EPILOGUE

Col had not slept for several days straight as he translated the scripture; once it was finished, he had experienced a stifling test of endurance at the church; they were thrown in jail but then immediately escaped; and right after that he had given the performance of a lifetime.

In the end, Myuri played the biggest prank on him, and as the blood rushed to his head, the success of Hyland’s counterattack allowed him to relax. Even the sturdiest of leather straps would break after such rough treatment. But such a small thread did so easily.

After suffering through feverish dreams for a long while, he finally woke up, and he was surprised to learn it was the third morning after that night.

“I thought you weren’t ever going to wake up.”

Myuri sat beside the bed, moody and about to cry. He faintly remembered her taking care of him. He extended his hand from under the blanket and gripped her small one.

She seemed embarrassed but happy.

“Where’s Heir Hyland?”

However, when Col asked, all expression left her face.

“I don’t know. Oh, but more importantly, while you were sleeping, I read the scripture, and you know? I found something really cool. And…and…do you want to hear it?”

Myuri began chatting happily, but Col instead scanned the room to see that no one else was there.

“No, more importantly, where is Heir Hyland?”

He wanted to know everything that had happened. He was glad they were safe, but he wanted to know about the papal officer. And not to mention that if war was still going to happen, this was not the time to relax.

“Sheesh, Brother!”

Myuri pulled on his hand, but then he heard the noisy sound of footsteps and voices coming from outside the room.

“Heir Hyland! You have not brushed your hair or eaten!”

“I don’t care!”

He tried to get up when he heard Hyland’s voice, but Myuri pushed him back down and pulled the covers up over his face.

“Myuri, what are you doing?”

“Don’t look. You shouldn’t look.”

“Hah?”

As they bickered, he heard the door open.

“Col!” Hyland called out to him, and Col threw back the covers.

Then, as Hyland rushed to his side with a smile, he wondered if he was still dreaming.

“Oh, you’re looking much better. Are you hungry? We can get anything from town. I cannot thank you enough!”

Hyland’s hair was not done up, and he had rushed over half-dressed and just as unassuming as always.

An unadorned Hyland.

Or perhaps it was better to say an undisguised Hyland.

“Ah, I’m sorry for coming to see you like this. When I heard you’d woken up, I had to come see you.”

He pulled back his beautiful long blond hair and smiled.

And then, Col noticed Hyland’s chest.

“Brother, what are you looking at?”

Col tore his eyes away in surprise. Hyland seemed to finally catch on.

But all he—she showed him was a troubled smile.

“Don’t tell me you never noticed?”

When they had spoken in Nyohhira, it was in a grotto bath, and those were more like steamy saunas than regular soaking baths. He did wonder why she had been covering herself so much, but he had assumed it to be a habit of people in high society.

Appearances were important.

And he had told Myuri himself that there were two choices of dress for traveling women: a nun or a boy.

“See, didn’t I tell you? You don’t pay attention to aaanything, Brother.”

Hyland looked at Myuri, then back at Col.

“You…No, you’re fine the way you are—a wonderful servant of God.”

As Col wondered if he should take those words as a compliment or not, Hyland tactfully cleared her throat and changed the subject.

“More importantly, the town of Atiph has now decided to side with us. The archbishop gave in. He has not told us that he will be a reliable ally, but what is certain, at least, is that he will not interfere with the will of the townspeople.”

“Really?!”

“Yes. As Stefan changed his mind, he must have thought it would be pointless to keep the papal officer and his parchment as an ally. And it seemed that it was truly a shock for the archbishop to see that the townspeople did not fear the pope’s sanctions. The archbishop told the papal officer that he wished for additional support from the pope and sent him away. The official had no choice—had he stayed, his life would have been in danger. Then, the archbishop proclaimed that he would lend an ear to understand the people’s anger. I don’t know if he will keep his promise, but he must be taking it to heart. Stefan, who had been hanging around like a bat, is now behaving like a dog with his tail between his legs.”

Her smile was surprisingly mischievous.

“Either way, this information will spread soon enough. But once that happens, I can imagine that the pope will begin acting seriously. It’s not over yet.”

“This is but the beginning.”

“Yes. From here on, we will correct what has gone wrong.”

As Col watched Hyland happily speak, he realized why he did not notice her gender before. When she spoke of her dreams, she was as innocent as a child. A young child, regardless of sex.

“And I wanted to tell you once you got better, but after this, we plan to go to another town. I want to take advantage of these circumstances and create allies with all the towns on the mainland that look out over the Kingdom of Winfiel.”

She was already thinking about what would happen once war began.

“Of course, I wish to accompany you.”

“Thank you, and—”

“And about that.”

The only one who would so rudely cut off the words of someone like Hyland was none other than Myuri.

“I read the scripture while you were sleeping, Brother. And I asked a lot about priests. And I also asked this bl— Heir Hyland. She said there’s no problem.”

What is she talking about? Col looked between Myuri and Hyland.

Like an older sister watching her tomboyish younger sister, Hyland’s smile was troubled yet delighted.

“I’m not going back to Nyohhira.”

“Myuri, we already—”

He wanted to walk a holy path. He could not reciprocate Myuri’s feelings. That was certain, and she accepted it.

But Myuri did not shrink back. Instead, she smiled mischievously.

“Moderation, Brother. Your favorite.”

“Moderation?”

“Yep. I don’t want to get in the way of your dreams. But the scripture didn’t say anything about it.”

“…About what?”

“Mm. Priests should not give in to worldly and physical desires. They must strive for moderation. But it didn’t forbid or say anything about worldly people fancying priests.”

“…Ah?”

Hyland stood by the bed, chuckling.

Myuri pushed the translated scripture into his face.

“If you don’t believe me, just read it. So you see, Brother, moderation.”

Col was not sure what she meant by that.

Myuri folded her arms and spoke proudly.

“As long as you don’t try anything with me, then it won’t be a problem.”

“…”

He was speechless. He was astounded by the existence of such an interpretation.

“Your faith is going to be tested, Brother.”

Her smile was filled with confidence.

He possessed parchment on which the holy teachings of God were written.

What he lacked was his dignity as an older brother.

He placed the sheepskin with God’s teachings over his face and closed his eyes. He was now a sheep wearing sheep’s skin.

“Oh God…”

“You called?”

He could not respond even out of pride, nor would he ever be able to explain why he felt relieved.

Beyond his closed eyelids, a silver tail waved mischievously.

It was the sheep’s fate to always keep a close watch on the wolf’s tail.