Chapter 1804: Chapter 1804

Friday's agenda was straightforward. Besides his evening meeting with the ladies from the Church of Music, Jenkins had also sent a letter the day before, inviting his distant cousin, Sigrid Capet, to meet. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the NoveI(F)ire.net

He had originally planned to bring her to Maidenhaven Road this week, but matters concerning his older brother Newman Williams's fiancée and her family had forced a delay. Coupled with Jenkins's own preparations for the upcoming joint conference, the introduction to his family had been postponed repeatedly.

Postponing the family visit for a few days wasn't a major issue; a brief delay would make little difference. However, the Tree Soul remained with Sigrid, and Jenkins couldn't shake his unease. He lived in fear of the day he might hear she had been abducted by the Tree House.

Her situation was different from that of the hosts of the Ice Soul and the Dark Soul. Dolores had Alexia Miller for protection, while Miss Windsor had no connection to the Dark Soul whatsoever, making her far less conspicuous than the bearers of the Ice and Tree Souls. This meant that of the three known soul bearers—excluding the Dragon Soul—Sigrid faced the greatest danger. Jenkins refused to wait any longer.

He had intended to meet her in the Evergreen Forest, but as luck would have it, Sigrid had been dispatched by her church to the city for guard duty. This allowed them to meet in town, which was far more convenient. A trip to the forest would have surely made Jenkins late for his afternoon reception.

He found Sigrid helping out in a flower shop at the intersection of Walter Street and Fifth Queen's Avenue.

Sigrid was a novice nun of the Church of All Things and Nature. As an Enchanter, her duties typically involved escorting confidential documents and important items for the church across the continent. Here in Nolan, however, such tasks were unnecessary. Furthermore, now that she was publicly recognized as a royal descendant, the Church would no longer assign her to menial errands.

As it happened, the seven churches without a physical presence in Nolan had negotiated with the five local ones and received permission to establish small outposts within the city. These locations would serve as a vital network for the Twelve Orthodox Churches to monitor Nolan.

This particular flower shop was the Church of All Things and Nature's new outpost. The owner, a devout follower of the Righteous God, the Spirit of All Things, had heard the church was looking for a property and had generously sold them the entire shop, contents and all.

The vibrant cluster of tulips was displayed in the most prominent spot in the shop, positioned so that it would be the first thing customers saw as they entered.

"Welcome," the young woman behind the counter inquired. "How can I help you?"

The young woman behind the counter asked, not recognizing Jenkins. She was an ordinary citizen, as the shop needed to be run as a legitimate business, and it wouldn't be practical to have the limited number of Enchanters distracted by its day-to-day management.

"He's a friend of mine."

Sigrid explained to the young woman behind the counter. She set her watering can aside and turned to Jenkins with a warm smile.

"Look at these," she said, gesturing to the flowers. "They're the most expensive plants in the shop. I never imagined tulips could fetch such a high price. Back in Cheslan, even the late-autumn blooms were probably cheaper than what they're selling for in Nolan now."

She sighed, half in complaint, and went on to tell Jenkins that the Church of All Things and Nature was also planning to cultivate tulips locally. The problem was, the varieties they'd managed to breed were far less "noble" and beautiful than the bulbs and cut flowers already circulating on the Nolan market. With the city's tulip prices climbing higher each day, savvy investors had already recognized the burgeoning business opportunity.

Even the flower girls, with their perishable, loose-stemmed bouquets, were selling out their stock with remarkable speed each day. It was clear proof that Jenkins's plan was advancing faster than he could have hoped.

After their greetings, Sigrid left the flower shop with Jenkins. They climbed into a rented carriage and set off toward the Yodel Opera House.

Jenkins had considered several suitable and secure locations to discuss the Tree Soul. His own home was certainly safe, but he wasn't sure if it would be proper. A high-end suite in a hotel near the city hall would also be secure, but he was absolutely certain that would be improper.

He had settled on a private box at one of the smaller opera houses in the city. While it was far less grand than the Royal Opera House on the outskirts, tickets here cost more than three times as much. Seats at the Yodel Opera House weren't easy to come by; it functioned more as a high-society networking venue than a place for artistic appreciation. The proof was in the seating: though the theater had a general audience section, it only ever sold tickets for the private boxes. The main floor remained empty, save for the occasional staff member.

"Let me guess why you wanted to see me today."

Upon entering the box, Jenkins immediately began a nervous inspection for suspicious objects or any small holes in the walls that could be used for eavesdropping. Sigrid, meanwhile, settled onto the sofa almost in unison with his cat, Chocolate. She picked an apple from the fruit bowl and waved it enticingly at the feline, but Chocolate had never been one to accept food from others and pointedly ignored her.

"Is this about the World Tree Seedlings?" the blonde girl guessed. "Have you decided to merge them?"

"No, not that," Jenkins replied, shaking his head. He finally sat down on the sofa. "I plan to consult an elder before I do anything with the seedlings. This is about something else entirely."

The window of their box overlooked the stage, offering the best view in the house. The music had already begun, a man's powerful baritone narrating an ancient tale of love to set the scene, but neither of them made a move to watch.

"It's about another matter," he began, "something... rather presumptuous."

A faint blush colored Sigrid's cheeks, and she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Jenkins still seemed unsure how to begin, scratching his cheek in thought.

"It's rather embarrassing to ask, actually."

Sigrid's hands tightened on the fabric of her dress in her lap. Nearby, the cat watched this little "farce" unfold, suspecting its human was drawing it out on purpose.

"Will you pledge your allegiance to me?"

"I'm sorry?" Sigrid blinked. "Jenkins, what did you just say?"

Once the difficult words were out, the rest seemed to follow more easily. Not wanting to take advantage of her, Jenkins explained everything he knew about the Four King Souls. He even revealed a little about the Saviors, though he didn't tell her the full story. Some information was too dangerous to share with those not directly involved; it would only put them in needless peril.

"So that's what this is about," Sigrid murmured, the tension leaving her. "The Dragon Soul the red dragon offered... it's the same thing, then."

Understanding his true purpose, the blonde nun seemed to lose some of her earlier interest. She leaned back against the plush sofa, her posture becoming more relaxed, and spoke in a slightly languid tone.

"And here I thought it was about something else entirely."

Her ears were a little red, though it was hard to notice.