Chapter Text
Sometimes I fear it is the nature of the living to forget gratitude. That no matter the hand offered-someday it will be taken advantage of. I don't know if Mother would be proud or ashamed of such thoughts. Nonetheless I have them.
Rhea took a deep breath. She would maintain her composure through this meeting. Through the years she had learned skills to do so. Yet the one thing that always seemed to make her snap was her mother. She would not snap today. Today was not a day for Rhea or Seiros, but the political archbishop.
She stood as a knock sounded on the door. It was time.
“Lady Rhea, Lord Varley is here.” a knight called.
“Please enter.” Rhea walked around her desk towards the door.
The doors opened and in walked the younger of the two Varley brothers. While the elder was the current head of the house with two sons to secure an heir, it was clear he was still close to his brother. Of course Joanna's father had to be related to the family maintaining relations between the church and the empire.
“Good day Your Grace.” Lord Varley dipped his head.
“Good day to you as well Lord Varley. Come take a seat.” Rhea motioned to the chairs in front of her desk while she moved to her seat behind it.
Rhea settled into her seat as Lord Varley got comfortable. No matter what happened today, Rhea knew there were going to be repercussions from this conversation. The question was going to be to who lost their temper first.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me Your Grace. I have a problem I fear only you may be able to assist with.” Lord Varley said-elegant and poised, but there was no humility in those eyes.
“I believe I may have been informed, but please tell me. I would like to hear the whole story.” Rhea sat tall in her chair.
“As you may have heard, my concern relates to my daughter Joanna.” Lord Varley began sounding like a dear concerned father, “She was recently upset over a conversation we had. Afterwards, and I do not know what possessed her to do so, but she ran away from home. She is staying here at the monastery. I am glad she is safe-you have my deepest gratitude for that. However, it is time she returned home.”
If Rhea were a more naive woman, she might have thought he sounded genuine. If she were more concerned about saving the face of nobility, she might have accepted his story. If she had less pride in her church, clergy, and Eucharis maybe she might have entertained a compromise. But she was not that woman, and Lord Varley seemed to forget who he was dealing with.
“I must ask what the argument you had was about?” Rhea asked keeping her composure even and polite.
Lord Varley signed in a good imitation of shame, “I believe it started over a discussion regarding a potential marriage partner. However, I fear it devolved from there and I cannot recall into what.”
“I see. Now then can you please tell me of the incident I heard about 10 days ago?” Rhea asked looking straight into his eyes.
Lord Varley stiffened for a moment before returning to faux shame, “I fear rumors may have reached your ears Archbishop. Allow me to set them straight. When I heard Joanna was here I could not contain myself and came to find her. While attempting to speak with my daughter a rude young nun attempted to spirit off with her. I followed out of concern and this petulant child began to scream at me. Soon she had others roped in by her fake hysterics.”
“So that is how you say the events unfolded.”
“No saying about it-that is what happened.” Lord Varley said with just a trickle of venom leaking into his voice.
Rhea could feel the annoyance creeping up. Clearly this man had experience in sweeping things under the rug. Pretty words and a show of rehearsed emotion. Twisting a story to have a singular scapegoat. The perfect story for someone inclined to believe him. Or looking for an excuse to believe him.
He sat across from her composed and without doubt. What had happened to the empire that such individuals acted with impunity? The once proud empire she and Wilhelm had built seemed more and more overrun with blowhards with each passing generation.
“So you are informing me that half a dozen nuns, an acolyte, 10 church goers, and the captain of the Knight of Seiros were all mistaken?” Rhea asked, raising her eyebrows.
Lord Varley frowned. He was not expecting this turn to the conversation, “Yes, I fear that young nun was quite an expert at creating a sham of a scene.”
“And the punch the captain of the knights caught that was directed at a nun half your size?”
“I was merely gesturing to explain myself.”
“Then the captain's description must be incorrect. After all it indicated far more force than you must have used.”
All pleasantness suddenly dropped from Lord Varley's face, “Look is it a higher donation to the church you're after? If so, that can be arranged.”
Check and mate. Rhea knew she had the upper hand going into this meeting, but she did not expect Lord Varley to work himself so thoroughly into a corner.
Rhea allowed herself a frown, “I will ignore this blatant attempt to buy the church's favor. However I can provide little assistance to your other problem.”
“Yes you can. Just send her home. I'm not asking for this for nothing. Send her back and I'll make sure to increase the donations, from multiple houses, and further discussions regarding relations.”
If Rhea had to deal with more than the occasional fool like this she feared she would stoop to just start punching them.
“The best I can do is offer to facilitate a meeting between yourself and Sister Joanna.” Rhea stood from her desk, “I am limited to this due to your attempt to forcibly remove a nun from our halls, do bodily harm to another, and bribe the church.”
Rhea walked to the door and opened it, “If you would like to schedule such a meeting, please submit a written request.”
Lord Varley glared with a fury Rhea hadn't seen matched in some time. He stood and began to walk out, pausing only long enough to hiss, “You'll regret that.”
Perhaps she would, but she'd regret the shame if she had given in to such a man far more. And he seemed to forget, there were few more powerful enemies he could make than her. Lord Varley left her office without another word. However as he approached the doors to the chamber, Eucharis entered. Even at this distance, Rhea's hackles began to rise as Lord Varley glowered at the nun. Eucharis seemed unfazed. If anything, knowing that girl, she decided that politeness would add insult to injury as she held the door for him. His back was to Rhea now. She had no idea if he said anything to Eucharis before leaving, but she kept her steady composure.
Eucharis watched him go, finally letting the door close when he must have been out of sight. Only then did she walk over to Rhea in her office.
“Your timing is poor.” Rhea said walking back to her desk.
“I can agree to that.” Eucharis said sitting across from Rhea.
“This is becoming a consistent problem.” Rhea commented.
“Not intentionally.” Eucharis said puffing her cheeks slightly.
Normally Rhea would chuckle, but days like today drove home the danger of politics. Based on how Lord Varley had tried to scapegoat her-in his head Eucharis was to blame.
“You should reduce how often you seek me out.” Rhea said. She couldn't let Eucharis be put in any more danger, “It gives the impression I greatly favor you.”
“But I am your favorite.” Eucharis said matter of factly.
Even Rhea couldn't resist an amused smile. There was no hesitation in Eucharis's voice, and that somehow made it more endearing. Rhea could admit she would always favor the attempted vessels. Though most people she favored at least pretended to have a bit of humility. If only being close to Rhea wasn't a dangerous position.
“Nonetheless you should strive to remember your manners.” Rhea said. Even if Eucharis had enough charm that most people would overlook her audacious behavior.
“If it makes you feel better, I came to talk about something like that.” Eucharis said sitting straighter in her chair.
“What would that be?”
Eucharis took a breath and started, “I know you are still upset about the last incident. I worried you and I am sorry for that. So I thought to make it up to you I would volunteer to help with some of the special services for the Goddess's Rite of Rebirth.”
Rhea blinked, unsure what to say.
“I know it's still a few moons away, but the set up and practice for the choir performances, scripture readings, and other ceremonial duties can take months right?” Eucharis met Rhea's gaze, “I would like to help if you'd give me the chance.”
Rhea had always been careful with Eucharis on the Rite of Rebirth. In the past she had always asked the girl to pray hoping it might awaken Sothis. She had even attempted an awakening ritual to no effect. She had never tried integrating her into the church services for fear of losing sight of her should Sothis stir. However, Eucharis was not going to awaken. Rhea could hardly refuse a volunteer given the amount of work needed to prepare every year.
“Very well,” Rhea said, “I will add you to the list.”
Eucharis beamed, “Thanks Rhea.”