“Fortunately, you don’t need to worry that much. It’s thanks to you getting Ronan moving quickly.”

“My doing?”

“Still, just to be safe, grab what you need and evacuate. It won’t take long.”

Laches tapped my shoulder twice and then turned and disappeared.

The man who once contemplated killing me was now asking me to live.

What a gap.

“……Unique.”

Soon, I grabbed a bottle of my medicine and a robe in case I couldn’t take it and my eye color changed. Then, I left the room.

“Take me to the safest place! I’m a guest, it’s only natural!”

My steps towards safety halted at the sharp outburst. That voice was unmistakably memorable.

“Out of the way! What can you bugs do if you survive? This world is better off with me alive than with the likes of you!”

“Screams! My lady!”

“You all can just be bait to lure the monsters while I’m in danger!”

Heading towards the source of the voice, I saw Delia pouring abuse on the employees of Violentus Castle.

Despite the cold, she wore only a thin indoor dress without any additional layer.

“My lady. The shelter built for emergencies has ample space.”

“Just because there’s space doesn’t mean I should be with you people. Don’t you know who I am? A descendant of the Paladin family that contributed to the founding of this empire!”

She was throwing a tantrum to have her own space in a shelter meant for everyone.

“The shelter is intended for everyone’s equal use during monster invasions, as per the Duke’s instructions…”

“If I, a guest, get hurt or die, wouldn’t that be trouble for the Duke? Your job is to protect me without a scratch!”

To think I once considered her a friend. How embarrassing.

‘If she was so scared, she should’ve stayed safely in the capital, in her brother’s care.’

I subtly bowed my head and stealthily approached Delia. Oblivious to my presence, she continued her tirade.

The thought crossed my mind to shove her from behind.
Even if it’s just in front of the maids, watching Delia trip and fall flat on her face in the corridor would be satisfying… if only for a moment.

A very brief moment.

I took a deep breath and murmured softly behind Delia.

“I heard Count Deverti spent the night with another woman. I wonder if Miss Pallo is aware of that?”

My whisper was just loud enough for Delia’s ears. It was impossible for her to ignore such words. She whirled around immediately.

I moved to the opposite side where Delia had turned and blended naturally among the maids.

“Who, who just said that?”

Delia’s face turned ghostly pale. Apparently, the thought of her lover’s infidelity frightened her more than the monster invasion. Which was predictable.

“Who just said that!”

Deverti was a man who whispered love to me while seeing Delia.

So, there’s no rule saying he wouldn’t do it again. To Delia, a man capable of whispering love to another woman while being with her.

Judging by Delia’s reaction, she seemed aware of this fact.

‘Just pushing her once and walking away would be too boring.’

If they had a normal relationship, such a comment would be laughed off as nonsense, but not for these two.

Even if they were to marry, Delia would spend her life in constant doubt and anxiety, gnawing away at herself.

I just needed to wait for the seeds of anxiety and doubt I had sown in Delia’s heart to sprout.

Betray me and live your life gnawing away at yourself.

“Deverti… Where’s Deverti now? Has anyone seen Count Deverti who came with me?”

No one answered Delia’s query. It was natural, given that Deverti had sneakily left alone late at night.

Realizing it wasn’t the time to argue with the maids, Delia quickly moved.

“Deverti! Where are you, Deverti!”

As Delia disappeared, the maids who had gathered around me approached.

“Thank you, Leia, for helping.”

“I’ll definitely keep what happened just now a secret. Thank you. I was so scared…”

“I wanted to cry when she called us bugs…”

Helping the maids was more about getting back at Delia than being altruistic.

But when their gratitude came, I felt awkward.

“……You don’t need to thank me. I did it because she was being noisy. Just keep it a secret that I was the one who spoke.”

I spoke truthfully, but the maids’ eyes sparkled even more, as if looking at a hero.

“You… you’re really cool, Leia.”

“Of course! Miss Pallo isn’t our mistress anyway. I’ll definitely keep it a secret.”

It seemed like a big misunderstanding was building up. Just as I was about to clear it up:

Poo-woooo!

A horn sounded in the distance.

Everyone stopped and looked out the window.

“It seems it’s over safely.”

Someone sighed in relief, whispering softly.

Despite the darkness, the outside was brighter than the shadows.

Flames consumed the darkness.

People who had locked up their livestock were releasing them, and those who had fled were now laughing joyfully.

“Looks like Lieutenant Ronan handled it!”

Ronan’s blonde hair fluttered in the wind. His face and clothes were splattered with monster blood.

‘Wasn’t Ronan supposed to be tracking Deverti?’

Why then was Ronan’s sword stained with monster blood?

‘What exactly happened?’

Ronan approached Laches and reported briefly. Laches’ face twisted into a terrifying grimace.

Then Ronan, along with the knights who had accompanied him, returned along the path they came from.

A familiar face was among them.
‘……Deverti.’

Deverti, clutching the large horn of a goat, was returning with a face stricken by fear.

The horn of a goat, known as a flute that summons monsters.