The fragrant aroma of tea wafted from the cup.

Across it, Giovanni sat with his arms crossed.

Glancing at his closed eyes, a deep sigh escaped me, burdened by the situation orchestrated by King Hermanon.

[Egrain, show the prince around the capital. It’s a beautiful day for young people to have a date. Besides, the prince thinks you’d be a good guide. Haha, both of you are so well-behaved, I worry.]

His words implied that the prince neither courted women nor sought entertainment and was rather dull, suggesting that I take a proactive role.

Essentially, it was a forced date under the guise of showing around the capital.

Aris was particularly irritable, unaware of this intention.

Her petulance was surprising, even for someone accustomed to it. The maids seemed frustrated too.

Understandably, her grumpiness had been ongoing for a week. Complaining about her breakfast had become routine.

I guessed the reason – she had tried to shine at the palace but was overshadowed by the veiled maid, and attention shifted to me, upsetting her.

Remembering her whining to Hubert about her upset stomach made me hum with mischief.

‘I’ll have to tease her more when I get back.’

Glancing ahead, Giovanni was his usual large, sturdy self.

I fiddled with a hangnail, pondering the silence.

‘Why is it so quiet?’

His expression was the same as when he responded to the king’s request, with no sign of opening up.

I don’t usually like overly taciturn people, but I was willing to muster extra patience for my golden lifeline.

“Is there something you’d like to do?”

“…….”

“If there’s nothing, how about the opera theater? The kingdom’s opera is particularly popular among the nobility.”

I tried my best to be friendly.

Did it work?

Finally, he opened his eyes – deep and dark as an unfathomable pool, a hint of boredom flickering in them.

“I have no interest in the kingdom’s nobility’s clowning.”

I closed my mouth.

In the few days I’d known him, I’d learned one thing about him – he was a man who pursued practicality above all.

After the opera suggestion fell flat, how much time had passed?

Giovanni’s heavy lips parted.

“The temple.”

“…….”

“I want to go to the temple.”

He looked straight at me. His previously bored eyes now appeared earnest. It seemed he was serious.

Caught off guard by his unexpected choice, I rolled my eyes.
“A temple as a date spot, that’s, um, quite, well, sacred.”

It wasn’t exactly romantic.

“The King would laugh at this.”

It meant he would find it odd.

“If I go to the temple alone, it will raise suspicions. But with you, it’s different. Tell the King it was your idea.”

“What?”

His head rose up swiftly. As I craned my neck to look up at him, he gestured outside with his chin.

“Let’s go.”

I sighed deeply, watching his retreating figure.

‘This is truly a pretend date.’

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Yes, yes. I’m coming.”

The Temple.

The highest mystical institution of the kingdom, where priests are educated, prayers are received, and rainmaking rituals are performed.

Most priests are verified for their water attributes at the temple and receive necessary training.

Aris also studied there as a child.

Of course, I hadn’t. I rarely even entered the temple, let alone received education there.

A maid’s life, busy from dawn to dusk, didn’t allow leisure to frequent the temple for prayers.

Even after joining the Count’s household, that didn’t change.

Though freed from menial tasks, I took on more responsibilities, busier than when I was a maid.

Hence, priests, praying elegantly and calling rain with their chants, were the objects of my envy.

[If I could become a priest, I’d be a great help to the household.]

「A help to the household? You just want Hubert to like you.」

[Of course, but it would also help the household. It would improve my standing.]

「A calculating slave discovered me.」

[I’d rather be called a petty thief like before.]

「You prefer that?」

[…Would that be better?]

「Wait. You saw me and no one else could. Without the gift, that’s impossible. Doesn’t that girl also fail to see me?」

[Aris, you mean?]

「Yes. Initially, I doubted, but now I’m sure. You possess the attributes of what your people call a priest, and to a greater extent. My affinity for you had a reason.」

[Really? Can I believe that?]

「Well, maybe not.」

[Leo!]

But until my execution, I never made it rain.

Perhaps Leo was mistaken.

Recently, I’ve been fearful. What if his sacrifice was based on that mistake?

‘What would I do then?’

It felt like the guilt I had towards Jenny, who served and died for me.

‘No, Leo said spirits don’t die. So he must not be completely gone.’

Comforting the subtle unease gnawing at my heart, I looked up.

The majestic temple was visible outside the halted carriage.

“The kingdom’s carriages are quite smooth.”

“Are they not in the Empire?”

Exiting the carriage first, Giovanni extended his hand to me and nodded.

I hesitated for a moment, then cautiously placed my hand on his bare one.

His ungloved hand was still large, hot, and rough.