I Grabbed The Leash Of The Blind Beast

“Release me.”

The surprised butler approached him.

Bernard had a doubtful face.  

Eleon saw him.

He was a little dizzy. 

Seeing Bernard’s face for the first time in a few years caused a significant shock to his head.

“You.. Your Highness.”

Bernard’s voice trembled. 

Eleon closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Cut the ties.”

Bernard hurriedly grabbed the scissors and cut the fabric tied to the bed. 

TAP TAP 

One arm, two, one leg, two. 

It was indescribable to feel the blood circulating in his body.

Eleon looked at his hands. 

They were covered in bloodstains and bruises. 

It wasn’t as bad as it looked. 

He was a trained knight, and a wound like that wasn’t a big deal. 

In addition, among the characteristics of Oder’s blood, he had a strong body and quick recovery. 

The bruises will heal in a few days without any medication. 

Eleon himself ripped the cloth knot tied around his body with great force. Bernard trembled excited to see Eleon.

He knelt in front of him and cried out.

“Your highness! Your Highness! Congratulations.”

The sobs had weighed heavily on him for the past three years, so Eleon got him up and patted him on the shoulder.

“You’ve done a great job. I have benefited from you during my short time.”

“No, don’t say such a thing. I just did my job.”

Eleon slowly got up from the bed and stood up straight. 

When he lost his sight, he had to bend down a bit to walk. 

It was because he had to know where he was going with his cane.

Now that he had regained his sight, he stood up naturally and looked bigger than when he was blind.

The butler forgot about the pride of the man and burst into tears once again.

“It’s a relief, it’s really a relief.”

Eleon asked him.

“But what about Rona? Where is Rona?”　

    * 

Constance Avignon, capital of the Empire. 

Hadunsha was located in the northern annex of the Imperial Palace located in the center of the capital. 

A white stone building surrounded by a large forest created an antique atmosphere. 

It was a little noisy today.

After Elysia’s disappearance, they went to Grerosa to investigate the case, but the high priest who had been cultivating there returned to Hadunsha.

“That’s Alejandro, the High Priest.”

Iris told Rona and she saw him. 

The high priest was a middle-aged man with white hair and black eyes. 

He has smooth skin and young eyes.

The High Priest looks quite young, but his hair is white like a grandfather’s.

“Hello.”

He smiled bitterly as he watched Rona bow awkwardly to greet him. 

He also bowed in front of her and greeted them.

“May the blessings of the Five Lords and Oder be with you.”

“May the blessings of the Five Lords and Oder be with you.”

Iris and the Duchess greeted him naturally.

Rona felt like a duck egg from the Nakdong River. 

She felt like she was all alone in their world. 

But she didn’t want to force herself to follow what she didn’t remember.

“I see that you forgot even the basics of greetings, it seems that you don’t remember me.”

High Priest Alejandro used a polite and respectful remark. 

His manner of speaking was so polite and intelligent, it sounded solemn and merciful.

     I felt like I had done something wrong. I had to confess everything. 

     Is this the dignity of the high priest? 

Anyway, Rona nodded.

“When I was found in Lake Laurel, the forest rangers said they thought I was dead. When I woke up, I had no memory of anything before that.”

“Are you saying you don’t have a certain amount of memory?”

“I don’t remember anything.”

Rona said sternly. Alejandro looked at her, asked again.

“What happened to your hair?”

“Hair?”

Alejandro looked at Iris. 

Iris answered on her behalf.

“Looking at the length, it appears to have been cut.”

“What’s wrong with my hair?”

When Rona asked, Iris quickly explained.

“When a priest bleaches the ends of the hair white, it means that he or she will become the mouth of God with a clean heart and no lies.”

Rona saw her golden hair. Her long hair was in this state from the beginning, but it seems that Elysia was also bleaching the ends of her hair like them.

“This is very difficult.”

Alejandro asked again.

“Can you hear God’s voice right now?”

“No.”

“You have the mark, but can’t hear the calls.”

As Alejandro spoke to himself, Duchess of Yuter asked frustrated.

“What should I do?”

“Even if she lost her memory, if she had heard God’s voice, Elysia could have returned to Hadunsha. She lost her memory, but she must have known she was a servant of God.”

Alejandro asked Rona again.

“Do you remember the passphrase?”

Rona has been staying in Hadunsha for the past few days and has heard many stories. 

The priests were said to have heard the voice of God.

And they came to Hadunsha after hearing a certain passphrase from God. 

The passphrase is kept as a secret.

Elysia came to Hadunsha when she was three years old.

“I don’t remember.”

“If you can’t hear the voice of God and don’t remember the passphrase, it means you no longer have the qualifications to be a priest.”

“Wait.”

The Duchess of Yuter turned a little pale.

“This child… … She was going to be the High Priest.”

“It used to be, but now it seems like God has retrieved his blessing.”

Alejandro was embarrassed because it was the first time something like this had happened.

“She still has the mark, right? God hasn’t removed it from Elysia yet.”

“Elysia will be excommunicated.”

The Duchess of Yuter’s eyes twitched at the high priest’s declaration.

Rona was worried.

The high priest looked like someone who was about to do something very terrifying.

     Is the High Priesthood such an honorable profession?

     Isn’t the path of a priest usually arduous?

They lead a life that is ascetic, moral, and an example to others. 

The Duchess was trembling as if she had been sentenced to death.

She said that Elysia’s age was just twenty years old. 

And because of her early marriage and childbirth, the Duchess was only thirty-eight years old. 

     They’re both still young, but aren’t they too young? 

Rona felt her world collapse, memories were gone, and she felt like a sinner.

“It’s not possible. Please think again, Alejandro. Elysia is a child that must be in Hadunsha.”

The fervent appeal of the beautiful and slender Duchess aroused sympathy and protective instincts. 

However, Alejandro didn’t flinch even an eyebrow.

He was also a high-ranking official.

“The ex-communication of Elysia is a matter for the Temple to decide.”

“Ahhh.”

Duchess of Yuter finally burst into tears like a painting.

“The property donated by Duke of Yuter will be returned if you desired.”

“No! No! It’s our sincerity to the five gods and Oder. It doesn’t make sense to get it back.”

The Duchess wiped her tears.

“Then promise me one thing.”

“What do you mean?

“If Elysia regains her memory, please withdraw the ex-communication.”

There was silence.

“I am afraid to tell the Duchess, but that too is for the Temple to decide.”

Alejandro barely opened his mouth.

“I cannot guarantee that she will hear God’s call again, this is the first time someone has the mark and can’t hear the call. We’ll see how it goes, we just wait until we realize what the Five Lords and Oder want.”

The Duchess nodded as if it was comforting to hear that it wasn’t a firm refusal.

“Priest Elysia is excommunicated. Elysia Yuter has to leave Hadunsha today.”

The Duchess burst into tears once more.

    *

The duke’s carriage was very comfortable and pleasant. 

Even if the carriage rolled on stone paths there was no shaking at all. 

It didn’t seem to be much different from the Grand Duke’s carriage. 

During her return to the duchy, the Duchess had a sad face.

Rona didn’t know what to say to her.

     Is this how parents feel when they send their children to Seoul National University and drop out to start a business?’

I tried to understand her as much as possible. 

Even more so if you know she had donated a large amount of money.

Seeing her heartbroken and distressed, Rona felt guilty for doing nothing wrong.

     What happened to the real Elysia’s soul?

It broke my heart to see the Duchess so grieved. 

     I wish I could bring back the real Elysia. 

But Rona didn’t know for what reason she came here, so there was nothing she could do for the Duchess. 

She wanted her to give the Duchess some comfort.

“Mother.”

The Duchess opened her eyes wide.

“I’m sorry I can’t remember.”

Rona tried to keep her emotions out of the way and spoke calmly.

“Still, I believe that I will be able to live a happy life. I am the one living my life.”

“Elysia.”

“I will do my best to fill the forgotten memories. If you teach me, I’ll do my best.”

“Ah, Elysia.”

The Duchess hugged her tightly.

“My darling My dear baby. Just trust your mother. I will do anything for you.”

Rona felt like she was about to cry.

     What happened to my body? Is our Mrs. Kim eating well? My mother is very sensitive to stress if something happens to me.

I suddenly thought about what my situation would be like in reality, but I gave up soon. This world in which her consciousness lived now became real to her. 

The Duchess hugged Rona tightly and didn’t let go until they reached the duchy. 

    * 

Eleon looked at every inch of his room. 

He was thirteen when he left for Jane Knights Academy. 

Upon graduating at the age of sixteen, he became a knight commander and left for the battlefield, wandering for seven years. 

He was twenty-three years old when he returned home with an eye injury.

And two years have passed, and he is now a young man of twenty-five years old. 

It was the first time in a decade since he came back to this house.

It felt unfamiliar and awkward as if he had been in this room for the first time. 

However, I felt more comfortable when I closed my eyes.

“I have to adapt.”

That gap will be filled quickly. 

KNOCK KNOCK

The butler came inside.

“Grand Duke, did you call?”

“I need to go out for a bit.”

“Where are you going? Shall we prepare the carriage?”

“No, it’s ok. I will walk.”

I was thinking of going to Café Cardinal. 

To the place where Rona disappeared.