The sturdy wooden wheels of the carriage rolled smoothly over the paved road descending from the castle. Steel armor clanked as knights rode alongside the carriage on their horses.
Another carriage followed slowly from behind.Inside the carriage, Serin helplessly looked at Ellis sitting in front of him and asked, "…cousin, why are you here?"
Ellis pouted, "I heard you were going to the cathedral, so I thought I'd give you a surprise. Don't you like it?"
Serin narrowed his eyes, then extended his hand and ruffled Ellis's hair for a few seconds mischievously, having a smile on his face.
"Hey! Ouch… ouch! Stop!" Ellis protested. When Serin stopped, she shot him a resentful glare and then quickly began fixing her hair.
"So mean! Look how you have messed up my hair!" She said, aggrieved.
"Is it fine now? Tell me truthfully!"
"Yes.. yes…" Serin shrugged. "Don't sneak around like this or your father will get angry." He added.
"Hmph! You also talk just like Big Brother now." Ellis said in a low voice, looking away, looking clearly upset.
Serin sighed. As a modern person, he sympathized with Ellis who didn't have much freedom. As he had learnt, it was the cost of being born in a noble family. But then again, some commoners would probably give anything to have such a life. In the end, it was all about perspective.
"Alright, don't be so sad, okay?" He tried to console her. But then seeing that it wasn't working, he changed the topic completely.
"Speaking of which, this is the first time I will be going to the Cathedral… at least as far as I can remember." He said with great interest.
Ellis turned towards him in surprise and said, "Really?"
"Of course."
Suddenly, Ellis raised her brows as if remembering something. Then, she abruptly grabbed Serin's hands. Looking at him with her teary eyes, she pleaded, "Serin… can you promise me something?"
"What's the matter?" He asked seriously, sensing her unease and fear.
"I… if…if Father wants to marry me off… and I don't want to, then, help me, okay?" Ellis tightened her grip on Serin's hand as she spoke, her cheerful face exceptionally somber.
Serin froze.
He couldn't make such a promise. He lacked both the courage and the power to help Ellis if it came to that. Yet a crushing weight pressed against his chest, as though tons of stone were bearing down on his heart and lungs.
"Ellis… What happened? Did uncle or Aunt say something to you?" He asked with a heavy voice.
"Mother said that I'll be married soon… but I don't want to. I don't want to be trapped with a stranger for all my life…"
An oppressive silence fell inside the carriage, despite the noise outside. Hooves clopped against stone, people went about their day—but in that moment, it felt as though the world had stopped moving.
A bitter taste filled Serin's mouth.
Suddenly, a memory fragment resurfaced in his mind. He remembered how years ago, Serin's mother would watch in contentment as little Serin and Ellis would play in the mansion's courtyard, chasing each other around, poking fun, childish laughter echoing everywhere.
Then, he remembered his life on Earth.
He was an only child in the family and had no siblings. He had cousins but being a chess professional from a very young age, he never had the opportunity to have any bond with them or spend time for that matter.
In his new life, after waking up in the new world, Serin felt the warmth of having a sibling for the first time through Ellis. For him, she was his little sister.
Until now, he had thought of himself as a foreigner in this world. Only now did he realize how close he had unknowingly grown to those around him.
As he looked at Ellis, Serin realised that she was just fourteen years old. When he thought of the possibility of the Count marrying her off without her will, his stomach churning violently. Serin almost threw up right there if not for the Anchor to stabilize his emotions.
"Serin? Will you help me? I know I'm being selfish, and it's unfair to you. I know that it's my duty to this family… but… I feel so afraid!"
Serin snapped back to present, much calmer than before due to the divine blessing. He could certainly not tell Ellis that he was powerless, but it was the truth nonetheless. He felt as if he was sinking deeper and deeper into his seat and darkness slowly shrouding him from all sides.
"Why ask me? There's Alaric and-"
Ellis interrupted. Shaking her head she said, "No! They can't do anything, they won't do anything. They also don't have a choice, this is what being a noble means."
Then… Do I have a choice? Serin thought.
He didn't.
Serin's situation was very uncertain as he had realised in the past year after reading and knowing more about his 'father'.
The light in Ellis's eyes diminished seeing that Serin was silent. She released his hand. "I'm sorry… it was selfish of me to ask something like this of you. I… I understand your difficulties… brother has told me." She said quietly, putting on a brave smile as she wiped her tears and faced him.
Serin impulsively grabbed her hands without thinking. Then, he covered them with his own and said, "Ellis, my sweet sister. I cannot promise you anything."
Ellis lowered her head slightly and nodded, just then, Serin continued seriously, almost like making a vow, to her and to himself "However, I promise you that I will not stay put and watch as my sister is thrown in a pit of fire, as long as I have the slightest power to change the outcome."
Ellis threw herself in Serin's arms and wept, "Thank you! Thank you brother for understanding me! You are the only one who didn't tell me to fulfill my duty, that it will be fine and I will get used to it."
Serin felt a pressure mount on his shoulder, this wasn't just his sister's head resting on his shoulder, it was the weight of responsibility.
Moments passed like this. Eventually, Ellis stopped crying and stepped back. Looking at her, Serin smirked playfully and said, "Look at you—so ugly! Who will want to marry you anyway if you keep crying like this?"
Ellis, who was in the process of wiping off her tears, heard this and glared at Serin once more, but seeing a gentle smile on his face, a chuckle left her mouth.
Both of them laughed freely and happily, only realising that they had reached the destination after the carriage came to a sudden halt.
The horses snorted, then footsteps were heard and the carriage door opened. The Steward was standing outside with his signature, polite smile.
Serin stepped out of the ornate carriage and offered his hand to Ellis. The knights stepped forward and bowed—faces familiar to Serin, who nodded back in greeting.
From the carriage behind them, two more knights emerged, carrying the delirious slave between them.
Facing the cathedral, Serin was immediately awestruck.
The cathedral stood at the heart of the city, massive and dignified—impossible to ignore.
Built from pale stone, its tall spires rose high above the surrounding rooftops, casting long shadows over the plaza. The walls were thick and imposing, supported by broad arches and stone braces that gave the structure a sense of heavy permanence.
Narrow stained-glass windows lined the upper walls, their colors dull from the outside, yet still catching the sunlight. The stone steps leading up to the entrance were worn smooth from years of use, and the open space around the cathedral felt strangely quiet despite the nearby streets.
Serin gazed at the massive, solemn entrance of the cathedral, innately feeling a sense of reverence—making him feel a bit uncomfortable.
A tall banner hung beside the cathedral entrance, its cloth a muted blue that faded into pale ivory near the bottom. At its center was a simple golden symbol—a veiled figure beneath a smooth halo, with a small star stitched below.
Then, his gaze shifted as a familiar figure entered his sight. A person who had made the strongest impression on him ever since he woke up.
"We meet again, Prince. Please come, what can this servant do for you?" Priest Phelipe asked. draped in pure white robess with the same benevolent smile plastered across his face.