[Two weeks after Prima Risera - House of Arbon, Vestibule]

  Lisabelle is outside, talking to a courier. The man gives her a letter, enveloped nicely with a hint of perfume on its sides. Yet, it's too soon to tell whether the perfume was meant for her or it's simply because it gets mixed with other mails. So, Lisabelle just keeps it for herself and see the courier off the estate's fence.

  "Then, I'll be on my way, my dy. Good day to you!"

  "Yeah, thank you. Take care, on your way!"

  "Oh, also, I hope this stays between us, but . . . You know, about the stuff that happened in the flea market months ago - I'm sure they are all just some bullshit. I'm on your side, miss Arbona!"

  Hearing the support given by the mail courier, Lisabelle simply smiled and waved her hand.

  Inside the house, Viena was already waiting for her sister. She is so curious that she keeps peeking out all the time. After all, usually, it's rare for a courier to deliver something other than academic material for Lisabelle. Instead of bundles of scrolls and a few books, this time, Lisabelle only got a single piece of letter.

  "Oh, you're here."

  "Hey, what is that?"

  "Probably just some notification from the academy."

  "No, that's not. Why are you lying?"

  "What makes you think I'm lying?"

  "Cause' the academy stamp doesn't look like that! Come on, what are you being shy about? We've got like . . . eight of them since Prima Risera! Or perhaps, don't tell me . . . you like this one?!"

  Instead of replying, Lisabelle smacked Viena's head with the letter and drops it on her hands. Viena asks whether she can open it, and Lisabelle told her to go ahead since she doesn't give a damn about it. Thus, the little sister happily tears the envelops on the side and took out the letter inside. She is always excited for ughs from reading letter given by men trying to romanticize Lisabelle.

  "Mhmm! This one smells like jasmine! I like it!" said Viena as she sniffs the letter.

  After that, Viena keeps quiet for a minute. She giggles to herself several times and having fun rolling on the sofa as if she was the one that the writer intended to sway. Lisabelle, who was sipping on her warm cup of honeyed ginger tea.

  "So, who was it from?"

  "It says Cude Valias."

  "Valias? Never heard of it. Just throw it into the firepce if you're done pying."

  "Are you sure? He's inviting us for a lunch!"

  "Us? Both of us? You sure it's not just me?"

  "Yeah, us!"

  Lisabelle immediately snatches the letter from Viena's hand. Back then, she left the festival pce soon after commotion is starting to brew in order to defuse the rising tension. This can only mean that the man called Cude really paid attention to her until the very end for him to see Eleanor and Viena. She is impressed and becomes even more when he read the st part of the letter.

  "What a weird guy."

  "Is it normal to invite someone that way?" Viena asked.

  "No. But it certainly draws my attention. So, I guess it's effective," Lisabelle smile.

  "So, you do really like this guy, Lily!"

  "Don't be a fool, Vivi. A dy mustn't be so easy to get. Being impressed doesn't necessarily mean I will let him have his way swaying me over. It only means that I will give him a chance to see what he has to offer. Remember, kid. In retionship, we, women, must always take the reins. Always. Do you understand?"

  Viena nodded and Lisabelle put the letter back in the ripped envelope. She told Viena to clean herself up as she takes the letter to An and Gwen to discuss. She thought that maybe the two knights have an idea about Cude Valias since the two have made quite the acquaintances among the noble district servants, thanks for their job getting shuffled every now and then.

  "Truthfully, I can't really remember the name 'Valias'. But if I have to take a guess, I think he belongs to a good branch family. I mean, only the branch family of a powerful house can afford a seal stamp with blue color given the hassle of bureaucracy and yearly charge for that right," An rubs his chin.

  "I know that much. But do you really have no idea?"

  "Wait, this letter looks weird. Look. the writer's sign is on the left side instead of the right side," Gwen raised her eyebrows.

  "So what?" An asks.

  "Only Varnarian signed on the left side of the paper."

  "Oh!"

  Lisabelle then asked Gwen whether she can dig up any information about the guy for her, and Gwen accepted unconditionally. She said that she just realized that she owed Eleanor a big gratitude for all the delicious food and shelter she provided. That is because when she got rolled to other posts, she remembered that food needs to be paid or cooked by her own self, and people get charged for sleeping under a roof.

  [13.00 pm - The Great Cathedral of Aine]

  "You have contracted syphilis."

  "Shy-what?"

  "The lover's pox, if you don't get it. Just as its name implies, it's A disease that is transmitted commonly through sexual intercourse from multiple love interests."

  "That is impossible! I-I was faithful for years!"

  "And has been unfaithful for a night or two, which expins the ring mark on your finger, and your bruises."

  Randia puts down his tools and wash his hands. Wilrd starts grinding some ingredients as Mil starts concocting citrus, crystallized solution, ores, and liquids. Syphilis is a very common disease for that time. However, the ingredients necessary to make the cure is hard to get, very complex to make, and takes a long time to resupply.

  "When was the st time you had sex?"

  "I didn't! Why are you pushing me?!"

  "If you didn't, then I don't know what it is. Feel free to find another medevist. But if I'm right, you will experience loss of senses, more permanent skin damage, miscarriage, and other general degenerative issues. At earliest, you will die in ten years, and if you are lucky enough, you will still live for another thirty years - in pain."

  After that, the woman patient looks down in silence. She looked very anxious and starts weeping. Yet, Randia couldn't care. There is still many more to treat, and he won't spend his energy on such a hassle.

  "Mil, send this one off and bring in the next patient."

  "Yes, my lord."

  "Wait!"

  The woman finally admitted that she has been fooling around with extramarital affairs. She said that she had been abused by her husband for years, and now she ended up bearing another man's child in her womb. Randia pays no attention at all as he helped Wilrd and Mil to finish the medicine.

  "Divorce would have been an obvious decision, but I guess not everyone use their head. Now, be thankful to your baby. If it's not for them, I wouldn't waste such a precious cure on the likes of you. Pay the alms and get out of my sight."

  After Randia sends out the patient, Mil wanted to call for the next one, but instead, someone had been waiting outside the door. It's Doctor Cynthia, a fellow medevist of Randia who works for the cathedral for over seven years now. She is a chubby 30-year-old mother of two children who wears eyegsses.

  "Harsh as always, aren't you, Doctor Ran?"

  "Social sanctions prevents stupidity, and less stupidity prevents scarcity, which in turns - ensuring the sustainability of a community. I am merely exerting a socio-economic theory."

  "But isn't utilitarianism and deontology equal?"

  Instead of answering, Randia sits straight and look at Doctor Cynthia in the eyes.

  "People are waiting for help outside. Surely, you don't come just to find amusement in me, don't you? Doctor Cynthia?"

  "Hahah! You are so edgy unlike your daughter, but it's so fun to tease you both nonetheless. Don't get too offended, Doctor Ran. I'm here to introduce you to someone. She will be working here for a month or so. I'm sure you two will get along nicely."

  "Here? Wilrd and Mil is enough to help me. Why don't you just take her in for yourself?"

  Wilrd and Mil are fttered by Randia's words. They are smiling with proud face while Randia is looking more and more stressed with every passing second waiting for Cynthia's reasoning.

  "The thing is, she is my junior back in Princevas, and she is . . . an exceptionally inspired and spirited person. I would like to have her, but you know, I have two kids of my own to tend to, so it would be impossible for me to look after her."

  "She is so unpredictable and bizarre, that you couldn't afford to take care of an extra child. No, Doctor Cynthia. Just shoo her away back to Princevas, I don't want any more trouble," said Randia as he shook his head remembering Viena.

  Suddenly, there is a knock in the door. A voice of a cheerful woman shills the air, and it seeps into the room through the gaps of the door.

  "Yuhuu! Hello! Cynthiaa? Are you inside?"

  Hearing this, Doctor Cynthia walked up to Randia and put her hand on his shoulder.

  "I think you misunderstood, Doctor Ran. I'm not asking for your permission . . . I'm informing you. The deal was done between the cathedral and her family."

  "Her family? She is a noble?" Randia looked very concerned.

  "Oh, did I forget to mention? She came from a prestigious house. That's why It would be great if you two can hit it up! Because you know, every kid needs a mother. Including yours."

  The banging of the door gets louder and louder.

  "Cynthiaa! It's me, Laura!"

  .

  "Well then, Doctor Ran, please have fun and be nice with her. Good luck."