When Evie asked about the salt, Cassel’s heart sank.

But he did not show it and growled.

“……What is this nonsense?”

“Yes, it’s just nonsense.”

Then Evie answered playfully, and thanks to that, Cassel’s mind became busy.

‘What is it, what does she know and why is she doing this?’

The salt Evie spoke of was the purification salt produced in Manyanaya Tower. It’s something humans from the lower continent buy at a high price to avoid the curse of the dark night.

Cassel had obtained the right to distribute that salt from the Tower Lord. So he had been selling the salt at a good price and sending the profits faithfully to the tower.

Of course, faithfulness was only a matter on the books.

A guilty Cassel felt guilty but hid his anxiety and skillfully scoffed.

“Why, are you trying to catch a saint?”

“Yes, I’ll try it once.”

At that, Evie answered very innocently, and Cassel struggled not to widen his eyes in front of her.

He had been particularly meticulous about managing anything related to the tower, such as the salt.

It’s not something that can be dug up at will, like playing with several women, laying hands on a cousin’s wife, or chasing wild horses.

So the likelihood of Evie knowing anything is slim. No, it’s not. Unless she had ransacked the Count’s treasury, or the deities of Montra had prepared to selfdestruct and betray.

But why is she suddenly talking about salt? Is she just probing?

As Cassel looked suspicious, Evie added with a bright smile.

“Because that salt, I purified it.”

At those words, Cassel’s chest became cold.

He did not fully understand Evie’s words. However, he could guess from the context.

‘Could it be that she can trace the whereabouts of the salt she purified?’

It’s the first time he’s heard such a thing. Of course, it was. It was a lie that Evie had casually thrown to tease Cassel.

‘Hahaha. Shake, you house pig!’

Evie, with a white face and dark intentions, laughed inside and out, teasing Cassel.

In fact, what Cassel said earlier was half right.

As he said, the weaknesses Evie had accumulated about Cassel were too trivial to shake his position.

But Evie was sure.

If he’s so vulnerable in his personal life, he would have feasted on business and business from behind. Honestly, he’s been untouched so far, and he’s a dust that will come out like fog if touched.

So she subtly probed, and sure enough, Cassel’s eyes trembled for a moment when she suddenly brought up the salt. Of course, this cunning man immediately pretended to be calm, but he couldn’t escape Evie’s eyes, who had lived a lifetime of cunning.

‘Salt, dark night, arena…….’

Evie quietly repeated the words that crossed her mind. And then she smiled black and white once more.

Once she caught a few threads, filling in the blanks was a matter of time. Evie felt more refreshed and motivated than ever.

“Now that there’s no more to talk about, I’ll get up.”

Evie stood up from her seat, deliberately leaving a mystery. Cassel glared at her but could not catch her.

So Evie crossed the reception room with a relaxed and wicked smile, and stopped at the door.

Evie grabbed the doorknob and thought for a moment before turning back to Cassel.

And she lifted the hem of her skirt and gracefully bowed to the Count, who was glaring at her.

“I was sincere when I thanked you yesterday.”

When Evie suddenly became formal, Cassel frowned.

But Evie no longer cared and smiled neatly. So Cassel’s mood became strange once again.

He did not know Evie to smile like that. He did not know the girl who smiled so firmly.

“I decided to become a saint and never had an easy day. Trying to appear like a saint, gaining education, wearing a dress for the first time, and smiling kindly to beg for favor from people who despised me for being from a monastery was really……. ”

Evie complained as if she was tired from thinking alone. Then she spoke proudly, as if she was a daughter about to become independent.
Even though she knew she only had to endure a little longer, she foolishly endured, but thanks to the duke’s push on her back, she realized. The favor and support gained by acting kindly were shallower than a bond of servitude, and in the end, they could easily be crumpled as they please.

The content of those words was neither proud nor vile. Instead, it was filled with only pretentious arrogance.

“So I made a decision. Since becoming a saint by being loved is completely off the table, I’ve decided to become a saintess more to my liking. Of course, it won’t be easy, but since the world is going downhill anyway, nothing will be impossible.”

In Tienda, arrogance is a right and meanness is a duty.

Order, dignity, authority. No matter how they are dressed up, the structure of Tienda was essentially the same as Vees. The winner takes all, the strong have, and the weak lose.

So Evie made a new resolution too.

Not to become a saintess who is beautiful like everyone wants, a symbol of hope but not overstepping, but to become a difficult saintess that nobody wants, but who can’t be driven or pulled out.