I was worried that if Tobias tried to repay, it would further provoke the envoy.

“I just came to solve it before someone catches on that you’re spreading around that you’re completely cured thanks to me? This is all I have until I leave Donovan’s dukedom.”

Tobias shook his head.

“Even so, there are few who would readily give a cureall.”

I blinked.

Come to think of it, the stamina potion was treated as an expensive cureall in Leodel.

‘I need to save it.’

The stamina potion I have now is all I have until I leave Donovan’s dukedom.

Since I gave one to Tobias, I realized I must use the remaining ones very carefully.

Tobias chuckled.

“Did you suddenly regret it?”

“How did you know?”

I tried to hide my hitonthemark expression with a joking retort.

“I don’t know.”

Tobias looked at me slyly.

“I’ve often, long watched the Holy Lady, so I learned.”

I tilted my head. How long have we known each other for him to say he knows me well?

“……You speak as if you’ve known me for a long time.”

“I haven’t known you long, but it’s true that I’ve always watched you.”

‘I suppose it’s because the Duke ordered you to watch me……!’ I thought but didn’t say out loud.

“I’ll have to treasure this as a keepsake.”

Tobias stared intently at the empty glass bottle.

“The Holy Lady’s blood and tears are infused…….”

Even someone without a clue would know this was a teasing remark.

He seemed to be trying in his own way to soften a serious situation, but I was not about to take this matter lightly.

“Be…… careful.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you really not know and are asking?”

Tobias slightly shook his head.

“I have an idea of my own. But I’m curious about the Holy Lady’s opinion.”
“……First, don’t provoke the envoys. I don’t care what they call me. Just let it go, understand?”

Tobias looked at me squarely.

“You are lying from the start.”

Suddenly, my words were choked off.

Taking the opportunity, Tobias took a step toward me.

I retreated in surprise.

We had never had close contact before, so this close situation was a first for me.

“Saintess.”

He spoke to me slowly.

“I have received an order from His Grace the Duke to protect you, Saintess. Even if it costs me an arm, it is nothing.”

I swallowed dryly.

Hades’ loyalty to me? An indisputable reason I could hardly refute.

“……Second, if you get hurt, see a doctor, not me. My divine power is less than a bandage.”

Tobias opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Now it was time to speak of the most important thing.

“Third, keep watch near the accommodation.”

“Yes?”

Tobias’s attitude seemed incredulous, as if asking what I was talking about.

“Don’t you see that I haven’t been caught by anyone? If I want to, anyone or anything can intrude.”

Tobias’s face became serious.

“That will be difficult.”

“……?”

I cocked my head.

Is he so confident in his abilities?

“I hope you come again, Saintess.”

Was it a misunderstanding?

Tobias’s words, which should have been a joke, sounded all too sincere.

The conversation with Tobias ended quickly, but I could not go back to the room immediately.

‘……What to do.’

After finishing the relatively easy task, a mountainous obstacle appeared.

It was clear that I had to inform Hades right away.

But running to him now and talking did not seem believable.

‘I can’t badmouth the envoys to Hades without any evidence.’

Fortunately, the envoys who were talking earlier had already been caught by the knights, so they would not come out again.

‘It would be nice if there were any traces left.’

I checked the place where the two envoys had whispered.

‘They had a conversation here.’

Looking closely, I could not find any evidence that they had been here.

‘Very thorough.’

But I knew one fact they did not.

All magic leaves traces. At least, to the Saintess.

When I concentrated, a white flame emerged.

‘……As expected.’

I clenched my fist tightly. Where the flame of the Saintess had licked, the boundary left by the mage was clearly revealed.

My heart began to pound. Someone of Hades’ skill would instantly recognize what this boundary means.

‘This is enough!’

Intoxicated with a sense of victory, I became engrossed in uncovering the boundary without looking around.

How much time had passed?

The moment I finished the work and stood up, a chilling voice came from behind.

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

The corners of Count Schizechin’s mouth split wide.

“Ah, in this case, it’s a rat.”

I jumped up from my spot.

Denesor, hidden in my bosom, vibrated and hummed in its sheath, but now was not the time to draw it.

It was best to feign ignorance and move on.

“What do you mean?”

“Miss Angelica.”

I barely dodged Count Schizechin’s hand reaching for my chin.

“How do you think Hades Croitner would feel if he saw his governess wandering around in her nightgown?”

I suppressed the urge to laugh.

Hades would not misunderstand. We are not like that.
But there was no need to tell Byungbaek that fact.

“……You won’t like it.”

“If it is discovered near the residence of the Commander of the Knights who is favored by the favored government, the distress would be even greater.”

Byungbaek’s tone was elegant, but the content was not.

“Don’t you at least want to prevent it from becoming known, Lady Angelica?”

My head was spinning.

Byungbaek doesn’t know that Hades and I are pretending.

Therefore, he seemed to think that he could threaten me just with the fact that I had been wandering near Tobias’s residence at midnight.

‘Can I use this fact?’

While I was pondering, Byungbaek caught me.

“Time is passing, Lady Angelica. Is there not a single maid without sleep?”

“……Are you saying you want me to call someone?”

“That’s up to you.”

I looked at him straight.

Byungbaek knows, doesn’t he?

Thanks to what he just said, I was sure that I could use him.

I replied, pretending to have a trembling voice.

“……What do you want?”

“Simple.”

Byungbaek’s sharp gaze pierced my face.

“I hate rats that sneak around at night. I hate rats that interfere in things that are not their business even more.”

“…….”

“But rats can become medicine if used well.”

As Byungbaek brushed my hair with his finger, goosebumps sprouted on my neck.

“What do you know about the Holy Sword, Saintess?”