Due to being consumed by anger to kill Latieana Merigold,he hadn’t noticed, but upon reflection, Hillstain Mathias,who used to come almost daily to touch her body,had suddenly stopped visiting as if he had changed.

It started from the day Latieana Merigold came.

Clearly, she had taken Latieana’s healing powerand poured it abundantly into Hillstain, so why? How come?

Even when given less healing power than that,Hillstain had been satisfied and clung to her persistently.

“Something’s wrong. This can’t go on. It just can’t.”

A sprout of anxiety was growing in Ivy Violet’s heart.

And then, an unexpected opportunity arose.

After finishing an audience with the priest,a welcome guest came to her.

“Great Saintess, Duke Ian has arrived.”

At the servant’s words, she hurriedly ran to her room,and indeed, Dante Ian was there.

“I greet the Great Saintess.”

A man with sun-tanned bronze skin and a gentle demeanorbowed his head toward Ivy.

“Duke Dante!”

Ivy, more delighted than ever,ran to him like a butterfly and embraced him.

Deep blue hair resembling the dawn night,with sharp, distinct features.

Being in the midst of subjugating in the desert,he was a duke who rarely showed himself except at critical times.

Unlike Killian Dietrich, who sought her for peace,or Hillstain, who came for pleasure,he was a refined man who only received light, healing touches a few times.

Despite needing the most healing power due to frequent battles with monsters,like Edan Dietrich, he was a kind man who was content with potions,not wanting her to overexert herself.

Having lived in a warm region,he was a man as warm as the sun yet full of gentle heat.

“Have you been well? Did you come because you missed me?”

With sparkling eyes and full of charm,Ivy linked arms with him,but Dante spoke with a serious expression.

“Lady Ivy.”

“Yes, Duke. Tell me anything.”

“Is the promise you made last time,to grant a privilege if I found your friend, still valid?”

Ivy’s eyes sparkled between her long eyelashes.

She slightly parted her lipsand gently touched Dante’s firm forearm.

“Of course, Duke. I miss my friend so much.”

To think that Duke Dante, of all people,would take an interest in this matter.

It was an opportunity she absolutely couldn’t miss.

And with Dante’s abilities,he could surely bring her friend back, even from Grand Duke Edan’s grasp.

“I will find your friend.After that, I have a request to make with that privilege.”

Dante looked at Ivy with determination.

Ivy smiled brightly.

“Anything. If you find my friend,I can do anything for you, Duke.”

Ugh. Gross. Disgusting.

Wherever I went, Edan Dietrich’s gaze clung to me obsessively.

It wasn’t the first time,but this time, it was really hard to ignore.

While rummaging through the bookshelves,I felt a burning gaze on the back of my head.

In the library, only the rustling sound of me handling books echoed.

The air was so heavy I wished night would come quicklyso Edan would go off to slay monsters.

With a glance, I turned my eyesand saw Edan standing against the sunin front of the library’s large sliding window.

One hand in his pocket,standing in a very slouched posture.

I’m sure I gave him proper healing power this morningand did my duties well, didn’t I?

But with him acting like that,even flipping through books becomes difficult.

All I did was shake hands with Maxium once,and he’s been tormenting me for days over something so trivial.

It’s an insane possessiveness.

Muttering complaints I couldn’t voice aloud,I turned toward Edan.

“Master.”

“Master?”

It took some courage for me to call him that,but it seemed to irritate Edan instead.

Oh. I was supposed to call him by name.

“Sir Hillstain.”

…That part must have ticked him off; it was Edan’s demand.

Last time, I called him that because we were alone,but we’re master and maid, aren’t we?What maid casually calls her master by name?

But then again, no master calls his maid “princess” either.

This man is making me lose my sense of normalcy.He’s completely reckless.

“Edan.”

“Yes.”

His voice seemed to soften a bit,but I couldn’t read Edan’s expression because of the shadow.

“I’m asking now, but…”

With no response from Edan, I paused a bit longer.

“What happened to Jenald Johan?”

Honestly, I wasn’t that curious.Ruben had roughly explained it.

That “roughly” meant Jenald was aliveand probably received some appropriate punishment.

I was just curious about what exactly that punishment was.

“Execution.”

What? My eyes widened in shock.

“…But they said it’s not allowed.”

“Of course not. To get an execution for fraud,you’d have to sell out a whole country, wouldn’t you?”

“Not execution, but he’ll never appear before you again.”

So, they gave him an appropriate punishment?I wasn’t worried about Jenald, but I felt uneasy about how it was handled,so I’m glad I asked while it crossed my mind.

Anyway, since he won’t show up in my sight, I feel relieved!Damn that fraudster.

Giggling, I slyly raised one corner of my lips.

“Tch. An annoying guy showed up.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Edan clicked his tongue, looking out the window.

Rushing to the side and looking down,I saw the postman and Smith at the castle gate.

Seeing faces I hadn’t seen in a long time,I ran to the castle gate in one breath to greet them.

“Sir!”

“Miss Latieana, have you been well?”

Holding a pretty letter envelope,the postman smiled brightly.

“It’s been so long. How about you, sir? And…”

I shifted my gaze to Smith, standing a step behind the postman.

“Mr. Smith, have you been well too?”

When I smiled brightly and spoke,Smith, who had been awkwardly rubbing his neck, gave a shy smile.

“Miss Latieana, it’s been a while.”

“Yes! It’s been a while!”

Since he cried and disappeared after being knocked out by Edan,this was our first meeting,and the usually cheerful Smith was visibly stiff and awkward.

“Phew. This guy’s so shy, it’s a problem, a real problem.”

That’s not it, is it? He’s like that because he confessed to me and got rejected.Before that, he was so lively he even made a sudden confession.

At the postman’s half-hearted concern,Smith pouted and grumbled.

“It’s not like that.”

The postman slapped Smith’s shoulder with a thudand focused on the conversation.

“But why weren’t you here last time? I didn’t see you.”

“Huh? You came here?”

“The castle is clearly visible from the village.In the morning, a shepherd saw the castle wall collapsed,and there was quite a commotion.Everyone was worried something big happened.Especially the fabric shop grannies urged me to check,but Miss Latieana wasn’t here.”

The castle wall broke the day Hillstain stormed in recklessly.

And that was also the day I went to the capital.

Tch. Am I starting to take after Edan? I clicked my tongue without realizing it.

I was just trying to put Jenald’s matter behind me,but it came back up again.

Damn that Jenald, that wretched guy.

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe. Take this.”

The postman handed me a white envelope with a lily flower pattern.

“What is it?”

“It’s a wedding invitation.The youngest daughter of the fruit shop I mentioned last time is getting married.”

“Oh, the one who was scammed… Wait, married?!”

Married, all of a sudden?It hasn’t even been that long since she returned after being scammed.

“Well, she got proposed to by her childhood friend within a month and decided.Guess everyone has their match.Speaking of which, didn’t you say you had a fiancé, Miss Latieana?Send me an invitation when you get married. I’ll definitely attend.”

“Haha.”

I laughed awkwardly, dodging the response.The postman, thinking I was shy, laughed heartily.

Then, suddenly putting a hand to his mouth,he leaned in and whispered to me.

“By the way, Miss Latieana.”

“Yes?”

“Did something happen with Smith?Whatever it is, if he messed up, please go easy on him.He’s a good kid.”

“Yes…”

The postman seemed concerned about Smith’s unusual behavior.

“Well, I’ll head off first. Smith, stay a bit longer. I’m off.”

“No, sir… Sir!”

Smith, who had been standing there like a borrowed sack,shouted after the postman, who disappeared like the wind.

But the postman winked and dashed down the hill,leaving the two of us facing each other awkwardly.

“Uh, um. It’s a bit late, but Mr. Smith, is your injured leg okay?”

“Yes, it’s fine. Recovery was slow, but it’s better now.”

“That’s good.”

Silence fell again. Ugh, what’s with this atmosphere?Rolling my eyes aimlessly, I decided to just send him off.

“Well, then, take care on your way…”

“Wait!”

Smith cut me off.

“…Wait?”

As I tilted my head and met his eyes,Smith, his face red like a balloon about to burst, asked,

“Hey, are you doing well with your fiancé?”

Oh. Fiancé. The fiancé thing.

…I should be honest, right?

“I broke off my engagement.”

Actually, I was scammed! Damn it!

Suppressing the boiling anger inside,I answered with a forced smile.

But Smith, who had been slumping,suddenly straightened his shoulders and widened his eyes.

“When? Why?”

“Well, it just happened.”

“Really? For real?”

“Yes, but…”

What’s this bad feeling?

“Then, then, Miss Latieana.”

Oh, no. Don’t rush in. Edan’s watching!

“Then, would you go on a date with…”

Thud. Heavy footsteps approached from behind.

A chill ran through me.

Smith, sensing the looming silhouette, stopped mid-sentence.

His face, glancing over my shoulder,twisted as if he were about to burst into tears.

“That’s right, Smoothie.”