When I was surprised, she smiled brightly and took out a white stone from the water.

“This is an artifact invented by the Great Mage. It creates steam to give the feeling of bathing and keeps the water temperature comfortably cool.”

“That’s an amazing item. I’ve never seen anything so incredible before.”

“Hehe. The Great Mage made it specially when he visited the South long ago. The previous Duke successfully distributed it, so we use it conveniently, but it might be hard to find in other territories.”

At those words, I stared intently at the white stone. It looked like an ordinary stone, but it had such great functions. The Great Mage must be an incredibly capable person. That’s why he became the Great Mage, I suppose. I felt a bit troubled. Could I really find the secret space hidden by such an amazing magician?

As I fully immersed myself, they poured liquid from bottles they had brought into the bath, and soon the bathroom was filled with a fruity scent.

It’s similar to Dante’s scent. Is it some kind of perfume used in the South?

Though I smelled it for the first time last night, maybe because of the fruit scent mixed in, it felt particularly fresh. As I stared intently at the bottle, the black-haired woman said,

“It’s the aroma scent used by the Duke. It’s extracted from cherries and a scented cactus. The desert sun is harsh, you know. It eliminates sweat odor and also protects the skin barrier.”

“Is it okay to use something the Duke uses for me?”

“Of course. He said to use it generously for the honored guest.”

Honored guest?

I thought Dante was just being polite because he’s a kind man, but…

“Um, do you know why I came here?”

“Of course. Aren’t you just visiting briefly as an acquaintance of the Duke?”

Faced with such an innocent gaze asking why I would ask such a thing, I vaguely answered with a bright smile.

“Y-yes. That’s right.”

It seems Dante has kept the fact that he kidnapped me a secret.

He was a righteous and upright Duke to the people of the South. There was no need to ruin his image by revealing that he had kidnapped me.

But… there’s something strange.

Why did someone like Dante kidnap me at this time? Just because Ivy told him to?

In the original story, Ivy only began to truly charm the male leads after I became a mummy.

In other words, the story only properly began after she took all my power.

After I died, the male leads who spent nights with Ivy said sweet words to her and were busy comforting her by any means necessary.

“I alone am enough for you.”

Even this line from Dante was spoken after spending the night with Ivy.

So not yet.

Ivy hasn’t taken my power yet, and Dante shouldn’t have fallen for her to that extent…

Lost in these thoughts, I finished washing and came out, only to be overwhelmed again by busy hands dressing me.

“Wow! You’re so pretty!”

“How about trying this too?”

“And this as well!”

At first, it was just a loose, semi-transparent dress, but for some reason, their eyes sparkled with admiration as they adorned me generously with gold necklaces, rings, bracelets, and anklets.

I ended up wearing a sky-blue top that barely covered my chest with a palm-sized cloth, and pants with a fluttering, semi-transparent lace skirt over them.

In such an embarrassing outfit, I was led to Dante.

Following the maids up to the top floor, I saw a wide hall filled with palm trees.

A large table was placed near the window, and Dante was standing there.

“My lord. Lady Latieana has arrived.”

He looked completely different from yesterday.

‘Where should I put my eyes?’

It was hard to know where to look from the back view.

Dante had removed his top, exposing himself to an extent that could be called half-naked.

Fortunately, his lower half was properly covered with white pants.

As Dante turned towards me, my eyes involuntarily went to his muscular chest and bulging arms.

I didn’t mean to look, but my gaze kept moving on its own. As I rolled my eyes, trying my best not to acknowledge him, I finally noticed that the other servants were also shirtless.

I thought the maids’ outfits were extreme, but the men were incomparably more exposed.

Come to think of it, most of the people I’ve seen here so far seemed to be dressed scantily.

I don’t remember well on the way to the dining room because I was so nervous.

Right. It’s the desert after all.

I don’t need to be embarrassed alone, right?

Of course, unlike the other servants, Dante was exuding masculinity without restraint, so I couldn’t help but blush, but I won’t be swayed by such things. Thanks to Edan, I’ve built up quite a tolerance.

‘Bring it on, you bundle of pheromones!’

I made a firm resolution and looked at Dante with a furrowed brow.

Regardless of my reaction, Dante gestured for me to sit down.

To others, he would appear to be the perfect gentleman.

After kidnapping someone! Indeed, the hidden intentions of those pretending to be kind are more frightening.

“Good morning.”

What a good morning indeed! And with the sun blazing down like this, isn’t it afternoon?

It was a gentle greeting, but I silently looked at him with tightly pressed lips.

“Please, sit down.”

Of course, Dante pointed to the chair again, seemingly unconcerned with my reaction. I slowly sat down. Thanks to the servants quickly preparing the food, the meal started without delay.

“Please, eat.”

As Dante began to cut into a large steak, I gripped my knife and fork and asked.

“Did you intend to take me to High Saint Ivy?”

Dante’s knife stopped.

“You knew?”

“Yes. Someone had already tried.”

With his eyes hardened, he let out a sneer.

“It must have been Lord Hillstain. He was the one who coveted the High Saint’s privileges more than anyone.”

“…?”

I, who had boldly tried to get information from my conversation with Dante, tilted my head.

Privileges? What does he mean? Come to think of it, when I went to meet Ivy, Hillstain said something like that at the temple too.

As I closed my mouth, Dante continued as if he had read my thoughts.

“You didn’t know, it seems.”

“May I ask what you mean in detail?”

“If you promise to stay put without causing any meaningless commotion like trying to escape, I’ll tell you.”

I already know I can’t escape anyway. Even if I manage to get out of this building that’s like a dense maze, it’s all desert in every direction. And it’s even more impossible to leave in the middle of the night.

“I will.”

As I nodded, Dante continued to cut the meat while speaking.

“High Saint Ivy promised to grant privileges if someone found you and brought you to her.”

“What kind of privileges?”

“I heard you were a saint candidate, but you don’t know anything?”

“…”

As I blinked my eyes instead of answering, Dante opened his mouth.

“The greatest privilege one can enjoy by becoming the High Saint is the ability to give priority to receive healing from the person of their choice.”

It felt like I’d been hit on the back of the head.

“And she wagered that on finding me?”

“Yes. As you can see.”

Dante pointed outside with the hand holding the knife, as if to say that my sitting in the middle of the desert was proof of that.

The tip of the knife reflected the sunlight, glinting sharply.

Only then did I remember.

It was content that had been briefly mentioned in the original story. But it had no particular meaning. Killian, Hillstain, Dante.

The three male leads, except for Edan, had all used that privilege in a row.

At first glance, it might seem like there was no benefit for Ivy, but it was a power she could use to her advantage in any way she wanted, as long as she hadn’t specifically designated one person.

If someone had special abilities, they would want to receive her healing power freely in any situation, more than anyone else, to eliminate pain or for pleasure.

Suddenly, my eyes widened.

So that’s why Hillstain tried to take me away so forcefully.

It wasn’t just a simple request from Ivy.

First was Hillstain. This time it’s Dante. Next…

‘It could be Crown Prince Killian!’

I’ve made Hillstain my ally, but what should I do about Dante?

Should I honestly tell him that I seem to have the real power?

No. Although it’s incomprehensible, in this unjust world, it’s the victim, not the perpetrator, who has to prove things.

Perpetrators can just deny it and that’s the end of it.

I still didn’t have a solution regarding Ivy. If I speak carelessly, it might lead to even worse results.

And as long as I haven’t found a way to avoid going to the temple, I can’t tell Dante the truth.

“But why didn’t you take me straight to the temple and brought me here instead?”

Dante put down the knife he had been using to cut the steak.

I briefly looked towards the clinking sound before meeting Dante’s eyes again.

“Because Prince Edan will be heading there.”

To think he had planned even anticipating that Edan would be looking for me.

“Since Lord Hillstain failed once, Emperor Edan must know the purpose of my kidnapping you, and he’ll naturally go to the temple. I don’t know what kind of relationship you have, but he seemed to like you quite a bit.”

“And then?”

“Then?”

“That’s right. He will find me. What will you do next? Didn’t you consider the possibility that he might suspect you and come here?”

“It doesn’t matter. You’ll be going to the temple tomorrow night. By then, Prince Edan will be searching here.”

Dante gently curved his eyes.

“But you won’t be here.”

Though his meticulous plan sent chills down my spine, I tried to speak as calmly as possible.

“You’ll fail. Grand Duke Edan will find me.”

“That’s why I just explained the plan to you.”

Are you telling me not to even dream of hope?