My two eyes glaring at Young Count Amets blazed with anger.

I moved closer to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“Could we perhaps be together on the last day of the festival as well?”

“Ah, that day would be difficult, Lady Pluna. However……”

Young Count Amets replied to the woman’s question in an awkward voice.

‘Hmph, of course. Because he’s supposed to meet Emily on the last day.’

I glared at Young Count Amets with a crooked eye and fell into deep thought.

‘How should I let Emily know about this?’

I hadn’t grown particularly close to Emily in such a short time.

But to think there’s two-timing in this peaceful world I created! An affair!

A cancerous existence as malignant as this underworld!

A social evil that must be eradicated!

‘I can’t allow this.’

After a while, we confirmed that the two of them parted ways.

“Make sure she gets home safely.”

“Yes, Big Sis!”

Felitz secretly followed the Count’s daughter.

Just as I was pondering how to punish that guy.

I saw other men approaching Young Count Amets, who was left alone.

The men lowered their voices and whispered.

“How about Count Pluna’s daughter? Do you think she’ll come around?”

“Yes, with a little more effort, I think we can recruit her into our order. Since we’re meeting again tomorrow……”

‘Huh? Order?’

I blinked my eyes at the unexpected word.

There’s only one religion recognized on the continent, the Arne Order led by the Pope of the Holy Nation.

In my previous life, I spent my childhood in the Holy Nation, so I knew about the Arne Order better than anyone.

But these people didn’t look anything like Arne’s priests.

“You’re meeting Lady Clarence in two days, right? If we can make Lady Clarence a follower of our order after Lady Pluna, it’ll be very reassuring.”

The men patted Young Count Amets on the shoulder.

‘What, the purpose of two-timing was to recruit for a religion?’

To dare trample on a lady’s pure heart and use it to promote religion.

I was fuming with anger when.

“The Master also highly values your contributions. When Lady Yuria returns……”

I froze.

I blinked my eyes, thinking I might have misheard.

“The Saint’s return is not far off.”

But I hadn’t misheard.

The person they were talking about was clearly the original female protagonist, ‘Saint Yuria’.

***

‘Yuria is coming back?’

I walked alone down the night street, recalling Yuria who had suddenly left this world one day.

‘After leaving so abruptly and making everyone anxious…… now……”

It felt like something I didn’t know about was happening, and my heart was strangely unsettled.

‘And why now of all times? Just when I was finally going to try living as an ordinary citizen…… Well, I suppose it won’t involve me anymore, but still……”

As I was walking, lost in thought for a while.

Bump.

I collided with someone.

“Ah, I’m sorr……”

As I raised my head to apologize, I froze.

“……!”

Snow-white silver hair and piercingly blue eyes.

Cail Aleret, whom I had briefly encountered this morning, was standing in front of me.

“……Jella.”

Whoosh!

Before I could do anything, he tightly embraced me.

“Wh-wh-wh-wh-who’s Jella?”

I stuttered in shock at my name coming from his mouth.

“I mean, my name is Jella, but I don’t know you……”

Argh…… Why on earth did he come?

Surely, he doesn’t remember me hitting him?

No, he couldn’t have remembered. It was too quick.

“A-anyway, I, I don’t know you at all……”

“……”

A gentle smile appeared on Cail’s lips as he looked down at me. And then.

Plop.

‘Huh……?’

Plop, plop.

Large teardrops rolled down that beautiful face.

“Huh?”

Why is he crying? What did I do!

And his mouth is smiling!

As I was flustered and didn’t know what to do, he tightened his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.

As a result, my body was pressed against his firm chest.

“W-wait……”

Just as I was about to push him away from this somewhat embarrassing position.

Thud.

His head fell onto my shoulder.

“Don’t abandon me.”

He whispered into my ear with a damp voice.

“Please don’t abandon me, Jella. My master.”

“……!”

At that soft whisper, my heart sank with a thud.

***

A few hours earlier.

After muttering “What should I do” and “It’s ruined” for a while, Cail suddenly stood up and faced the mirror.

He checked his appearance, buttoning up neatly to his neck.

It was a figure perfectly suited to her taste, which favored an ascetic yet seductive look.

[Wow! You’ve dressed up properly? Jella will love it!]

A black dragon the size of a fist floated around him, shouting.

Cail, dressed from head to toe in exactly the way she liked, ignored the noisy black dragon and walked outside.

[Lewd Cail Aleret!]

The black dragon flapped its short wings and followed closely behind him. It seemed that the passing people couldn’t see the form of the black dragon.

On the way out of the imperial palace, he saw Yupheon Arne being carried by priests.

There were no external injuries, but his face was pale green as if he had been poisoned, and his white clothes were stained with dark red blood.

Of course, Cail paid no attention and just walked past.

“……It’s dark.”

Cail muttered, looking at the sunset outside.

Despite it being evening, there were as many people as he had seen during the day.

However, perhaps due to the darkness, or because he came out alone.

People didn’t recognize and crowd around him as they had during the day, but instead enjoyed their own festivities.

For the black dragon, who had nearly been forced into troublesome tasks again, this was a very fortunate turn of events.

Cail moved his steps, chasing her scent in the cold night air.

He had to make up for the unsightly appearance he had shown earlier.

What should he say when he meets her again?

‘I missed you.’

This is too plain. It lacks charm.

‘Why did you hit me earlier?’

This sounds like picking a fight. What if she gets upset?

‘Did you enjoy leaving me behind?’

If I ask this and she nods…… I might not be able to hold back my resentment towards her.

‘Actually, I thought about you every day. During the day, at night, always only thoughts of you……’

Ah, this is too honest. I mean it sincerely, but what if she thinks I’m a pervert?

‘I’m glad to see you again.’

This seemed the best option. Speaking plainly. So that she could accept it……

As Cail was pondering what to say to her, he was in the midst of his thoughts.

‘Ah……!’

He saw her in the distance.

He could recognize her no matter what face she was making, no matter what she looked like.

And the moment he spotted her, all the prepared words disappeared and his mind went blank.

Cail immediately strode towards her.

Lost in some thought, she was walking absentmindedly when her head bumped into his chest.

“Ah, I’m sorr……”

Whoosh!

He embraced her tightly as she was about to apologize. So that she couldn’t run away again.

And the moment he took in her face with his eyes.

Plop. Plop plop.

Tears started flowing.

Crying as soon as he saw her wasn’t part of his plan.

He had hoped for a cool reunion this time, but it just fell apart again.

Perhaps there was never such a thing as a cool reunion between her and him from the start.

It was natural.

Because he was her hunting dog. No matter how much a dog tries to look cool, in front of its owner, it can only be a stylish puppy with slightly shinier fur than other mutts.

Cail, upset and embarrassed to show her his unsightly crying face, buried his head deep into her shoulder.

“Don’t abandon me.”

Then he whispered pleadingly in a sorrowful voice.

“Please don’t abandon me, Jella. My master.”

White snow began to fall from the sky. Just like the day she had abandoned him.

***

The cold snow suddenly started falling from the sky, but my shoulder was getting warmly wet.

Cail was crying. Clinging to me like a giant puppy!

‘Why, why is he crying? No, more than that, why is he so sure I’m Jella?’

First, I had to deny it.

“I-I’m telling you clearly, I’m not the woman named Jella you’re looking for.”

At those words, he slowly raised his head.

‘Too close!’

Having never been this close to him before, I had to hold my breath.

“And we’re meeting for the first time here today!”

“……”

Under his steady gaze, I added a bit meekly, emphasizing that we were meeting for the first time now.

What if he remembered being hit by me this morning and came for revenge?

However, he remained silent for a while.

After staring at me for a long time, he slowly parted his lips.

“That’s right, my master……”

“No, I’m……”

He asked me in a somewhat resentful voice.

“After abandoning me so cruelly, are you not going to pick me up again?”