Just one day. He had planned to wait just one more day, and if Evelyn didn’t return, he would search for her by any means necessary. And once he found her, he had almost resolved to tie her up somewhere no one could see so she could never run away again. At that moment, as if by a lie, Evelyn returned.

At first, he thought it was an illusion, but the warmth filling his arms made him realize this was not an illusion but reality. Only then did the anxiety and all sorts of dark thoughts that had been choking him fall away. Only after inhaling Evelyn’s body fragrance, reminiscent of May roses, could he regain his stability and reason.

“So I decided.”

From the moment he voluntarily visited Evelyn’s bedroom and explored her body, he would serve Evelyn as his lord for life, not the main deity Helios.

“So, sleep well today.”

His soliloquy and resolution, which Evelyn hadn’t heard, quietly circled inside the bedroom before dissipating.

***

The morning of departure for the imperial palace dawned. Even Maria, who had been showcasing all kinds of nagging kits to Evelyn for three whole days, had quieted down by then.

“Saintess, this is my first time going to the imperial palace. I heard the floors there are all made of gold; is that true?”

“No. It’s similar marble to the Grand Temple.”

“Huh? Saintess, have you been to the imperial palace before?”

Maria, who was packing Evelyn’s belongings to be loaded onto the carriage, turned to look at her with a puzzled face.

Oops. Evelyn, who had almost revealed the indecent time she spent at the imperial palace, lied with a composed face.

“No. I also heard it when I was at the Margrave’s castle.”

“Ah, I see. Anyway, it’s an honor to be able to continue serving the Saintess at the imperial palace.”

Maria was scheduled to go to the imperial palace with her under the High Priest’s orders. This was also fortunate for Evelyn, who had already grown accustomed to spending time with Maria. As Evelyn helped Maria pack, she glanced at the entrance of the guest room.

She wanted to at least exchange greetings with Nox before boarding the carriage to the imperial palace. But he had been busy with work and hadn’t shown his face since morning.

‘Well, even if I don’t see him now, I’ll be able to see him at the Founding Festival.’

The Founding Festival event, where she could meet all the male protagonists, was scheduled to take place about two weeks from now. She would probably be able to see the third male lead, whom she hadn’t even caught a glimpse of yet, on that day. Perhaps the fifth main quest would also proceed on that day.

…That’s what she was thinking nonchalantly. But as she was about to board the carriage heading to the imperial palace, a system message window appeared before her eyes.

[Sub-quest <Secretly Participate in the Black Market Auction> has arrived.]

Tonight, a secret auction will be held in the empire’s black market. After wearing a mask and robe, participate in the auction secretly without revealing your identity to anyone. If you successfully participate in the auction, you will be able to acquire new basic skills and advanced skills, and proceed with the fifth main quest. Note that the secret auction is scheduled to start at 10 PM. Be careful not to be late.

Black market secret auction? This was a main quest she had never experienced when playing the game.

Well, I never raised the affection levels of other male protagonists to this extent back then.’

It seemed that the quest content had also changed slightly with the balance patch. From experience, main quests were directly connected to meeting events with male leads. So regardless of her will, it meant she would eventually have to participate in this seemingly dangerous secret auction or whatever it was.

Where should one report when the system becomes tyrannical? Just as Evelyn was about to board the carriage while inwardly crying out for player rights, that’s when it happened.

“I apologize for being late, Saintess.”

Nox, who hadn’t shown his face all morning despite her searching for him until just before boarding the carriage, appeared. Behind Nox was the High Priest, who looked quite conflicted. Nox, dressed not in the snow-white uniform that was virtually the symbol of the High Temple that he always wore but in the empire’s black uniform, walked toward her.

“I will personally escort you to the imperial palace.”

“Nox, I mean, Knight Commander. That attire?”

“From today, I will be serving as the Knight Commander of the imperial family. The High Priest has also given his permission.”

So suddenly?

Nox kissed the back of Evelyn’s hand, who was bewildered, and whispered in a voice only she could hear.

“My body can’t live a single day without Evelyn now.”

You must take responsibility.

As he said this with a smile, a completely different emotion from a month ago had seeped into Nox’s eyes. Evelyn, who failed to realize that the name of that emotion was obsession, tilted her head momentarily before breaking into a bright smile.

“Well, whatever the case, I’m happy about it. Then, I’ll be in your care at the imperial palace as well.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

Nox swallowed his words, which Evelyn didn’t notice as she boarded the carriage. The carriage quickly moved away from the Grand Temple, following Nox who was leading on horseback, dressed in the Empire’s uniform. The High Priest stood watching them leave when the Senior Priest who had served him the longest approached his side.

“Are you really going to send Knight Commander Leias to the Imperial Palace like this?”

“This is the natural course of things, so it can’t be helped. He seems to have already made up his mind, so anything I might have said would have been useless.”

Three days ago, Nox had visited him at the crack of dawn, saying he could no longer serve Helios and that he had found a lord he wished to serve. The High Priest had been receiving frequent reports that Nox seemed to be getting too close to Evelyn lately, so he could easily guess who this lord might be.

After a long silence, the High Priest simply said, “Do as you wish,” and personally contacted the Imperial family, who had been eyeing Nox for some time, to arrange a position for him. Now watching the carriage become a small dot in the distance, the High Priest muttered in a meaningful voice.

“Everything will eventually happen as Helios, the main deity of this land, wishes.”

At the same time.

Luinel was pacing anxiously at the main gate of the Imperial Palace. He had summoned the delegation earlier than planned after receiving a report that Evelyn had departed from the Grand Temple 30 minutes ago.

From now on, Evelyn would serve as the Empire’s Saintess, purifying lands contaminated by monsters and leading subjugation forces. For this reason, the Emperor had prepared a grand delegation and a welcoming banquet for the Saintess. And to create an image of the future Emperor alongside the Saintess, Luinel was appointed as the head of the delegation.

Originally, he had planned to leave precisely on time. But as soon as he heard that Evelyn was on her way, blood rushed to his p*nis, and he couldn’t sit still in his office.

How much time had passed? Finally, a carriage entering along the main road connected to the Imperial Palace came into his view. Nox, who had recently transferred to become the Imperial Knight Commander, was leading the procession. Noticing Luinel and the delegation, Nox stopped the procession. With efficient movements, he jumped off his horse and paid his respects to Luinel.

“I greet the Empire’s future sun.”

“I’ve heard that you will become the Imperial Knight Commander from today. I trust you’ll continue to serve well as you have until now.”

Even while exchanging these perfunctory greetings, Luinel’s attention was fixed on the carriage door. The moment he spotted Evelyn stepping out of the carriage with the escort of a holy knight.

‘Ha.’

Luinel let out a hollow laugh as he felt his p*nis immediately rising. It was good that he had worn a robe with ample room just in case. Otherwise, all the servants in the palace would have witnessed him guiding Evelyn with an er*ction.

Ignoring his throbbing member trapped in his drawers, he gazed at Evelyn, who was gradually approaching. Finally, as she stopped before him, Evelyn averted her gaze slightly, showing her embarrassment.

Luinel, who had been staring at her with an intensity that could pierce through her, extended one hand.

“Welcome to the Imperial Palace, Saintess.”

“Thank you for greeting me with such a grand delegation, Your Highness.”