Stigma Effect

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The winter night came early. In winter, there was always snow, which tormented the people of Mogris estate.

Raphlet, who asked the High Priest for a private meeting, saw the knights that were starting to get lit under the magic lamp one by one.

The knights of Albraka and Mogris were mixed together. The ground had long been muddy and dirty with messy footprints and splattered blood.

The thick snowflakes could not accumulate and instead turned into filth.

“Commander Raphlet.”

Raphlet, who was gazing at the direction of the building where Yuriel was, turned his gaze. He saw an old man approaching death.

A sense of greed and betrayal filled his eyes. The High Priest opened his mouth, grimacing the small wrinkles around his eyes.

“How long have you been trying to hide the fact that you are a monster?”

Hearing his question, Raphlet looked down at his uniform and pressed his fingertips to his forehead.

He was unaware that he had been caught, he was troubled. It was discovered that he was a monster, so he will no longer be able to remain as Albraka’s commander.

The High Priest’s attitude was unexpected.

Perhaps it was a courtesy to Raphlet’s former post; there was no sign of anger even after discovering Raphlet’s identity.

The knights of Albraka that were under attack didn’t seem to be in the High Priest’s interest.

“Of course, that doesn’t matter now. How you were born with the power of a monster….”

“High Priest.”

“Yes, Commander Raphlet.”

“Isn’t it more important to protect the knights than to figure out how to receive the monster’s power?”

Raphlet criticized him in a monotonous voice.

“Since there is the saint, it’s okay to reduce the number of knights. The Imperial Capital is safe as long as she is there.”

“… she?”

“I’m talking about Yuriel. Commander Raphlet, the maid you were with.”

Raphlet’s shoulders stiffened. He had an unfamiliar look as if he understood it for the first time in his life.

The High Priest, noticing Raphlet’s surprise, loosened his tension.

“If you promise to send her to the Imperial Capital and share information about the monsters, today’s incident will be finished as a monster attack.”

Is Yuriel the saint?

It was difficult to concentrate on the High Priest’s words. The High Priest is convinced that Yuriel is the saint.

How and what does he know to be so sure?

He had a short time to recover from the shock, but Raphlet focused on something else.

His head was slowly starting to clear.

“I don’t think it’s possible to have a monster….”

“She was being treated by Shudmuel for several months before she disappeared. I found it strange that Shudmuel was looking for medicines to help a pregnant woman, so I had him investigated, and he was giving it to her.”

“Pregnant.”

Raphlet repeated the High Priest’s words in a dazed tone.

Was she really pregnant at that time?

“If she is pregnant, that would of course be your child, right? Who else fits the prophecy here?”

Every word from the High Priest seemed to hit him in the head.

‘You don’t want to have children?’

She remembered Yuriel’s thin eyelashes that were shaking, and her fearful face that couldn’t bear to look at him.

‘I see….’

Yuriel was hurt by his unresponsive attitude. Raphlet could not keep his composure and held his breath.

What had he done to Yuriel?

His hands trembled as if in a seizure. Yuriel’s expression as if she had lost something did not leave his head.

No, no.

“I didn’t answer.”

“What do you mean?”

Raphlet, who was terrified thinking of Yuriel’s reaction, opened his mouth unknowingly. Hearing the muttering without meaning, the High Priest furrowed his eyebrows.

Raphlet thought, looking down at his trembling fingers.

‘Let’s talk again when we come back.’

Looking at Yuriel’s back, he clearly said that.

It’s still not too late. There is still a chance.

Raphlet let out a breath that had barely stopped.

Holding his breath, he suppressed his anxiety. He must go back to Yuriel.

Dealing with the High Priest came later.

The first thing he had to do was explain to Yuriel the misunderstanding he had.

Raphlet immediately moved to return to Yuriel.

“Why are monsters here… !”

Monsters that appeared from nowhere were indiscriminately attacking the knights. The High Priest looked very perplexed.

Realizing that the Grand Duchess was not with the Grand Duke, Raphlet bit his lips. It was clear that she had unleashed the monsters into the castle.

Without having an escort, the High Priest was alone with Raphlet, and he quickly grabbed Raphlet’s arm.

It seemed that he was afraid that Raphlet would jump out.

“The knights will take care of the monsters, so Commander Raphlet, you are here to protect me….”

An anxiety for his own safety and concern for Raphlet’s condition were evident on his face. The High Priest was regretting that even a drop of Raphlet’s blood would be shed.

A breath leaked out at the more extreme treatment than when he was treated as the saint. Raphlet shook his hand and spoke coldly.

“Call another knight.”

Raphlet turned around. The High Priest nervously shouted at Raphlet, who was about to leave him behind.

“If I am not safe, even your maid will not be able to make it to the Imperial Capital! If you don’t say that she’s the saint, you should know that the knights will come to kill her again.”

The High Priest said threateningly. The High Priest was elated as Raphlet stopped moving after he shouted to Raphlet’s back.

Raphlet thought quietly as his body stopped.

The Grand Duchess, his mother, unleashed monsters into the castle. It was no different from saying that no one would leave this place alive.

Contrary to the lack of decisiveness and the somewhat weak-minded Grand Duke, she often handled things radically.

If it was her will, the High Priest would not be able to leave the castle either. Raphlet asked in a subdued voice.

“… Did you tell Mother that you found out who I was?”

“Of course, I have to receive the research information….”

The High Priest nodded his head showing it was obvious.

Raphlet was convinced of his predictions.

The High Priest was also planning to kill the knights of Albraka here. Having confirmed it, he didn’t have to waste time on the High Priest anymore.

However, it seemed that the time wasted on the High Priest was too long.

Raphlet found Yuriel mixed among the monsters.

Yuriel with gloomy eyes, with a gun in her hand.

The uneasiness that had been suppressed shook his head uncomfortably again.

＊＊＊

Of course, the first thing Yuriel looked for was Raphlet.

She was afraid that Raphlet’s blood might be mixed with the blood that had fallen to the ground.

The knights swinging their swords at them were blocked by monsters. It was harder than she thought to see the knights with familiar faces getting hurt, but it wasn’t unbearable.

Even though the magic lamp was shining brightly, it was still dark, so it was difficult to find Raphlet among the knights.

Yuriel anxiously looked for Raphlet.

You’re not hurt are you?

The Grand Duke was protected among the Knights of Mogris. Among them, Raphlet was nowhere to be seen.

“Ah.”

Raphlet finally entered Yuriel’s gaze. Next to him was the High Priest.

A low sigh escaped from Yuriel’s mouth when she checked where the High Priest was located.

Raphlet’s face hardened from what he had heard from the High Priest. He was approaching Yuriel, shoving away the High Priest who was clinging to him.

Yuriel looked at Raphlet and shook her head.

Even though he entered the monsters’ attack range, Raphlet was not being attacked. It was in the middle of the battle, so the other knights didn’t seem to notice it yet.

‘Step back. Lord Raphlet.’

Yuriel moved her lips and expressed her intention to him. It was far away, but Raphlet would have recognized it.

Seeing Yuriel’s refusal, Raphlet stopped. Perhaps it was because he had approached one step less that the light of the magic lamp did not reach his face. Yuriel could not easily tell Raphlet’s expression.

It was dangerous, so it was when she wanted to tell him to step back a little more.

Yuriel felt a cool sensation on the back of her neck and turned around. She could see the blue eyes staring at him.

It’s a familiar knight’s face. A knight who was quick on his feet and had always approached Raphlet with a cheerful face. He was a man who often talked with Yuriel.

As she recognized his face, she felt terrible pain.

The sword from the knight hiding among the monsters pierced Yuriel’s chest.

Yuriel looked at the knight’s face who stabbed her chest. Standing at the vanguard with Raphlet, the knight was always quick to execute orders.

Yuriel stared blankly at his face and let out a moan of pain. The knight’s face contorted.

“How can you deceive us like that? How much Commander Raphlet cared for you!”

He said to Yuriel.

His reaction was what Yuriel wanted. Looking at the knight’s face full of betrayal and criticism, Yuriel opened her lips.

She didn’t want Raphlet to see her being attacked in a place like this.

Lord Raphlet.

No matter how hard she moved her lips, the only thing that came out was a light sigh.

Her head kept falling down because of the unbearable pain. After reuniting with Raphlet, her belly became noticeably swollen.

Tears that were difficult to determine whether it was of pain or sorrow fell from Yuriel’s eyes.