A messenger of God, becoming a filthy, tiny mouse.

Moreover, the fact that he hid this truth, becoming an honorable seneschal and aiming for the position of the next Pope.

Benedertem was a righteous and honest person, deeply faithful.

His transformation into a mouse did not change that fact, but he couldn’t suppress the public’s prejudice about mice.

Benedertem was deeply hurt by the way the clergy and the public, as well as the Pope, changed their attitudes towards him as if flipping the palm of a hand.

He harbored resentment and secretly gathered shapeshifters in a similar situation, launching ‘The First Uprising of Shapeshifters’ against the Holy Empire.]

When she had read up to there, Kevrant arrived.

“Risi, I’m sorry to interrupt.”

“It’s okay. I was just reading because I was a little free today.”

Risi closed the book, took the hand Kevrant offered, and got up.

“Do you want to take a short walk? Just the two of us.”

“Sounds good.”

Leaving the maids in the room, Risi and Kevrant went out together.

She thought they would be walking in the central garden, but Kevrant was heading towards the west wing.

“It seems we have a distinguished guest.”

“If they are distinguished. They will make our wedding more radiant.”

“Our wedding?”

Risi, who did not know what agreement Kevrant had made with the clergy, asked back curiously, but Kevrant just smiled.

Soon, they arrived at the garden in front of the west wing.

It was smaller than the central garden, but it was full of sweet and fragrant smells.

Most of the trees in the garden were fruit trees.

Kevrant reached out to a tree in front of him, picked a peach, and handed it to Risi.

“The peaches of our mansion are famous for being sweet.”

“I didn’t know this was here.”

Risi took a juicy bite of the tempting peach.

The sweet juice moistened her lips.

“Oh, really……”

The words “delicious” were swallowed in Kevrant’s mouth.

Kevrant, who had carefully tasted Risi’s juicestained lips, leaned his forehead against Risi’s and whispered,

“I’m sorry. Your lips looked sweeter than the peach.”

“Were they that sweet?”

“They were even sweeter.”

Kevrant kissed Risi’s lips once more.

Her heart, which had stopped out of surprise just a moment ago, was now beating sweetly.

Strangely enough, this short and light kiss made her heart pound more than Kevrant’s secretive and sticky touches.

Worried that Kevrant might hear her strangely fastbeating heart, Kevrant spoke as he wiped Risi’s lips with his thumb.

“I decided to prove to the clergy that the rumors are false.”

“I see.”

“When should we do it, Risi? The sooner the better, I think.”

“When I heard that the clergyman was coming, I reserved ‘Tony’s Cave’.”

The pub ‘Tony’s Cave’ was located next to the main square of Londeryban city, the capital of the Green Baron’s territory.

It was the largest and most spacious store in Londeryban city, and it was often used when commoners held parties.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to throw a party for the commoners there.”

“What should I prepare?”

Risi pretended to think, tilting her head slightly while resting her index finger on her chin, then she lightly tapped Kevrant’s nose tip with that index finger.

“Be ready to smile.”

+++

A surprise party thrown by the Green Baroness, the center of rumors, for the commoners.

Next to the pub ‘Tony’s Cave’ in the main square, people had gathered in abundance from much earlier than the party time, making it almost impossible to find a place to step foot.

As no formal invitations were sent, a diverse crowd had gathered.

Those who wanted to see the Green Baron up close.

Those who wanted to see the Green Baroness, the subject of the rumors.

Those who harbored unkind feelings towards the licentious Green Baroness.

Those who were determined to eat their fill of delicious food and leave.

Those who wanted to catch the eye of the Green Baron and rise in status.

Nearby nobles.

And journalists who had flocked to cover the protagonist of the rumors.

While they were discussing the party,

“The Pope has moved, it seems like the Baroness is in hot water. She’s even throwing such a party.”

“Do you think throwing a party like this will erase what the Baroness has done?”

“You don’t necessarily have to think that way. Maybe the Baroness loves parties and wants to share with us.”

While such conversations were taking place, Risi was changing into her dress.

Elegant but not too ostentatious.

Dressed up but not overly so.

Yet making Risi’s appearance shine the most.

She had coiled her long silver hair that was tinged with a faint red glow into a round bun, and let a few strands drape elegantly over her shoulders.

She adorned her hair with just a single hairpin embedded with a pearl the size of a thumbnail, and wore a small pearl earring and necklace.

The dress was a very light sky blue.

It was a dress that exposed her shoulders, with wide, flowing sleeves extending down to the back of her hand.

Although the dress looked simple with no lace or decoration, when Iris wore it, it appeared elegant and dignified.

“I was worried because it’s not a dress that suits everyone… but you look truly beautiful, Lady Iris.”

Christina, who was attending to her, exclaimed in admiration.

Erwell nodded enthusiastically.

Jilet was not present.

Hearing of today’s party, Jilet had put in a vacation request, wanting to attend as a young lady herself.

It was exactly what Iris had wanted, so she had permitted it without a word, but Christina seemed uncomfortable with Jilet, who had forgotten her place.

Although a maid had the right to dress up beautifully and attend the party, no matter how so, her first priority should be to attend to the noble lady she served.

“I’m fine with this, Christina, Erwell, you go and prepare for the party.”

“But the party…..”

“Yes, my lady. We’ll quickly go prepare and return.”

Just as Erwell was about to say something, Christina cut her off.

With a face full of dissatisfaction, Erwell glared at Christina and was dragged out by her hand.

Once they were out in the corridor, Erwell roughly shook off Christina’s hand.

“Christina, let me talk to the countess, too.”

“What were you going to say?”

“That… I have an allergic reaction and get hives when I attend parties…”

“It’s not like that, Erwell.”

“Ah, damn it. I was trying to say that I really don’t fit in with parties, why?”

Christina stared at Erwell silently.

“I know too. I get it. But since I was a kid… damn it.”

Erwell scratched her head as if she was frustrated with herself.

“But it’s the same for Jilet. Jilet says whatever she wants to…”

“You should call her Lady Green. Or Lady Jilet.”

“Lady my ass…”

Just as Erwell said that, Kevrant was walking down the hallway.

The two stopped talking immediately and turned to look at Kevrant.

For some reason, Kevrant had a smile on his face, as if he was holding back laughter.

For a moment, Christina thought Kevrant might have heard their conversation, but she thought it couldn’t be possible.

Because they were talking in a very low voice.

‘He must be in a good mood thinking about seeing Lady Iris. He’s always smiling when he enters this room.’