Chapter 7: George

“Pa!” A crisp sound echoed.

Viscount Helvin cast a cold gaze at his eldest son, Michele.

“Fool, I’m not so old that I can’t walk on my own,” he said, holding a blood-stained red cloak adorned with the twin lion emblem.

“You’re so eager to win over the knights.”

“And you even gave the family’s twin lion cloak to Borien.”

“Do you need me to spell it out for you? Sending him as the vanguard was meant for him to die in Lundex’s territory. Fool!”

“We could have initiated a war under the pretext of avenging a knight, but your foolish actions have ruined my plan.”

Under Helvin’s gaze, Michele, nearly forty with a thick beard, curled up like a child who had made a mistake.

“This war against Lundex is your last chance. No matter what means you use, even if the three knights accompanying you perish, as long as you can seize Lundex’s land, you will remain the primary heir.”

“But if you fail to take it…” Helvin didn’t elaborate further; he waved his hand, throwing the twin lion cloak onto Michele, covering his disgraceful appearance.

…

The militiaman was named George.

Driven by a strong will to survive and bolstered by the Commandments, he managed to pull through his fatal injuries.

He was a villager from Knight Borien’s fief.

At twenty-seven, his parents had passed away, and due to poverty, he hadn’t married.

Alone, he naturally became a militiaman when Knight Borien conscripted villagers.

Through him, Corleon learned what had transpired.

They had entered Lord Lundex’s territory that very day, found a suitable spot to camp and rest, preparing to launch an attack on Lundex’s fortress the next day.

However, they didn’t get to wait until the next day.

That very night, they were ambushed by Lundex.

The militiamen and Squire Lain were all killed; Knight Borien was captured.

Only George miraculously awoke at sunrise.

Seeing the familiar corpses scattered around, George clutched his emblem tightly, feeling he was under the Lord’s protection.

So, bearing his severe injuries, as if following the Lord’s guidance, he reached the Flower Church and collapsed into the saffron flowers.

After hearing George’s account, Corleon remained silent.

Finally, when George, with a longing gaze, asked if he could receive baptism and serve the Lord at the church.

He said, “Once your body has healed, I will baptize you. But to serve the Lord in the church, you must take the vows. After baptism, the Lord will reveal to me what kind of vow you should take. Once you’ve completed this vow, you can become a monk serving the Lord.”

Thus, George stayed.

In two days, perhaps due to his strong will to live, his wounds had scabbed over.

Though movement still caused some pain, it wasn’t significant.

Only his right leg would remain limping.

After completing his morning prayers, Corleon was picking saffron flowers.

When bestowing blessings upon the militiamen, he had said that upon their triumphant return, he would baptize them.

Although George had returned after the entire army was annihilated, in a sense, it was his triumph over death.

So, Corleon prepared the Flower Path for him.

And the saffron flowers were used to pave the Flower Path.

“Dong, dong, dong,” the sound of the bell rang.

Corleon stood up and looked toward York Town.

He saw an army slowly emerging from the town, holding high the twin lion flag, with the commander at the front wearing a bright red cloak.

He could guess that this was the army heading to fight Lundex.

Originally, Knight Borien was dispatched with the intention of conquering Lundex’s land.

Now that Knight Borien was captured, naturally, more troops had to be sent.

Corleon saw that, besides the twin lion flag, there were three smaller flags, indicating that three knights were in this force.

“Such a majestic army,” George, leaning on a sturdy wooden stick, also saw this scene.

Majestic?

Corleon thought that for Lord Lundex, it was no longer a matter of majesty.

Given Lundex’s current territory and populace, they might not even outnumber the vassals in the old knights’ fiefs of York.

This was an invasion war without any surprises.

Corleon didn’t watch further; he simply made the sign of the cross with his fingers and entered the church.

The Lord is loving and merciful.

So, as the Lord’s servant, Corleon must also follow the Lord’s teachings.

The army didn’t detour to the church.

When the Elbert family’s direct line led troops into battle, priests from the family shrine would perform blessings.

George didn’t watch much either and quickly followed Corleon.

…

The next news about the war came five days later.

They had lost.

The Elbert family’s army was defeated, with only the commander and some deserters returning to York City.

The death toll exceeded two hundred, and even the three knights perished in the war.

Even Corleon could feel the sorrow permeating York City.

However, for Corleon, he had been a bit busy lately, as it was time for business.

“May his soul rest in eternity, shining like stars in the heavens.”

“May we continue to walk with his love, filling each day with gentleness and hope.”

“In the cycle of life, love never withers.”

Corleon prayed for the deceased.

This was the corpse of a knight’s squire that had been sent back.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, with a large hole in his chest, revealing an empty cavity.

It seemed as if some entity had directly removed his heart.

Corleon made the sign of the cross with his fingers, opened his downcast eyes, and looked at the grieving woman beside him.

She was the wife of this knight’s squire, but Corleon sensed that beneath her sorrow lay some other emotion.

Looking at the squire’s mother beside her, her eyes were vacant, unable to converse.

“Madam, would you prefer to bury Honey’s body yourself, or shall I take him back to the church for burial?” Corleon asked.

“Please, Priest Corleon, have him buried at the church,” she said with a choked voice.

Corleon felt her gaze lingering on him.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, but remembering she was a client, he suppressed his discomfort and said,

“We will take him away after the Morning Star sets. However, burial at the church requires some fees.”

“Of course, I understand,” the woman wiped her tears, reached into her chest, and took out three silver coins.

“I believe this should be enough,” she said, placing the still-warm coins into Corleon’s hand.

“That’s sufficient, madam.” Corleon felt a bit nauseated, but since the church still needed money to sustain itself, he had to accept the coins.

“Please take care of Honey and his mother,” the woman said. “I need to attend to friends who came to mourn.”

After speaking, the woman turned and left, swaying her body.

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