A month later, Hylan no longer felt sorrowful over the gradual decline of the Koen estate. The victim-like thoughts of his home being plundered by external forces had vanished from his mind. With no official news about Koen's current situation and the security bureau investigators refusing to disclose any information to him, Hylan was acutely aware that he had become an irrelevant figure. This was a good thing, and he should be grateful for being cleared of any suspicion of complicity. Especially when he recalled some of Koen's actions, each time he saw workers moving furniture out of the perpetually open front door, he felt no regret. He had long served a man burdened with sins, and now this man had met his deserved fate, and Hylan too had to accept the changes in his life.
Soon, Hylan would leave Stormwind City as well. Considering his years of dedicated study and preaching, the Church had not expelled him. They ordered him to rotate through parishes in remote and war-torn areas to re-establish his qualifications as a clergy member. Once he no longer felt attached to the mansion, he was grateful for this decision, seeing it not as a punishment, but as a rare opportunity. In his youth, he had lived a comfortable yet isolated life due to Koen's favor, never having directly experienced the faith and lives of people in other regions of the Kingdom of Stormwind. Although these places wouldn't have a library as extensive as the one in the Cathedral or a maid gently knocking on his door to remind him to eat, they had everything he now needed most: challenge and change.
The rare manuscripts he was currently studying would not be lent out by the Cathedral. After spending eighteen hours a day for a week making handwritten copies, Hylan felt he was ready.
—Except for one thing. Another person still living in the mansion also needed a change in life. Hylan didn't know which direction this change would take, nor whether he could exert any beneficial influence.
That evening, as part of his farewell, Hylan watered the garden, which had been neglected for days. He hoped that the plants and flowers that had so often brightened his mornings would not meet the fate of being uprooted. Cornwall, whom he hadn't seen in many days, approached him.
"Father Hylan."
"Hello, Mr. Cornwall." After the man came closer, Hylan added, "Please don't address me that way anymore."
"I heard the Church is sending you out of Stormwind City. Have they also demoted you?"
"Yes, I am now just an initiate. It's a very correct decision. I needed some meaningful motivation."
"I don't understand much about that, but since you say so, I wish you good luck."
"Thank you. So, what brings you here today?"
"I've learned of some internal decisions, including those you should know about. Of course, it's technically against the rules to disclose them, but since I promised you, I won't go back on my word."
Hylan had been waiting for these words.
"I am truly grateful to you, Mr. Cornwall," he said. "I will keep it confidential."
"Firstly, it's certain that Duke Koen will be severely punished. For him, the most optimistic outcome would be spending the rest of his life in the Canal Prison, with all his assets confiscated. This house," Cornwall turned to look at the mansion, "will likely be auctioned or demolished after confiscation. Additionally, his several sons-in-law, regardless of their involvement, will never be promoted in military rank or title again. This family is finished."
Hylan suppressed a rising wave of sympathy. Things he didn't understand were not his to judge. More important matters awaited his attention.
"And as for Lady Silveth…"
"She won't be affected. Strictly speaking, the council regards her as non-existent. No punishment, no pursuit, and no compensation either. Soon, she will be forcibly relocated from this mansion, permitted to take only basic living necessities, and thereafter, the council will no longer intervene."
"So one could say she's been freed from this family… and gained her freedom."
"Yes."
"Her life will be difficult. She has no other family and has been isolated from the outside world for many years."
"To leave her like this, to leave Stormwind City, I know you feel uneasy. If I had a say, I would try to persuade those above… but it seems this is the greatest concession they are willing to make."
She is a victim, Hylan swallowed the words. Arguing with Cornwall, the messenger, was unnecessary. In the past, Hylan could have asked the Church to take care of Hilsbeth, but that was no longer possible. An abandoned thought resurfaced in his mind: contacting Panthonia Shawl to confirm his thoughts. But accompanying this idea was a wave of uncontrollable unease, even fear.
"In fact… telling you these things is secondary. I have something more important to discuss, concerning Lady Hilsbeth."
"Please go ahead. I need all the opinions regarding her."
"You are not the only one who wishes to help her. From my few interactions with her, I've already understood why she deserves help. She is too kind for the world she has inadvertently entered. Even without mentioning that, no ordinary woman should have to go through such things. This investigation into Koen is meant to root out evil, but if we can't help the primary victim, what's the point? I've decided to temporarily take on the responsibility of looking after her."
"What do you plan to do?"
"My wife and I have discussed it, and we've decided to bring her to our home. We don't intend to have her do any work, of course, but once the turbulent period has passed, everything will be as she wishes."
"This… is truly unexpected."
"It is, even for me, but I believe it's the right decision. Honestly, it will benefit my wife and me as well. For so many years, it's just been the two of us at home, and from our ages, Lady Hilsbeth is like a daughter to us. I just wanted to be honest with you, even though saying this might make you question our motives."
"That's not the case. I think…"
Hylan stopped. He hadn't been able to properly digest this news. He had never thought in this direction: that aside from himself, someone else would be willing to care for Hilsbeth at this moment. He quickly realized this was, in fact, a display of selfishness and jealousy. He recalled how foolishly he had imagined a happy future for Hilsbeth in his mind, and how, after stopping Koen's actions, he had exhausted himself in fleeing due to his own powerlessness. He felt restless and ashamed; in some ways, his understanding was laughably naive. However, this didn't make him trust Cornwell's proposal.
"I trust you and your wife," he said, "but Lady Hilsbeth's wishes are most important."
"Of course. This is still just our unilateral decision. In fact, I plan to talk to her about it now. Is that okay?"
"Now?"
"Do you think it's inconvenient?"
"No, I mean… it's not inconvenient. Could I talk to your wife first?"
"Don't worry about that. For the sake of both sides, if my wife had any complaints, I wouldn't have made this suggestion."
"I don't know where your home is."
"You can get the address from the security bureau."
Hylan knew he was not Hilsbeth's guardian and had no right to ask so many questions. Cornwall had helped Hylan a lot over time, and what he said now made sense, but when he turned toward the mansion door, Hylan suddenly felt uneasy. This did not come from experience or conjecture, but merely from a premonition. He had cared for Hilsbeth for many years, and despite the lingering shame he felt, he still could not let go.
"Mr. Cornwall." He caught up with him. "I will go with you to see her."
"This isn't right. Frankly, this is a personal matter, and when talking to her, some private family matters will come up."
"I don't intend to interfere. After all, Hilsbeth is familiar with me, and having me there should help her make a decision."
Cornwall seemed unwilling to speak further and did not stop walking. His shoulder brushed against Hylan. Hylan hurried to block the door.
"Sorry, Lady Hilsbeth needs an environment that will truly stabilize her. I will visit your home tomorrow, learn more, and then discuss this matter. For now, please go back."
After saying this, Hylan realized a grave mistake was happening. It wasn't anyone's fault, but an irreconcilable conflict. Beneath the discussion of how to care for Hilsbeth, something else was hidden, and his words had shattered the barrier to that reality. Cornwall struck Hylan with a punch; before Hylan could get up, the other man had both hands around his neck. Hylan felt Cornwall applying all his strength from the start, then slightly loosening his grip as if uncertain of the sensation in his hands, only to tighten his fingers again. Hylan expected to see an angry, vicious face, but Cornwall's expression was one of fear, as if he wasn't strangling someone, but rather clinging to a branch at the edge of a cliff while his lower body hung over the abyss.
This, too, is a change, Hylan told himself with the last of his thoughts. He no longer wished to see Cornwell's pained face. He averted his gaze to the window of Hilsbeth's room on the third floor, but soon he could no longer see anything clearly.
Cornwall did not want to do this. He hadn't even considered that he would. He had hoped to take Hilsbeth away without arousing suspicion through a friendly conversation. But when Hylan told him to leave, the key issue was that suspicion had already arisen. Cornwall didn't have time to waste. It had taken him a long period of self-torment to finally make up his mind, and today was the last deadline. He realized that committing murder was far less terrifying than the fantasy of being murdered himself.
Four days ago, Cornwall had returned home to find the person he least wanted to meet over the years sitting in his living room. He didn't dare take another step forward. He didn't dare sit down. He didn't even wonder why his wife wasn't home.
"You know who I am. I have something to discuss with you, Cornwall," the person said. "But before that, let me first tell you that Duke Koen died last night. This is the weapon that killed him."
He placed a sheathed dagger on the table beside him.
"Everyone agrees that this is the best solution. Look, Duke Koen attempted to escape during his house arrest, violently resisted, and was killed. This demonstrates his evil nature and disregard for the law, and it's the end he deserved. This story will be told to the public once all the cleanup is done. You're part of that cleanup.
"Don't be alarmed. No one intends to kill you, at least not right now. As long as you cooperate, you'll live a long life, and live it well.
"A few years ago, one of your reports almost cost me my current position. Koen used your report to blackmail me. Those are some terrible memories. Now that Koen is dead, killing you immediately would be the simplest and most logical thing, but I'm not going to do that. After all, you've recently taken up with a rather well-connected young lover. Without you, she might go mad. In any case, Polunius has done me some favors in the past, so there's no need, nor do I intend, to push that young girl to the brink. But as for you, there must be some resolution, because you know too much.
"Now I'll tell you what you should do. You don't have the right to ask questions. As long as I haven't told you to speak, keep your mouth shut.
"I'm going to have you and Sylvia sent somewhere else. To the people of Stormwind City, you and she will have suddenly disappeared. There's a house waiting for you in a village in Westfall, already prepared. Beneath the bedroom floor is a stash of gold coins. You will start a new life there under different identities and forget everything about the past. For you, there really isn't a better choice. Not only will you survive and be with that young girl every day, but you'll also be rid of the wife who's been a burden to you for over twenty years. As for her, I'll take care of it; you don't have to worry.
"To live this kind of life, you must do one more thing for me. Take care of Hilsbeth. Of course, she'll have a new identity too. Remember, one of her fingers is more important than both of your lives combined. My people will be monitoring you for a long time, so don't try anything. Maybe one day you can return to Stormwind City, but until then, just do as I say. Understood?"
If it weren't for the prior warning, Cornwall would have asked questions. Perhaps the council wouldn't openly investigate Hilsbeth, but there would inevitably be someone willing to do so. Rather than say he would expose what happened seven years ago, it was more accurate to say that Hilsbeth posed a greater threat to this person. In the past, Cornwall hadn't understood the situation between this person and Hilsbeth, and now, he couldn't begin to guess the motives behind the request to take care of her.
But none of this concerned Cornwall. He had nothing to consider beyond following orders. He even found himself feeling a deep sense of gratitude toward this person.