Unfortunately, before Nn could do anything. Mary suddenly entered, carrying a Bible.
Hearing Eliza''s muffled sobs, she quickly walked over. "What''s wrong? Are you in pain?" she asked, setting th
the Bible aside before quickly pushing Nn aside and gently pulling Eliza into her arms.
With rough but careful hands, she wiped the tears from Eliza''s cheeks. "It''s alright. I checked earlier-your forehead won''t scar, and the rest of your injuries will heal just fine. Your vision should return in a couple of days. Everything will be okay"
Eliza instinctively leaned into her touch. It reminded her of how her mother used to hold her when she cried.
Nn stood off to the side, silently watching. After a brief pause, he finally spoke. "Reverend Mary, Serenity is worried about memorizing anything from the Bible. She''s afraid it''ll affect the blessing ceremony."
His words broke the quiet moment between them.
Mary shot him a nce but spoke gently to Eliza. "Don''t worry, I brought the Bible with me. If you want to practice, I can read it to you
Eliza''s expression lit up. That could work, though it meant troubling Mary for the next few days.
Seeing her hesitation, Mary stroked her hair with a soft smile. "Don''t worry about that. You''re the youngest in our nunnery and the Holy Lady who blesses the
kingdom. It''s my duty to help you"
was deeply moved. "Thank you.”
With Mary''s help, the pressure of memorizing the prayers lifted immediately.
Once Mary had shooed Nn out, the two got to work. Mary recited a line, and Eliza repeated it, slowlymitting the words to memory.
Outside, Nn lingered for a moment, listening to their voices. He only snapped out of it when his deputy, Ross, appeared, making exaggerated faces at him from a distance.
Nn frowned and walked over, his expression sour. "What''s with the faces! If you have something to say, just say it
Ross chuckled, ncing toward the doors. "Prince Nn, has the Holy Lady woken up?"
Nn didn''t answer directly, just giving him a sharp look. "Why are you asking? Who sent you
Ross raised his hands innocently. "No one. But when I came in, I saw people from the Duke''s estate outside."
He leaned in slightly. Lord Mowbay and has eldest son are waiting. Looks like they don''t n on leaving until the Holy Lady wakes up."
Nns expression remained cold. "Oh Well, let them wait
If Gabriel couldn''t even control his own son, someone else would have to teach him a lesson
Besides, Eliza had just been crying-Nn had no intention of letting those people ruin her mood.
He gave specific instructions to the pce staff: no one was to o reveal that the Holy Lady had woken up.
By the time Gabriel and Benedict finally learned that Eliza was awake, two more days had passed.
After keeping vigil outside the pce for two days, Gabriel finally gave in to exhaustion and returned to the estate at Benedict''s urging.
But just as they arrived home, news came from the pce-the Italy Lady of Walden had just woken up. The timing was so precise it felt like a deliberate p in the face.
Equally drained, Benedict let out a frustrated sigh. "Eliza surr knows how to wear us out"
Df all times, she had to wake up now. II Benedict hadn''t seen how badly Eliza got hit by Dn himself, he might''ve suspected she''d been awake all
Gabriel, sensing his son''s thoughts, let out a coldugh. "Eliza wouldn''t dare defy me. Someone else is behind this"
Benedict frowned. What do you mean, Father?”
"Who else could it be but Nn Gabriel''s expression darkened, his gaze sharp. "He''s quite something, using the king''s favor as a shield to act however he pleases"
When it came to suppressing the Duke''s estate, Nn never wasted an opportunity
This time, we took a serious bit because of him. If not for that unruly girl making a scene, Dn wouldn''t have ended up in prison," Gabriel said.
Hui imprisonment
He was certain ad one thing-Dn had crossed the line by barging into Saint Grace Nunnery, and punishment was inevitable. But im was excessive. In Galnici veyes, this was all Eliza''s fault..
"Don''t worry, Father," Benedict said "Tve already hail Manhew visit the prison a few times to smooth things over. Dn should be fine"
Gabriel snorted. "Even if he isn''t, he brought this on himself?
While he med Eliza, he didn''t absolve Dn cipher. His son had acted recklessly, and now they were all paying for it.
Gabriel''s tone tumed impatient. "Once Dn is back, it''s your job as his elder brother to set him straight. If anything like this happens again, I''ll punish both of you" -
Benediet, knowing better than to argue, epted the reprimand withoutint
Still, after
a moment''s hesitation, he voiced his concerns. "Tallier, I feel like there''s more to this this we realize"
Gabriel shot him a nce but said nothing, signaling for him to continue.
henedict took the cue, understanding that his father probably shared his thoughts. "Dn may be hot-tempered and impulsive, but he''s never gone this far before. He wort huve acted so recklessly without good reason."
As he spoke, he prepared a fresh pot of coffer for Gabriel.
Gabriel took a sip and simply sail "Co on
Benedict nodded. "I think something mant''ve set him off. Something serious"
The problem was that Dn refused to talk. No matter how many times they asked, he kept his mouth shut
rightyshes
Because of that, Gabriel and Benedict hadn''t been able to plead his case. They had no choice but to let him take the full punishment-righty
Thinking back, Benedict felt they needed to get to the bottom of it. If they knew what had really happened, they might be able to reason with Eliza.
Gabriel set his coffee cup down, drumming his fingers against the table as his eyes narrowed. "That day, Mathew and Anthony were both homir. Only Sophie went to Saint Grace Nunnery, correct?"
Benedict paused, then nodded, "That''s right"
Gabriel''s expression turned cold. "Co and bring Sople here.