Count Shuzhechin couldn’t possibly not know me. A report about me must have been submitted earlier.

But I answered brightly as if I hadn’t noticed that fact at all.

“Please call me Angelica.”

“Angelica, Miss.”

The Count emphasized ‘Miss’, calling me.

He seemed to want to remind me that I was unmarried.

“I appreciate the kindness, but I don’t need help.”

“Of course, I won’t be of any use to the distinguished Count and the other excellent envoys.”

I sighed.

“But it’s His Highness’s request… I can’t help it. You will follow, won’t you?”

The eyes of the envoys now seemed to pop out.

Of course, they were surprised.

Traditionally, hosting and treating an important guest was the role of the hostess, not something a mere attendant would do.

“……I understand. You’ve had a hard time, Miss Angelica.”

I smiled softly.

“Why would that be? It’s my duty… Come this way.”

Hades’s request was simple.

To instill in the delegation the perception that I was the most important person in this castle.

That way, the Princess would bite at this marriage proposal.

Fortunately, the recent opinion in the castle had changed favorably towards me.

With Hades’s favor on top of that, everyone wanted to look good to me, even without trying hard.

Just like right now.

“Your Grace, we will escort you to the annex.”

As young knights eager for Tobias approached me, a murmur of bewilderment arose among the envoys.

“Do you think we would harm Miss Angelica, Sir Tobias?”

Of course, Count Shuzhechin did not remain silent.

“Of course not.”

Tobias answered politely.
“But our Donovan knights all admire and sincerely follow the Saintess. Since she hasn’t been up from her sickbed for long, please understand that this is merely out of concern.”

“I don’t want a frail lady to overwork herself for our sake. Miss Angelica, please go inside. You’ll find your lodgings on your own.”

I looked at him straight.

“Duke Shujechin, are you defying the Duke’s orders right now?”

“……Miss Angelica, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Duke Shujechin clearly had more to say, but he had to be content with just that one statement.

It was because Tobias had come between us and had his hand on his sword hilt, ready to draw it at any moment.

“Have you finished speaking, Duke Shujechin?”

“Sir Tobias.”

Shujechin’s eyes narrowed.

“Step back.”

“I cannot step back.”

Tobias answered firmly.

“Insulting the Saintess is an insult to our Donovan knights, who have received grace from the Saintess. Unless you apologize to the Saintess who must have been hurt by what you just said, I will not step back.”

I tried not to show my surprise.

I knew that Tobias was somewhat friendly towards me.

Moreover, he considered me a benefactor, so he must have been angered by Duke Shujechin’s insult.

But, his behavior now…

‘It’s too dangerous.’

No matter how skilled Tobias was, having reached the position of deputy commander of the knights at a young age, he was merely a knight of common origin.

In terms of status, there was a world of difference between him and Duke Shujechin, and if Shujechin used this behavior as an excuse to demand severe punishment for Tobias, there would be nothing to say.

Shujechin let out a laugh, devoid of any mirth.

“You certainly have guts. Well, I’ll give you that.”

“…….”

“But even if you’re young, you should know this. A dog blinded by its youthful blood, not recognizing its master, and attacking……”

With a creak, something snapped, and a chill ran down my spine.

This strange, twisted noise…

“The whip is the cure.”

Tobias gritted his teeth and then slumped forward.

“Deputy Commander!”

The knights immediately cried out and grabbed Tobias, who spat out a painful groan.

“My right… my right arm.”

I gasped.

A quick glance showed that Tobias’s right arm was bent at an unnatural angle.

‘…It’s magic.’

There was a powerful mage in the envoy.

With just a signal from Duke Shujechin, twisting Tobias’s arm would be no big deal.

“Saintess!”

One of the knights called me, choking back tears.

“Your divine power……!”

My blood ran cold.

Duke Shujechin had not simply broken Tobias’s arm because he found him irritating.

‘He knows about my divine power.’

Even if I cried ‘Artine,’ my insignificant divine power wouldn’t alleviate such a severe injury.

Everyone might have subtly realized that my power wasn’t strong, but if it became known that my power was so weak that it was hard to call me a Saintess…

I took a deep breath.

“Sa, Saintess……”

Tobias tried to say something in his paintwisted voice, but I was faster.

“Setun.”

The Rosario glowed, and a weak divine power flowed from me to Tobias.

Tobias’s eyes slowly closed.

He fell into a deep sleep, but he was still panting as if in pain, even in his dreams.

“Artine.”

Once again, the Rosario glowed.

Now, Tobias’s breathing had become somewhat calm.

“Ohhhh…….”

“Indeed, it’s the Saintess.”
Surrounded by admiring voices, I couldn’t let go of my tension.

If Tobias, who was put to sleep with ‘Setoon’, were to wake up and groan in pain, it would be over.

I quickly commanded the knights.

“Take him to the doctor just in case. As quickly as possible.”

When I tried to clear Tobias away from the ambassadors’ view, a clear voice rang out.

“There’s no need for that.”

“……?”

I looked down in astonishment.

Tobias, with a face as pale as a sheet, was smiling faintly at me.

As if to reassure me.