It was finally the day that Aria would be officially appointed as my caretaker. It was a grand ceremony. Apparently, Duke Ellon wished to announce the Aria’s standing as my successor. After Aria received the decree from the council of cardinals, she came to my side and escorted me. As we left the main hall, many guests came to greet us.

  It seemed the rumor of Aria from the annual ceremony spread. All the people came with extravagant gifts. While everyone was smiling, the eyes of many of them were not smiling. It was full of desire, evaluation, and disdain. I finally felt the horror of the consequences of Aria’s action. Yet, she stood strong, unfazed by those unfriendly gazes.

  Among those people, I spot many familiar faces. Most of them were my rivals. They made no attempt to recognize my authority. They also did not take Aria seriously. While I was put under humiliation, Aria tightly grasped my hand and looked up at me in concern. How pathetic of me that I needed a young girl to comfort me. She, too, was subjected to this humiliation, yet she only worried about me. As an adult, I should be the one to support her, not the one receiving it.

  At that time, only some of the nobles from the Eastern and Southern region did not show hostility to Aria. I remembered their names. Count Ria, Viscount Holand, Count Silver, Viscount Clinton, Baron Kyle, and Marquise Larose.

  Among all the positive gazes, Marquise Larose stood out the most. Affection, admiration, worry, anxiety, and pity, these were the emotions I could grasp from his gaze.

  He lost his faith in the goddess ten years ago, after the plague. However, it seems Aria was able to help him regain his faith during their brief encounter. I felt a bit more positive after looking at him. At least among this group of hungry beasts, I could find one person who could truly support Aria.

  Aria, too, appeared to respect him greatly. At that time, I remembered our previous conversation.

  “Is it necessary to get dirty just to cross a river?” Thus, I tried to test the water.

  Although perplexed at first, he tried to feign ignorance. “………. Forgive my untidiness. It seems that some dirt gets on me during my travel.”

  His eyes on Aria as he said that sounded louder than his world. Therefore, I tried to break his shell. I felt that only they knew the content about it. From what Aria told me, they met in secret after all.

  Then he turned to look at Aria, who held mine. After I confirmed that he was the teacher, Aria spoke up, and I decided to do it. Everything was his fault after all. I tightly grasped Aria’s hand, and I gave him my sermon.

  “Not really, although you cross rivers and mountains just to come here, you are not dirty at all,” I spoke to him in sarcasm. Who in their right mind would plant that kind of idea in an innocent girl like her? Who taught their kid to commit a crime? Everything was his fault.

  “………. Haha, I seemed to take your word too literally.” At least he admitted his mistake. I could see that he felt guilty about it.

  Oh see? Lucy, never underestimate the instinct of a saintess. I instinctively knew it the moment I met him, and it turned out to be true. You should listen to your grandma more. Trust my instinct. Ah, I get sidetracked again.

  After that, I gave him my warning. “You may have misunderstood my words. I will be careful with my words later.”

  “Oh no. You do not have to do it. It is all my fault.”

  “I am not blaming you.” Yes, I was blaming him. My sadistic side got the better of me there.

  “I will be more careful in the future.”

  “Nevertheless, I am delighted that you find faith in the goddess again.” After I felt satisfied, I tried to change the topic. I needed to make it as natural as possible. We needed to hide our connection from the public after all.

  “I am still resentful of the church for what they did.”

  “I see. It was our negligence. So, what is your purpose of coming here?” I looked around me as I asked him. I needed to check the moles after all.

  “I came here to check the current church state. I was worried that it would fall apart soon. That's all. However, it seems that my worry is unfounded. The church is in capable hands at the moment. With you and Lady Aria here, the church’s future looks so bright.” He looked straight at my hand, which was holding Aria’s.

  “I will accept it as a compliment.” It was his compliment after all. To me, at least, I felt his sincerity; however, to the bystanders, it might have appeared to be a sarcastic remark. I could hear some giggling around me.

  “Please do so.” Then he took something out of his pocket. “Oh, this is my token to you, Your Holiness. It is a glass. So, you can see better.”

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  “……….. I will gladly accept it.” At first, I was puzzled as to why he had prepared it for me. it was an expensive piece. Yet, it was nothing but a decoration. No matter how I checked it, it held nothing of value except its monetary value.

  Then, I came to learn about his real purpose. Do you know, Lucy? He used me as a scapegoat to hide his gift for Aria. Your teacher was that sly.

  “And here is my token to you, Lady Aria. I brought this book specifically for you. You should study well.” He knelt down and gave a thick book to Aria. It was his handwriting, too.

  “Thank you.” Aria happily received it. Yet, I felt more giggling around us. They may have thought Aria misunderstood Marquise Laros’s message. It was them who were the fools. Marquise Laros did not tell Aria to study better so she would understand things better. He did not treat her as a fool, as they thought. He was treating her as his pupil, if not as his daughter. A book filled with handwriting, it was akin to bestowing all your wisdom on your successor.

  The way she held it in her chest showed how much she treasured it. Perhaps it was the most valuable ‘offering’ she received that day, if not because of what he gave next.

  Ignoring the mockery around them, he began to look over her as if to appreciate it.

  “I did not believe it when I first heard about it. But it is true. It seems the offering I prepared is not adequate enough.”

  “…….” Aria appeared to feel restless when she heard that.

  “I hope this hairband is to your liking.” He gave her a new hairband. It was the most valuable thing I saw that day. It was pure white and embroidered with gold thread.

  “….. Thank you.” She was hesitant to receive it.

  Seeing that, he looked back at Paul and smiled. “Don’t worry. The money is not from me. it is from those believers that are under your care. So, treasure it well. Just sell it if you are short on money. hahaha.”

  “…” It was so cute. The puzzle face she showed me that time was so adorable.

  “I will bid you farewell for today.” After that, Marquise Larose took his leave.

  Then we hurriedly get back to my chamber, as I want to inquire about Aria's connection with Marquise Larose. But before I could start, I was interrupted by Paul.

  “Milady, please don’t run off and sell it.” Immediately after we entered my chamber, Paul spoke to Aria in a stern voice.

  “………….. I won’t. And thank you, Paul.” Then she turned around. After a brief pause, she thanked him.

  At first, I was unsure what she thanked him for. At that time, Paul had not yet been introduced to me. Thus, I watched their interaction with great interest.

  “It is from everyone.”

  “…. I see. I will treasure it. Please give my regards to everyone.” My curiosity got the better of me, so I interrupted their conversation.

  “Aria?”

  “Ah, forgive me your holiness. I was late introducing him. Your holiness, this is Paul Avarice. He is my bodyguard. Although publicly he is known as my father’s man, we can trust him. He has been helping me from the start.”

  “Nice to meet you, saintess. I am Paul Avarice, Lady Aria’s first knight.” At our first formal meeting, he gave me his stern greeting. Could you believe it, Lucy? he treated me coldly. Your grandpa was too much.

  “…… I see. Thank you for taking care of Aria. I, too, will be in your care.”

  “It is my duty.” He was too stiff.

  “And what do you mean, not to sell it?” I had to ask them. At that time, I felt that she really treasured it. What made him so worried that she would sell it? and what did he mean by everyone?

  “………… I am asking Lady Aria not to sell that hairband if she is short on money. It is a gift from me and all those people Lady Aria helped. ………………. Lady Aria sold all her accessories to finance the new orphanage. She has been wearing a normal hairband distributed by the church all this time.”

  “… Good heaven. Aria… You…. why must you go this far?” I could not hold my surprise, even with the effect of the poison. It was too shocking.

  In response, Aria cast down her gaze as if it was her fault.

  “It was necessary. And those things have been in the closet collecting dust all this time. So, ….”

  “You may find it unnecessary for now. but in the future, when you grow up, you will need it. if you must, please keep it moderate.”

  “…… I understand, your holiness.”

  Then, I decided to enter the main topic. There were several things that I needed to confirm with her. However, I needed to check the most important thing first.

  “………… for this, I presume Marquise Larose is also on the same boat with us.”

  “Yes, Your Holiness.”

  “Then, Aria, is he the teacher you mentioned last time?”

  “Yes, Your Holiness.”

  “I am relieved.” I sigh in relief. I did not make a mistake.

  “Your Holiness?”

  After that, I had to share the progress I had made with her. while Aria was serving me tea, I spoke

  “There is something I want to inform you. The emperor has inquired about you, Aria. It seems that some of his people have informed him about your deed. He said he wishes to express his gratitude to you, as some of his men have received your help.”

  “……….” While purring tea, her hand came to a halt. I could understand her worry.

  “No need to worry too much. I believe your father did not bother with it. He came to me last time, and I can confirm it.”

  “… Father did?” She gently put down the teapot.

  “… he dropped his suspicion. It seems that he also reduced the potency of the Silver Daw Flow after our talk.”

  “….. It is the trap,” Paul, who was standing by the wall, spoke in grand urgency.

  Upon hearing that, I turned to face him. “…. What makes you think like that?”

  “This is his usual strategy. Lady Aria should also notice it, too.” he did not even look at him as he directed his eyes at Aria.

  “Yes,………… Your Holiness. I believe we should cut off contact with the imperial faction for now. and….” I could sense that her mind was in turmoil. It was possible. It was the mastermind behind everything, after all. So, I readily accept her proposal.

  “I understand. I will continue to fake my illness.”

  “No, please act normal. We cannot allow Father to know that we notice his ploy.” She earnestly looked at me as she said that. I could only trust Aria. If she said so, it might be true after all.

  “…………. I do not understand.”

  “Please try your best to recover while taking the drug as usual. If after he reduced the potency and your health stayed the same or reduced, he would notice the abnormality.” She came to kneel beside me. As I looked down at her, I gently placed my hand on her head. I knew that he felt guilt from her suggestion at that time.

  “…………… I get it. I will be careful.”

  Then, she looked back at Paul.

  “……… Paul, please report all my activities to Father as normal. You do not have to omit or add anything. I believe we are all under his supervision.”

  “…… until when should I act, milady?”

  “………… I don’t know. But at least a year. It can be longer.”

  So, we decided to lie low for a while.