Dimidius felt as if Olentia’s warmth still remained in his heart. When she ran over and embraced him, he was overwhelmed with joy as if he had the entire world in his hands. Fortunately, he didn’t show it to Olentia, but his heart was beating so fast that he almost got caught.

When Dimidius entered the office and showed a dazed attitude, Killen grabbed his shoulder and shook him.

“Your Highness, the Grand Duke! Your Highness! What’s wrong with you?”

Only then did Dimidius come to his senses and took out the video stones that looked like clothing pins from his pants pocket. Now it was time to check these video stones.

“You brought them as expected! That’s a relief, Your Highness.”

At Killen’s words, Dimidius played the video from the video stone that looked like a clothing pin. The movement paths of the assassins appeared in the air. Dimidius and Killen stared at the dark night, the spread-out rice fields, and the streets for quite a long time.

Just when watching the video started to feel boring, the Empress finally appeared before Dimidius and Killen’s eyes. They were worried that someone managing the assassins might appear instead of the Empress, so it was a relief.

In the video, the Empress looked very arrogant.

“You failed to kill the Grand Duke? And you dare enter the Imperial Palace in this state!”

As the Empress raged and became agitated, the assassin with the video stone on his clothes spoke.

“I thought I should report about the attack on the Grand Duke’s castle. I have no face to show. Your Majesty the Empress. The north gate was closed, and we tried to break through the main gate but failed.”

“You didn’t mention anything about me in front of the Grand Duke, did you?”

“How could we do that? We are all indebted to Your Majesty the Empress. We have sworn to live only for Your Majesty the Empress for the rest of our lives.”

“Then you shall die for me. All of you.”

With a sword flying toward the assassin with the video stone, the Empress was no longer seen. The bodies of the assassins were loaded onto a cart and sent outside the Imperial Palace. Only the rattling sound of the cart moving in the darkness could be heard.

Dimidius and Killen were silent for a moment. They just looked at each other and let out deep sighs.

Although Dimidius had found clear evidence of the Empress’s scheme, he didn’t feel good. It was because he saw the assassins who had come to kill him being abandoned by the lord they trusted and followed.

Now he could make the Empress face the judgment of the law at any time.

Dimidius thought he should wait for the best timing.

[This is the timeline separator]

After the commotion, the servants of the Grand Duke’s castle underwent a massive investigation. The atmosphere in the Grand Duke’s castle was very rigid and cold as they tried to identify any potential spies. Even Olentia found it difficult to breathe comfortably.

Feeling stuffy, she stepped outside the Grand Duke’s castle for a moment. There weren’t many servants seen while leaving the castle, as they had all gone to be investigated by Dimidius. It was quite deserted.

Olentia had recently been absorbed in secretly creating white spheres. It was fine since she had already shown it to Podion, and she just had to be careful not to get caught by others.

It was when she was looking around the fountain.

Woof woof!

The sound of a dog barking came from somewhere. Olentia was startled and looked around, then discovered a small and cute puppy with fluffy white fur.

“Ah! It’s a puppy? Why is it here?”

Olentia spoke in a very gentle voice and picked up the puppy in her arms. She thought it might be a stray puppy living nearby.

But then Podion, who was guarding her, approached and spoke in a puzzled voice.

“Why is such a young puppy here? It’s strange.”

“Could there be a mother dog nearby? If so, we should find her.”

That’s when it happened.

Olentia’s right Pieta bracelet, which she considered her doppelganger, sparkled slightly, and a divine message was heard.

[It’s me, Maleng.]

Olentia felt a tingling sensation in her head and opened her eyes wide.

‘Lord Pieta? It’s not even a dangerous time right now, so why are you speaking to me?’

[I saw the white sphere you made. I’m proud of you.]

‘I was able to do it. I was surprised too. And why do you keep calling me Maleng?’

[Because you look soft and fluffy like a cream bun.]

It was truly strange. Her baby fat had all disappeared, so why was she described as soft and fluffy? Still, the nickname Maleng started to feel familiar to her.

But she kept getting the strange feeling that the puppy in her arms was talking to her. The puppy looked up at her with sparkling eyes, and a very deep emotion was felt.

‘Is it my imagination?’

As she tilted her head in confusion, another message was heard in her mind.

[It’s not your imagination, it’s really me. Maleng.]

‘Are you saying this puppy is Lord Pieta?’

Olentia was so surprised that she felt like fainting. As she remained silent, Podion, who was next to her, spoke in a puzzled voice.

“My lady. Can’t you hear what I’m saying?”

Only then did Olentia laugh awkwardly and say to Podion.

“Ah, sorry. I was distracted by something else.”

“It’s alright. What are you going to do with this puppy?”

The puppy, which felt warm in her arms, wagged its tail while being held. It was truly a mischievous Pieta.

Why did he descend from heaven to earth? And in the form of a white puppy?

Olentia stroked the puppy and said.

“I’m going to keep it. I have to raise it, Sir Podion.”

With that, she took the puppy to her bedroom. Bobby and the servants of the Grand Duke’s castle were very happy to hear that she would raise the puppy.

Olentia let out a hollow laugh as she watched the puppy performing tricks in front of Bobby and the servants. She wondered what was happening.

After a while, when Bobby and the servants had all left the room, Olentia crossed her arms tightly and asked Pieta.

“What are you doing? Why in that form…”

She was really curious. She wondered if a god could come to the human world so freely like this.

But Pieta sat on the floor, licked his front paw with his tongue, and calmly said.

[Maleng, if I descend to earth in the form of a god, your eyes will go blind. That’s why I used this small and cute creature. Isn’t it an animal that everyone finds friendly?]

“That’s true. Then why have you come to my side?”

[It seems like you are gradually getting ready to fight. Once awakened, you can grow infinitely afterward. You will gain various abilities.]

“I see. But fight? Who am I fighting against?”

[You will find out later, so don’t bother asking.]

Pieta walked around the bedroom for a while, then curled up on the fluffy rug and closed his eyes.

[I’m getting sleepy. This small and cute creature sleeps for more than 10 hours a day.]

There was a lot more she wanted to ask, but Pieta had already fallen asleep. And honestly, even if she asked, it seemed unlikely that he would tell her. In the past, Pieta often said incomprehensible things.

Pieta sleeping on the rug was really cute and lovely. Even though he was a god who appeared in times of danger, vaguely helped, and then disappeared.

Would they be together for quite a long time this time?

It was a truly unbelievable day.

[This is the timeline separator]

After having dinner in her room, Olentia headed to the indoor garden on the second floor. She wanted to rest there for a while and digest her food.

The flower beds in the indoor garden were well-maintained, and the purple hydrangeas caught her eye. As a flower symbolizing summer, it seemed to exude a lush and vibrant energy.

As she was lost in thought like that, someone entered the indoor garden. Olentia felt a presence, turned around, and widened her eyes. It was Dimidius, who had been busy investigating the servants these days. He was wearing a navy blue suit that seemed to have swallowed the night sky and walked with firm steps.

“I didn’t know you were here, Lady.”

“Yes. I was just taking a short break.”

“Please rest comfortably. I will leave.”

As he was about to leave, Olentia grabbed the hem of Dimidius’s clothes. Her feelings were transferred to the carefully grasped hem.

Dimidius swallowed, perhaps startled.

“Do you want to be with me? Is that alright?”

At Dimidius’s words, Olentia closed her eyes tightly and nodded. It would be absurd to say she didn’t want to be with him after grabbing the hem of his clothes.

Because she actually wanted to be with him.

Because she felt lonely as Dimidius was too busy.

Because she was sad when he didn’t show interest in her.

After suppressing all those feelings, she didn’t know what to do.

Olentia gently led him and carefully sat on a chair. Dimidius also sat next to her and looked at the flowers in the flower bed together.

Just being together made her tremble, and Olentia managed to say.

“Will you be able to find the mastermind who sent the assassins? You said all the assassins were killed.”

Dimidius turned his head and looked at Olentia beside him. His red eyes seemed to sparkle.

“I have evidence. So don’t worry.”

“Evidence? Then why aren’t you disclosing it right away?”

“Can you come with me to the Imperial Palace hunting competition held next week?”

Olentia tilted her head at Dimidius’s unexpected words. She wondered why he was mentioning the hunting competition when talking about evidence.

But Dimidius seemed to have a plan.

“Since it’s the Imperial Palace hunting competition, all the nobles will attend. I’m planning to reveal the evidence then.”

“Ah…”

“And I would like you to be there with me, Lady. Ah, of course, you can stay at the Grand Duke’s castle if it’s burdensome.”

Olentia hurriedly spoke as Dimidius seemed to be trying to back out.

“I, I’ll go! I’ll… attend as the Grand Duchess.”

The name Olentia Belial always felt awkward, but not these days. As a member of the Belial family, Olentia wanted to be present at the occasion where the mastermind behind the attack on the Grand Duke’s castle would be revealed. She thought it would be good to witness the mastermind’s end and be a source of strength for Dimidius.

As Olentia gave her permission, Dimidius turned his head again and looked at the flower bed. He acted nonchalant, but she thought he might be smiling a little behind his mask. Even if it was her imagination, she didn’t mind.