Book 2: Chapter 9
"Your. Agreement?"
I placed a document on the dining table after returning to the house. I then took out a new white sheet of paper and pen to make a copy. Veirya stood next to me and looked at it with a frown. She then said, "I. Don't like the chapel. Don't want to live where they are."
"It can't be helped. You killed one of their people. If we refuse the chapel's people entry, they will bring Her Majesty into this. Once she's brought into the equation, it means that the military will get involved, and then we will be in a passive position. Then, the opposition will be able to get what they want, and even more that we can't give. Therefore, instead of stubbornly resisting, why not take a step back to save the entire game?"
Veirya looked at me and hesitantly asked, "Was it wrong… for me to kill?"
I nodded, "Uhm. If you didn't kill, we might've had a better resolution. We might have been able to avoid letting the chapel build a chapel here. However, you killed, so I had no choice but to accept that request of theirs and do my best to stop them from behaving rudely."
"They were rude to you."
Veirya seemed to sound slightly unhappy. I wasn't sure if I misheard or not. I raised my head and looked at her, feeling somewhat surprised. Nonetheless, Veirya's gaze didn't seem to contain any emotion. She didn't seem to have anything on her mind. I looked at her with hesitation, and then followed up, "Of course, I am very grateful that you killed for my sake, but it's better to be more friendly when sticking up for me. This sort of situation will put us in a passive position."
Veirya nodded as a promise, "All right."
I looked at her again. She just looked me, causing me to feel slightly awkward. I gently cleared my throat, "One glance and you can tell that there's a problem with this matter. Although I don't know where the problem lies, I believe that there's definitely some conspiracy lurking. By the looks of things, the chapel doesn't plan to do anything to the people or religion of this town, though. Perhaps they have some other ulterior motive in mind. It's just that I still don't know what it is… But, I don't think there will be a big problem if I sign this, nevertheless."
"Why are you making a copy of it now, then?"
"I'm worried that there's a problem with the pen and paper that they gave me, so I'm making a copy, and then I'll go and have the chapel sign it. I don't know if this will do any good, but better safe than sorry."
After I copied the document, I carefully checked out the sheet of paper and proofread it. The terms were very simple. We provide them with a building; they won't interfere with the lives of our townsfolk or their religious activities and one more thing, which is that our townsfolk can't unreasonably disturb the members of the chapel.
It appears to be an agreement that benefits both of us and can't be considered some form of profit agreement. It's more of an agreement to stay in our own lanes. There's no shortcoming to signing it. From this perspective, they're just acquiring a block of land.
'What will this block of land they exchanged a life for bring them? I honestly can't comprehend it.'
'What's the point of the block of land? I don't know myself. What can a chapel location achieve? At most they just want to expand their reach, but they don't intend to control religion or their influence, so what are they after? What can one branch do?'
'I don't know how religions too well, but if the chapel doesn't get involved with religion, then I don't think there will be any impact. The reason that the chapel holds supreme power is because of their right to preach. However, they've given up their right to preach here, so how do they benefit from this?'
"If the chapel tries has any ulterior motives, I honestly can't be certain. I still can't figure out what they're after. I can't do anything at the moment, except wait and react."
From overhead, Veirya responded in a very usual tone of hers, "No matter what the chapel tries to do, I will protect you this time."
I looked up and met with her blue eyes. There were no ulterior motives or doubt in Veirya's eyes. Though they lacked all emotion, her overwhelming strength in her eyes was convincing. I looked at her, feeling somewhat surprised. She looked back at me for a while. She then titled her head, "What's the matter? You don't trust me?"
I looked back at her and smiled, "No, I've always trusted you. I wholeheartedly believe that you will protect us. Without you, I wouldn't dare to attempt anything dangerous. I dare to get involved with these matters, precisely because you're with me."
Veirya made a small nod. I put the lid on the pen and placed it aside with a smile. Veirya reached out to pick up the document the same time as I did. My head made contact with hers, with mine being on top.
My head instantly felt a cold touch, but also smooth skin. The back of Veirya's hand wasn't coarse. However, her joints were very prominent. Perhaps it was due her being a soldier. With that said, her hand was genuinely cold. The touch of her hand transferred to my heart and brain. The cold and smooth sensation took over all my thinking space. My heart began to nervously race once again. I raised my head in a dumbfounded manner and looked at Veirya without knowing what to do.
She looked at me with puzzlement and asked, "You taking it over?"
"Ah… No… I…"
I jerked my hand back. Veirya then asked, "Why are you so tense whenever you're with me? Didn't I tell you that I don't hold any animosity towards you?"
"No… No… I'm not nervous because I'm scared… I… It's because… Mm… I don't know how to put it… Umm… umm… it's probably because… you're a woman, I guess…"
"But with Leah you don't…"
"Leah is my daughter. It's not the same. It's not the same."
Veirya was even more confused now. She seemed to be unable to grasp my reasoning. She then frowned and seemingly comprehended something. She looked at me and asked, "Husband?"
"What husband?"
I couldn't immediately catch on to her train of thought.
"If you be my husband, will you stop feeling nervous? Leah, your daughter. You, my husband. Therefore. Solved."
Veirya seemed to be very proud of her intelligence. She smugly picked up the document and added, "I'll have. Someone send."
"Wait! Don't send it yourself!! If you, personally, send it, something might happen!"
"Then, I'll go with you."
"Ah… All right… all right…"
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