“What? Who’s here?”

Earl Odor was startled when he heard the news from the butler. He had been welcoming Grand Duke Dimidius without a single mistake so far, but the butler’s hesitant approach had already made him uneasy. It was truly a big deal.

Of all things, his cute little niece who knew little about the ways of the world had come without any notice.

Under normal circumstances, he would have welcomed her with open arms even if she came unannounced, but it was impossible now. Earl Odor’s attention was entirely focused on Dimidius, who had come to make a deal.

Dimidius, who was drinking tea with him, noticed the darkening of Earl Odor’s complexion and asked in a puzzled voice,

“Is something the matter?”

At that brief question, all sorts of thoughts raced through Earl Odor’s mind.

‘Should I be honest and ask for her understanding?’

‘No. Even if my niece is disappointed, it’s better to send her somewhere else.’

‘There are many beautiful villas around.’

In the end, having made up his mind to face his niece’s resentment, Earl Odor spoke calmly with the same expression as when he first greeted him.

“It’s nothing, Your Highness. By the way, is the jasmine tea to your liking?”

He naturally changed the subject as well. His body trembled involuntarily when facing him, but he tried his best not to show it.

Dimidius closely watched the butler, who had received something from Earl Odor and quickly left the garden.

Earl Odor said it was nothing, but Dimidius could guess what news the butler had told the earl.

He had instructed Killen to keep an eye on that woman with strong divine power, and Killen had just informed him of her whereabouts.

‘She has arrived at Earl Odor’s residence.’

Dimidius grinned, thinking that things were getting interesting.

A vast jasmine field stretched out, with white flowers swaying like gentle waves.

Olentia shook her head, making her hair flutter, and entered the villa. The villa, located right in front of the jasmine field, was a small and pretty space built for her uncle, Earl Jack Odor, to take a brief rest when he came to check the condition of the herb fields himself.

The living room had full-length windows on all sides except one wall, and a velvet-decorated leather sofa was placed in the center, basking in the sunlight.

A triangular crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, but during the day, the sunlight coming through the windows was sufficient without turning on the lights.

As soon as she entered the villa, Olentia lay straight on the huge sofa and breathed. It was fine to relax a bit since it was just her and Bobby.

A little later, around the time when the sun was slowly setting towards the west.

Earl Odor arrived at the villa.

His thick hair fluttered heavily, and his large, round eyes were downcast.

As soon as he saw Olentia, Earl Odor clasped his hands together pleadingly.

“Olentia! My dear niece! I’m so sorry.”

Olentia and Jack Odor were quite friendly with each other.

Olentia sat up and crossed her arms tightly. Her coy expression was a bonus.

“I’m disappointed in you, Uncle! Putting me in a villa quite far from the main house, not even the mansion. It’s been so long since I’ve come.”

“That’s… It’s partly your fault too. What if you come without notice?”

Olentia quickly relaxed her expression, worried that her uncle might really be upset. She had meant it as a joke.

“Of course it’s my fault. If it weren’t for Grand Duke Belial’s visit, you would have welcomed me anytime.”

Only then did Jack Odor open his mouth in admiration.

“That’s right! Niece! You understand my heart!”

“Enough with the nonsense. Uncle, I have something I’m curious about!”

“I’m quite curious about many things too. What brings you here in the first place? It’s been 3 years since your debutante ball, so you’re managing all your inheritance now, right?”

She didn’t expect the topic of inheritance to come up so soon.

There were many things she wanted to ask about Archbishop Werbu’s whereabouts and Dimidius, but it seemed Earl Odor also had many questions.

Olentia was slightly flustered and hesitated for a moment before answering honestly.

“Well… First of all, it seems like Big Brother Sokol has no intention of easily returning my inheritance. I came all the way here because I’m in a position to be forcibly married.”

The more Olentia spoke, the more Earl Odor’s face hardened.

Only after explaining in detail to her uncle could Olentia finally catch her breath.

“…Anyway, that’s why I’m here. It’s so hard. Is this what it feels like to be interrogated?”

“Interrogation, my foot! I’ll go to Count Armeniaca right now!”

As Jack Odor got up from his seat in excitement, Olentia pulled on his frock coat.

“If you intervene, Uncle, it will only complicate matters further. It’s the Armeniaca family’s affair anyway, so there’s no way for you to help.”

“I can find you a good husband, not someone like Viscount Luxus. You said they promised to return your inheritance along with a dowry if you get married. Verbal contracts also have legal effect. My dear niece.”

“I know that too. But I don’t want to get married unless it’s to someone I like.”

“This uncle will find someone you like! Although I don’t know if there will be a man worthy of our pretty niece.”

“Uncle!”

Feeling the warmth of family affection after a long time, Olentia’s heart felt warm.

She hugged Earl Odor while still seated.

“But… I don’t like someone introduced by you, Uncle.”

At Olentia’s words, Earl Odor flinched for a moment.

“Why?”

“It’s uncomfortable in many ways to marry someone introduced by family.”

She didn’t want to get married based on conditions. The romance of a love marriage also existed in her heart.

On a night with a bright moon.

“I talked so much about myself. I couldn’t properly find out why Archbishop Werbu came to Orod.”

Olentia muttered as she wandered around the fragrant jasmine field. She had finished the lavish dinner her uncle had prepared for her, and her body felt heavy, so she went for a walk.

Through the conversation with her uncle, Olentia found out where Archbishop Werbu was staying. The archbishop was currently at the Odor Cathedral. As an archbishop, it was perhaps natural for him to stay at the cathedral. She had also expected it.

‘What happened at Odor Cathedral? Is that why the archbishop came down? For the archbishop to come, it must be a big deal….’

When she carefully asked the earl, he avoided answering.

‘My dear niece. That’s something you don’t need to know. Let’s just go to Odor Cathedral with me tomorrow. I think I can at least help you greet the archbishop.’

Instead, when he offered such great help, Olentia eagerly accepted the proposal.

She didn’t forget to give a thumbs up, saying, Thank you, Uncle!

After that, Earl Odor left, saying he was going to have dinner.

Olentia, wearing a pure white dress, twirled around. She felt refreshed wearing a light dress with few ruffles at the hem.

That’s when it happened.

She saw a flickering white light in the woods near the jasmine field. Just like a mirage rising on the road.

“Oh my! What is that?”

At first, she thought she saw the moonlight shattering in white. But it was completely different from the moonlight. It wasn’t pouring down from the sky, but a white light emanating from the forest.

‘Is such a thing possible?’

Olentia stepped from where the scent of jasmine was vibrating to a place full of the scent of grass. Her body was naturally drawn to where the light was coming from.

Step by step.

It was strange that she wasn’t afraid to walk through the woods alone. Even the linden trees that filled the forest seemed to become her friends.

Following the light, Olentia stopped when she saw the white light gathered in one place.

There, flowers that looked like sunflowers, which she had never seen before, were swaying with a huge halo of light. It was as if they were dancing on their own.

Fascinated by the sight, Olentia exclaimed,

“Wow! I’ve never seen these flowers before. Are there flowers that emit light?”

She thought it was possible since the world of flowers was infinite. She was just amazed to see it for the first time.

At that moment, the Pietà bracelet glowed white and vibrated slightly from side to side.

And an unfamiliar voice was heard.

Startled, Olentia looked around.

“What, what is it?”

It was clearly a voice heard in her mind, not in her ears. Although it was a long time ago, when she was 12 years old and about to fall down the stairs, she had heard the divine voice, and it gave her goosebumps all over her body. It was amazing. It was as if electricity was flowing through her fingers, and her eyes were wide open.

“No way. Did I just hear the voice of a god? Pietà!”

Olentia looked at the Pietà bracelet. The bracelet that had been emitting a white light now looked ordinary. But what had just happened was definitely real.

‘What happened? Is the Pietà working now?’

When she was 12, she felt the power of the bracelet about three times, and now she was 23. It had been almost 11 years.

While Olentia was briefly dazed, a low chanting voice was heard toward her.

“…Lady.”

‘What is this sound again?’

Olentia was startled again and turned her body back.

“Gasp!”

The person who suddenly appeared beside her was Grand Duke Dimidius Belial, who, for some reason, had the same destination.

“Y-Your Highness, the Grand Duke?”

Olentia’s eyes widened. She felt as if a grumpy deer was running around in her chest. She was already excited because of the Pietà bracelet, and she thought Dimidius might have seen the sight.

It was only after taking a deep breath and calming her heart that Olentia looked at Dimidius with puzzlement.

‘By the way, why is Your Highness here?’

Dimidius was wearing a long black cloak and leather boots shaped like leaves. The bauta mask he wore as usual felt eerie today.

Perhaps it was because they encountered each other deep in the woods.

‘No. Something’s strange. This is a restricted area… It seems like Your Highness came here secretly.’

Unlike Olentia, Dimidius was a formally invited guest at the earl’s residence. So if a guest were to go outside the earl’s residence, there should have been Earl Odor or a knight of the earl’s family around.

But seeing that there was none, Dimidius must have come secretly. For what reason, she did not know.