A corpse that had not undergone a purification ritual had a high chance of becoming undead, and for that reason, heretics often had their eyeballs, teeth, and even fingernails removed.
‘Pointless.’
Ghouls could use tools as much as they liked according to the memories they had possessed while alive. If they wanted to prevent danger, it was better to completely incinerate the corpse or perform a purification ritual.
He watched the soldiers drag the three corpses to the corner of an empty lot, then turned his head and looked over the farmers in shabby clothing gathered on one side of the square.
Most of them looked terrified, but a few had dissatisfied expressions.
He pointed at one of them.
“You. Go and bring a priest right now.”
The man who had been singled out slowly shuffled toward the chapel located on one side of the village.
Soon after, a priest came running and carried out a simple purification ritual.
After quietly watching the scene, Varkas left an order to bury the bodies somewhere suitable, then led his horse out of the village.
At that moment, a discarded wooden statue at the end of the wide road entered his sight.
A statue of a three-headed dog, no, a wolf, lay abandoned on the path leading to Argand Forest, half-split by an axe blade.
It was an unmistakable sign of a curse.
Daren, who belatedly discovered it, stiffened his face and shouted loudly at the soldiers.
“Remove it at once!”
Varkas calmly looked down at the statue, then turned his gaze toward the village.
Given that it had been placed there in time for their visit, it was clearly an act filled with someone’s malice.
He let out a dry laugh.
‘It seems there are people who do not welcome my return.’
There was no way to know whether it was the work of heretics steeped in superstition or a provocation by anti-imperial forces, but he had a feeling that life here would not be easy either.
“Shall we search for the culprit?”
Daren asked while watching his expression.
Varkas pulled the reins and lightly shook his head.
“Leave it. If we stir things up over a single statue, what else would we become but a laughingstock?”
The man swallowed a sigh and nodded.
“That is true.”
He agreed for the moment, but perhaps because his anger could not possibly subside, the eyes with which he looked back at the village were fierce. Varkas thought he might drag his subordinates off and cause trouble.
He had only observed him briefly, but the man possessed an especially belligerent disposition even among mounted warriors.
Feeling a strange weariness wash over him, Varkas spurred his horse on.
By the time he arrived back at Laedgo Castle, the sun was slanting toward the west.
Varkas lightly dismounted, handed the reins to the stable keeper, and crossed the wide training ground.
As he entered the main castle, the head butler, who had been directing the servants, came running out.
“You have returned, Young Lord.”
He accepted the greeting with a nod, then passed through the chaotic hall and set foot on the stairs.
The man hurriedly followed after him and said,
“The lords of several regions have come to see you, Young Lord.”
Varkas turned to look at the head butler with a frown.
“Regional lords?”
“They are vassals who govern the southeastern region.”
The man added carefully.
“It seems they have come to make themselves known to you before you hold the succession ceremony, Young Lord.”
He lightly rubbed his chin with his gloved hand, then resumed climbing the stairs and spoke indifferently.
“Prepare a banquet for the guests. After I change clothes, I will go to the hall.”
“Um......”
As he continued toward his bedroom on the second floor, the head butler trailed off.
Varkas looked at him over his shoulder.
After hesitating for a long while, the man carefully opened his mouth.
“Would your wife also be able to attend the evening banquet, Young Lord......?”
Varkas narrowed his eyes.
The head butler, watching his expression, quickly continued as though tattling.
“Is she not the one who will soon become the mistress of the grand ducal family? Everyone is curious about what sort of person she is. But she has not come out of her chambers all day......”
“Head butler.”
Varkas cut him off in a low voice.
“Do you think Her Highness the Princess must endure discomfort in order to satisfy the curiosity of my relatives and servants?”
The blood drained from the butler’s face.
Varkas added coldly.
“Her Highness suffered a serious accident only a few months ago. Before her body could fully recover, she endured an arduous journey lasting several weeks. She must recuperate for the time being, so tell everyone not to bother her with unnecessary matters.”