CHAPTER 71: DANGER TO THE CHURCH?!

The night air was crisp when Xavier finally stepped out of the church’s inner halls. The silver glow clung faintly to his form, his steps calm and steady as he crossed the courtyard.

Ahead, the Valemont carriage waited, its lacquered surface reflecting the pale light of the moon. Guards lingered at a distance, but Seraphina herself stood near the open door, her posture elegant yet relaxed.

As he approached, her silver eyes lifted to meet his. She gave him that faint smile — the one that never fully reached her eyes but was uniquely hers.

"Sorry," Xavier said first, breaking the silence as he closed the distance. "I made you wait too long."

Seraphina tilted her head, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Don’t mind it," she replied smoothly. "Waiting is easy when I know you’ll return. Besides..." her gaze sharpened briefly, though amusement tugged at her lips, "you always seem to keep me waiting, don’t you?"

Xavier chuckled at that, climbing into the carriage alongside her. "A bad habit, I suppose. One I’ll work on... maybe."

"Maybe," she echoed, the faintest trace of laughter in her tone.

The carriage rocked gently as it set into motion. Inside, warm lantern-light bathed them in soft glow. For a while, they simply sat in companionable silence, but soon Xavier turned to her, studying her profile.

"You know..." he began, "you handled today better than most nobles could. Farmers, corruption, trials, priests — it was a long day. I doubt many of your rank would have the patience."

Her lips curled faintly. "You give me too much credit. A noble’s duty is rarely about patience — it’s about control. And control is something I cannot afford to lose, not in front of my people."

"Still," Xavier said, leaning back with a smirk, "you didn’t just control them. You crushed the guilty and spared the innocent. That balance is rarer than you think."

Seraphina glanced at him sidelong, her silver eyes lingering on his face a moment longer than usual. "You speak as though you’ve seen more rulers fail than succeed."

"Maybe I have," Xavier replied vaguely.

She studied him, as if trying to read the secrets he wasn’t offering. But instead of pressing, she simply gave a faint smile. "Perhaps that’s why I value your presence. You speak as a man who has seen the world... not as one tied down by court etiquette."

He chuckled at that. "Is that a compliment, Seraphina?"

"Take it however you like," she said coolly, though the faint color on her cheeks betrayed her tone.

The conversation flowed, light but threaded with weight. They spoke of the corruption among farmers, the church’s influence, even small things — like her thoughts on the moonlit capital at night, or Xavier teasing her about how her guards looked more terrified of her than of the bandits they trained to fight. She responded in kind, her wit sharp, her poise unshaken, though here in the carriage with him, she allowed herself the smallest glimpses of warmth.

Finally, Xavier glanced toward the window. The moon hung high, pale and cold. "Shouldn’t we be on our way? It’s getting late."

He turned back to her, only to notice the subtle shift in her expression.

Seraphina’s smile faded. Her eyes darkened, her posture stiffening slightly. The air in the carriage grew heavy, as though the warmth from before had been cut away in an instant.

"...Ah," she murmured, almost to herself.

"What is it?" Xavier asked, his voice lowering.

Her gaze met his, sharp and tense now. "I nearly forgot to tell you... tonight is not safe."

The atmosphere thickened. Even the gentle rumble of the carriage wheels seemed distant, muted beneath the sudden gravity of her words.

*****

The silence stretched heavy between them, broken only by the soft creak of the carriage wheels. Xavier leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady on Seraphina. "What do you mean... tonight isn’t safe?"

Her silver eyes sharpened, her tone dropping into something firm, measured. "I received word earlier," she said, every syllable deliberate. "There’s to be an attack on the Church tonight. Bandits — or rather, mercenaries disguised as such. Their aim is clear: to steal the offerings meant for the Goddess."

Xavier’s expression hardened, his hand resting against the hilt at his side. "The offerings..." His voice was low, edged. "So they dare target the Goddess directly."

Seraphina nodded faintly. "They wouldn’t risk it during the day. Not when the Church is full of the faithful, priests, and nuns. But nightfall gives them opportunity. Darkness breeds boldness in men who would otherwise cower in the light."

The lantern inside the carriage flickered, shadows dancing across her face as she continued.

"That is why," she said, her voice steady but cold, "I have decided we will not leave the Church tonight. We’ll remain within its walls until dawn. Once morning comes, the Goddess’s followers will fill the place again, and the bandits will lose their chance. We will report to the head nun, and by sunrise we depart."

Xavier studied her for a moment, his grin faint and dangerous. "So that’s the plan, hm? Stay, guard the Church, and bleed them dry when they crawl out from whatever hole they’re hiding in."

Her lips curved slightly at his tone, though her eyes remained sharp. "You sound almost eager."

"I am," he replied without hesitation. "I’ve been itching for a proper warm-up. And if these rats think they can sneak into the Goddess’s house under moonlight... I’ll make examples of them."

Seraphina’s gaze lingered on him, her poise unshaken. "That’s exactly why I trust you at my side. My guards are loyal, but most lack the... decisiveness you carry." She leaned back, folding her hands neatly on her lap. "Still, we must be cautious. The reports suggest they’re not simple bandits. Whoever sent them knows the Church’s worth."

Xavier smirked faintly. "All the better. If they’re professionals, it’ll at least be interesting."

The carriage turned, wheels crunching over gravel as the Church came into view again, towering white stone bathed in silver. The moon hung high above, serene, almost watchful, as though the Goddess herself was anticipating what would come.

Inside the carriage, Seraphina broke the silence again, her tone softer this time. "The Goddess will not forgive those who defile her sanctum. But it is not forgiveness we’re after tonight. It’s prevention. I want to make sure not a single sack, not a single offering, leaves this Church."

"You have my word," Xavier said, his voice calm, yet carrying the weight of iron. "As long as I draw breath, no one will lay hands on what belongs to her."

For a moment, her sharp expression softened — a fleeting glimpse of warmth breaking through her noble mask. "...Then we’re agreed."

The carriage slowed to a stop. Outside, the Church loomed, its gates closed, torches flickering faintly along its perimeter. The faithful had gone, the silence of night settling heavy across its grounds. Yet beneath that silence, Xavier could already feel it — the faint tremor of danger stirring in the distance, like wolves circling unseen.

He stepped down from the carriage first, extending his hand to Seraphina. She took it, her gaze never leaving the white spires above them.

"Tonight," she murmured, her voice low but certain, "we defend the Goddess’s house."

Xavier’s grin widened as he released her hand, his eyes glinting like steel under the moonlight. "Then let them come."

The heavy doors of the Church opened with a groan, and Seraphina stepped inside with Xavier close behind her. The silver glow of torches along the high stone walls made the vast hall feel colder than it should have, shadows bending beneath the towering arches.

At the far end, Lucy knelt in quiet prayer before the moonlit altar, her white habit glowing faintly in the silvery light streaming down through the stained glass. She rose gracefully as Seraphina approached, her serene face softening with recognition. Though a blush blossomed at the sight of Xavier, unholy past memories playing in her mind...

"Lady Valemont," Lucy greeted, bowing her head with quiet reverence. "Sir Xavier. You’ve returned sooner than I expected."

Seraphina’s expression was calm, but her voice carried the weight of urgency. "Head Nun, I have troubling news. My sources confirm that an attack is planned for tonight. A band of men—bandits, or worse—intend to strike this very Church. Their aim is the offerings meant for the Goddess."

Lucy’s eyes widened faintly, but there was no disbelief in them—only the hardening of resolve. She clasped her hands at her chest. "I see... so it is as I feared. The Church has been targeted before, by rebels who despise the Goddess, or thieves who think holy gifts are theirs to take." She exhaled, shaking her head slightly. "They never learn."

"They won’t get the chance to tonight," Xavier said from behind Seraphina, his voice low but edged with confidence.

Lucy glanced at him briefly, then nodded. "Yes. With the two of you here, their schemes will crumble. The Goddess herself will see to it."