After the welcome party at Laurel Castle, hosted by Count Zion Laurel, the prominent Saint candidate, Evie Ariate, was the talk of the town for days.

She openly insulted Count Laurel, a nobleman and watcher of the border, in front of everyone.

The enraged count officially opposed Evie Ariate’s selection as a Saint.

In response, Ariate wanted to apologize to the Count and went to the border of Biss.

Everyone thought it was a precursor to ruin, and the noble’s view of Evie was at its worst.

But this time, Tenda became agitated again, and the evaluation of Evie Ariate was overturned.

Evie, who was examining a note in the study, laughed like a contented cat.

“I feel like raising a toast.”

“You can’t have alcohol. Bear with cake.”

Evie, who was in rare good spirits, wanted to drink, but her strict butler did not allow it.

In the end, cherry cake was placed before her instead of champagne, but Evie was still satisfied.

“It’s a special sweetness.”

Evie murmured happily, biting into a cherry.

Last new moon, Evie sang in Biss against the rules. Regarding this, opinions among the nobles were divided.

―”To purify the poison spread in the village and save hundreds of people, this will go down in history!” the fashion of a young noble named Arko was incomprehensible even today.

―”I’m moved, even though she knew she would be punished, Miss Ariate is truly a kind person,” many agreed.

Young nobles who loved romance praised Evie’s actions as sacrificial, noble, and saintlike.

―”Saving the village was good, but breaking the rules is a problem, you shouldn’t use the dragon’s blessing for personal gain,” some neutrally expressed nobles.

―”Is the rule more important than life, she saved the miserable people of Biss, the affected village was two,” many countered.

Most of the nobles eventually agreed that Evie’s rescue was right.

―”This act ignored Duke Bayon’s army, it will have a negative impact on ruling Biss in the future,” a few nobles absurdly claimed.

Some nobles criticized Evie, but few did so loudly.

It was because the tower’s punishment had been suspended.

Just as everyone was cautious when Evie insulted the Count, now the nobles swallowed strong criticism, watching the tower’s reaction.

Thus, Evie’s reputation rose pleasantly.

But what really pleased Evie was something else.

“It seems the nobles were shocked that the Count thwarted the tower’s punishment.”

Evie said, enjoying the fluffiness of the cake sheet.

In fact, the most talkedabout person in Tienda right now was not Evie but the Count.

―”Was the sculpture of Amaneser a cheap item to replace the purifier’s punishment?” many voices were amazed.

―”I don’t understand why the Count sheltered Evie Ariate, wasn’t he enraged by being insulted?” many questioned.

―”I don’t know what beat he’s following,” some discreetly grumbled, though a minority.

The nobles watched Laurel’s reaction while endlessly gossiping about the Count’s behavior.

Of course, Laurel was not shaken by this, but the real problem was another rumor that started here.

“There is also a group that finds this matter very interesting.”

Dies poured black tea into a cherished tea cup, speaking.

Indeed, some nobles were not just interested in this matter but were even enthusiastic.

―”When cornered, he saves her, then threatens to destroy her with his own hands? What twisted obsession……” a lady subtly stoked the fire.

―”Think about it, the Count only looked at Ariate at the party. Like he was smitten at first sight……” a young woman eagerly fanned.

―”They seemed to have been entangled horribly from the beginning. Otherwise, Evie Ariate would not have refused the Count so furiously at the party,” a young noble began deducing.

Certainly! Here is the translation:

So making Ariate a saint was also a declaration that he wouldn’t sit still; it was a revenge from a man who had been rejected…! A certain gentleman dangerously concluded.

“Ha!”

Evie burst into laughter as she read the note again.

In the nobles’ imagination, Count Zion Laurel was becoming increasingly distorted into a strange figure.

Hence, even his declaration that had blocked Evie’s path ahead had been suspected of ulterior motives.

This was satisfying enough, but Evie had unexpected allies as well.

― Could Count Zion Laurel have threatened to do something to the woman he likes, going as far as mentioning Amaneser? Could Count Zion Laurel be a rogue that teases virgins in such a vulgar way? I absolutely don’t want to believe that Count Zion Laurel is a lecherous fool who can’t distinguish between his offices, said Duke Bayon, calming the rumors. Duke Bayon, I appoint you as the best honorable assassin.

Duke Bayon, who had already been provoked, went around saying this very loudly.

Thanks to him, the story that the Count was doing all sorts of things and pursuing Evie had become almost a foregone conclusion.

“Heh, heehee… heeheeheh…”

“Don’t laugh so sinisterly…”