Elric fell into step behind her as they entered.
The air inside was cool and faintly scented with incense. Light streamed through enormous stained glass windows, spilling colors onto polished marble floors. Chandeliers of gold and crystal hung above like frozen starlight.
It was magnificent. Sacred. Like walking through the gates of heaven.
But beneath the beauty, Seraphine felt the undercurrent of something darker. Her eyes swept over the painted saints, the gilded altars, the pristine pews.
No one… would ever believe something as vile as human trafficking happens in a place like this.
And yet, her instincts told her—behind this sanctity was a truth worth tearing apart.
The inside of the church glimmered with holy splendor, yet Seraphine walked with a lazy stride that clashed entirely with its sanctity.
Without warning, she dropped onto the long pew near the center, not with the composed grace of a duchess—but sprawling, one leg slung out, arms loose over the backrest like a thug on the street corner.
The middle-aged priest stopped mid-step. For a moment, his brow twitched at the sight. He quickly masked his expression with a polite smile, but his eyes betrayed his confusion.
"Your Grace," he began carefully, "are you… tired from your journey?"
Seraphine didn't answer at first. She let her gaze wander slowly over the gilded pillars, the vaulted ceiling, the flickering candles on the altar. Then, in a tone far too casual for the setting, she said:
"I want to buy one."
Elric's head snapped toward her. …What?
"I want a child," she added, her eyes lazily sliding back to the priest. "Female."
The air stilled for a beat. Elric was frozen, his mind scrambling. She… just—?
The priest's expression shifted instantly. Gone was the dignified air of a holy man; his smile widened into something greedy, the way a merchant smiles at a wealthy fool ready to overpay.
"Of course, my lady," he said, voice oily. "You can even choose. Please… follow me."
Seraphine's lips curved into a faint smirk. She rose smoothly, adjusting the skirt of her dark emerald gown.
Elric leaned toward her as they walked, his voice low with tension. "My lady… this is sudden. I thought we were only here to visit."
She didn't look at him, only whispered back, "Don't worry, dude. I have a plan."
Elric blinked. …Dude?
They passed the altar. The priest glanced around, then casually kicked the side panel of the structure. With a groan of hidden mechanisms, the marble cracked apart, revealing a narrow door that swung open into darkness.
So there it is, Seraphine thought. A secret room.
They descended into the dim passage. The air grew cooler, heavier. Two guards stood inside, torches casting thin halos of light. The stone walls curved like a tunnel, leading to a low-ceilinged chamber.
And then… the smell hit her.
The flicker of firelight revealed a cage—massive, iron bars thick as a man's wrist. Inside, bodies pressed against each other, no space to breathe. Children. A few adults. Even an old man slumped against the bars. Their skin was pale, their clothes ragged, their eyes dull from hunger and fear.
Seraphine's fingers curled into her palm until her nails bit into her glove. This…
She forced her voice to turn cold. "Do you feed them? I don't like weak product."
Elric's gaze was hard, unreadable—but she caught the flicker of something in his eyes. He'd seen this before. Too many times.
The priest chuckled lightly. "Of course, my lady. We throw food in. They fight for it. The stronger ones survive, the weaker ones… fade away. This way, only the strong remain for sale."
Seraphine's teeth clenched. She wanted to tear his smug smile apart. Her body moved before she realized it, pulling back her fist—
—but Elric's hand caught her wrist.
He stepped close enough that his breath brushed her ear. "Contain yourself. This is their territory, and there are only two of us."
She tilted her head slightly, whispering back, "I told you. I have a plan."
In the next instant, she twisted free of his grip and swung her fist into the priest's neck.
It felt like hitting a stone wall. Pain shot up her knuckles. She hissed under her breath. Damn it… weak hands.
The priest blinked in annoyance. "What do you think you're—"
He never finished. A blur of motion—and Elric's punch connected cleanly with his jaw. The priest crumpled, unconscious, blood slowly trickling from his nose.
Seraphine stared. "Whoa… you can fight?"
Without missing a beat, Elric said, "I am also your knight," before lifting her into his arms.
"Wait—what—hey—"
He didn't respond, breaking into a run toward the tunnel's exit. But before they could reach it, the door burst open.
A nun stood there, her face pale with urgency. "The Royal Army! The Royal Army is outside!"
The guards froze, exchanging panicked looks before bolting past them.
Elric stopped short, baffled. "How—?"
Seraphine stepped down from his arms, brushing off her skirt with a smug little smile. "I told you. I had a plan."
—
The night before, she had sat at her desk in the Evandale mansion, quill scratching over parchment. The letter was addressed to the royal family, requesting discreet support. Even as a duchess, she knew better than to openly accuse the church—a pillar in the eyes of both nobles and commoners—without proof.
While she wrote, a strange thought brushed her mind. Why… do I remember how politics works? These rules… this strategy… it's all familiar. But my own life before waking up here… nothing. Not a single detail.
At dawn, before they left, disguised royal soldiers had been stationed among the church's visitors. The moment the hidden door was revealed, the trap was sprung.
—
Now, standing near her carriage, Seraphine watched the Royal Army storm the hidden chamber. The prisoners were freed one by one, their gaunt faces breaking into tears of relief. The priest was dragged out in chains, his dignity stripped away.
A man in polished armor approached—clearly a platoon leader. He bowed low. "Your Grace, the kingdom is in your debt. We will pursue Sir Oron immediately."
Seraphine inclined her head. "Thank you."
The soldier froze for a fraction of a second. Thank you? She… smiled?
He left still glancing back, troubled by the memory of her usual icy reputation.
Seraphine yawned softly. "Let's go home," she murmured. The real work—unraveling the connection between this priest and the real Seraphine—would come later.
Elric guided her into the carriage, his hand warm around hers. Once inside, she leaned back, a wide, genuine smile lighting her face. The first true thrill she'd felt since she opened her eyes in this world.
Elric looked at her, that smile pulling at something deep in his memory—
Under the shade of a tree, a little girl sat crying, her head bowed. A young boy, cheeks round and glasses slipping down his nose, knelt before her. He took her small hand in his and spoke gently.
"Don't cry. You're not alone. I'm here. I will protect you and I will stay with you forever."
She sniffled, lifting red-rimmed eyes toward him. "Really? Elric… you'll stay with me forever?"
The boy smiled and nodded. "Yes. I promise, Sera."
The girl's lips curved upward, even with tears still clinging to her lashes.