In response to her words, Eirtis only gave a smile with a mysterious meaning.

After a while,

The princess walked slowly up to the large and magnificent altar prepared in the square.
And began to pray towards the altar.

Prodia watched that sight with great concentration.

However, Eirtis’ gaze continued to be focused only on Prodia.

On the night the festival ended.

Eirtis put an end to long lingering regrets.

The next day.

Everyone gathered in the dining hall for breakfast.

But suddenly, Edgar delivered shocking news.

“Do you know what I saw during the festival? Well, one of the tournament participants was enjoying a secret rendezvous with a woman.”

“Cough…!”

Upon hearing this, Prodia almost spewed out the food she was eating.

The problem was that Eirtis, sitting across from her, showed a similar reaction.

Edgar and Sharak were surprised and looked at the two.

The reactions of the two seemed suspicious.

But at that moment, Papiere also started coughing.

“Cough. It seems like there’s a lot of pepper in the food.”

Thanks to that, the two men quickly dismissed their suspicions.

Sharak handed a cup to Prodia.

“Teacher, please drink this for now.”

“Thank you, Sharak… Cough.”

After clearing her throat, Prodia naturally asked Edgar.

“Ahem. Who was the participant doing such a despicable thing?”

“Do you happen to remember Kakyia?”

Everyone nodded at Edgar’s words.

It was impossible to forget a man with such fatal decadence.

“He was kissing a woman in the alley behind the square. A tournament participant doing such a thing should be immediately disqualified, don’t you think?”

Upon hearing this, Eirtis swallowed his water without saying a word.

He remembered wanting to kiss Prodia during the festival as well.

But Prodia’s thoughts were already on a different track.

In fact, she had secretly checked the status windows of other participants in the hunting ground.

Mainly focusing on those who had performed well during the opening ceremony.

But none of them were suitable candidates.

The only person she couldn’t confirm was Kakyia.

So she was looking for an opportunity to check his status window.

But it turned out he had a hidden lover.

There was nothing more to think about.

“Even if he were a suitable candidate, I couldn’t contract with such a person. Who knows what troubles might arise later.”

But it bothered her that Kakyia was skilled in dance and song.

If I can’t recruit him, he will undoubtedly become a strong competitor in the next competition.

Prodia asked Edgar, “Is there any evidence to disqualify him?”

“…Unfortunately, I didn’t have any magical tools suitable for recording at that time.”

Oh, what a shame.

Prodia pleaded with everyone.

If they ever witness Kakyia meeting another woman in the future, be sure to gather evidence.

She wanted to eliminate potential enemies in advance.

After a while, as Prodia was leaving the dining hall, Eirtis approached her.
“Prodia, I’m going to visit the Demon Tower today.”

It was the first time Eirtis had requested time off since the contract.

There was undoubtedly something important going on.

“Of course. When do you plan to return?”

“Just a day.”

Prodia refrained from asking him for the reason.

She didn’t want to seem like she was prying into his personal life.

“…Alright. Then be careful on your way.”

After bowing to her, Eirtis let out a disappointed laugh.

‘Really, she has so little interest in me.’

He wondered if he had made the right decision with such a woman.

But there was no other choice.

‘My heart is already set.’

After meeting the Demon Lord, he would immediately resign from the tournament.

Since he was the one terminating the contract, he would have to pay Prodia a penalty.

She would distribute it as she wished.

And he would try saying he would stay by her side.

It might be okay to help the other guys participating in the tournament while staying by her side.

After leaving his farewell with Prodia, Eirtis turned into violet smoke and disappeared to the Demon Tower.

The afternoon without Eirtis was filled with confirming Sharak’s skills.

Fortunately, Sharak was also good at singing.

Being a former navy man, he had a lot of experience singing on a ship.

Perhaps that’s why his songs were lively.

When he finished singing a lively song and bowed to Prodia, she applauded loudly.

Upon which, Sharak smiled and said something like this.

“Did you enjoy my song, Dia?”

At the same time, Ed, who was next to him, suddenly slid off his chair.

Thud!

Making a loud noise, Sharak quickly rushed to Ed, who had fallen to the floor.

“Ed, are you okay?”

He lightly lifted Ed with his thick arms.

Putting on his glasses, Ed asked.

“I’m fine. But… What did you just call Prodia?”

“I’m talking about Dia.”

It wasn’t a mishearing after all.

Although Ed tried to maintain a calm expression, his inner feelings were not so.

Why is Sharak using an endearment for Prodia?

Despite suppressing his uncomfortable feelings, Ed smiled.

“Such expressions are probably used among lovers, right, Sharak?”

But the returning answer from Sharak was absurd.

“Ed, don’t you use endearments among friends?”

“As if guys like us would use that…!”

Then, quietly, Papiere, who was next to them, spoke.

“Oh, I’ve decided that from now on, you’ll call me Papiere….”

Is that true?

Adding to that, Sharak added one more thing.

“Anyway, I was already thinking about shortening your nickname, Ed. But there’s even more I can cut from Ed….”

“This is really regrettable.”

Ed was deeply thankful to Prodia for giving him a short and proper nickname.
Upon which, Sharak burst into laughter and said, “How about Didi?”

“Hush… Please call me Ed.”

At that moment, Prodia spoke, “What’s wrong with nicknames? It looks nice between friends.”

Upon hearing this, Ed snorted.

Where is there friendship between a man and a woman?

Wait a minute.

Does the meaning of these words imply that Prodia is starting to consider us as friends rather than contract partners?

‘Not contract partners?’

No way, damn it. I’d rather be a contract partner.

What kind of freezing-to-death friendship is this!

The only consolation is that, to her, we’re probably just friends without any special meaning, including even Eirtis, who is currently absent.

Who among us can capture Prodia’s heart?

At that moment, the butler came with sudden news and sought out Prodia.

“Miss, Duke Elhas has sent a letter.”

If the duke is mentioned, could it be Leke, who accompanied them during the treasure hunt competition?

Everyone’s attention turned in that direction.

Why would he send a letter to Prodia?

Somehow, an ominous feeling crept in.

After reading the letter later, Prodia looked back at them and said, “Duke Leke wants to make a contract with me.”

As Prodia said this, her two cheeks were now flushed red.