you've recovered quite well. That puts my mind at ease~"
Carlotta stood at the guest room doorway, observing Aeron lying on the sickbed, wearing the composed yet elegant smile typical of a noble young lady.
Her gaze swept over Phoebe sleeping soundly in the room and Cartethyia standing nearby before finally returning to Aeron.
"After all, if a clergyman of the Order of the Deep were to meet with misfortune in Montelli, it would invite unnecessary gossip, especially... for a clergyman with such 'rich experiences' as yourself."
Clearly, Carlotta's words carried implied meaning, but this posed no problem for Aeron.
Since he had come seeking them out voluntarily, he must have prepared accordingly before arriving.
"Thank you for your concern, Young Lady. I must also express gratitude for your timely assistance."
"No need for such formality, Priest Aeron. I've long heard of your reputation~"
Aeron and Carlotta locked eyes, their gazes devoid of any friendliness, filled only with calculation and probing.
"Um..."
Cartethyia, caught between them, was utterly bewildered.
What's going on with these two? So Aeron didn't come to Montelli because he knew Carlotta? The tension in this room is thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Miss, might I borrow Priest Aeron for a moment? There are some matters I'd like to discuss with him privately."
Carlotta's tone remained calm and elegant, yet carried not a trace of warmth.
"But..."
Hearing Carlotta's words, Cartethyia glanced worriedly at Aeron.
"I'll be fine, Cartethyia. After working so hard last night, it's your turn to rest."
As he spoke, Aeron gently removed Phoebe's small hand and rose from the bed, finally giving Cartethyia's head a light pat.
"Don't worry, just a brief conversation."
"Guh... be careful."
Suddenly treated this way, Cartethyia's face flushed slightly before reluctantly allowing Aeron to leave the room.
Thus, Aeron followed Carlotta out, walking one after another through the quiet corridors of Montelli Manor without exchanging a single word, until Carlotta led him into a room in a secluded corner.
"Priest Aeron, would you mind closing the door?"
Aeron turned to shut the door but quickly noticed Carlotta's subtle movement.
"...Young Lady, isn't this rather inappropriate? Is this how Montelli treats its guests?"
At this moment, Carlotta was pressing the cold muzzle of a gun against the back of Aeron's head, radiating undisguised threat.
"Hospitality is reserved for genuine 'guests.' But for someone who 'proved their innocence' by drowning before my eyes last night, only to appear alive and well in my home today—do you think it's necessary?"
"What if I told you the one who died yesterday was an imposter?"
"Ara, shouldn't you be providing a reasonable explanation first at a time like this? Priest Aeron... or should I call you something else?"
"Sigh, what if I said I'm just an ordinary person who's particularly hard to kill? Would you believe me?"
"You're utterly incorrigible!"
Faced with Aeron's shameless, slippery attitude, Carlotta felt a spark of anger. She had originally intended to investigate personally to clear Aeron's name, but now she felt like a fool who'd been played.
Give back my determination from yesterday, you bastard!
"If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation, then prepare to live a life worse than death here forever."
Carlotta's finger rested on the trigger. Even if she couldn't kill him, she could still use the Crystal to bind Aeron.
"Don't be so absolute, Young Lady. Leaving aside last night's events for now, I've actually brought a grand gift for you this time."
Aeron turned around and actively moved toward Carlotta's gun barrel.
Hearing his words, Carlotta let out a light laugh and pressed the barrel forward further. "Never mind what the gift contains. Do you really think this is enough to negotiate terms with Montelli, Priest Aeron? Don't you find that rather naive?"
"Really? I've personally delivered the Blessed Maiden right into your hands."
At Aeron's words, Carlotta emitted a disdainful chuckle.
She had initially thought this man might have some depth to him, but it turned out he was just spouting nonsense.
"Are you suggesting that one of those two girls is the Blessed Maiden who martyred herself twenty years ago? Priest Aeron, are you so desperate to survive that you'd say such things?"
"Oh my, I wouldn't dare fabricate something like that." Aeron spread his hands, then fixed Carlotta with a sharp gaze.
"Young Lady, there's no priest in this world who respects the Blessed Maiden more than I do. Think about it—if the people of Rinascita were to learn that the Blessed Maiden from twenty years ago never truly perished, and that the Montelli family was the first to offer her sanctuary... What would that mean for you, currently locked in struggle with the Order?"
"...Empty words without proof. Is this how you deceived those two young girls too?"
Though every word Aeron spoke was true, it was clear the Carlotta before him wouldn't believe him.
What could he say? This was typical of her—the Second Young Lady of the Montelli family, willing to personally handle troublesome matters for her family's future. Clear-headed, logical, yet maintaining her own principles. Truthfully, Aeron had no way to deal with such an upright character.
"Sigh..."
After speaking, Aeron let out a long sigh, took half a step back, and helplessly spread his hands.
Since he couldn't handle Carlotta directly, he could only resort to some minor tactics.
"Miss Carlotta, would you care to guess why I appeared there yesterday?"
"Changing the subject? Sorry, Priest, the reason doesn't matter to me-"
"All the incidents between your Montelli family and the Order have only been smoothed over because I handled them."
Aeron ignored Carlotta, raising his voice to drown out hers.
"You can drive me away, fine. But all those unsavory affairs of the Montelli family would then be delivered straight to Fisalia."
What came next might be somewhat cruel, but to ensure his plans proceeded smoothly, Aeron had to say it.
After all, this was something she would have to face eventually.
"Would you like to relive that rainy night filled with the scent of iron?"
"You—?!"
Hearing these words, Carlotta momentarily lost her composure and elegance, but quickly regained her calm.
"...Hmph, Priest Aeron, you should consider carefully—do you really think you'll have another chance to step outside the Montelli gates?"
"I have no idea. There was quite a commotion last night too. What if rumors suddenly spread about a severely injured priest entering the Montelli residence and never being heard from again? Then it reaches the Order's ears, and after confirming it's true, they come to Montelli with their people... It's so hard to guess, isn't it?"
"..."
Carlotta didn't respond, but the hand holding her gun was trembling slightly.
This meant it was time to reduce the sauce!
"So listen carefully, Carlotta."
Aeron strode forward, pressing his forehead against Carlotta's gun barrel, forcibly pushing her back several steps.
"Right now, you are the challenger!"
"..."
After hearing Aeron's words, Carlotta took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain composure as she also withdrew her gun.
She didn't know how much Aeron was aware of, but she couldn't stake her family's fate on a gamble.
Carlotta had to admit that for now, Aeron held the upper hand.
"...Then what do you want me to do?"
Carlotta stared at Aeron with a gaze full of contempt, while he responded with a relaxed smile.
"Nothing much. You just need to watch, Young Lady."
"Watch?"
"Cartethyia, that Blessed Maiden—whether she's real or fake, time will naturally provide the answer. You only need to offer her and Phoebe shelter and assistance."
Then Aeron said something completely unexpected to Carlotta:
"And I will help you cleanse the poisoned blood within your family."
"...What?"
Carlotta never imagined these would be Aeron's final words.
This man had just risked everything to gain equal footing with her, yet he wasn't positioning himself as the beneficiary at all—instead, he was even offering Carlotta additional support.
What exactly was he planning?
Carlotta stared at Aeron for a long time before finally elegantly smoothing her already immaculate skirt, resuming her dignified young lady's composure, though her tone remained icy.
"Deliver results that satisfy me."
"Received."
With that, Aeron left the room.