Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 95
“A rain-making ceremony?”
Irene couldn’t hide her confusion at the message from Burt. Lani, standing beside her, felt the same.
“I thought the crops had improved significantly since Lady Saintess performed her miracle. Do we really need a rain-making ceremony now?”
Lani’s words were true, but she was overlooking something: human greed.
“People’s greed knows no bounds.”
Noah added, helping Lani with her tasks.
When sprouts emerge, people wish for them to grow faster. And when it’s time to harvest, they desire more results than their efforts deserve.
This rain-making ceremony likely passed easily for such reasons.
“Should I participate even though the motive is obvious?”
Irene turned to Burt after listening to them both.
“It’s better if you participate. It will add more weight to Lady Saintess’s words.”
“How long will it take?”
“It depends on the saintess’s ability. The longest it has taken was fifteen days.”
“That’s quite long.”
“That’s why Garan pushed for this.”
“But it also means he feels threatened by Guy.”
“That’s correct. Well deduced.”
Burt spoke in a tone that seemed to praise a diligent student.
Though it was annoying, Irene couldn’t argue with him, so she remained quietly composed.
Although Irene had grown up in a ducal household, she hadn’t been properly educated. She knew basic dining etiquette and how to show courtesy to others, but that was about it.
Recently, she had taken to studying books, learning a lot from Burt in the process.
“I’m not sure if it’s wise to leave.”
“It will be fine.”
While Burt reassured Irene, someone knocked on the door.
“It’s Guy.”
“Come in.”
As soon as permission was granted, Guy entered the room.
He was a handsome man with sharp features, and as he gained weight, his frame became more imposing. He was likely to grow to a similar size as Garan, she thought.
“What were you discussing?”
Despite his sharp appearance, his tone was as gentle as a spring breeze.
“Yes, Guy, you should know. We were discussing the rain-making ceremony.”
“The rain-making ceremony?”
“Are you familiar with it?”
“I heard about it from my mother when I was young.”
Whenever Guy spoke of his mother, his expression softened, matching his gentle tone. She seemed to be a very important person to him.
“Then it will be easier to explain. Garan has requested a rain-making ceremony.”
Irene began to explain step by step.
“It seems difficult to refuse.”
“If Lady Saintess goes into the rain-making ceremony, I will likely stay nearby as well.”
This meant that Guy would temporarily lose an ally. Assigning a Holy Knight to assist him wasn’t an option either.
While they might help if Irene asked, the Holy Knights were meant to remain neutral. It wasn’t proper for them to get involved in such matters.
“Will you be alright on your own?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You should be. We can’t always be there to help.”
It wasn’t wrong.
One day, Guy would have to stand on his own. To prepare for that, he needed to learn how to handle things by himself.
“I don’t intend to keep asking for help.”
Guy responded to Burt with a smile. Burt maintained a composed expression, but there was an odd tension between them.
“That’s good to hear.”
Why is there such an atmosphere? Did something happen between them?
Irene couldn’t figure it out.
* * *
As time flowed on, the day of the rain-making ceremony finally arrived.
At the top of a high staircase stood an ancient altar, adorned with fabrics of various colors and flowers, covered by a semi-transparent mesh cloth.
Holy Knights stood guard around the area, prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. Burt was intently watching Irene, whose figure was half-hidden.
Thud.
A drumbeat echoed. At the same time, Irene knelt on a soft cushion and clasped her hands together.
The prayer had begun.
Garan wanted to tie down Irene and Burt, even if only for a short while. Thus, he proposed the rain-making ceremony, and it was successfully underway.
Now, all he had to do was hope it would last as long as possible. During that time, he was confident he could manage everything.
No matter how much they tried to elevate Guy, without him present, what could they achieve?
As he watched those engaged in the ceremony, Garan moved on to his second plan.
It wasn’t much of a plan, really.
He simply intended to bury Guy. To make him disappear forever from others’ eyes.
His mother had pleaded to spare her only son, but now he could no longer keep that promise.
‘I don’t need a bloodline that obstructs my path.’