Chapter 31: A Chilling Revelation

Emil recalled the last time he had encountered Margaret, during a walk with Jack. Margaret had been fervently promoting white fabric to a woman in the village, showcasing its qualities. The woman, who had been scrutinizing the material with a serious gaze, now wore an expression of intrigued curiosity.

“Jack? You’re referring to Jack, the Guide? Why would he purchase something like this? It’s hardly suitable for him,” the woman queried. “If he wore this during training, the garment would be ruined instantly.”

“Honestly, I’m not sure myself,” Margaret replied. “He claimed to like this particular fabric and had clothes tailored from it. He even purchased additional yardage separately.”

Margaret then held up several other swaths of fabric, draping them against the woman’s form, before adding shyly.

“Could it be a gift for a lover?”

“He? I’ve never once seen him with a woman!”

“Who knows? Perhaps he has someone he secretly harbors feelings for?”

Margaret appeared to harbor a certain interest in Jack. Emil, having paused, found himself staring intently at the fabric clutched in Margaret’s hand.

It was a luxurious material, shimmering brilliantly even in the shade, and remarkably resistant to wrinkles.

‘Emil, what do you think of it?’

“Ah, Mother…”

His mother had clearly stated… that she had made it herself.

His feet felt rooted to the spot. Such luxurious fabric was not easily found. Even to Emil, who possessed scant knowledge of clothing or textiles, the material appeared exceptionally high-end.

Could it be a lie? Although she had mentioned receiving some assistance…

Was it merely a coincidence? Why did such improbable coincidences keep recurring? How could it be that the fabric his mother used was precisely the same as the one Jack had purchased?

“Ah, no,”

Perhaps she had simply fashioned the clothes from fabric gifted by Jack. Jack and Lauren were, after all, exceptionally close. They interacted far more frequently than he did with his own mother, and Jack often lent a hand with household tasks.

“Ah, ugh.”

His vision swam, consumed by the scene unfolding in his mind. The imagined sight of his mother, adorned in clothes gifted by Jack, standing beside Yanis and exchanging wedding vows, churned his stomach.

He could not bear it for another moment. Emil broke into a desperate sprint, racing with all his might towards Yanis’s house.

This was nothing short of deception. It was a betrayal of Yanis, who dedicated himself to both Emil and Lauren, and a betrayal of Emil himself, who was destined to become a priest. While Espers and Guides were believed to be beyond salvation, Emil could not stand by and allow them to become deceivers. Had he not chosen the path of a priest precisely to prevent such moral failings?

The door, typically bustling with clients, was now firmly shut. Its closure signified that the day’s consultations had concluded.

“Yani—!”

“Emil?”

The moment Emil burst through the door, the first person he saw was not Yanis, but Lauren. Her eyes widened in surprise upon seeing Emil, and she immediately rose from her seat.

“What brings you here, dear?”

“…”

His breath hitched the moment his gaze fell upon her. Lauren was extending one hand to Yanis, and upon closer inspection, it appeared her arm was injured.

Medicine had been applied, and a protective cloth bandaged over it to prevent further irritation.

“Oh, Mother…”

“Is something urgent? Why are you sweating so profusely?”

Lauren approached Emil, a handkerchief in her hand. Emil, who had instinctively taken a step back, belatedly regained his composure and gritted his teeth.

Unaware of Emil’s distress, Lauren drew closer and gently dabbed the beads of sweat from his forehead.

“By the way, what brings you to Yanis’s home?”

“I invited him,” Yanis interjected. “I thought we might not have many opportunities to spend time together once Emil is ordained.”

“Oh, my…”

“That’s… right. I also help Yanis with his work,”

“He’s decided to stay the night today,”

“My goodness…”

At Yanis’s words, Lauren nodded, seemingly quite touched. She appeared delighted by the burgeoning intimacy between her fiancé and her son.

Emil paused, struggling to compose himself, yet his heart continued to pound wildly. Watching Lauren engage in such affectionate conversation with Yanis made him feel profoundly nauseous and dizzy.

“That’s truly wonderful. I’ve been wanting to arrange an opportunity for you and Yanis to grow closer.”

Lauren’s words settled even heavier on his already burdened heart. Emil, unable to formulate a response, could only manage a strained smile.

“Don’t worry, Lauren. I was thinking exactly the same thing,”

Yanis offered Lauren a gentle smile. Even in that fleeting moment, their shared smiles, directed solely at each other, painted a picture of perfect harmony.

“In that case, you’ll be the first to use the new bed.”

“…The bed?”

“My old one was far too small for two people to share, so I commissioned a new one,” Yanis explained. “It just arrived today.”

Yanis gestured towards the bed, visible beyond the doorway. He had claimed a new bed for Emil couldn’t be custom-made in time, yet it seemed he had placed the order long ago.

Indeed, unlike the previous one, this newly acquired bed was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate two people.

“It would be rude for me to use it first, for both of you. I’ll sleep separately.”

“Oh, no, dear, it’s perfectly fine,” Lauren countered. “It’s just a bed, after all. There isn’t a mother in the world who would object to her son being the first to use it, is there?”

Lauren turned to Yanis, seeking his affirmation. She was, quite naturally, behaving as though Yanis were Emil’s own father.

The man regarded Lauren with an adoring gaze, and instead of a verbal reply, he gently pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.

At the sight, the faint smile on Emil’s face vanished instantly. A sudden, cold dread settled in his chest.

His mouth felt rigid, his expression frozen beyond his control.

“Emil?”

“Yes?”

It was Yanis’s voice that roused Emil from his momentary paralysis. Emil forced a bright, albeit strained, expression and turned to face him.

“I apologize. I seem to have interrupted your time together.”

“Oh, no! Not at all, Emil. We were just about to head out anyway.”

Lauren gently held Emil back as he made to step outside again. Her words didn’t seem to be a lie, for a cloak was indeed draped over her arm.

She couldn’t bear the thought of her son appearing to be driven away because of her. Yanis, having tidied the surroundings, also rose and followed Lauren, who was preparing to depart.

“I shall escort Lauren home and return,” Yanis offered. “Would you care to join us?”

“No, it’s quite alright,” Lauren replied. “I much prefer you spending time with Emil.”

“No, Mother, I assure you, I’m perfectly fine,” Emil insisted. “I couldn’t possibly take away from your time together.”

Emil, reassuring Lauren that he was fine despite her persistent refusal, gently ushered the two of them out. Yanis simply watched the mother and son’s good-natured squabble with an amused smile.

“Please take your time returning! Go for a nice walk. I’ll be perfectly fine here.”

“Emil!”

Lauren, flustered by his words, called out his name, but Emil paid her no mind, feigning deafness as he firmly shut the door. From behind the closed door, Yanis’s laughter resonated.

Emil leaned against the door, waiting for a long while. The voices of the two no longer reached him, suggesting Yanis had indeed escorted Lauren away.

“Haa…”

His legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor. He pulled his knees to his chest, burying his head, as his heart continued its frantic rhythm.

The violent throbbing echoed in his ears, bordering on fear. A sudden, unsettling surge of negative emotions towards his mother welled within him.

Suddenly, a fierce hostility and hatred ignited within him. Fury, too, reared its head at the image of his mother casually engaging with Yanis, despite her impropriety.

He still loved his mother, yet that love could not serve as an absolution for her immoral actions.

Furthermore, Yanis loved his mother so profoundly. If she genuinely cared for Yanis, his mother should never have behaved in such a manner. And yet—

“…Calm down, Emil. Are you insane?”

This surge of anger was, in truth, born of jealousy. The moment he witnessed Yanis so naturally expressing affection towards his mother, right there before him, his vision blurred with envy.

He felt utterly mad to harbor such feelings towards his own mother.

Perhaps it would be better to return to the rectory at the cathedral. Over the next ten days, he would undoubtedly witness them together frequently, and he lacked the confidence to remain unaffected each time.

He feared he might even overreact, inadvertently betraying his true emotions.

“And with this… what kind of priest do I hope to become?”

Emil scoffed at his own immaturity. Many revered saints had been ordained at a young age, their sacrificial spirit lauded by the clergy and passed down through generations, their names echoing in lessons.

There was a time when Emil himself believed he could become such a person.

But he was not. Emil was far from such a perfect individual. From somewhere, he imagined he could hear Lauren and Yanis murmuring in conversation.

“Now I’m even hearing things… hallucinations…”

By now, they should be passing through the heart of the village. He knew he ought to rise, wash, and prepare to greet Yanis with an indifferent demeanor, yet he found himself utterly unwilling to do anything.

It was a profound, paralyzing lethargy.

His mother’s house was, after all, quite far from the village. Yanis would take some time to return, so Emil decided to indulge in a bit more idleness. His still-weak legs served as a convenient excuse.

As he idly rubbed his nose against his knees, the door suddenly swung open.

“…Emil?”

“Ya, Yanis?”

“What were you doing here?”

“Oh, nothing, just…”

At Yanis’s question, Emil scrambled to his feet, fumbling for an excuse. Why was Yanis here? He should have been with Lauren. Had Lauren returned with him, perhaps? He furtively glanced behind Yanis, but the door was already shut.

“Lauren adamantly refused to let me accompany her, so I came back in. She threatened not to see my face if I didn’t return. But…”

Yanis, sensing Emil’s confusion, offered an explanation first. Emil was too embarrassed to meet his gaze. Rushing to formulate a plausible lie, he failed to notice what Yanis was staring at, or why he had trailed off.

“I… I ran too quickly, so I just wanted to rest for a bit…”

Emil mumbled, his voice trailing off. Normally, Yanis would have responded appropriately, but he remained silent, his expression stern as he stared intently at something.

Emil belatedly lifted his head, noticed Yanis’s rigid expression, and followed his gaze, turning to look behind him.

“…My god.”

“Emil.”

Yanis called his name once more.

“What have you done?”

“…I… I don’t know either.”

Emil replied, his voice strained, to Yanis’s question. The entire house, save for the spot where Emil sat, was encased in ice.