<Chapter 75>

“W-well then…”

Two figures, presumed to be the head butler and head maid, stood at the front of the servants, bowing deeply before Temenos. They trembled so violently they could barely speak.

Watching their reactions, I thought to myself, ‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen anyone react this way.’ Then I casually stepped forward, positioning myself in front of Temenos.

“Introductions can come later. For now, just show us the way. We’re in a bit of a hurry.”

“Oh, y-yes! I’ll lead the way immediately!”

The head butler and head maid sprang into action, moving briskly. I held onto Temenos’ arm and glanced back.

“Monica, Alice. Could you handle unpacking my luggage?”

“Yes, Madam!”

At the same time, Temenos gave orders to his knights.

“Strengthen the estate’s security. If anyone so much as tries to sneak over the wall, catch them and throw them into the dungeon.”

“Understood, Your Grace!”

“Saintess! We’ll also reinforce the security of the estate!”

“Yes, please do. Oh, and the title…”

“Ah, yes! Madam!”

The holy knights corrected themselves as though they had forgotten, and I nodded in approval.

‘We can’t give the Pope any leverage.’

Officially, I was nothing more than a former saintess candidate cast out of the Great Temple.

If word got out that I was still the saintess, there was a high chance they’d drag me back to the Great Temple. So, I had to keep my identity hidden as much as possible.

‘I’ll have to do some investigation at the temple eventually…’

But going alone seems too risky. Asking the holy knights to accompany me feels like inviting trouble. So, the best option might be someone like…

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I was just looking. You’re handsome.”

Temenos nodded once, as if to say, I see, taking my offhanded comment in stride.

‘Is this man going to turn into a narcissist at this rate?’

Honestly, with a face like his, I can’t blame him.

“W-we’ve arrived,” stammered the head butler as he stopped in front of a door at the end of the corridor.

There were no guards stationed outside, and the door wasn’t locked from the outside either. It seemed there hadn’t been an attempt to escape.

‘Well, fleeing from here only to be caught by the Emperor would have made things worse.’

“I’ll go in first.”

Temenos nodded, granting permission. I knocked on the door and called out.

“I’m the homeowner.”

There was silence on the other side.

I stared at the closed door for a moment before knocking again.

“I’m the homeowner. I’m coming in.”

Could it be that they have reassured others only to escape themselves?

Thinking I had waited long enough, I opened the door.

And the scene that greeted me was…

“Alvin, sob! I thought I’d never see you again!”

“It’s alright, Fiona. Nothing can tear us apart now.”

A woman sobbing her heart out and a man holding her tightly.

The two were so engrossed in their tearful reunion that they hadn’t even noticed my presence. I stared at them, trying to recall why these two were reenacting a drama in someone else’s home.

*  *  *

Before arriving in the capital, in the last village before our destination…

Temenos had received news from a black steel knight just as he was lying down to sleep.

“One moment.”

“What is it?”

Temenos relit the lamp he had just extinguished and activated the communication orb.

As he gazed at the pitch-black crystal, he murmured a passphrase. A voice responded from the other side, though no face appeared on the screen.

— “We’ve located Viscount Khodchen’s daughter.”

“What?!”

Startled, I looked at Temenos. The voice from the orb sounded cautious.

— “Your Grace?”

“It’s the Duchess. Pay no mind and continue your report.”

Temenos brought a finger to his lips, motioning for me to stay quiet. I nodded furiously, clasping my hands over my mouth.

‘So I’m allowed to listen in?’

Feeling unexpectedly included, I couldn’t help but feel a little pleased.

Meanwhile, Temenos continued the conversation with the knight through the orb.

Where is she?”

— “She was confined in a remote palace within the imperial grounds. All outside contact was strictly cut off, but there were lapses in surveillance.”

“Of course. Who would think a woman who fled the northern procession would end up confined in the imperial palace?”

It made sense. The Emperor likely never imagined that someone searching for the viscount’s daughter would look in the palace, so he’d let his guard down.

If it weren’t for the divine oracle, we wouldn’t have suspected the Emperor of such a scheme either.

“And contact?”

— “Successfully established. She’s willing to cooperate but has a condition.”

“A condition?”

Temenos frowned. His handsome face furrowed, drawing my attention.

Unable to resist, I reached out and gently stroked the crease on his forehead. He glanced at me briefly before relaxing his expression and resuming the conversation.

“What’s the condition?”

— “She wants to meet her child’s father.”

“Where is he?”

— “She doesn’t know either.”

Wow, what a mess.

— “However, she mentioned that the Emperor implied he held the man’s life in his hands. She’s seen strands of hair as evidence but noted it could easily be fabricated.”

“So unless she sees for herself that the man is safe, she’s resolved to obey the Emperor’s orders.”

— “Should we incapacitate her and extract her forcibly?”

Temenos glanced at me, as if seeking my opinion.

‘Oh, he’s asking for my input? Really?’

A warm, fluttering feeling filled my chest. I quickly set my mind to work.

“Right now, there are rumors circulating about the Duke of Winstein, aren’t there? We’ll need the cooperation of the viscount’s daughter to quash them.”

“You’re saying we meet her condition?”

“Not exactly. We take control of the negotiation.”

If left unchecked, the viscount’s daughter could be coerced into framing Temenos as a philanderer. It would be better to take charge of the situation.

“The Emperor already has the viscount’s daughter in his grasp. Tracking down the child’s father wouldn’t have been difficult.”

Temenos nodded, indicating his agreement.

“If the viscount’s daughter refuses to cooperate even if it means her death, the Emperor would have stationed him in the palace to threaten her by cutting off a few fingers if necessary.”

“……”

“You heard that, right? The child’s father is somewhere in the imperial palace. They’ve probably locked him up in a place like a dungeon. Have the viscount’s daughter describe him and start the search.”

— “Understood. And if we can’t locate him?”

“In that case, extract her regardless. As long as she’s gone, the rumors won’t have a foundation.”

The conversation ended there.

Temenos let out a sigh of relief, then turned to me.

“It seems we can prevent the rumors from spreading for now. Though, I’m not sure how the Emperor will retaliate…… Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just amazed at how casually you discuss such ruthless measures in front of your delicate wife.”

“When did I…”

Realizing what he’d said earlier, Temenos’ voice trailed off. He glanced at me, gauging my reaction, then blinked and feigned innocence.

“Did I say that?”

“You literally talked about cutting fingers!”

“Tsk. How could a noblewoman, a duchess no less, entertain such a gruesome thought?”

Unbelievable. He’s acting as if I’d come up with the idea!

“Seriously, you—”

“Shh. This isn’t exactly the best accommodation, so the walls aren’t soundproof. Let’s keep it quiet and get some sleep.”

Before I could say anything, Temenos pressed down on my shoulder, forcing me onto the bed. Then, as if to make sure I couldn’t get up, he yanked the blanket up to cover me completely and pinned me down with his arm.

“We have to get up early tomorrow morning too. Let’s sleep.”

“But seriously, this is so unfair!”

At my outburst, Temenos let out a deep sigh, like he was dealing with a stubborn kid. Then he grabbed my hand, shoved it under the blanket, and plopped it right on top of his stomach. His eyes seemed to say, “Happy now?” as he looked at me.

*  *  *

Thinking back to that night only made me more frustrated.

‘What does this man think of me, really?’

He’s made me out to be some sort of crazed obsessive!

I narrowed my eyes and glared at him, but he merely sighed and turned toward me, angling his face upward as if to say, Admire me all you want.

‘No, is he seriously going to keep this up until the end…?’

‘I wasn’t staring at you because you’re handsome!’

Just as I was about to retort…

<To be continued>

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