Chapter 1855: Chapter 1855

"What is that? Do you want it too?"

Jenkins's words piqued Miss Windsor's interest. She tilted her head slightly, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at him, her long golden hair drifting beside her ear.

"Yes, I want it too. It's... I won't mention its name. Although you're already involved, it's better not to know too much. Just know that it's very important. And right now, it's inside your heart."

Miss Windsor nodded, then placed a hand over her heart. Jenkins's eyes instinctively followed her movement before he quickly averted his gaze, the sight making him blush. He pretended to be checking on his cat.

"Yes, in your heart. Not physically in your heart, but... it's connected to your soul. I can't retrieve it right now. Based on my calculations, I'll only be able to take it out after I become king."

He didn't mention that the Dark Soul needed to be awakened, as he was unwilling to let Miss Windsor endure any suffering profound enough to trigger it. He would handle that himself, and he already had a general idea of how to do it.

Miss Windsor didn't lower her hand. Even in this secluded corridor, the gesture was rather bold. Jenkins pretended to see nothing, turning his head to look at the cat perched on the windowsill, and thus missed the mischievous smile that flashed across her face.

"I'll arrange it. Today is Saturday, so the Bishop should be free."

Jenkins replied, pulling a silver pendant from his pocket. Its main charm was fashioned in the shape of an open book. Both the pendant and its chain were made of silver that Jenkins had personally blessed, making it what one might call "holy silver." Moreover, he had engraved his true name on the back, its characters woven into the miniature ritual array so that anyone unfamiliar with the ancient script would mistake it for part of the design.

The pendant had been treated with the "Holy Supplication" ritual. With his blessing and his true name, it would maximize the wearer's ability to ward off evil.

"Keep this with you at all times. It's not immensely powerful, but it will at least protect you from malevolent spirits and some minor curses."

He handed the pendant to Miss Windsor, who casually accepted it and fastened it around her neck. Then, smiling, she said to Jenkins:

"I heard the story of that ruby jewelry set from Princess Dolores. I thought that after that incident, you'd never casually give jewelry to a lady again." Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on noⅴelfire.net

"This is for your safety. I'm not joking. Wear the pendant, and don't take it off, not even when you bathe."

Jenkins said with a serious expression, then asked:

"How did Dolores tell you about that?"

"I saw her maid, Miss Minnewick, wearing a very beautiful ruby hairpin the other day."

The ruby his father, Robert, had provided had actually been crafted into two sets of jewelry. One set was given to Julia, who had accompanied Jenkins to a family gathering. The other, along with the B-11-05-9421 [Inverted Blessing Bracelet - Love], was hidden away in his room at the church to prevent himself from doing something inappropriate in a moment of weakness.

Miss Windsor's mention of it reminded Jenkins of that jewelry set and the bracelet. He would never let anyone know they existed; after all, there was only one of each, but he was dealing with more than one lady.

He quietly repented in his heart.

After dinner at the church, he timed his departure to attend Mr. Hood's gathering.

A full two months had passed since their last meeting. So much had happened in that time, and Nolan was no longer the peaceful city it once was.

Just as Mr. Hood had said, after this meeting, it was hard to say when the next one could be held. Jenkins cherished this opportunity.

With incidents happening frequently across the city and the churches deploying numerous patrol squads at night, Mr. Hood had chosen to hold the gathering in a cemetery on the city's outskirts to prevent them from getting entangled in any strange affairs.

The public cemetery was divided into several sections. Depending on the location and scenery, citizens would pay varying amounts in gold pounds to inter the bodies or ashes of their loved ones. The meeting place was in the section where Mr. Birchwood was buried. As usual, Jenkins and Mr. Hood were the first to arrive.

Under the hazy moonlight, Mr. Hood stood alone amidst the mist-shrouded tombstones, clad in his familiar black robe. His hands were clasped behind his back as he gazed at the simple headstone before him, his wavering shadow stretching long across the grass. As Jenkins approached, he saw Mr. Birchwood's real name etched into the stone.

"Good evening, Mr. Candle."

Mr. Hood didn't turn around, having already guessed who had arrived early.

"Good evening, Mr. Hood."

Jenkins glanced at the small gravestone.

"Speaking of which, did you know that Mr. Birchwood's mother, old Mrs. Wood, was actually a spy for Cheslan?"

"A spy? No, I wasn't aware. I didn't know much about Mr. Birchwood's personal life. I only met Mrs. Wood once after... I gave her some money. I can't believe it, that old woman was a spy."

"Yes, it was a long time ago. It seems Mr. Birchwood himself knew nothing about it. If he had lived to see today, things would certainly be interesting..."

At this, both men sighed in unison, their gazes fixed on the gravestone. After a moment of silence, Mr. Hood finally spoke.

"I've always worried about the people around me dying, especially now. Anyone could just... be gone in an instant."

"At least you're married," Jenkins offered as a strange sort of comfort. "If you were to meet with an unfortunate accident, there would be someone to handle your affairs." He felt his words were rather ominous and quickly changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, among all of us, are you the only one who's married?"

"No, Mr. Black Cat is married too. His wife is also an Enchanter, but they had a fight, and she went off to Shire City in a fit of anger. They haven't divorced, though. It's just a common squabble between a husband and wife; they'll surely make up. Mr. White Cat was married, I heard this from Mr. Black Cat, but his wife passed away more than ten years ago. It wasn't an accident, but an illness—a very complicated brain condition. You know the kind, even the most brilliant physicians from the Church of All Things and Nature find those cases difficult. Mr. White Cat has been single ever since."