10:13 a.m.
Somewhere in Luxen City.
Two wagons stockpiled with food supplies and other necessities were being pulled by 4 animals called a Karfax.
If Vivian were to describe what a Karfax looked like, it would be similar to a horse, but larger and taller, and its body would be covered in scales.
And escorting the two wagons was a group of 24 people.
At the front was the slightly overweight bespectacled White Cloak Priestess in her early 30s, Melissa, and two Nobles, a man in his late 20s with an extremely thin frame and a woman in her mid-20s who had the same build as Melissa.
Behind them were two butlers, both in their mid-30s, and two maids, one was in her late 20s and the other was in her mid-20s.
Behind the butlers and maids were Vivian who was in her mid-20s and 9 other Brown Cloaks who were in their teens.
And behind Vivian and the rest of the Brown Cloaks were 8 Knights, 6 males and 2 females, between the ages of 25-35 years old.
Vivian's nose twitched as she suppressed the urge to spit and then cover her mouth and nose.
I wasn't expecting this…
The slums…
Aside from the smell and the decrepit buildings, there were half-naked people sitting or laying down on the sidewalks watching them with sparkling eyes, and children playing around with bright smiles on their faces.
Vivian flinched as two homeless children running around passed her by.
Oh my God…!
Please don't touch me…!
Please don't let them touch me, God…!
Another three homeless children running around passed her by and this time around, she caught a whiff.
Oh my God…!
What was that smell…?!
I'm going to die…!
I'm seriously going to die…!
She was about to pull out the notes that Lily gave to her to distract herself but stopped.
If I start reading and walking…
I might step on some landmine or something…
"Lady Priestess Melissa, did you hear the rumor of why that damned heretic betrayed humanity?" the female Noble asked with a sly grin on her face as if she was a 14-year-old girl about to spill an earth-shattering secret.
A few of the Knights accompanying them winced when they heard the word "damned heretic" came out of the female Noble's mouth.
"What was the heretic's name again?" Melissa asked.
"Ronaldo, Lady Priestess," the male noble replied.
Melissa gave a slight bow.
"Thank you, Lord Havier."
Havier's face beamed as he placed a hand on his chest and offered a graceful and slight bow.
"There's no need to thank me, Lady Priestess Melissa. You are, after all, busy with far more important matters so it's understandable that you're not up with such events and such people."
The female Noble wanted to roll her eyes but didn't dare to.
"Lady Priestess Melissa," she said, making Melissa turn to her. "Apparently -- and this is what I've heard from the other Noble Ladies -- the story about that damned heretic having feelings for Her Majesty Queen Cassandra turned out to be true. He planned to lead a rebellion against the King and have Her Majesty as his wife."
Melissa raised an eyebrow.
"Wasn't he already Her Majesty's personal bodyguard before she became the Fifth Queen and he became the Supreme Captain?"
The female Noble nodded.
"You are indeed correct, Lady Priestess Melissa. As a matter of fact, there's more -- they both used to be Adventurers. Before her High Majesty became the Fifth Queen, she secretly snuck out of her family's home and became an Adventurer without the knowledge of anyone and that's when she and that damned heretic met. Now, there are rumors that she played a role in that failed rebellion attempt. She's also being suspected of knowing the current whereabouts of that damned heretic."
"How did His Majesty King Lothar take it?"
"So far, nothing. All I know is that His Majesty is still at Twin Kingdom. However, there have been rumors that the Queens from the other kingdoms are planning to send envoys to the Twin Kingdom to have the Royal status of Her Majesty Queen Cassandra and her son, High Highness Prince Caspian, revoked."
"And what was Her Majesty's reaction?"
"Also nothing."
"I see," Melissa said and then stared into the horizon.
"Lady Priestess Melissa, there's even more," the female Noble said. "Due to the incident, there's also another rumor spreading that High Highness Prince Caspian must be the damned heretic's son."
Melissa turned to her and knitted her brows.
"That can't be true. No matter how you look at it, His Highness Prince Caspian is the spitting image of His Majesty when he was still young. But unfortunately, His Highness isn't as talented as His Majesty."
"You're right, Lady Priestess!" Havier quickly interjected and then turned to the female noble. "Lady Sachion, I don't mind you spreading rumors as a pastime, but to tell such obvious lies to Lady Priestess Melissa is an insult!"
Sachion's eyes gleamed for a moment before she placed her hand on her chest and then offered a graceful and elegant slight bow.
"My sincerest apologies, Lady Priestess Melissa. It wasn't my intention to lie and insult your great intellect."
Melissa waved her hand.
"You are forgiven, Lady Sachion. And please, the two of you, it's still too early for the both of you to bicker with each other."
Havier placed his hand on his chest and then offered a graceful and elegant slight bow.
"Please accept my sincerest apology for showing you an unpleasant behavior, Lady Melissa."
"But now that I think about it," Melissa said and then pushed her glasses. "Isn't there a saying that every legend has an element of truth in them?"
Havier and Sachion's eyes widened and their jaw dropped.
"You're absolutely right, Lady Priestess Melissa!" Havier said and then shook his head with a bittersweet smile on his face. "I feel so incompetent because every time I am blessed to have to have a conversation with you or just hear you speak, my knowledge of the world and life only seems to expand. You truly are a paragon of beauty, grace, intelligence and talent, Lady Priestess Melissa!"
Melissa's cheeks began to turn slightly red.
"How many times do I have to tell you that your flattery won't get you anywhere?" she said and then looked away.
A shock and pained expression flashed across Havier's face as he placed a hand on his chest.
"But Lady Priestess, it's true…! At least for me, it's the truth…! And I swear to all the Elemental Gods…!"
"Me too, Lady Priestess…!" Sachion also said dramatically.
Melissa's cheeks turned even redder.
"Not you as well, Lady Sachion…!"
As for everyone behind them or those close enough to hear their conversation, none of them reacted and maintained a poker face except for Vivian.
What the hell…?
Is this a comedy skit or something…?
Hmm...
Is the Temple of Priests this powerful that the Nobles can openly talk about Queens, Kings and Princes in front of Knights…?
She focused her gaze on Melissa.
Or is this meatball some kind of a big shot…?
As far as Vivian knows, there are rankings among the colors of a Priest's Cloak -- Brown, White, and Gold with Red and Gray as the special positions.
She's from a powerful Noble family…?
She turned her gaze away and noticed two homeless adult men sitting on the sidewalk and begging.
Why are there poor people in this world…?
I mean…
Based on what I've seen in this city, there shouldn't be…
Even 15-year-old kids can earn a living by being an Adventurer…
She shook her head.
I guess no matter what world…
There will always be lazy and entitled people…
An image of her father wearing a police uniform flashed and a serious expression inside her head.
Yeah…
He would give me a proper beating if I acted lazy and entitled…
Hmm…?
She then noticed something from one of the homeless adult men sitting on the sidewalk and begging.
One of them had a deformed leg.
That doesn't look like it was from an injury…
Looks like an inborn defect…
I wond--…
Melissa and the two Nobles at the front suddenly stopped, prompting the others behind to stop as well.
They finally reached their destination.
In front of them was a wide two-story building and there was a group of people from different age groups, from children to old age, waiting at the entrance.
Vivian knitted her brows.
An orphanage…?
Or a nursing home…?
To be specific, the place they were about to enter was called a Charity House. Such establishment offers food and shelter to children, the disabled and the elderly who don't have anyone to care for them. However, the staff would also give food and other basic necessities to the neighboring people or whoever needs help.
And as for why there are still homeless disabled people begging on the streets despite the existence of a Charity House nearby, there are 3 reasons.
1 - The Charity House can't house everyone
2 - The Charity House can't force people to stay
3 - The Charity House has the right to kick out people from its property who refuse to follow the rules or are causing harm to the staff and other tenants. After all, this world has Physical and Magic Arts and the government would never expend that much resources just to guard such people
A woman in her mid-30s stepped forward and lowered her head.
"Thank you for coming, Honored Lady Priestess Melissa, Lord Havier, Lady Sachion, Honored Priests and Priestess, Sir and Lady Knights, and everyone! Everyone is excited to see all of you once again!"
"Welcome~!" the children said.
Meanwhile, the old people either smiled and nodded or prayed.
Melissa stepped forward.
"Please don't mention it, Cara. In accordance with the Charity Act established by the Temple of Priests, the Royal Family, the Nobles and sponsors, we are simply performing our solemn duty in easing the pain and suffering of those in need."
Cara lowered her head once again.
"We still would like to express our gratitude to the God of Light, His Majesty and everyone else for this blessing!"
The children and the old people did the same.
Melissa, Sachion and Havier nodded in satisfaction.
Melissa then turned to Havier.
"Lord Havier, if you will, please."
"Yes, Lady Priestess Melissa!" Havier said and then turned to the leader of the Knights.
"Knight Captain Serge."
A male Knight in his mid-30s stepped forward and then saluted.
"My Lord!"
"Unload the cargo."
"Yes, My Lord!" he said and then turned to the rest of the Knights.
"Unload the cargo!"
The rest of the Knights began unloading the supplies from the wagons.
Cara gestured towards the entrance.
"Honored Lady Priestess Melissa, Lord Havier, Lady Sachion and company, please allow me to escort you all inside."