When he learned of his mother’s pregnancy, he was sixteen years old. Since the eldest son had been born a few years early, she would be giving birth at an age when she could see grandchildren, so it was natural that the grand ducal residence was turned upside down.

Especially Grand Duke Artua, who had been making excessive responses to anything related to his wife as if determined to be recorded as a tyrant in history books, summoned ten doctors to examine the grand duchess’s health upon news of her pregnancy.

After receiving reports on her condition, the grand duke knelt before his wife and pleaded.

⟨I cannot live without you.⟩

⟨……Do they say it will be difficult?⟩

⟨Everyone assured me it would be harder than with Enoch. So please, I beg you. Choose me. I will gladly bear all burdens.⟩

The grand duke expressed his request to give up the child as ‘please save this pathetic husband who cannot live without you.’

⟨My choice is always you, Wilhelm.⟩

The couple decided to ask forgiveness from the child who would not be born.

But the child survived, and the harsh medicine threatened the grand duchess’s life. Everyone resented the small life that stubbornly survived.

Enoch, who was twelve, took up his sword when his mother fainted twice.

With it he drew blood and wrote an ‘oath of pledge’ before Alec.

⟨Alec. If that thing devours Mother and insists on being born, I will kill it.⟩

But if Mother was safe and…… the child was also born safely.

⟨I will dedicate my life to that child.⟩

That child would reach the highest position even if an idiot, and would be revered as the most beautiful in the empire regardless of appearance.

⟨I will submit to that child for life as a sinner’s duty.⟩

Alec took his brother’s sword and cut his own arm. The brothers inscribed their names side by side on the oath of pledge, and a priest who had been dragged along without understanding offered it to God.

Thus three months later, when the grand duchess held a small baby girl wrapped in swaddling clothes after five priests sacrificed their holy power……

Alec kissed the child’s small foot along with Enoch.

Their devout submission spread throughout Artua territory and was mentioned by fussing nobles at every birthday celebration of Rania, who was born without incident.

Isabel Castilla, granddaughter of Marquis Castilla invited to Rania’s second birthday celebration, was the child most interested in that rumor.

⟨Lord Alec. Did you really pledge to dedicate your life to Lady Rania?⟩

Since Alec didn’t hate her curiosity, he readily showed her the oath of pledge. For the girl who stared intently at the parchment soaked with blood……

⟨Then you could share your love with others too, couldn’t you?⟩

Alec of that time didn’t know he would write a second ‘oath of pledge.’

‘That’s when she started looking like a woman to me.’

Alec, recalling Isabel’s innocent childhood, kissed her forehead.

Then he also kissed her black hair that she had asked about ‘dyeing,’ and Isabel muttered in a slightly gloomy tone.

“Even when I’m being spiteful, you’re always only kind.”

Alec chuckled and spoke carefully chosen words while holding her.

“Isabel. If it’s an uncomfortable story to tell, you can just pretend not to know. Just because you’re skilled at handling information doesn’t mean I intend to dump everything on you.”

“……”

When she said nothing, an anxious Alec added emphatically.

“Of course, I’m not doubting your abilities.”

“I know. I’m just… happy.”

Isabel sat up and leaned against Alec’s shoulder. Her fine black hair tickled his nape.

“Even knowing you love me, sometimes I want to act like a mean lover.”

Alec felt faint resignation in her words. It was all his karma.

Since he and Enoch cherished Rania so excessively, absurd rumors that crossed the line often spread.

⟨They say Lady Rania wore a long-sleeved dress on her birthday because of Lady Isabel? She was jealous of her fiancé’s sister and pinched her arms terribly!⟩

⟨I knew it! I suspected it when she came out wearing a winter dress in that hot weather.⟩

Alec felt guilt whenever Rania and Isabel became entangled in ridiculous rumors.

But since he couldn’t change the past, he could only repent always.

“Isabel. If you’re anxious, test me anytime.”

He kissed her small foot just like when he wrote the second oath of pledge promising to love only Isabel Castilla.

“To be honest, I get excited every time you test my love.”

Alec subtly guided her foot somewhere, claiming to prove his sincerity. Though it was somewhat frivolous behavior, it was perfect consideration for her who felt embarrassed after revealing her inner thoughts.

Isabel, whose heart was eased, finally conveyed the news she had postponed.

“……Actually, for several weeks there have been rumors among noble families that Rania shows interest in vulgar entertainment, mmh.”

“Damn. Sorry. Are you okay?”

Alec, who had unconsciously gripped Isabel’s thigh hard, hurriedly let go. Large red handprints were rising on her pure white skin.

Damn, crazy bastard. Alec cursed himself and quickly sat up. Even when making love, he had strived not to make even a small bruise on Isabel’s body even if he bit his own flesh, yet he made such a pathetic mistake.

“Just bear with it a little. I’ll call a priest right away.”

“It’s okay. I just made a sound from surprise, so since you’re up, call Master Nubo and have a talk. I received all the information, but you’ll want to check it directly.”

“Nubo? Those bastards spread it?”

“No. Why would a trading company that knows they can’t do anything if they get on Artua’s bad side in the North do such a thing? I needed information for another matter and asked them to investigate, so it came along with that. There, on the table.”

When he opened the envelope Isabel indicated, a secret letter produced by Nubo Trading Company emerged.

— Presumed to be influenced by the phenomenon of overheated interest in pure bloodism and legitimacy, coinciding with the accelerating trend of closure in northern noble society.

— Judging by the pattern of this content spreading mainly among families with children, it’s suspected to be the work of families that were once closely associated with Lady Rania, even temporarily, and also overlaps with the guests from the last ‘Second Tea Time Incident’……

After reading the report to the end, Alec returned it to the envelope. His arms tensing showed he was trying hard to suppress his anger.

“Did you say you received this report today?”

“Yeah. I confirmed it just before you arrived. That’s why I haven’t contacted the grand ducal residence yet.”

By now Master Nubo would be stamping his feet waiting for Isabel’s instructions. She was about to inform him of this fact when Alec returned to the bed.

“Should I contact the grand ducal residence right away?”

“No. Never mind that.”

At his gloomy voice, Isabel tilted her head. Then she belatedly realized where his gaze was directed.

She belatedly hid her thigh and pushed Alec away.

“It’ll heal by tomorrow, so you should go to the grand ducal residence……”

“Stay still. I’ll call a priest.”

“Hm? Alec. Wait, I said it’s nothing!”

Despite Isabel’s restraint, Alec stubbornly went out to the corridor and began pressuring the butler and his subordinates.

Thinking of the embarrassing situation that would unfold, she already felt like laughing helplessly.

That she didn’t hate it was truly troublesome.

***

The temple of Eclad Church located in the North’s second city. An unwelcome visitor came just at bedtime.

“To Marquis Castilla’s mansion, right now?”

“Yes. The count commanded you to arrive as quickly as possible.”

Joseph, a high priest of Eclad Church, ground his teeth at the knights’ behavior of loading him into a carriage without warning.

‘Last time they made me cater to an eight-year-old brat, and now they’re trying to drag me away by force in the middle of the night? How dare they treat me?’

Joseph was a priest dispatched under secret orders from the Great Cathedral to observe Artua’s movements.

⟨Maintain intimate relations with Artua and report all interactions without omission.⟩

Joseph, who aimed for the archbishop position, accepted it thinking it was a golden opportunity.

‘If I build connections with the grand ducal house, it’ll be convenient when building influence at the Great Cathedral later, and I’ll get a chance to join Priest Pond’s research society since he’s from the North.’

However, after a long wait, what Joseph met were only a tiny kid and a knight.

His first meeting with Rania Artua was utterly humiliating.

⟨What? I clearly told you to be careful.⟩

⟨My apologies. Priest Benjamin was away on urgent business.⟩

The knight’s subsequent response was equally outrageous. So Joseph was Benjamin’s substitute.

‘Not only that, but making a high priest like me waste holy power treating a mere knight!’

The humiliation he felt then would be unforgettable for life.

What was holy power?

It was sacred strength permitted only to pure souls. It could heal minor diseases and injuries, and theoretically could even revive the dead.

But holy power wasn’t infinite. Once you exhausted your innate holy power, that was it. The remaining life had to be lived with the label of ’empty vessel.’

To waste such precious holy power treating a mere knight’s wound!

After treating the knight’s thigh, Joseph poured out passionate arguments in his first report to the Great Cathedral about what an arrogant infidel Rania Artua was.

— Judging by her arrogant attitude showing no respect for priests serving God Eclad, there must be problems with the overall theological education led by Priest Benjamin in the North……

Though he hadn’t received a reply from the Great Cathedral yet, his argument that the northern temples needed reform would surely be accepted soon.

Until then, he would have to endure several more incidents like tonight’s summons to Alec Artua’s fiancée’s mansion in the middle of the night……

‘If I think of it as a sacrifice to build a foundation in the North after pushing out Priest Benjamin, it’s not impossible.’

Of course, he would write another report full of personal motives this time too. The draft was already complete in his head.

— Still shows no respect for priests serving God Eclad.