The Lady Nun Vows Revenge - Chapter 35: Chapter 35

When Nolan first returned, Ross and the others assumed his condition hadn't acted up.
But now, taking a closer look, they noticed his eyes were still bloodshot, and his face was unusually pale.
Nolan nodded calmly. His mind had settled, but his body always showed lingering symptoms after an attack. It made sense that Ross had noticed.
Ross and the others exchanged stunned glances.
"That fast? How long was it this time?" Ross's voice carried a note of disbelief—mixed with cautious excitement.
Their reaction wasn't without reason. In the past, Nolan's episodes lasted at least three hours at their shortest. The worst ones dragged on for an entire day and night.
But today, it was less than an hour.
Ross suddenly had a thought. His eyes lit up. "Could it be that Lawrence's medicine is finally working?"
Nolan considered it for a moment, then shook his head. "Probably not."
He knew his own condition well enough. He had been taking Lawrence's prescription for nearly half a year. If it were truly working, he would have noticed a gradual improvement—not this sudden, drastic change.
Then, Nolan's gaze flickered as he recalled something—Eliza's voice, reciting scripture in that clear, steady tone.
If anything had an effect, he thought perhaps it was the content of what Eliza had been reciting.
After returning to Hasen City, Nolan visited Holy Cross Monastery several times, always seeking prayers when he felt an episode coming on. He listened to the priests' chants and made generous offerings, hoping for some relief.
This time had been no different. But before the priest could even finish, the pain became unbearable.
He had left in a rush, barely aware of where he was going—until he found himself by the stream behind the mountain. That was where he had run into Eliza.
Thinking of Eliza, Nolan asked absently, "Have the medical books I asked Lawrence to find arrived yet?"
Ross scratched his head, confused by the sudden change of topic. "Yeah, they got to Hasen City yesterday afternoon."
"Good. Let's head back." Nolan nodded.
Ross blinked. "Already? But, Prince Nolan, don't you usually stay longer after an episode?"
Nolan didn't slow his stride. "No need."
The priests had prayed for him countless times, and yet today, Eliza's quiet recitation had done more for him than all their chanting combined.
He thought maybe he should have her pray for him instead. Let her rack up favors, then repay them one by one.
The only issue was that Saint Grace Nunnery didn't allow men to visit freely. He'd have to find another way.
As he walked, a thought crossed his mind. His lips curved slightly, an amused glint flashing in his eyes.
The next morning, Nolan arrived at Saint Grace Nunnery with the medical books.
The gates were still shut. He knocked. No answer.
He knocked again and again. Finally, after his fifth attempt, a voice called out from inside.
"Saint Grace Nunnery is preparing for the Holy Lady's prayer ceremony for the nation. We're closed for a month. If you wish to visit, please come back another time."
Nolan responded evenly, "Please wait. I'm not here for a visit. I've been assigned to oversee the preparations for the Holy Lady's prayer ceremony."
There was a brief pause before the voice inside asked, "Are you Prince Nolan?"
"Yes," he said with a nod.
Only then did the gates of Saint Grace Nunnery open. Since Nolan had previously escorted Eliza here under royal orders, the nuns all recognized him. The Reverend who greeted him didn't question his words.
Not that she needed to—Nolan wasn't lying. Just yesterday, he had gone to the palace and volunteered for this duty. The king had found his sudden request odd but approved it nonetheless.
So, in an official capacity, Nolan was indeed here for the ceremony.
"Serenity is in the main hall with Reverend Mary Mendoza for morning prayers. Please wait outside for a moment, Prince Nolan," the nun told him.
That "moment" stretched into a full half-hour. Nolan had never waited this long for anyone before.
When Eliza finally emerged behind Mary, her eyes immediately landed on him—leaning lazily against a pillar, looking half-asleep.
She hadn't expected him to arrive so early. Mary also spotted Nolan and frowned slightly.
Eliza quickly explained, "Prince Nolan is here to deliver some medical books. I had asked him to bring a few for me."
Mary looked at her in surprise. "You want to study medicine, huh?"
Eliza offered a casual excuse. "After morning prayers and blessings on the mountain, I have plenty of free time. I figured I might as well read something useful instead of sitting around."
"Have you studied it before?" Mary asked.
Eliza shook her head sheepishly. "No, I haven't."
Hearing that, Mary assumed it was nothing more than a passing interest. A flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes before she quickly masked it.
"Well, if you want to read, go ahead," she said. Then, her gaze shifted back to Nolan. "But... don't get too close to this man."
Eliza nodded obediently. "I understand. I won't think about anything else."
As the youngest at Saint Grace Nunnery, she was still undergoing training under Mary.
Mary hesitated for a moment, as if about to say something more, but in the end, she simply sighed, "As long as you understand."
With that, she turned and left.
Eliza glanced at Nolan again, only to find that at some point, he had opened his eyes and was staring at her intently.
There was something about his gaze that made her feel a little unsettled. Steeling herself, Eliza stepped forward. "Prince Nolan, sorry to have kept you waiting."
Nolan didn't respond right away. It had been a long wait, but since they hadn't agreed on a specific time, he let it slide.
Instead, he handed her the books. "See if these are what you wanted."
Eliza took them, surprised. "You brought this many?"
There were five in total, all filled with handwritten annotations—clearly someone's personal study notes. One was a comprehensive herbal guide, exactly what she had hoped for the most.
Excited, Eliza flipped through a few pages before carefully tucking them away. In high spirits, she looked up at Nolan. "Thank you! I really appreciate this. You mentioned yesterday that you needed my help with something. What is it?"
Nolan studied her for a moment before the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "Yes," he said. "There is something I need your help with. If you're free now, come with me to the back mountain."