“You, you don’t have to do that. This matter can be amicably resolved on my end…….”

“No, I am always indebted to the Duke. But not only can I not repay this favor, but to act so disgracefully, I don’t think I can be at peace with myself.”

At her continued words, the investigation commander was once again taken aback.

Duke Valige was a supporter of Evie Ariate as a saintess.

Then he could face and converse with her anywhere, whether in public or private, and the commander had completely overlooked that.

It was because of Evie Ariate’s background and her overly modest attitude.

“I’ve taken your time with my unnecessary talk while you’re not feeling well. I hope you recover soon. Then, I’ll leave…….”

“Ah, Miss Ariate!”

As Evie rose with a gloomy face, the investigation commander hurriedly grabbed her, and then said again to her, who was looking back innocently.

“It’s not a good idea to mention this matter in front of Duke Valige. I will also cover it up, so please, Miss Ariate, hold your tongue…….”

“Thank you for your consideration, Commander. But I don’t want to cover up my mistake.”

“But, but…….”

“And I will ask the Duke again. Whether he could have mercy on me and the village where I grew up.”

At Evie’s determination, the investigation commander felt a sinking feeling in his chest.

Fearing that something serious might happen, he quickly backed down.

“If that’s the case, I’ll put the residents’ migration on hold.”

“On hold? Suddenly?”

“Yes, so please don’t tell Duke Valige about this.”

“To the Duke? Why?”

“……Please consider my position and dignity…….”

“Position? What is that?”

Even though the investigation commander had completely lowered his stance, Evie, not understanding his meaning, clung to his words. It meant she wanted him to elaborate.

Annoyed by looking up, Evie tormented the commander to the brink of tears in this way.

Half was revenge, and half was a joke.

.

.

.

After Evie finished her meeting with the investigation commander, DIES, who had been waiting outside the barracks, greeted her.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s not much work.”

“True, the hard work was on their end.”

As DIES gestured towards the commander’s barracks, Evie neatly smiled and moved her feet.

As the two left the barracks, the commander’s furious scolding of his subordinates was heard.

By the time they were passing through the barley fields, the commander, supported by his soldiers, was seen getting into a carriage,

And as they entered the village, the flags of Valige began to come down one by one from the barley fields in the distance.

“This should satisfy the Count, right?”

Evie looked at the hastily retreating investigation team and spoke triumphantly.

Last night, the Count suddenly changed his attitude in front of Evie.

That stubborn Count asked Evie one by one what she suspected, and after hearing all the answers, he was silent for a long time.

So, Evie was observing his reaction when the Count suddenly turned the conversation.

―Can you handle here?

The Count asked, gesturing towards the barracks filled with Valige’s soldiers, who were scattered around like tossed toys.

It was a mess created by the Count, intending to leave tonight.

When Evie nodded that she could, the Count added,

―Then clean up Valige’s flags and come find me tomorrow.

The Count’s headstrong attitude seemed intact, but Evie felt a subtle change in his feelings.
He had asked her to come, and it seemed strange for a man who used to growl even when she approached him.

For Evie, who wanted to become friends with Count Philip Morris, it was a good opportunity.

So Evie brushed aside the Count’s request earlier on, and now she was on her way to meet him.

(This is a time delimiter.)

“Good morning, sir!”

Evie, who had knocked on Zion’s door, greeted him with the same expression and attitude as yesterday.

And instead of growling and frowning like yesterday, Zion asked this way,

“Have you finished what you had to do before coming?”

“Yes, fortunately, the head of the investigation team has considered the situation in the village.”

Evie answered with a smile.

Then Zion twisted his body that had been standing in front of the door to the side. It was a sign for her to come in.

With permission, Evie entered the room of that strange man, and instead of courteously escorting her, Zion gave her his desk chair.

And he himself sat down on the bed.

Sitting across from Zion, Evie was the first to break the silence.

“The reason you called me today…”

“Guess.”

Zion spoke as if playing a childish prank.

So when Evie blinked her eyes, he didn’t wait and asked,

“Why do you think I called you?”

“You must have called me because you’ve decided to respond to my proposal. Of course, it seems like you’ll be bothered with this and that.”

Evie answered without hesitation, and Zion laughed in disbelief.

Why would she blink if she knew so well? Was it a habit, or a strategy to catch her enemy off guard?

Considering the formidable nature of Evie Ariate, it must be the latter.

“That’s correct. I intend to bother you with this and that.”

Zion calmly agreed, and Evie was bewildered again.

‘Why is he suddenly being honest?’

Evie looked at Zion with suspicion.

Though fully committed when leaning in and then defensively retreating like an annoying cat, Zion continued without complaint,

“Yesterday’s guess was impressive. It was quite accurate too.”

“……Is ‘quite accurate’ to say that there is more I need to find out?”

Evie threw the question out just in case.

To which Zion readily nodded, and, encouraged, Evie took a step further.

“Do you want me to discover the Count’s secret?”

“I would like to know what my curse is first. More precisely.”

But Zion’s answer was as unfriendly and vague as ever.

So normally, she would have brushed it off thinking, ‘This person really doesn’t want to talk to others, the Count’s mood is cloudy today as well!’

But Evie, who had discovered that the Count was cursed, didn’t dismiss his words lightly and pondered them seriously.

Certainly, his curse must be a curse of not revealing secrets.

The Count had already acknowledged this. Yet he now says to find out more precisely.

What does this mean?

Upon further thought, the Count’s curse seemed more complex than Evie’s.

Evie’s curse was to always answer questions honestly. The question and the answer are simple in their definition of honesty.

But what about secrets?

Secrets are relative. They change depending on the person, place, and time.

So what exactly is a secret?

If the curse was indeed placed by the Great Duke of Laurel, the secrets they would hide are connected to the Laurels.

Wait, isn’t the fact that the Count is cursed the most important secret?

But that person just said it with his own mouth.

Find out what my curse is.

Why can he say that?

Evie stared blankly at the space in front of the seated Count and murmured in a small voice.

“……Something that others know is not a secret.”

At Evie’s whisper, Zion’s eyes narrowed as if waiting for something or expecting something.

But Evie did not notice that, looking far away.

Instead, she knew nothing and yet found out everything.

“So, Count, is your curse that you can’t speak of what others don’t know?”

With that, it was certain.

Zion needed Evie Ariate.