The Cardinal's office in the Congregation of Doctrine and Faith remained lit late into the night.

Marcenus was at his desk, sifting through stacks of documents. For now, his focus shifted away from the papers.

He was waiting for a certain enigmatic nun.

Roman had suggested setting a trap, but Marcenus had a slightly different approach in mind. Before fabricating charges, he wanted to test Elise’s true intentions.

Even if she turned out to be an adversary, she could be a formidable ally if swayed to his side. Elise’s mysterious power would undoubtedly serve the greater cause.

This could be a waste of time or a tedious endeavor.

Still, Marcenus couldn’t shake the impression he’d gotten earlier that day. During their conversation, Elise’s eyes had mirrored his own—a gaze filled with skepticism toward the current state of affairs.