The high priest’s pupils shook.

What kind of crazy woman is this? His eyes seemed to say, but whatever. I’ve been pushed to my limits now. Since it’s come to this, I might as well throw my weight around a bit.

“W-What? Huh! Acting as if you’re already confirmed as the Great Saint…!”

“I really am the one.”

“Y-You…!”

“You heard the conversation between the Crown Prince and the Grand Duke, didn’t you?”

His long, thin nose bridge twitched.

“You can bring the artifact right now to check if you want. My healing power might be a bit weaker than usual since I’m not feeling well, but I can still show you plenty. My power is incomparably stronger than Ivy’s.”

At my confident attitude, the high priest furrowed his brow as if deep in thought.

He seemed to be recalling the words exchanged between Killian and Edan. Since the senses of ability users are more accurate than artifacts in checking healing power, he probably can’t deny it.

“Hmm! Hmm! I’m not saying you’re not the Great Saint, just that I’ll check first. We need to be cautious.”

“I understand. I get it all, but please let me go today. Stop taking Killian the Crown Prince’s side.”

“What did you say?”

“I said I want to go back today.”

Huh. White corn-silk beard quivered along the high priest’s lips as he sighed. Makes me want to pluck it out.

“I don’t know what kind of unreasonable nonsense this is. The empire is in crisis now that the Great Saint is gone. At times like this, you should come to the temple even more…!”

“Crisis or not, I’m telling you I don’t want to right now.”

“W-What…?”

“I’ll go back for now today.”

“What in the…!”

Seriously, he’s not listening at all.

“High Priest.”

I blinked my eyes slowly and lowered my voice a bit.

“Ivy told me something.”

“…?”

The high priest’s face wrinkled even more as he frowned in confusion.

“She said you make and sell expensive pills to the nobles. Well, even if you’re deceiving them by selling ineffective ones as if they work. I’ll end up taking the Great Saint’s position anyway, so shouldn’t I help you?”

Of course, it’s a lie that I’ll take the Great Saint’s position, and I heard it from Maxium, not Ivy.

“I heard the amount is quite large. Would it be alright if that money source disappeared?”

“How dare you insult me by calling it a money source!”

“Insult or whatever. What if I tell the nobles not to buy it since I’ve never made such medicine after becoming the Great Saint?”

“…!”

The high priest’s eyes widened as if they would tear. When there was still no answer, I pretended to turn around without hesitation.

“Ah. So you don’t need my help? Okay. I understand.”

“Ah! No!”

At the high priest’s urgent voice, I stopped my steps as if I had no choice.

As I stood still, the high priest strode over in front of me. The old man’s got good energy.

“What? Do you need my help?”

At my words, the high priest’s lips quivered several times before he finally surrendered.

“Just for today. You must promise to come back!”

“Yes. Of course. I will.”

I smiled brightly.

The high priest didn’t seem to like me much, but since the empire’s two top ability users are obsessed with me, he probably can’t deny that I’m the Great Saint.

He’s someone who knew about the Butterfly Grass, and he must have known that Ivy kept looking for me.

He seems to have caught on that she did something to me with black magic.

“What are you going to do now about persuading the Crown Prince and all?”

The high priest stroked his beard once with an arrogant expression.

“Not just because of the pills! But since the one who will become the Great Saint is asking like this, I’ll try to use my influence a bit.”

We finished our non-conversation and returned to Killian and Edan’s side.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

The high priest cleared his throat a couple times with his fist to his mouth and said to Killian.

“Your Highness, I think it would be better to send Lady Latieana back for now, as the temple might be in turmoil and the Saint candidates might be anxious.”

The high priest finished speaking and slightly nodded his head while looking at me. At this point, I’m really curious how much money the high priest made using Ivy. His change of attitude is no joke. I should investigate his background later.

“Who said we needed the high priest’s permission? Latieana can’t leave here.”

“Yes, of course… Pardon?”

“If I say it’s not allowed, then it’s not allowed.”

“No! That’s…!”

Power my ass! He talked big but turned out to be useless at the crucial moment. I glared at the high priest.

You’re not helping at all with just a loud voice!

The high priest quieted down for now, but Killian didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down.

“I’ll say it again. Give up on Latieana Merigold. Then I’ll forgive and let you go, just this once.”

At Killian’s order, Edan sneered.

“I told you. I can’t leave without Latieana.”

“So you’ll ultimately point your sword at the imperial family?”

“Yes. I have no problem with that.”

At the firm answer, Killian’s lips hardened. Edan tightened his grip on his sword and—

“No!”

Just as I shouted and stepped between them to block what seemed like an imminent sword fight.

“Of course not.”

A familiar person appeared, crossing the garden.

We all turned to look at him at the same time.

“L-Lord Hillstain?”

“Hello, Lady Latieana.”

Hillstain smiled, his fox-like eyes curving.

Hillstain, who had leisurely walked into the chaotic garden with his red cape fluttering, came straight to me and bowed his head in greeting without hesitation.

“A hand kiss… is not allowed, right?”

I shook my head no. I don’t like it.

Hillstain nodded slightly as if he had expected that and straightened up.

“What brings you here, my lord?”

At Killian’s question, Hillstain swept his gaze around once and stopped at the corner where the magicians had been dragged away.

“I heard two imperial magicians disappeared, so I came after them. But an interesting situation has unfolded. I also got to see the two of you standing side by side after a long time.”

His eyes sparkled as he discovered the imperial magicians, and Killian’s brow furrowed fiercely.

“The magician issue has been resolved. You may leave.”

“No. I can’t do that.”

Hillstain glanced at Edan and walked over to stand beside me.

On the opposite side of Killian. As if he were on my side.

“It seems the Crown Prince has just realized?”

But this guy is really crazy. He blurts out words to Killian, the Crown Prince, as if mocking him.

Killian lowered his eyes as if used to his attitude.

“It seems you knew. That’s why you’ve been indifferent to Ivy lately.”

“Well, yes.”

Killian smiled slyly.

“You two, why don’t you just let them go today?”

“Did I ask for your opinion, my lord?”

“I’m just being a loyal subject. It’s advice. I’d be happy if she’s appointed as the Great Saint and comes to the temple, but Lady Latieana is different from the witch who enjoyed pleasure in the temple, right?”

Hillstain’s gaze fell on me. A chill ran down my spine at his cold, snake-like eyes that swept me up and down.

“Lady Latieana isn’t the type to enjoy such things. Well. I’m so skilled that if I had time, I could make Lady Latieana fall for me like crazy. But I don’t like sharing with other ability knight users either.”

Is he really on my side or not?!

I silently mouthed words to Hillstain, enunciating clearly.

“Want · to · lose · your · dick?”

As I glared at him while biting my lower lip, Hillstain shrugged his shoulders as if teasing me and withdrew his perverted gaze.

“So let’s compromise here. There are many eyes watching, and it would be troublesome for Your Highness if it comes to light that the magicians touched the wall. It’s not something that can be easily dismissed as a mistake or prank by the future emperor.”

Eventually, Hillstain’s gaze turned to Edan.

“Moreover, it would be inconvenient for us if the Grand Duke becomes a traitor. There would be no one to protect the North. If you concede here today, I’ll also keep the incident with the collapsed wall a secret. Otherwise, I’ll investigate this matter even if you’re the Crown Prince. I have my role to play too.”

Hillstain smiled until the end, and after a moment, when Edan first threw his sword to the ground, Killian also turned back with a coldly hardened face.

“I didn’t do it for the Grand Duke, so you don’t need to thank me.”

“Shut up before I tear your mouth.”

“Yes, yes. Sure thing.”

Edan coldly snapped at the grinning Hillstain and turned around.

Then he grabbed my shoulder and put his arm under my knees to lift me up in a princess carry.

As he nodded his head, the Northern subordinates rushed in on cue and a portal opened.

As Edan and I were about to cross the portal, Hillstain said.

“Lady Latieana, you’ll give me that dick, right?”

That fox-like human.

I’m not entirely pleased, but I nodded. After all, the situation was resolved thanks to Hillstain.

The North, Edan’s bedroom on the highest floor of the Grand Duke’s castle. A place he hardly uses since obtaining the castle.

I entered following an elderly maid.

“Please wear this. The size might be a bit big, but it won’t be uncomfortable. The bath is ready, so feel free to use it.”

“Thank you.”

The maid told me the location of the bathroom and where the spare clothes were placed, then left.

I headed straight for the bathroom adjoining the room.

Seeing my body in the bright light, the injuries were terrible. Arms, legs, shoulders, and back. The back was the most severely injured, perhaps because I had been curled up while Ivy was beating me.

There were red spots that looked like clotted blood, and the purple bruises were as unsightly as they were painful.

Will all these wounds disappear? Sighing, I finished washing and came out to wait for Edan.

He said he’d go somewhere briefly, but he’ll be right back, right?

There are things I want to say and do for him.

I changed into a cotton slip that was so big it slipped off my shoulders and stared out the window.

The pitch-black night sky, making the stars shine even brighter. The nights in the North are beautiful.

It was a quiet and peaceful dawn, as if all the many events of today were a lie.

As I absently stared outside, hugging my aching body with both arms, the door opened.

“Lati.”

I turned around quickly to see Edan standing there, wearing only a tunic he had barely changed into.

“Edan!”

I ran and hugged Edan tightly with my arms wide open. But Edan didn’t budge at all. Feeling strange, I looked up to see him frowning with one eye.

“Why are you dressed like that?”

This sounds like something I’ve heard before.

“Ah, the clothes are a bit big. The shoulder area is slipping…”

“That’s good. Take it off.”

Huh?