The Antagonist: The World Ends Theory
Chapter 52 - The Temple of the Palace

"Pens, pens. Where is that thing...?"

Clara went around the corners of her room to find a pen. He's got a piece of paper (he stole it from Nero). And now there's only pen left.

"Jean doesn't exist either!"

She grumbles softly, her feelings getting mixed up as Clara recalls what Meiger did to her this morning.

"He should have come this afternoon! Why was it this morning...! It's amazing."

Not finding a pen, Clara had to resign and do another 'theft' so she could write letters to Hellen and Hendrick.

Clara came out of her room without any cover. Allowing his eyes to fully investigate wherever the place where the pen usually rests.

"Maybe Nero has a pen, too. The odds are huge, hm.hm.." Clara nodded slowly before she decided to return to the kitchen.

TOK

"Nero! It's me, Clara Scoleths." Clara called Nero half-calling.

Then the kitchen door opened, revealing several cooks who were cooking including Nero. That's why what opened the door was another chef.

"Miss Scoleths, how can we help you?"

"Yes! I'm gonna borrow Nero for a second, can't I?"

"so. All right, I'll call Nero first for Miss Scoleths."

"Please help."

The chef entered the kitchen and approached Nero who was cutting vegetables. They had a brief conversation, and then Clara could see that Nero was walking towards her.

"Is there something, Miss Scoleths?"

"Yes, I actually need a pen. I don't know where Jean is right now and I don't really dare approach His Majesty's room just for a pen. So. that's it."

"Ah, so. I have some. But Miss, I think in Miss's room there should be at least one pen." Nero said as he took the pen from his pocket.

"really?"

Nero nodded slowly.

When Nero handed her the pen, Clara accepted it with pleasure. "But I didn't see him in my room at all. There are only paint brushes, color paint and canvas."

"so. It's kind of weird, does Miss Scoleths have a habit of writing literary works?"

"I'm sorry? What are you trying to talk about?" Clara tilted her head in confusion, as Nero said so.

"Hm? Didn't Miss Scoleths plan to create a literary masterpiece. That's why Miss also needs paper stolen from me."

Guh...! He realized! Just a piece of paper...

"No, Nero. I need a pen and paper to write a letter." Said Clara, straightening the misunderstanding that occurred.

"Eh, so for the letter yeah." Nero nodded - nodding his head. "Miss Scoleths wrote a letter to whom?"

With a big smile Clara answered him.

"For Mr. Hendrick!"

.

.

.

So quiet.

That's how things went after Clara said out loud that she wrote a letter to Hendrick. Therefore Clara looked in wonder at Nero, which strangely now Nero became awkward and stiff. But he did not look at Clara, but right behind the girl.

Curious about what Nero saw, Clara turned her back. And in the next few seconds, Clara became awkward as well as Nero. All word dictionaries suddenly disappeared from his mind.

He looked at the man in front of him. Clara did not know why but what was certain was that the black aura that the person was giving off was a form of her anger and annoyance.

The acre? What's my fault here...?

For too long Clara looked at Meiger's face, her gaze glaring at the man's lips.

DEG

Clara suddenly returned to face Nero, bowing her head deeply and chanting a lot of spells. Cold sweat ran down her face, Clara's ears were even red.

"Look at how good your relationship with him was until you sent him a letter in person."

Meiger's voice was finally heard, the dark cold tone was very intimidating to Nero and Clara. Even the other chefs within the kitchen could also feel pent-up anger from their current leader.

Despite his determination, Clara still did not have enough courage to face Meiger head-on. But in the end Clara looked back at the emperor again.

Her sweaty face had clearly indicated that Clara was very frightened. Ever since he came to Hortensia, he's always worried that - if you say something wrong. Because the name 'Scoleths' is so hated by the number one person in Hortensia.

I should've read that book about Scoleths a long time ago instead of writing a letter... What makes him so angry?

It was too late for her to regret, Clara could only lament her unlucky fate. He had set the look of his face as best as he could, because if he looked charmed at Meiger it must be the tip - the tip he would be returned to Freesia.

While playing the pen on her finger Clara said, "It's not so Your Majesty, it's been more than a few days after the Servant came here. The servant only wants to inform him that the Servant is fine here..."

"Alright, follow me."

In one sentence, Clara who feels ruled for her own death follows Meiger relentlessly. He couldn't bring Nero so there was only a pen accompanying him.

I was still a little afraid of him, too..why could he be so relaxed after the 'it' incident'?!

Meiger walks the lead, and after a while Clara realizes that their current goal is Meiger's workspace. A room specially made for Meiger in completing all his responsibilities as emperor.

Clara looked curiously at Meiger's back. All this time he knew all about Meiger from his novel alone. But after Clara enters the world of this novel, she is made aware of many things. Including how the attitude and nature of Meiger are divided into two.

Clara doesn't know what her goal is, but Meiger once said that it's also for them. Of course Meiger's intention at the time was for the welfare of his people. Meiger barely ignores his life, which is how Clara was able to take after observing him for an entire week.

The burden on his shoulders...is that heavy...?

"What are you thinking? Come quickly!"

"ah! Alright!"

As she daydreams, Clara becomes unaware that they have arrived at Meiger's study. This was the second time Clara had stopped by this place. And it's a gripping memory for him that Clara won't remember anymore.

BRACKET

The door closed tightly, so Clara was quite surprised by the loud noise. Meiger was already sitting in his chair, while Clara chose to remain standing. He was too hesitant to act at will in front of an emperor.

"Sit down, you can write your letter here."

"Did? But Your Majesty, the paper for writing the letter of the Servant is left in the room."

SREK

"Take it then."

Meiger gives Clara a piece of paper without looking at the girl. Clara who intends to take the opportunity to escape instead can not do it.

"Ahaha.thank you, Your Majesty..."

Clara picked up the paper on Meiger's desk and took it to where she was sitting. Clara began to scratch the pen containing black ink onto the paper. Pouring all his complaints in his writing.

...~❁~...

...Mr. Hendrick, I heard that you will be Duke at the beginning of winter. I'm sorry that I couldn't be there at the time, because you know for yourself how Ranunculus would be if I showed up....

...Would you be okay without me?...

...Also, about Allen. Tell him I'm healthy here. Hortensia is different from the Wayne residence, but I also feel lucky to still be able to laugh here....

...I will be back, someday, for sure!...

...Wait me...>_<...

Clara Scoleths^^^^^^

...~❁~...

Unknowingly, Clara pulled the corner of her lips.

It turned out that Meiger could catch that expression. "I didn't know you were that familiar with him."

"The servant also does not know..." Still with her gentle smile Clara said slowly.

Clara rolled up the paper. "Hm, then where can the servant send his letter?" Ask Meiger.

Meiger looked at Clara strangely, "Where? You can send it yourself, you know?"

"Eh? Oh, really..."

I think there's a post office or something...

TUK

"Hng?"

Clara turned her attention to a pigeon that was perched at the window.

I see now, they're all not using the post office but pigeons.

"So..."

"You're just gonna tie your message to his leg. And tell me where your message goes and he'll deliver it." Sahut Meiger who still focuses on the document sheet in his hand.

"It's as it seems."

Clara got up and approached the pigeon. With a ribbon, Clara tied the letter to the foot of the bird.

"Wait a minute, do these pigeons understand what the Servant is saying?" Clara asked, only worried that Meiger was trying to play him.

"Why don't you try it?"

"Try to talk to the pigeons, that's stupid."

Even so, Clara still spoke to the pigeon. It might even get to its destination. "Can you take this to Mr. Hendrick at Wayne's?"

In the next second, the pigeon began to flap its wings and flew towards the east.

"Did he really understand...?"

"Haish. Why not just wait for a reply from that person? If it is answered means the letter arrived."

"Good - good..."

Before he could turn back to his seat, Clara's gaze was fixed on a small building familiar to him through the window. "Pulse... Your Majesty." Call Clara in a whisper.

"Yes?" Without shifting his focus, Meiger answers Clara's call.

"Is the temple still used for prayer?"

Meiger was silent for a moment, he put down the sheet of documents he read. "Maybe it is by some people like Nero. But I haven't visited that temple in a long time."

"Can I pray there?"

"Sure, just go."

"But Your Majesty..."

"Hm?"

"Hamba doesn't know the route to the temple."

...❀...

"This temple does indeed seem to be still in use, because it is very clean."

Clara stared at the small temple before her meticulously. Since he didn't know how to get here, it ended with Meiger dropping him off. To this day Clara admires herself for being able to make an emperor leave her job just to escort her to this place.

"So, you want to pray?"

"Yes." Yeah." Clara answered briefly.

SRETT

Unexpectedly Clara stuck out her hand in a style as if asking. "Your Majesty, the Servant brought nothing. Can I borrow some coins?"

"Huh?" Although astonished, Meiger did not comment further and reached into his pocket to get a piece of coin. Then give it to Clara.

"Thank you!" With a brilliant smile Clara thanked Meiger.

He then approached the temple and placed his coins there. He put his hands together, praying.

I wish I could go home, I could go home, I could go home...

Seeing that, Meiger raised next to his eyebrows. "What you're supposed to offer is a plant or fruit."

After she finished praying, Clara responded to Meiger's comments. "Hamba said it wasn't if he didn't bring anything? So I borrowed a coin from His Majesty. The most important thing is sincerity in prayer."

"As far as you go." Meiger turned around, stepping back towards his study.

"Did? Is Your Majesty really unwilling to pray? It hasn't been a long time since His Majesty's been here?"

"no need. There is no point in hoping for something invisible. What is seen is useless, what is not."

"....."

TB

Yep, here the author will give Meiger backstory briefly because it will not be told in the main story.

When Meiger was a child he often prayed to the temple and he was more diligent to come there even almost every day. It was because he wanted his mother to recover from a severe illness, so he prayed continuously. But his mother's illness was getting worse (although many healers had tried to cure his mother). He rarely visited the temple. And he stopped praying at the temple after his mother died of severe illness. Since then, Meiger no longer believes in the existence of God.

So that's why Meiger never wanted to pray to the temple again.

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See you in the next chapter~