Chapter 60【VIP】

The news of Mary's disappearance quickly spread among the maids.

Liz, who finally saw Mary, became the target of public criticism. No one dared to approach her, fearing that they would be the next to disappear.

However, before these worries came true, the next missing person appeared - Li Xu disappeared.

There had been rumors that maids in the palace often disappeared. Two maids disappeared in just a few days, and the maids became even more frightened. They huddled back to their bedrooms at night and did not dare to go out alone.

Only Jian Yue knew what had happened - it must have been Kidd who had interfered and done something to those girls.

Unfortunately, she is now a maid, and even though she secretly investigated Kidd, she only got very little information.

Kidd still works as a priest outside the palace and rarely enters the palace. Outsiders have a high opinion of him and no one thinks he has done anything wrong.

No one knew where the girls had gone, but the king held a purification ceremony to calm the panic of his people.

The ceremony soothed those people's hearts, but it couldn't soothe Jian Yue.

Kidd will be present at this purification ceremony.

She must investigate thoroughly.

At the ceremony, she attended as a lady-in-waiting and stood beside Henry.

Her eyes were always on Henry, but Henry seemed not to know her and didn't pay any attention to her, which made her feel very strange.

Although she no longer has Opesa's stunning beauty, she is still with him every night. How could he not pay any attention to her?

And at night... Jian Yue didn't dare to think about everything he had done. The traces were still on her body. Was this man really so heartless as to pretend to be a stranger?

She racked her brains to think, but suddenly felt a sticky gaze.

The gaze was direct and sharp, like a sharp knife piercing her. She shuddered and followed its source, only to see Sinderel standing across from her.

He lowered his eyes, dressed in black and white, his blond hair still tied back. He looked elegant and aloof, his delicate jawline set in a cold, hard straight line. Even standing there without a word or a smile, he was as beautiful as a god from a painting.

He didn't look at her, so where did that hungry look come from?

His gaze shifted and met Theodore's who was standing to the side.

Theodore's expression was originally calm, but it softened when his eyes met hers, and he smiled with pursed lips.

Is it him?

Jian Yue thought about it and lowered her eyelashes.

"Father Kidd is here!"

Following a loud announcement, everyone in the hall bowed their heads.

Father Kidd walked into the hall in the sunlight, supported by the nuns. He was still wearing the black and white clerical attire, with a black silk cloth on his face and a red Bible in his hands, looking holy and inviolable.

If she hadn't seen the truth about the slave farm, Jian Yue might have been deceived by his appearance.

Who could have imagined that a priest who seemed to have compassion for the people and convey oracles was actually a fallen angel who had already surrendered to the devil.

Jian Yue's heart tightened and she lowered her head.

Fortunately, Kidd didn't notice her and didn't look in her direction.

It seems that Lucifer is indeed not in cahoots with Kidd.

But why would Lucifer help her? Was he simply bored? Or did he covet the power Kidd gained from absorbing his pain?

But no matter what, an angel without wings can never compare to an angel with wings.

What's more, that is the arrogant devil Lucifer who is almost on par with the Lord God.

"Oh! Dear Father!" The king walked down from the stage and welcomed Kidd with both hands. "We have been waiting for this for a long time."

The priest standing in the center extended his hand and allowed the foolish king to kiss his hand.

"Everyone who is favored by God, please stand!" The priest allowed everyone to stand. "Next, I will comfort the missing girls and perform a purification ceremony in the name of Father Kidd of Furlan."

Kidd's fingertips ran across the gold-stamped lines on the cover of the Bible. The black silk cloth covered most of his face, revealing only his thin jaw and pale lips.

He stood before the altar in the center of the hall, his voice carrying a strange echo: "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, cleanse this polluted place."

The white smoke of incense curled in the candlelight, and the nuns sang hymns, the ethereal singing flowing over everyone's head like water.

The maids beside them lowered their heads and their shoulders trembled slightly, as if this could isolate them from the fear of disappearance.

Jian Yue stood beside Henry, her skirt almost soaked with sweat from her palms - she stared at Kidd's hands, the hands that had once shackled her and Sinderell, but now holding the Bible in a gesture of compassion.

She secretly raised her eyes and saw Theodore standing at the end of the knight's formation, with a cross badge pinned to the collar of his silver-gray uniform. His eyes were staring at Kidd's back, and his fingertips were unconsciously stroking the hilt of his sword.

mouth.

The nun came forward with the silver basin. As Kidd's hand touched the water, white smoke suddenly exploded with a crackling sound.

Good guess.

Jian Yue glanced at the holy water that she couldn't touch.

Water droplets splashed on the stone slabs,

The woman exclaimed, and the king's face instantly darkened.

"The power of evil is so rampant." Kidd's voice suddenly rose. "This is a sign of the devil's anger!"

As soon as these words were spoken, panic broke out among the people around.

"Oh my God, Father, what should we do!"

"Lord Regent," Kidd said to Sinderel, "You seem to be haunted by an evil spirit and need the Lord's blessing."

Everyone's eyes instantly focused on Sinderel.

The maids took a half step back in fear. The king frowned and looked at Kidd in surprise.

Xindrel said calmly: "Father, I think you may have made a mistake."

"The eyes of the Lord do not lie." Kidd interrupted her and slowly walked down the altar, his black robe dragging a long shadow on the ground. "Come closer and let me cleanse you."

His hand reached for Sindriel's forehead, but Sindriel held his hand down, his eyes flickering darkly: "Father, I don't like being touched."

Kidd didn't make it difficult and returned to his original position.

"Lord Regent, you must start small and do great things." Kidd paused and said, "The oracle told me that the Chosen One has been targeted by the devil. You must be executed."

What? !

Jian Yue subconsciously widened her eyes and looked at Sinderel.

His face was calm, as if he already knew his own fate.

But is this part of Kidd's plan?

So what had been his purpose all along? Was it that the plan was complete, requiring Sinderel to die and his soul to ascend to heaven?

"Don't worry, this isn't a surefire solution!" the priest said immediately. "I'll find a way to fight the demon myself. Now we need to arrange for people to sprinkle holy water throughout the palace to prevent the demon from descending again."

Kidd's words didn't dispel the panic in the slightest. The nun began distributing holy water to the maids. When it was Jian Yue's turn, she numbly lowered her eyes to look at the bowl of holy water and slowly reached out to take it.

She had no idea how to save these deceived people.

The rulers were pedantic and the people were credulous in theology. As a servant and a woman, it was extremely difficult for her to resist.

Is there any way, any way to stop Kidd?

She suddenly felt powerless.

She had lived under Sinderel's protection for too long, and now that she had left, she realized that her power was so small that she didn't even have the weight to speak for him.

I don't even have the power to protect my friends.

After the ceremony, Jian Yue came to the kitchen.

Guilt has always lingered since Mary disappeared, and she began to work double jobs, taking on the chores left behind by Mary.

She walked under the eaves carrying plates, delivering food to the nobles who came to the palace to attend the ceremony.

As she reached the door of the restaurant, she saw Theodore standing under the archway, holding a velvet box in his hands.

She subconsciously dodged, but was still caught by that guy: "Yue!"

The troublesome stuff is here again.

Jian Yue could only grin and politely respond, "Lord Theodore."

He smiled gently, deliberately ignoring Jian Yue's unfamiliarity. "Since you seemed down yesterday, I asked the chef at home to make some strawberry macarons. Would you like to try them?"

When the box was opened, pink macarons were neatly arranged, emitting a sweet aroma.

"Thank you for your kindness, Sir Knight." Jian Yue did not accept the answer, but took a step back. "It's just that I don't like sweet things, so I'm afraid I'll let you down."

Theodore's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal. "It's okay, you can put it away and eat it when you're free." He took the tray away and put the box in her hand. "By the way, I heard your friend is missing."

Mentioning Mary made Jian Yue even more impatient and she wanted to take the tray back. "Your Excellency is truly considerate. He even cares about the servants' private gossip."

"Is your friend called Mary?"

Hearing Mary's name, Jian Yue stopped moving: "How did you know that, sir?"

"Because I want to marry you." Theodore smiled slightly. "I'm sorry I investigated you without your knowledge."

Jian Yue quickly asked, "Sir, do you have any news about Mary?"

"Yes." Theodore nodded. "I heard that she left the palace secretly and went towards the south gate. Maybe she missed home?"

South Gate? That was the direction leading to the civilian area. Jian Yue's heart skipped a beat—Mary had said her hometown was in a small town in the south. Could she have really left on her own?

But Mary said that there was no one or anything in the house that she could miss, so how could she say goodbye without saying a word?

Did something happen? But she asked the postman who delivered the mail every day, and no one had sent her any letters during the days when Mary disappeared.

"Really?" She couldn't help but confirm again, but in her heart she still hoped that Mary was still alive, living in that unhappy little home.

"Of course." Theodore blinked and smiled faintly, "If you're worried, why not consider it and agree with me? I can openly take you to visit her hometown."

Jian Yue hesitated.

"It's okay. I'll give you plenty of time to think about it, my love." Theodore tilted his head. "Well, I have to go in and deal with those old men. You keep these macarons. If they don't work out, give them to Prince Henry. The prince likes sweets. I'll bring the dessert in for you."

Watching Theodore's departing figure, Jian Yue's gaze returned to the velvet box. The sweet scent of the macarons seemed to carry a strange aura, reminding her of the red mark Henry had left on her neck last night—a mark equally dangerously sweet.

She began to think about Theodore's proposal.

Theodore was right. As a maid, she could not enter and leave the palace freely, and many places were restricted. Without orders, she could only stay in the servants' room.

If this continues, not only will we not find any clues, but there will be more and more girls like Mary.

At first she thought the disappearance had nothing to do with her and did not investigate further. Now that it really happened to her, she felt anxious.

Is this how the families of the missing girls feel?

And Sindriel.

Thinking of those emerald eyes, Jian Yue felt even more complicated.

He is about to be executed by the priest.

Just to fulfill the ideal.

Perhaps, marrying Theodore could be a way to break through.

It's much better than being trapped in the palace and unable to move.