For five minutes there was nothing but silence.
Tanner sat across from me, calmly reading what looked like a bible, while Hugo had his hands clasped together, murmuring prayers under his breath.
Compared to them, I just sat there, pretending to mind my own business.
'I guess it's alright for me to open the letter.'
I opened my suitcase and took out the sealed envelope. A letter opener rested neatly beside it. I slid the blade beneath the wax seal.
With one smooth motion I broke the seal and opened the letter.
'Let's see what we got here.'
~~~
Duke Everbright.
To His Eminence, Cardinal Asher Reiner.
By the grace of God and with utmost reverence, we humbly extend to you this invitation to attend the Coming-of-Age Ceremony of Lady Charlotte Everbright, daughter of Duke Everbright, to be held at the Luminaris Grand Church on the fifteenth day of October in the year of our Lord 751.
While the ceremony shall be presided over foremost by the Saint and other principal dignitaries, your esteemed presence and blessing are of profound importance to the solemnity and completion of this sacred rite. Your guidance and participation are respectfully requested to ensure that this momentous occasion is observed with all due reverence and devotion.
We beseech you to confirm your attendance at your earliest convenience so that preparations befitting your high station may be arranged. Your participation will honor both Lady Charlotte and the Church alike.
With the deepest respect and devoted service,
Duke Everbright.
~~~
Hmm, no matter how you read this, Asher was an important perso—
Wait!
...Charlotte Everbright!? Why the hell was her name in this letter?
My eyes flicked back up, rereading the details.
Luminaris Grand Church.
Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
My stomach sank.
All of these were important plot points in the early volumes of"W I P".
No. No—don't jump to conclusions.
No matter how unbelievable the situation is, this might've only been a very strange coincidence. A very unlikely one.
I could deal with that later.
Right now, the more important thing was figuring out who Asher Reiner actually was.
Both of them seem to know a lot about Asher I think it's better to ask them.
"... If it's not too much of a trouble," I said breaking the silence, "may I ask a question for both of you?"
They stopped what they were doing and turned toward me.
"Please feel free to ask any questions," Hugo said earnestly. Tanner simply nodded.
"Alright," I said. "First question—what do you know about me?"
They exchanged a glance.
A brief one. The kind people share before stepping on thin ice.
"All that we've heard," Tanner finally said, choosing his words carefully, "are merely rumors. I hope you won't take offense."
I gave a small nod. "Go on."
Tanner hesitated.
Then—
"It's said that you were born with nothing—"
Tanner continued quietly, recounting the stories and rumors he had heard over the years. Some parts were hesitant, others spoke with certainty. Hugo occasionally added to them, filling in gaps or reinforcing details Tanner avoided lingering on.
Their voices grew softer as the minutes passed.
Then a chime rang through the carriage.
[We will arrive at the City of God in one minute. Please prepare to disembark.]
Tanner stopped mid-sentence and let out a small breath.
"…I'm very sorry, Cardinal," he said. "It seems I won't be able to finish."
I shook my head and smiled.
"It's fine," I said. "You told me more than enough."
Both of them looked slightly surprised.
"Thank you," I added. "I appreciate that you were willing to share what you knew."
Tanner relaxed a little at that.
The rumor and stories that they gave helped a lot, now I know how Asher Reiner acts, at least on the outside.
They say that Asher is a very humble, warm, and a father figure to some, even though he manages to climb the religious hierarchy in a short amount of times.
So now I just need to follow that closely, I should act like a religious person, with humble and warm demeanor.
This shouldn't be too hard. There are plenty of characters from movies and books who act like him. I just need to follow that.
"Well, it was nice meeting you, gentlemen. I hope we meet again on another occasion."
"It was nice meeting you as well," Tanner and Hugo replied at the same time.
I left the booth and walked down the corridor as the train began to slow. The carriage hummed beneath my feet, then came to a stop. With a soft hiss, the doors slid open.
I stepped off the train along with others dressed in similar attire.
The City of God stretched out before me.
For a moment, I just stood there.
White marble as far as the eye could see. Towering buildings built in styles reminiscent of ancient Rome and Greece, their surfaces catching the light in a way that made the entire city seem almost unreal.
It didn't need signs or banners.
The moment you saw it, you knew this was a religious city.
"…Okay," I muttered under my breath. "Now where do I go?"
"ASH!"
The shout cracked through the air behind me.
I barely had time to turn before a strong hand clamped down on my shoulder and yanked me backward.
"—Whoa—!"
I stumbled, barely keeping my footing as the man pulled me into a rough, one-armed embrace, laughing like he'd just found an old drinking buddy.
"Ash, you bastard," he said cheerfully. "Long time no see. You alive?"
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Ash.
No title. No reverence. No hesitation.
This guy didn't just know Asher Reiner—he knew him well.
I forced my balance steady, every instinct screaming.
Think. Don't pull away. Don't react like a stranger.
"You've got the wrong person," I almost said.
Almost.
Instead, I swallowed and looked at him properly for the first time—and wondered just how deep I'd already stepped into trouble.
This guy, he seems to be close with Asher but the main question is how close are they?
And if he can just casually address Asher as ash than this guy is either a very close friends or someone with the same or higher ranking than Asher.
I need to figure things out quickly, or he will notice strange behavior from me.
"Ash, that's unusual of you."
He leaned back slightly, supporting his chin with thumb and index finger, tilting his head like he was studying a puzzle.
"?"
I froze. What did I do wrong? Was it the way I held my hands? My posture? Did I not grimace at the sunlight like Asher sometimes does?
Calm. Think. Don't panic. You can't let him notice anything wrong.
"...And may I ask what is so unusual about me?" The words come out more polite than I intended.
"You kept using formal words even though we're close," he pouts.
I need to react fast. I need to make something believable.
"I am very sorry for my choice of words, but as a cardinal I do not have the privilege of speaking casually."
"Sigh... This is why it was a shame you came from Lunaris."
Great!
Now what I need to do is—
He suddenly pulls me closer and whispers into my ear, low and teasing. "But still, like I said — that's very unusual of you, Ash~"
His breath sends a shiver down my spine. Cold sweat beads at my temple.
Then — Rang, Rang, Rang.
The bell peals across the city.
He releases his grip and brushes a speck of dust from my robe with a casual sweep of his hand. "Well, it's time for our daily prayer. Come on, let's hurry to the church."
The sudden shift in tone makes everything feel unreal.
What is his deal?
To be continued.