Edward closed his eyes. The blood was drying up inside his body little by little, and the chill was starting to come back. He remembered the moment when he first met Eugenia. Every time he saw him, her face would turn red as if it was on fire. It had been like that ever since the wedding, the first night when her cheeks were at their peak of blush.
But after becoming Blackwell's mistress, she accidentally discovered the truth that had been completely hidden from her.
Edward knew then that when one is overcome by great anger or hates and loathes someone, a person's face can turn pale without a single trace of blood. Eugenia never showed a single trace of blood toward him, her husband, until the moment of her death.
Eugenia. I will be with you soon. Forgive me. No... I cannot even come to you. I will fall into hell, so I cannot even approach you in heaven.
It was only after she collapsed that he realized his feelings for his wife. It was only after her frail, white body finally stopped bleeding that he realized his feelings.
But there was nothing he could turn back. Long before he met Eugenia, he had to do anything to escape the poison that was slowly eating away at his body. Even after his wife died, his atrocities against humanity continued, but in the end, he was consumed by this damned poison.
From the beginning, he had no other choice. That's why he had to accept the hammer of God so helplessly.
But God, please save my son. I will take all the sins of my father... even the sins I owe Angie Ridsdel. I will gladly go to hell. So please, just save Kyle.
Hadn't I already paid the price by losing Eugenia and my other child, Lloyd?
Chimney smoke spread across the gray, hazy sky. The police station of Citadel District 1, the capital of Vintergar, was located directly across from the large textile mill complex that was first built last year. The city center was already buzzing with excitement for the first anniversary of the Industrial Revolution, which was to take place in a month.
The lounge, with its hard wooden chairs and large tables, was abuzz with singing and chatter. The moderately noisy room was filled with a cheerful atmosphere surrounding one person. The officers, who had taken off their capes, loosened their ascot ties and rolled up their elbows.
“Happy Birthday To You- Okay, turn it off quickly!”
As the song ended, the oldest-looking man in the room urged the host to eat. The cake, which was filled with dried fruit and buttercream, had four candles.
Martin blew hard on the cake in the middle of the table on his twenty-fourth birthday. His colleagues in black uniforms applauded and cheered in unison. Martin was one of the most promising and trusted new recruits in the Metropolitan Police Department's security branch.
“Happy birthday! But have you and your fiancée gotten married yet?”
“Hurry up and get married before your next birthday! No matter how successful you are, it can’t compare to the happiness of getting married and starting a family.”
“Yes, I will try. Thank you very much for the gift.”
Martin smiled as he was surrounded by a friendly atmosphere. After each slice of cake was passed around and everyone toasted with cider, everyone returned to their seats.
After everyone had dispersed to enjoy their own weekends, Martin opened the morning newspaper in the empty lounge. His face was stiff, unlike a moment ago.
His eyes scanned the corner of the article, dark. On the ground, the latest news from Trieste, a neighboring country across the border, was printed.
"Today, the Imperial House of Trieste announced that it was for the first time officially recognizing the ancient native faith of Caelum, which had been considered a secular practice for hundreds of years since its founding, as a legitimate religion.
The Imperial Master of Ceremonies, acting on behalf of Emperor Rainier VII, has announced that the Caelum Order, which originated from the Druids of Trieste, has accepted the nature and spirit worship rituals as a religious practice. As a result, the non-profit organization representing the Caelum Order, the Caelum Order Association, will now benefit from tax breaks and royal support as a formal religious organization.
Baron Samuel Dervan, a collaborator of the Duke of Blackwell and chairman of the Caelum Society, expressed great delight that the Imperial Council of Religion of Trieste had officially recognized the Caelum Society as a religion after a four-year application period for recognition.
He positively predicted that this announcement, recognizing the Caelum sect as an official religion, would encourage the faith of believers not only in Trieste but also throughout the continent, and would have a great influence on their future religious life.
The Caelum religion, originally founded by priests from the neighboring countries of Trieste, Azerbaijan, Vicentine, and the Highlands, is based on the belief in the immortality of the soul, reincarnation, previous life, and the God of death, and is not limited to a single God or a single creator God, but worships all natural forces that exist in the earth and all things. The custom of performing worship rites following this has also been handed down.
After the Old and New religions spread and took root across the continent, the Caelum Church went into decline, and until recently, it was considered to be nothing more than an ancient, indigenous religious cult. However, after the war, as interest in nature worship and nature-friendly ideas increased, the church began to gradually grow in strength."
Martin read the article over and over again. The expansion of religious power meant that the sphere of activity of those in power was wider and freer.
No one in the department paid attention to this article. Even his colleagues, who focused on and talked about new cases every day, said nothing about it. The fact that a small religious community in a neighboring country had received official royal recognition was not something that would attract public attention. The average person had no idea about the enormous repercussions this small article had.
The only people in the general public who know the true identity of the family and the real power of the Caelum sect are Brin, her father, and himself in Vintergar.
Martin rested his elbows on the edge of the desk and rested his chin on his clasped hands. He felt a chill. The day was still cold, but the crackling fireplace in the living room made it warm. Nevertheless, he felt goosebumps all over his body. It felt like needles of ice were poking into every pore, piercing deep into his body.
“Are you now seriously trying to take control of the mainland?”
Martin let out a deep sigh. Even though he closed his eyes, his agony did not go away. Then what about that girl named Angie? No, now is not the time... to worry about that girl. In this situation where the world may slowly turn upside down.
A Bible verse came to his mind, a short passage he had once seen in a red bookmark at the end of the New Testament.
'Behold, I make all things new.' (Revelation 21:5)
A few dozen days had passed since the comfortable winter had passed and spring had begun to bloom everywhere. Tomorrow would be April, the peak of spring. It had already been three and a half months since Angie had said goodbye to her master.
April on the island was like heaven, just like its original name, Cullinan's Heaven, or its old name. The endless blue sky and the horizon between the sea were meaningless to distinguish.
This year was especially beautiful. The greenery and plains, meadows, and flower fields covering the island were fresher and more abundant than ever. The crops, trees, and various medicinal herbs that were harvested in spring were such that not a single blade of grass or seed was wasted, and the livestock produced healthy offspring in large numbers.
Everything was in a satisfactory and stable state. There seemed to be no corner of the island that was not touched by God's blessings. Next month, May would be even more beautiful and prosperous.
Angie sat down at the bedside table and said a short morning prayer before getting up. Her smiling face quickly turned expressionless as her parents left for work as usual.
After drinking tea with honey, Angie headed to the embroidery studio her parents had set up in the corner of the warehouse. Her heart was heavy that day, too. She felt nothing when she looked at the dazzling sky. She was sorry that she couldn’t be in harmony with the spring flowers in full bloom in front of her house. However, there was something more important to her than her peaceful daily life.
Angie was waiting eagerly. The object of her waiting was something that neither the beauty of nature nor the abundance of food, clothing, and shelter could replace.
A few days ago, as she was wandering around Blackwell Hill as if she had stopped by by chance, she came across Mrs. Dunst, who was just leaving the ducal residence. She seemed to have read Angie's mind and spoke to her as if to soothe her.
"Angie, don't worry and go back, His Highness is getting better."
"Madam, can you meet Master Kai? Have you seen him recently?"
"No. No one other than the attending physician can see the Young Master."
The woman did not open her mouth anymore. Angie had returned home weak. She had tried to look cheerful, lest her parents should be worried, but she had never smiled when she was alone like she was now. She stopped fiddling with the needle and looked out the window.
“It’s already been almost three months... When will the treatment be over?”
The overwhelming longing was expressed in a visible form. Clear, transparent teardrops fell straight down onto the lace fabric. They were props to decorate the tablecloths at weekend chapel gatherings.
She hurriedly wiped away the tear stains on the lace. But the tears continued to flow. The passion that had been suppressed and burst out would not stop. Angie pushed the lace aside and buried her face in her arms. Her head was resting on the workbench, her arms crossed.
An unforgettable voice kept replaying in her mind. It was the whisper he had given her three months ago when she had last stayed in the room on the third floor of the mansion.
"You love me too, Angie. As you wait for me...you will come to realize it deeply."
That was true. It was a fact that was now felt deep in her bones.
But after becoming Blackwell's mistress, she accidentally discovered the truth that had been completely hidden from her.
Edward knew then that when one is overcome by great anger or hates and loathes someone, a person's face can turn pale without a single trace of blood. Eugenia never showed a single trace of blood toward him, her husband, until the moment of her death.
Eugenia. I will be with you soon. Forgive me. No... I cannot even come to you. I will fall into hell, so I cannot even approach you in heaven.
It was only after she collapsed that he realized his feelings for his wife. It was only after her frail, white body finally stopped bleeding that he realized his feelings.
But there was nothing he could turn back. Long before he met Eugenia, he had to do anything to escape the poison that was slowly eating away at his body. Even after his wife died, his atrocities against humanity continued, but in the end, he was consumed by this damned poison.
From the beginning, he had no other choice. That's why he had to accept the hammer of God so helplessly.
But God, please save my son. I will take all the sins of my father... even the sins I owe Angie Ridsdel. I will gladly go to hell. So please, just save Kyle.
Hadn't I already paid the price by losing Eugenia and my other child, Lloyd?
***
Chimney smoke spread across the gray, hazy sky. The police station of Citadel District 1, the capital of Vintergar, was located directly across from the large textile mill complex that was first built last year. The city center was already buzzing with excitement for the first anniversary of the Industrial Revolution, which was to take place in a month.
The lounge, with its hard wooden chairs and large tables, was abuzz with singing and chatter. The moderately noisy room was filled with a cheerful atmosphere surrounding one person. The officers, who had taken off their capes, loosened their ascot ties and rolled up their elbows.
“Happy Birthday To You- Okay, turn it off quickly!”
As the song ended, the oldest-looking man in the room urged the host to eat. The cake, which was filled with dried fruit and buttercream, had four candles.
Martin blew hard on the cake in the middle of the table on his twenty-fourth birthday. His colleagues in black uniforms applauded and cheered in unison. Martin was one of the most promising and trusted new recruits in the Metropolitan Police Department's security branch.
“Happy birthday! But have you and your fiancée gotten married yet?”
“Hurry up and get married before your next birthday! No matter how successful you are, it can’t compare to the happiness of getting married and starting a family.”
“Yes, I will try. Thank you very much for the gift.”
Martin smiled as he was surrounded by a friendly atmosphere. After each slice of cake was passed around and everyone toasted with cider, everyone returned to their seats.
After everyone had dispersed to enjoy their own weekends, Martin opened the morning newspaper in the empty lounge. His face was stiff, unlike a moment ago.
His eyes scanned the corner of the article, dark. On the ground, the latest news from Trieste, a neighboring country across the border, was printed.
"Today, the Imperial House of Trieste announced that it was for the first time officially recognizing the ancient native faith of Caelum, which had been considered a secular practice for hundreds of years since its founding, as a legitimate religion.
The Imperial Master of Ceremonies, acting on behalf of Emperor Rainier VII, has announced that the Caelum Order, which originated from the Druids of Trieste, has accepted the nature and spirit worship rituals as a religious practice. As a result, the non-profit organization representing the Caelum Order, the Caelum Order Association, will now benefit from tax breaks and royal support as a formal religious organization.
Baron Samuel Dervan, a collaborator of the Duke of Blackwell and chairman of the Caelum Society, expressed great delight that the Imperial Council of Religion of Trieste had officially recognized the Caelum Society as a religion after a four-year application period for recognition.
He positively predicted that this announcement, recognizing the Caelum sect as an official religion, would encourage the faith of believers not only in Trieste but also throughout the continent, and would have a great influence on their future religious life.
The Caelum religion, originally founded by priests from the neighboring countries of Trieste, Azerbaijan, Vicentine, and the Highlands, is based on the belief in the immortality of the soul, reincarnation, previous life, and the God of death, and is not limited to a single God or a single creator God, but worships all natural forces that exist in the earth and all things. The custom of performing worship rites following this has also been handed down.
After the Old and New religions spread and took root across the continent, the Caelum Church went into decline, and until recently, it was considered to be nothing more than an ancient, indigenous religious cult. However, after the war, as interest in nature worship and nature-friendly ideas increased, the church began to gradually grow in strength."
Martin read the article over and over again. The expansion of religious power meant that the sphere of activity of those in power was wider and freer.
No one in the department paid attention to this article. Even his colleagues, who focused on and talked about new cases every day, said nothing about it. The fact that a small religious community in a neighboring country had received official royal recognition was not something that would attract public attention. The average person had no idea about the enormous repercussions this small article had.
The only people in the general public who know the true identity of the family and the real power of the Caelum sect are Brin, her father, and himself in Vintergar.
Martin rested his elbows on the edge of the desk and rested his chin on his clasped hands. He felt a chill. The day was still cold, but the crackling fireplace in the living room made it warm. Nevertheless, he felt goosebumps all over his body. It felt like needles of ice were poking into every pore, piercing deep into his body.
“Are you now seriously trying to take control of the mainland?”
Martin let out a deep sigh. Even though he closed his eyes, his agony did not go away. Then what about that girl named Angie? No, now is not the time... to worry about that girl. In this situation where the world may slowly turn upside down.
A Bible verse came to his mind, a short passage he had once seen in a red bookmark at the end of the New Testament.
'Behold, I make all things new.' (Revelation 21:5)
***
A few dozen days had passed since the comfortable winter had passed and spring had begun to bloom everywhere. Tomorrow would be April, the peak of spring. It had already been three and a half months since Angie had said goodbye to her master.
April on the island was like heaven, just like its original name, Cullinan's Heaven, or its old name. The endless blue sky and the horizon between the sea were meaningless to distinguish.
This year was especially beautiful. The greenery and plains, meadows, and flower fields covering the island were fresher and more abundant than ever. The crops, trees, and various medicinal herbs that were harvested in spring were such that not a single blade of grass or seed was wasted, and the livestock produced healthy offspring in large numbers.
Everything was in a satisfactory and stable state. There seemed to be no corner of the island that was not touched by God's blessings. Next month, May would be even more beautiful and prosperous.
Angie sat down at the bedside table and said a short morning prayer before getting up. Her smiling face quickly turned expressionless as her parents left for work as usual.
After drinking tea with honey, Angie headed to the embroidery studio her parents had set up in the corner of the warehouse. Her heart was heavy that day, too. She felt nothing when she looked at the dazzling sky. She was sorry that she couldn’t be in harmony with the spring flowers in full bloom in front of her house. However, there was something more important to her than her peaceful daily life.
Angie was waiting eagerly. The object of her waiting was something that neither the beauty of nature nor the abundance of food, clothing, and shelter could replace.
A few days ago, as she was wandering around Blackwell Hill as if she had stopped by by chance, she came across Mrs. Dunst, who was just leaving the ducal residence. She seemed to have read Angie's mind and spoke to her as if to soothe her.
"Angie, don't worry and go back, His Highness is getting better."
"Madam, can you meet Master Kai? Have you seen him recently?"
"No. No one other than the attending physician can see the Young Master."
The woman did not open her mouth anymore. Angie had returned home weak. She had tried to look cheerful, lest her parents should be worried, but she had never smiled when she was alone like she was now. She stopped fiddling with the needle and looked out the window.
“It’s already been almost three months... When will the treatment be over?”
The overwhelming longing was expressed in a visible form. Clear, transparent teardrops fell straight down onto the lace fabric. They were props to decorate the tablecloths at weekend chapel gatherings.
She hurriedly wiped away the tear stains on the lace. But the tears continued to flow. The passion that had been suppressed and burst out would not stop. Angie pushed the lace aside and buried her face in her arms. Her head was resting on the workbench, her arms crossed.
An unforgettable voice kept replaying in her mind. It was the whisper he had given her three months ago when she had last stayed in the room on the third floor of the mansion.
"You love me too, Angie. As you wait for me...you will come to realize it deeply."
That was true. It was a fact that was now felt deep in her bones.
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