SIX.

Charlie’s day off.

Before the monster subjugation, Hector headed to the training grounds to inspect the knights.

“Your Grace!”

It had been a while since Hector visited the training grounds.

The knights followed their lord like puppies wagging their tails.

In contrast, Hector’s expression was coldly indifferent.

At a glance, it seemed Leon had prepared well. The weapons were well-maintained, and the morale and condition of the knights were excellent.

In fact, their overflowing aura suggested they were itching for battle.

“Well done, everyone.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Just as he was about to turn away, a sudden thought made Hector stop.

“By the way, is there anyone who likes small br*asts?”

At the unexpected question, everyone froze as if they were under a binding spell.

Then, all eyes turned to Leon.

Blinking, Leon asked back.

“Small…… br*asts, Your Grace?”

“I asked if anyone likes women with small br*asts.”

The image of Charlie fuming and grumbling flashed through Leon’s mind.

[Your Grace is teasing me. What’s wrong with being small…….]

Small. Small? What could be small? And he’s asking if small is good.

The rapidly connecting pieces soon led to one conclusion.

“I don’t like them.”

“Don’t like?”

Hector raised an eyebrow at Leon’s answer.

I’m alive. Leon nodded vigorously, emphasizing again.

“Yes, no matter how high her holy power, a woman with small br*asts doesn’t seem like a woman to me.”

“Is that what everyone thinks?”

Hector looked around at the knights. Following Leon’s lead, they nodded.

“I also prefer bigger women.”

“I don’t like small ones.”

“Yes, the bigger, the better!”

As the responses continued, satisfaction spread across Hector’s face.

“I prefer small ones…….”

At the murmuring of a new knight, the atmosphere instantly turned icy, as if doused with cold water.

A deep anger was felt from the spreading black aura.

Knowing what would follow, Leon tightly shut his eyes.

“Right, small ones are good.”

The knight, not realizing Hector’s leading question, smiled brightly.

The other knights subtly distanced themselves from the newcomer.

“What’s good about them?”

“They’re cute when they’re small.”

“And?”

“They fit perfectly in one hand, so they’re se—. Ugh!”

The knight couldn’t finish his sentence.

Hector, unable to tolerate the knight’s rounded hand gesture as if grabbing a br*ast, used his power to choke him.

“Leon.”

“……Yes, Your Grace.”

“Kill him.”

“…….”

* * *

“This is the list of candidates for the upcoming purification ceremony.”

Hector’s eyebrows twitched at the list Tanner placed before him.

But only for a moment, as his icy gaze returned to the documents.

“Postpone it.”

“…….”

It was an unmistakable rejection. But Tanner didn’t move.

The purification ceremony had already been postponed several times.

Although he was aware of the previous incident, there had been countless similar occurrences. And it couldn’t be delayed any longer.

“Aren’t you about to leave for the monster subjugation soon?”

For a moment, Hector’s pen stopped.

Tanner, after taking a breath, continued speaking.

“And after the subjugation, it’s the period of blessing.”

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Charlie glanced at the two of them.

Normally, Tanner would have immediately backed down at Hector’s word.

The period of blessing. This was something Charlie, the possessor, was well aware of.

The Graham Empire holds an annual ceremony and festival to pray for prosperity and stability to the goddess Areis.

The festival, which lasts for two weeks, has a strong devotional character.

During the festival, the imperial family provides free food and drink, allowing all the citizens of the empire to enjoy abundance.

The strange part is the ritual to reach the god. In other words, s*x.

This was not a forced act but something done willingly.

It was indeed a festival befitting an R-rated novel.

Charlie remembered this festival because it was the starting point of the original story.

The heroine Lilliana awakens as Miracle on the last day of the period of blessing in the 700th year of the empire. And that’s when the original story begins.

Currently, it is the 699th year of the empire.

Because of this, Charlie knew that the point she had possessed was before the start of the original story.

“Your Grace.”

Tanner spoke again, urging a decision.

The period of blessing. The Grand Duke’s public activities were inevitable.

Kaisis, like Hector, possessed two attributes of supernatural powers.

One was the water attribute at the Master level, and the other was the light attribute at the Grand Master level.

And both of these attributes were opposite to Hector’s.

Additionally, the light power had the ability to read the thoughts of others.

Of course, Hector’s dark power could block this.

But conversely, it meant that Hector had to use his dark power every time he faced Kaisis.

The amount of magic power consumed to defend against another power was enormous.

It was natural that it would be a burden if not purified in advance.

Therefore, before every festival, Hector would purify his power to the maximum.

Finally, Hector’s gaze turned to Charlie.

Her large eyes blinked as she looked at him.

The red eyes that stared at Charlie for a moment moved somewhat awkwardly back to the documents.

“……Schedule it as you see fit.”

* * *

After that day, Hector’s purification ritual began in earnest.

But there was a problem. The amount of purification through Charlie’s guidance was decreasing.

Making eye contact was not a big deal.

But the weakening purification energy eventually disappeared completely.

In short, it was as if it returned to the state before receiving Charlie’s guidance.

But Hector did not disclose this to anyone.

Not even to Tanner, nor to Charlie herself.

Several days passed.

Charlie, now familiar and indifferent, was heading to the room for the ritual.

“Lord Tanner, there’s a message from the Duchy.”

Leon urgently sought out Tanner.

“From the Duchy?”

“It’s from Marquis Richard.”

At Leon’s low whisper, Tanner’s face hardened.

Richard was the highest authority and closest confidant managing the Duchy in Hector’s absence.

The fact that he contacted directly meant it was not just to ask about well-being.

“I’ll go right away.”

When Tanner was about to hasten his steps, he suddenly thought of Charlie and turned to her.

“Miss Charlie, may I ask a favor?”

Anxiety made Charlie instinctively step back from Tanner.

“Wh-what is it?”

“The lady arrived later than expected, so I couldn’t convey the precautions. Could you pass them on instead?”

Oh, is that all? It shouldn’t be a big deal.

Charlie nodded as if to say not to worry.

“No moaning, no ej*culation, no caressing, right?”

“That’s correct. I feel reassured with you here, Miss Charlie.”

Relieved by Charlie’s bright demeanor, Tanner left the place.

* * *

After meeting the woman, Charlie’s face was full of irritation as she entered the room first.

[Guide?]

From the first encounter, she didn’t like the way the woman looked down at her.

She wasn’t in a position to argue, but she couldn’t help feeling bad.

[Can’t we just follow the contract?]

The woman had said while looking down at Charlie, who was conveying the precautions.

Although Charlie was upset, she couldn’t criticize the woman who said she would follow the contract.

“Why does it have to be that woman?”

Out of all the candidates. Charlie grumbled while sitting in the chair.

Recently, Hector’s laughter had disappeared again.

The bell no longer rang, and as the days of handling state affairs increased, it naturally became harder to see him.

And Hector began seeking strong liquor every night once more.

Perhaps what drives Hector mad in the original story is not the price of his power.

Charlie suddenly had that thought.

Then, the door creaked open, and the woman who had prepared entered the room.

At the same time, a strong rose scent stung Charlie’s nose.

It was clearly the release of pheromones.

* * *

As expected, Hector’s face twisted the moment he entered the room.

It was because of the woman’s pheromones, which were so thick it was suffocating.

In fact, before Hector entered, Charlie had released her pheromones to try to neutralize it.

But the woman followed by releasing her pheromones as if to cover it.

Charlie, who was not used to controlling her pheromones, couldn’t overpower the woman who had been dominant since birth.

Moreover, she couldn’t think of anything pleasant due to her bad mood.

Overriding the guide’s pheromones was clearly a breach of etiquette.

Of course, Charlie’s actions were not right either.

In other words, it was a very bizarre situation.

“…….”

Caught between the sparks flying from their eyes, Hector wore a bewildered expression.

Moreover, Charlie’s pheromones were radiating intense irritation.

[Today’s purification ritual was entrusted to Miss Charlie.]

Recalling Tanner’s words, Hector’s lips curled up.

For some reason, seeing Charlie angry didn’t feel bad at all. No, it was quite close to feeling pleasant.

With a smile, Hector approached the woman.

* * *