Thin, greasy, and covered with a long and white beard. Padre Sotto, or should I say, Sotto. I signaled not to call me something that makes them notice. But thankfully, they didn't ask anything anymore, letting me talk freely to Sotto.
"W-who are they, your highness? And please, for heaven's sake, why are you with them?" Sotto pleaded, I sighed.
"You don't have to worry too much Padre, I am safe with them," I replied. Padre Sotto still doesn't look convinced. "The truth is, they are the ones who abduct m--"
"A-abduct!? Oh Goodness, oh my lord!" He nervously exclaimed., not letting me finish. "T-then, I must report them to the Guards." He added.
"No no, please, as I was saying, I am with them. They did not do something foolish to me, I joined them because I want to know something." I immediately explained. He still doesn't look convinced by what I said but I am confident and desperate to not mess up things, we planned.
I don't want to slip this chance and cause trouble with the others, especially since I know that no matter what they will do is for the people waiting for them on the island. I cannot afford to be caught early when finally, I stepped on my feet again in my homeland. I am desperate enough that I might do something that I will definitely regret later.
"Do they know you? But then, I know you very well Lady Vienna, you won't do something so foolish without enough solid reasons." He stated that made me sigh in relief. I know that if I need someone, Padre Sotto is the person that I can trust the most.
"Ah, kids these days aren't afraid to take the risks. I wish you a safe voyage then lady, be careful especially since Damian is so eager to find you." He exclaimed.
"Damian?" I confusedly asked. "Yes yes, the youngest Knight Commander. Though I heard he was gone to look for you at sea, silently." He replied.
Damian, huh. I guess he wants to be promoted that much that he will find me himself in the vast sea where he even hates the smell of it. Damian Trafalgar is my childhood friend, or should I say acquaintance, and my rumored husband-to-be. I don't like how full and manipulative he is. But I don't have any problem if he becomes my husband, not until now. I looked at Jake who was too focused on tying the rope tightly, I bit my lower lip and sighed.
"I don't wanna be rude but why are you in here Padre? Cover with muds which you hate the most?" I asked, I heard him chuckle.
Padre Sotto hates mud the most that the cathedral's floor was thoroughly cleaned after every mass and you won't see mud in the whole cathedral even when it is raining outside.
"Ah, you remembered. Yes, I hate them but lately, I realized, muds are cleaner than those scu-- oh pardon me, my lady." He replied, stopping himself, afraid to slip his tongue. But I know, I know very well now that no matter how hard you work to maintain the name and title of your kingdom as the most peaceful kingdom, it still hides the stinkiest people in it.
I sat closer to Padre and took his muddy hands. He looked surprised and was about to protest but I shrugged.
"You don't have to stop yourself, Padre. I know now. You don't have to keep it to me," I silently stated. I saw tears falling from his tired eyes which hurt my heart seeing it. "Oh Lord, I do not know if we deserve to have someone as pure as our lady. Thank you, thank you for staying alive and returning home safely." He stated and burst out in tears.
"I step down from my position. I failed to notice how corrupted and sinful those scums are and comfortably residing in my beloved home while letting the commoners work harder without even earning enough to sustain their families." He explained. I unconsciously fisted my hands.
"I tried, I tried to save it. But being the head priest is not enough to save those people and the cathedral's holiness. So I decided to run away, it was cowardice but I don't know what to do anymore. May the Lord forgive my foolishness." He added and cried down.
The other noticed the old man's wept as I patted his back, trying to calm him down. I felt nothing but pity and anger, pity for Padre who fought alone, and anger for those scumbags who use the people's money to satisfy their fucking greed while using the cathedral as the reason. I will punish them all, all of them.
"Don't worry Padre, I will fix all of this. I will make sure to put those bastards to their sit-in hell, I will make sure that even the underworld won't accept them." I declared. May heaven forgives me.
"Be careful, your highness. It'll be more dangerous than escaping the guards." He implied. "I know but people are waiting for me to move, I will never betray them even if it means my life. I was born for them and I will do so!" I desperately replied. He sighed and wiped his tears.
"Poor unfortunate souls, victims of the power of greed. May the almighty guide you with your travels." He stated. "Now, now, it's not the time for us to chitchat. You have to do something, right? Now go on, don't worry about the carriage's price for I will give it to you. Just make sure that you will stay alive and safe." He added, I smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, thank you very much, Padre. For everything," I mouthed. He smiled and nodded and was about to take me to the group when he stopped. "Oh yes, I forgot. You go first and wait for me there. I have something for you and your group." He exclaimed and walked back to his shop.
Von and Thompson ran towards me as I walked closer to the group. It seems everything is ready and the inside was well balanced.
"Vienna, why is that old man crying?" Thompson innocently asked. "Oh, he was just glad seeing me alive and healthy," I replied. "He said he has something for us, so let's wait a little bit," I added.
"Are you sure we can trust him? You know that we can't be caught." Drake chimed in. I knew that but I kinda felt offended about what he said.
"Hey, of course, he is. He told me and he doesn't know how to lie, he is a priest." I defended. "He's still human, Vienna. He can lie even if he is a priest." Drake replied. I was about to reply to him when Jake covered my mouth.
"My, my, here you two again. You're making me jealous. There's nothing wrong about waiting for a little, right?" Jake interrupted while still covering my mouth. "Now, go inside, and if we felt something off. We have to run, as fast as we can." He added and carried me and placed me inside.
I looked at him in disbelief and sighed in defeat.
"That bastard," I hollered. Von patted my shoulder. "Don't mind." He stated and smiled sweetly. Goodness, his smile surely brings me joy, so precious. I smiled back and nodded.
After minutes of waiting, the former head priest arrives with a sack in his back. I tried to jump out of the carriage when Leo stopped me and he was the one who took the sack and opened it. Leo signaled me to step down. I looked at Padre and the paper he was holding.
"I know it's not enough but I hope it will fill your bellies." Padre Sotto stated, referring to the sack full of sweet potatoes. I smiled and nodded.
"Thank you so much, Padre. That is already too much, we will make sure to fill our bellies that it'll make us fart." I jokingly replied that made him laugh.
"Thank you," he replied. "And here, this is for you. It was given to me days ago, I hope that calms you for I notice how heavy your words are." He added and handed me the letter. It has Watson's crest.
The letter was sent by, C-Clara? Clara Watson?
"A-ah, it's Clara, right? The real Clara right?" I nervously asked the priest and my knees collapsed when he nodded. My tears suddenly raced down my face as I held the letter.
"She's alive," I murmured.
"Yes, My Lady, Lady Watson survived. So don't blame yourself too much, you may never say it, but your actions and emotions show how much you blame yourself. So don't worry for the lady is safe," he explained. I kept nodding as tears kept flowing down my face.
"Now go, and save our kingdom. You are our only hope and light." He stated and guided me inside the carriage.
"P-Padre, Thank you, thank you so much." I wailed, and he nodded.
The carriage started moving when Padre Sotto shouted.
"Young Lady, allow me to show my gratitude for you and your bravery for the very last time!" He shouted and kneeled on the ground and bowed at me. I immediately covered my mouth, trying to cage my voice so it won't come out.
I saw Padre Sotto and knew a lot of things. The kingdom's dirt as well as Clara being alive. I am so glad she survived, I am glad that I met Padre Sotto.
It pains me knowing that some of my people are suffering but still trust the kingdom. That is why I will make sure to succeed. I won't let all their efforts be in vain.
I will make the sinners pay for their sins. Three times.