Olentia was momentarily in deep contemplation.

‘Should I tell him about what happened with the Crown Prince? Or should I not?’

Thinking about Dimidius, who didn’t seem to have a good relationship with the Crown Prince, it felt awkward to tell him. Besides, she felt there was no need to share everything with Dimidius. After all, he was also hiding many things while saying it was nothing at the end of every sentence.

Olentia swallowed her saliva and said to Dimidius.

“I just walked along the corridor for a while. There were many people asking all sorts of questions.”

Dimidius finally nodded as if agreeing.

“Indeed, it was quite bothersome.”

“Then shall we leave now? There are so many people anyway, I don’t think anyone will notice if we slip away in the middle.”

But Dimidius hesitated for a moment and then spoke in a low voice.

“Don’t you want to watch the fireworks? Isn’t that hill high enough to get a good view of the imperial capital?”

What made the National Foundation Day ball special was that at the end of the ball, people would ride carriages up the hill and set off fireworks. It was originally a place that couldn’t be visited as it was inside the imperial palace, but it could only be viewed during the National Foundation Day ball.

Olentia had the experience of watching it about twice. Both times she watched it with her cousin and his wife, so it wasn’t particularly impressive.

‘Could it be that His Grace the Grand Duke wants to go because it’s been three years since the National Foundation Day ball?’

She thought it could be possible since the atmosphere was quite romantic.

Olentia looked up at Dimidius and said.

“Alright. Let’s stay and watch until the end.”

Since Dimidius wasn’t the type to honestly say what he wanted, Olentia decided to just go along with it.

At Olentia’s words, Dimidius readily nodded.

“Very well.”

It seemed Dimidius really wanted to watch the fireworks as she thought. But it was quite unexpected as she didn’t know he was interested.

At that moment, Count Odor approached them with a smile. Olentia was so glad that she broke into a wide smile.

“Uncle! How have you been?”

Then Count Odor told her in detail everything that had happened in the Odor territory.

“Ankedo was executed, Moring returned to the workshop to work, and the Odor territory church has regained peace. Fortunately, right?”

Olentia clapped her hands slightly, thinking that the time she was in the Odor territory felt like a dream.

Clap clap!

“It’s a perfect ending.”

“You just need to have a good married life.”

“I’m not a child anymore. Don’t worry about that.”

Olentia felt uncomfortable thinking she was deceiving her uncle, but there was no other way. If it was revealed that it was a contract marriage, it would surely face criticism within the empire. In the Bonus Empire, marriage was considered very sacred.

She linked arms with Dimidius and walked around here and there. She specially went up to the nobles attending the wedding reception to greet them.

People still gave Dimidius gazes mixed with disgust and admiration. While there were those who wanted to approach, there were also those who subtly avoided him.

How confused must he be in the midst of that?

Olentia tried to check if he was alright for a moment, but soon turned her head away. His face couldn’t be seen anyway since he was wearing a mask. The bauta mask seemed to create a wall between Dimidius and herself.

Late at night, several carriages began to move together. They were going up the tall hill in the imperial palace.

Olentia pouted her lips while riding in the carriage that was particularly rattling as it went up the hill road. The nobles’ gazes towards Dimidius still felt unpleasant.

Dimidius noticed Olentia like that and asked curiously.

“Is something the matter? You don’t look pleased.”

Olentia slowly shook her head and then opened her eyes clearly.

“It’s not… nothing. I’m wondering if Your Grace is alright.”

If she couldn’t check his expression, she thought she should at least ask. She wasn’t the type to just endure frustration.

At her question, Dimidius tilted his head.

“Is there any particular reason I wouldn’t be alright?”

“Are you asking me? Hmm. Sometimes people’s gazes aren’t very good. On the other hand, there are also people who rush over like opportunists. I wanted to ask if that’s really okay.”

Then Dimidius fell silent for a moment. He didn’t say anything until the carriage reached the top of the hill. Time seemed to pass very slowly.

But as soon as the carriage door opened, he held out his hand to Olentia and said.

“Thank you for asking. Lady Olentia, you are truly an honest and warm person.”

Olentia quietly looked at the hand Dimidius held out. She thought anyone who watched Dimidius today would think the same.

‘So I’m not particularly honest and warm…’

She took Dimidius’ hand and said as she got out on the ground.

“You flatter me, Your Grace.”

“I’m alright, so you don’t need to worry. I’m used to all kinds of gazes.”

But Dimidius didn’t let go of her hand. Olentia wiggled her hand while looking up at the night sky where the festival had begun. She hoped he would let go now, but he quietly said while watching the fireworks being set off.

“It’s a moment when divine power is needed.”

Now of all times? At this moment?

Olentia thought it was strange, but she couldn’t not give it to him when he said he needed it.

The night sky was adorned with splendid and beautiful fireworks. Whenever the fireworks exploded with a bang, people’s shoulders shook and they let out childlike laughter.

It was always such a romantic sight. She thought it was as magnificent as the waves of divine power.

Dimidius held Olentia’s hand tightly and said.

“No one will say anything about holding hands, so I think it was good to have a contract marriage.”

Olentia laughed absurdly.

“An unmarried man and woman holding hands in a place like this would be suspicious.”

“I’ll search well for the next 5 months. For someone to convey divine power to.”

“Please do that.”

She thought the situation was too romantic while talking about their contract marriage. Olentia swallowed and touched her lips with her free hand. For some reason, it felt like her mouth was stiffening.

Dimidius glanced at Olentia like that and rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. As the warm energy spread out, Olentia flinched and said to him.

“If you’re going to hold it, hold it plainly. Okay?”

“Can’t I hold it as I please?”

Dimidius immediately refuted. It was a voice full of dissatisfaction. At times like this, it seemed he revealed his emotions as they were.

“No, it’s weird no matter what. Rubbing it!”

“Don’t feel every little thing, Lady Olentia.”

“What? Who felt it? Are you going to keep doing this?”

Olentia bickered with him as she watched the fireworks. She thought it was less awkward to fight.

The next day, morning.

“Where are you going? Miss?”

Bobby widened her eyes and looked at Olentia in the room. Even though the door was closed, Olentia whispered in a small voice.

“I said I’m going to meet the saint. This is a secret.”

“Didn’t you say it was a meeting arranged by His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“That’s right.”

“I wonder why His Highness the Crown Prince did that? That’s what I’m curious about.”

“I’m curious too. Is it because she’s my cousin’s wife? No, but they didn’t seem to get along well.”

Olentia muttered as she tilted her head, then was startled upon seeing the clock.

“Ah! At this rate, I’ll be late! Let’s go for now.”

Olentia moved to the carriage stop with Bobby. The plan was to pretend to go to a boutique on Gold Street and then slip away to a bakery cafe.

Inside the carriage, Bobby spoke in a curious voice.

“Why are you hiding it from His Grace the Grand Duke?”

Olentia scratched her head and said with a blank face.

“Well… because it would only be a headache to let him know.”

“It’s not some affair already, right? Even though it’s a contract marriage, you have to be careful with your actions.”

“Bobby! What nonsense are you saying! I’m here to see the saint.”

When Olentia jumped up, Bobby shut her mouth. She didn’t know why the moment she met the Crown Prince briefly at the National Foundation Day ball came to mind at the mention of an affair.

After a while, the Grand Ducal House’s carriage stopped in front of the boutique. Olentia naturally got out of the carriage and then moved to the bakery cafe across the street. This bakery cafe was the most famous cafe on Gold Street, a place where many people came and went. Dozens of breads and cakes were displayed in the showcase, and the aroma of coffee and tea was fantastic.

Olentia conveyed the exact words she heard from Legalis to the woman who seemed to be the cafe owner.

“One fig cheesecake, please.”

It wasn’t fig season now as it was spring, and there was no fig cheesecake in the showcase. This was like some kind of code.

At Olentia’s words, the owner smiled and guided her inside. Olentia stopped walking after stepping on the velvet carpet and walking down the corridor. The owner opened a door on one side.

“This is the place. Have a pleasant time.”

Olentia nodded as indifferently as possible, as if she had done this kind of secretive thing many times. Then she went inside and sat in front of a round table. As expected of a bakery cafe, a sweet scent lingered here as well.

‘Ah, can I see the saint now?’

Olentia felt her anticipation growing. Her heart was pounding and she unconsciously fidgeted her legs. Meeting a saint was like a once-in-a-lifetime fortune.

Then after a while, footsteps were heard near the corridor.

Tap tap!

Olentia stared at the door with a very tense face. A silhouette was visible through the window, a rather slender woman.

The door opened carefully, and a beautiful woman wearing a white veil on her head appeared. Her green hair and emerald-like eyes were impressive.

Olentia quickly got up from her seat and greeted.

“Hello. Saint Daphne. I’m Olentia Armeniaca. No, Belial.”

The fact that her surname had changed after marriage was still unfamiliar.

Then Saint Daphne held her hands and said.

“Yes. I’m Daphne. I don’t know if you know.”

“Oh my! How could I not know the saint? Of course I know!”

Saint Daphne had driven out evil spirits hiding in ancient ruins with her immense divine power, and helped prepare for natural disasters such as droughts, floods, and tsunamis by predicting them. The existence of a saint in the Bonus Empire was like a god.

Olentia was moved just to be able to see such a saint.

“Then I’ll sit down.”

However, Daphne used a harder tone than expected. It was worrying enough to think she might have been forcibly summoned because of the Crown Prince.