That expression was as if saying, “You dare evaluate my child?”

When Sesenia, who was always smiling and had a benevolent expression as if she were a saint, made such a face, the High Priest awkwardly twitched his cheeks.

“Saint Sesenia…?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not angry or anything, are you?”

“Of course not. I’m just pondering which part of Tedel might be lacking. What do you think, High Priest?”

“Um… well…”

Instinctively, the High Priest felt that if he pointed out anything sincerely here, he wouldn’t hear anything good.

But there was plenty to point out.

A body that was on the thin side for an ordinary man, not a royal. Scars on his hands that reached down to the back of his hands, though he wore long sleeves.

A skin color on his neck that was different from the rest, as if he had been strangled by something.

The clothes he wore were below average quality, and his hair seemed unkempt.

His exceptionally pale face and golden eyes, along with his hair, showed the nobility of royalty, and after finding the golden hair, he looked noble and dignified, but that was all.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything lacking.”

“Is that so? I don’t see anything lacking either. Though I suppose he should put on some weight.”

“That’s right. Haha.”

“So there was something lacking.”

The High Priest, who had brilliantly taken the bait Sesenia had thrown, belatedly laughed awkwardly.

“Ho, I was just agreeing with you. In any case, it’s not just anyone but Saint Sesenia’s request, so of course I’ll comply. Let’s announce the new royal on His Majesty’s birthday. Please let me know when you have a detailed plan.”

“Yes.”

As if all business was now concluded, Sesenia slowly rose from her seat and shifted her gaze to Priest Ley, who was standing blankly.

“Priest Ley.”

“Yes. Yes?”

“I have a request.”

“…Wh-what might that be?”

“Even if you dislike me, I hope you’ll keep this matter a secret.”

“…As if I would… ugh.”

Priest Ley tried to open his mouth to say something out of indignation, but the High Priest nudged his side.

“Don’t worry. We’ll take care of everything. There’s absolutely nothing for you to worry about.”

“I feel reassured hearing you say that, High Priest. Then, I’ll leave it to you. It’s something I want to do with the utmost caution, you see.”

“I’ll do my best to make it so.”

Until the end, the High Priest did not say he would take responsibility.

‘As expected, people I can’t associate with.’

In the past, Sesenia had vaguely thought the temple was a better place.

They treated her well at the temple, and she thought it was a clean place without lies, as they served the gods.

But it wasn’t like that at all.

Rather, the magic tower, which had been rumored to only care about money in the past, was a more trustworthy place.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“Yes. I feel like I’ve been indebted to you in various ways today, so I apologize once again.”

“Not at all. It’s just to do well for each other. Then I’ll contact you next time. High Priest.”

Sesenia bowed her head to the High Priest and grabbed Tedel’s wrist. In sync with that timing, Tedel put on the ring.

As soon as they moved away from them, Lizbeth started to fume, but Sesenia didn’t even give the two a glance as she went outside like that.

**

As they opened the door and went outside, a familiar person greeted them.

“Silian?”

“Yeah. Is it all over?”

“More or less?”

“Then, want to take a short walk?”

“Sure.”

As soon as Sesenia nodded, Silian moved towards a corridor where there were no people. However, Silian looked very uncomfortable at Lizbeth and Teddy who were following Sesenia, trotting along.

“I’d like it to be just the two of us, without them.”

“Do we really have to?”

“I have something important to say.”

“Can’t be helped then. Teddy and Lizbeth, will you wait here?”

“B-but…!”

“Yes!”

Lizbeth opened her mouth as if disappointed, but Teddy nodded without the slightest hesitation.

“No, Teddy. I mean, Lord Tedel, how can you just say ‘yes’ like that? You should say no and follow along.”

“Should I?”

“No… Are you really okay with this? With the young lady going off alone with that person? Aren’t you jealous? What if something happens to the young lady because of that snake-like guy…! Well, not that I’m calling him a snake exactly… Ah, I’m not saying anything about you.”

Lizbeth, who had been speaking recklessly to somehow connect Teddy and Sesenia, belatedly waved her hands at Silian.

“Young lady. That person is glaring at me.”

“Silian. Lizbeth is just worried, so don’t be too harsh on her.”

“No… she called me a snake…”

“That’s because of how you act. And just think of ‘snake’ as meaning a handsome man and let it slide. Lizbeth knows about all your visits, you know.”

Silian, who had been looking somewhat indignant, belatedly cleared his throat.

“Does she really know everything?”

“Yeah. Because someone kept making it obvious when they came. There were always two cups, weren’t there?”

Only then realizing his mistake, Silian rolled his eyes this way and that for no reason.

“Well, I’m offended, but… I’ll try to understand since it’s coming from someone who cares for you deeply, Sesenia.”

“And Lizbeth. Lizbeth, don’t speak too badly of Silian either. I’m worried something might happen to you when I’m not around. Understood?”

Lizbeth probably already knows who Silian is. After all, it was Lizbeth who had told her various things about Silian and the Salmon royal family in the past.

“Yes…”

“Now then, let’s all get along.”

“Still… Lord Tedel. You shouldn’t just let it go like that… You should be jealous and such. I’m rooting for Lord Tedel and the young lady, you know.”

Lizbeth smiled, clenching her fist as she looked at Teddy, as if unwilling to give up until the end.

“To be honest, I am jealous. But unlike that guy, I’m a special person to the master. We’re connected in a different way.”

Teddy fiddled with the ring on his hand.

“So it’s okay. I trust the master.”

Sesenia knows all too well that Teddy likes her, loves her.

That’s why she thought his jealousy was unavoidable, but rather than whining and clinging, that one word of trust made Sesenia’s heart sink.

It was as if something strongly struck her heart. It had such an impact.

“Master. I can trust you, right?”

“Yes. Don’t worry. Silian isn’t the type to do anything weird, so there’s no need to worry. You two keep watch here to see if anyone is looking our way. Understood?”

“Yes, master.”

“Yes…”

Lizbeth, perhaps surprised by Teddy’s intense trust in Sesenia, hesitated before nodding a beat late.

Only then could Silian and Sesenia walk alone down the long corridor.

“I feel like I’ve lost.”

“Hm?”

“To that guy… I feel like I’ve lost.”

Silian sighed deeply as he messed up his hair.

“There’s no winning or losing here. So why did you want to see me alone?”

“Just curious. Whether the talk with the High Priest went well.”

“For that reason?”

“Yeah. I’m in the same boat, so to speak. So I think I have the right to be curious.”

Sesenia nodded slowly at his words.

“You’re right. You certainly have the right to know. Yes, you do. Nothing else happened. Or rather, a lot of other things happened… Um. Silian. I did my best in my own way.”

When Sesenia spoke vaguely without giving exact details, Silian furrowed his brow.

“Did something happen?”

“Well, nothing too major… We might become a bit estranged. Pepe is staying here, unable to wake up… I’m sorry for making things this way, but… it couldn’t be helped.”

Silian still looked like he didn’t understand, and Sesenia had no choice but to calmly start explaining what had happened earlier.

It wasn’t a very old story in terms of time, but she had to give additional explanations moment by moment, so the conversation got a bit long.

After telling everything that had happened earlier, Sesenia smiled awkwardly.

“So I’m sorry. Thinking of Pepe, I shouldn’t have done that… But somehow… it turned out that way.”

“Hmm…”

“Should I look for another place to stay even now…?”

“It’ll be fine.”

“What do you mean it’ll be fine?”

What kind of vague statement was that?

Sesenia looked at him with an expression of incomprehension.

But Silian just smiled pleasantly without saying anything. Instead, he stroked Sesenia’s neatly combed hair.

“And you did well. They disrespected you so much, spoke to you like that, if you had foolishly accepted that priest’s words saying you’d protect us, I think I would have been even more angry. So you did well.”

It was then. A child with sky-blue hair tied low on both sides came running and bumped into Sesenia.

“Ah… I’m sorry!”

Sesenia, who had thought the corridor was empty, quickly waved her hands at the child who had bumped into her.

“No, I’m sorry. It’s because I was walking without looking ahead.”

The child, who was holding a bunch of flowers, smiled brightly when Sesenia squatted down and helped her up.

“What a pretty child. Are you hurt anywhere?”