To that question, Anselot answered with a sinister expression.

“To use you as a hostage and threaten the princess?”

…!

That was a mistake.

Maria couldn’t stand the thought of using her to threaten Louisabel. She screamed again, even biting into Anselot this time.

“I thought my ears were going to tear apart… I thought my flesh was being torn away…”

Just recalling that moment made Anselot’s complexion turn ashen.

“That woman, she was truly insane.”

Although it was an expression that carried many implications, not knowing about the events between Anselot and Maria, Louisabel casually replied with a light chuckle.
“You did the crazy thing, yet why do you criticize the virtuous Maria?”

“That woman spewed out unspeakable curses and bit into me. Look at this.”

Anselot showed Louisabel his forearm, which had been bitten by Maria.

“Oh my, Maria. How surprised you must have been…”

Louisabel’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She seemed unable to imagine that Maria, who in her eyes was a kind and gentle girl, could turn into such a ferocious lunatic and bite Anselot.

This was partly because the Maria in the original work Louisabel enjoyed reading, “Light and Shadow,” was a girl whose name ‘saint’ suited better than anyone else.

Although facing various crises typical of a heroine in the original story, she had never once shown anger.

The only time Maria got angry was when she got involved with another woman named Hazel.

“Maria’s jealousy was also incredibly cute.”

As the portrayal of Maria in the original work was mainly described from Hazel’s perspective, it caused a distortion. However, Louisabel was unaware of this.

“I’ve decided to formally invite Maria to tea time soon, so let’s apologize properly at that time.”

Anselot looked unfairly aggrieved at those words.

Nevertheless, Louisabel, relieved that Anselot’s notoriety did not spread further thanks to Maria’s cooperation, smiled brightly and said, “Still, I’m relieved. Your reputation didn’t suffer more.”

“Not particularly…”
Anselot, who was about to respond that it didn’t matter, hesitated as she looked at Louisabel’s bright smile.

Why is she smiling so beautifully?

Whether my reputation is tarnished or not, what does it matter?

“That woman probably wouldn’t have done that for free.”

“We agreed to enjoy the festival together, and it’s not that difficult.”

“I just left her alone. Whether I become a saint-napper or not doesn’t matter to me.”

It might have been to hide a little excitement, but even knowing that she did it for me, she responded bluntly.

“I care!”

“?”

Louisabel unexpectedly raised her voice. Then, Anselot blinked her eyes with a puzzled expression.

Louisabel, with her cheeks somehow tinged with a blush, coughed lightly and replied.

“Ah, anyway, there’s only one quest left in Lucent Heart now, so rest well until the next quest comes.”

“What about the princess?”

“I have things to do on my own.”

“What could the princess be busy with?”

“It’s a secret.”

Louisabel said that and waved her hand lightly as she left.

I wonder what cute thoughts the princess is having.

While Anselot was smiling mischievously and looking at her back, she grabbed the tail of Piya, who was following behind.

Quwit! Dirty hands! Let go of my tail!

“Hello, bird-pig. I have something to talk to you about.”

Quuuriit!
―What did you just say, bird-pig! Are you talking to the great Piya now?

Piya, who had become arrogant after receiving extravagant treatment from the servants at the Lucent Heart Royal Palace, shouted with wide-open eyes. Anselot’s eyes narrowed as she looked down at Piya fluttering in her grip.

“Stick Anselot to the ground.”

And then, Piya’s mouth sealed shut at Anselot’s sentence that followed.

“In that choice, your affection was involved.”

Quwit?

Quwit, quwit!

Pretending not to understand Anselot’s words, Piya whistled, making bird sounds.

“I also enjoy sticking things to the ground, want me to show you how?”

Quuiiit!

―Save me, Lulu! Anselot is trying to stick me to the ground!

Failing in her attempt to take a small revenge on the nasty Anselot, Piya’s pitiful scream echoed desperately.

What do you mean by being busy?

Of course, I was!

As I told Anselot, I was a bit busy.

It was about sending assassins to Anselot and catching those who tarnished my reputation!

‘I hope I can clear Anselot’s name before leaving Lucent Heart.’

Well, there wasn’t any grand reason.

I had received a lot of help from Anselot, and unfairly receiving criticism was not the right thing to do…

While I was stammering and rationalizing, I remembered his voice that day.

‘There’s no need to bother about something not worth the effort.’
‘After all, the king is biased towards his children, and no one would believe me.’

Simultaneously, that indifferent expression that never left my mind since that day.

Yeah. All those excuses about receiving a lot of help from him, or it not being the right thing to do were just excuses.

I didn’t like Anselot’s expression.

Perhaps it was because it reminded me of my past self who never expected to be loved by my family and had resigned myself to it. Even though I knew Anselot was by no means a weak person.

So, perhaps, this was just something my heart dictated.