Adel’s green eyes widened. Love him? It was such an unexpected question that at first, she couldn’t even understand what it meant. She was so surprised that she didn’t even notice Valentin had spoken fluently without stuttering.

Adel just blinked her eyes and then managed to ask.

“So, you’re asking if I love my husband?”

“Adel.”

He called her name soothingly and smiled beautifully. But there was something coldly different about his expression.

“Only I am called…… your husband.”

His tone was unlike him and rigid. As if jealous…

At that thought, Adel looked down, bewildered. Jealousy, really?

‘Why?’

Adel tried to answer calmly, but once she became conscious of it, her voice trembled.

“I don’t love him… like that.”

Valentin seemed relieved at her answer and softened his expression. Yet, he probed again like a hunter checking if his prey was truly dead.

“Then why?”

“I asked for him to be returned because if a leader disappears without a proper successor, the people suffer greatly.”

Valentin was supposed to leave Valentin’s body as soon as he fully fulfilled the first contract. No one can have affection for the leash that restrains them. The problem was that Anschar would lose both its leader and spiritual pillar.

‘It would be chaos.’

Rumors about the resurrected Valentin had been spreading far and wide, increasingly favorable. Adel thought that by the time the rumors reached the capital, Valentin could be touted as an incarnation of Morrig.

The Emperor openly called Valentin his favorite nephew, regretting he couldn’t give him more power and wealth. If it weren’t for his fear of the Empress and her family, Anschar might have been hundreds of times richer.

The Emperor wouldn’t miss this chance. And where money flows, scavengers gather.

“Though Duke Oscar is there, he often leaves the territory. If you suddenly disappear, many will covet Anschar, maybe even wage war. Even if not, …”

Adel hesitated a bit. She wanted to avoid Oscar inheriting the dukedom. He hadn’t given up his ambition to marry her, his former sister-in-law.

But that was too personal to say aloud. Adel found another excuse.

“The Duke has been managing Anschar stably for a long time. Even after you leave, I’ll be reassured.”

“…….”

“That way, I’ll be free too… Then, I want to visit the Ivory Tower to study herbalism more deeply.”

Maybe at the Ivory Tower, she might find a way to annul the contract with the monster. The Tower was a repository of all sorts of knowledge.

“Hmm.”

Valentin didn’t seem fully satisfied with her answer but didn’t press further. The room fell into an awkward silence until there was a knock.

“Your Highnesses, have you called?”

It was Margaret’s voice. Valentin glanced at the door and picked up a dagger that had fallen on the floor, a dagger that Adel had failed to find just moments ago.
Surprisingly, the green ointment that had been smeared all over was completely gone.

Valentin walked to the bed and slit his palm with the dagger. He let a few drops of blood fall onto the clean bedsheet. As Adel watched in shock, the cut on his palm healed instantly. To Valentin, all this seemed trivial, regardless of her astonishment.

“Come in.”

He wiped the blood off the blade, placed it on the table, and responded nonchalantly. Despite the blade being made of silver, lethal to monsters, he treated it with casual indifference, as if it were a mere pebble.

Margaret soon entered the room and bowed respectfully to them both. Adel hurriedly picked up a gown from the floor to cover herself.

“Margaret. What’s the matter?”

“Forgive me, but Father Padre requests an audience with you.”

“Now?”

“Yes. He received an urgent message and plans to leave for the capital this afternoon. He’s ready to depart and insists on seeing you before he leaves. I told him you were still resting, but…”

“My goodness. What time is it? How long has he been waiting?”

“It’s one in the afternoon, and he’s been waiting for about an hour.”

“Tell him I’ll be right there.”

Adel quickly gathered her clothes from the previous day. However, the maids seemed determined not to let her wear the same outfit again. They set up a screen, brought out clean undergarments and a new dress.

With incredible skill, they tidied her tousled hair, helped her into the new dress, and in minutes, she was adorned in a dress with a golden waist decoration and a fox fur mantle.

Meanwhile, Valentin casually dressed himself, opting for a light leather armor, possibly planning to tour the estate.

“Look… at me, Adel.”

He gently held her chin and lightly kissed her forehead, then reluctantly left the room with lingering eyes.

Adel touched her forehead where his lips had been as the maids finished preparing her.

When Adel went to the backyard, everything was ready for departure, as Margaret had said. The horses were saddled, and a few items were being loaded onto the carts accompanying the priests.

She made her way through the dense group of priests and horses towards Father Padre’s carriage. He was grooming a horse but stopped to make the sign of the cross upon seeing her.

“Your Highness, Duchess.”

“Father Padre. I didn’t expect you to leave so suddenly. I thought you were staying for a week…”

“An urgent message from the palace arrived yesterday. By the timing, it seems to have been sent as soon as I reached Schleicher. Forgive me for leaving earlier than planned.”

“If it’s the Emperor’s summon, I can’t complain.”

“Let’s continue our conversation inside the carriage. I have something urgent to discuss, but it won’t take long.”

Adel took his hand and climbed into the carriage. As soon as she sat down, the door closed, and Father Padre, seated opposite her, began speaking earnestly.

“What happened?”

This question was within the range of what she had expected. Adel tried to answer calmly.

“Nothing unusual. The holy oil didn’t seem very effective, so His Highness didn’t sleep.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“Can you swear that in the name of Morrig?”
Adel blinked momentarily, speechless. She had been registered as a devotee of the god Morrig since birth, diligently attending parish prayer meetings when possible, and offering sacrifices at the church’s altar when she couldn’t, fully committed to her religious life.

For Adel, being asked to swear in Morrig’s name was as good as a clear guarantee that her words held no deceit.

She lowered her gaze and soon spoke.

“I swear.”

Father Padre, who had been observing Adel with sharp eyes, softened his expression slightly at her assurance.

“Indeed. It’s been over a decade since the Shadow of Bichlereben disappeared. If it were to show itself, it wouldn’t choose a time when it would attract so much attention.”

“…….”

“I and the other priests have inspected various parts of the estate during our stay, but we found no suspicious traces. Although there were clear signs that monsters had roamed near the castle, none had penetrated inside.”

“That’s a relief.”

“There are still a few things that seem suspicious, but considering the Duke was unharmed even after the restoration of Morrig’s Veil, it seems my worries were unfounded.”

Adel nodded, feigning composure.

She couldn’t let Father Padre suspect her agitation; he would surely do whatever it took to uncover Valentin’s true identity, which would likely lead to his death.

‘That must not happen.’

Adel clasped her hands together as if to strengthen her resolve. Father Padre, seemingly oblivious to her inner turmoil, gently issued a few more reminders.

“We were fortunate this time, but remember to always be vigilant and careful. If you notice anything unusual, you must contact me immediately. Do you understand, Adel?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Then… it seems we will meet next at the palace.”

At Father Padre’s casual remark, Adel’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Did you say the palace?”

“Yes. Oh, haven’t you been informed yet?”