Rublier’s hands were covered in reddish, half-healed wounds, as if he had torn the back of his hands somewhere at some point.

But she quickly averted her gaze. As if nothing had happened, Satin coldly turned away from Rublier. Rublier was already staring at Satin intently.

There’s an atmosphere that can be felt without words. The lieutenant remembered how comfortable and happy Rublier had looked for a while after returning to the Knights, having married overnight.

These were people who had lived like a fairy tale, admired and envied, in a house close to nature. He suddenly felt sorry for the peace they had lost.

Satin listened to the news brought by the lieutenant with a calm attitude. She didn’t seem particularly surprised or make a fuss.

“Is that so? The Cardinal…”

Cardinal Conchent was someone who had tried to consider Satin’s position in his own way during the trial.

The news that the atmosphere in the capital was flowing favorably, including the Cardinal, was certainly good news, but Satin closed her mouth silently and fell into contemplation.

“That’s good. It’s fortunate as it will act as a positive factor for both of your trials.”

“I’m not so sure.”

Satin shook her head despite the lieutenant’s congratulations.

“If the atmosphere in the capital flows in my favor, do you think His Eminence Kirion wouldn’t know?”

“He’d probably know before anyone else. Kirion is quick-witted.”

Rublier quietly agreed. Moreover, Rublier had clearly shown his intention to turn away from Kirion when he rescued Satin.

With their son taking such a strong stance, the Ka Dillon family would likely take a similar position, and excluding Sel Wio, whose position had become ambiguous, the guardian families were also split into two camps.

Would Kirion really sit back and watch this situation?

Satin was doubtful.

The division in the Knights was clearly Rublier’s influence.

Even the lieutenant, while still belonging to the Knights, had deliberately gathered information and come to meet Rublier.

Satin was newly conscious of the fact that Rublier had been a good leader to his subordinates.

After all, Rublier was the one who stood at the front and led the knights when the Knights were summoned.

Having spent years together, joining the Knights, sharing hardships and rubbing shoulders, they would naturally feel much closer to Rublier than to Kirion.

“And His Eminence Vitalis…”

He chose the peace of Caldeblanca. He conceded everything to Kirion and disappeared.

Many things had turned in Satin’s favor, but the feeling was unsettling to say the least.

Kirion would try to bring the twisted flow back to himself again. What would that be? What method could there be?

Judging from the events so far, Kirion would likely do anything, regardless of the means, to achieve his goal.

“…His Eminence Vitalis.”

Satin drew in a breath.

“Rub.”

In her bewilderment, she unknowingly called Rublier’s name.

“Hm? What is it?”

Rublier, too, was taken aback at being called by name.

“We need to leave right away.”

“Satin?”

“His Eminence Vitalis is in danger. You said the public opinion in the capital is flowing strangely. They’ve already used all their cards, and it’s difficult to reverse the atmosphere for the trial. In this situation, what flow could convince people that he must ascend to the Holy See?”

The previous Pope only had two sons. If Vitalis disappears here, the oracle becomes useless regardless of its content.

If there’s only Kirion left to ascend to the Holy See, people will have to accept the new Pope whether they like it or not. What else can they do? The trial will lose even its significance.

“Good heavens. Surely His Eminence Kirion wouldn’t resort to such an atrocious method? Especially between blood brothers.”

The lieutenant was shocked. But Rublier shook his head.

“No, he might use it now. Didn’t he conceal His Holiness’ death after He had passed away to execute Satin first? Kirion is not in his right mind now. It seems he’s gone beyond the limit now. It’s always hard to take the first step. Kirion took that first step a long time ago. The next is easier.”

Moreover, Vitalis had left the capital. If he left quietly, saying he didn’t want to draw attention, it would be enough to kill him on the journey and disguise it as an accident.

Kirion already had a precedent of killing a priest in the same way.

Satin even suggested a method.

“Lieutenant Nathan brought horses, didn’t he? If you ride that horse, you should be able to catch up.”

The black horse he rides boasted superior speed and endurance compared to ordinary horses. However, to make use of this mobility, Rublier would have to go alone.

Riding day and night to catch up with Vitalis, and rescuing him from potential assassins, however many there might be.

This was the mission given to Rublier.

Even after hearing instructions that placed all the burden on one person, Rublier didn’t bat an eye.

Who would dare refuse whose instructions? If he’s told to go, he’ll go, if he’s told to do, he’ll do.

He didn’t worry about himself. The person he should worry about was her.

“Satin, you…”

But if he leaves, Satin will be left all alone. The premise of Satin being left alone again was frighteningly terrifying.

“Are you telling me to leave you behind?”

No matter how healthy the child is said to be, she can’t ride a horse that runs vigorously while pregnant.

Satin still needed to rest. It’s greedy to hope for two miracles.

“If we don’t, His Eminence Vitalis will be killed.”

“You’re in danger too.”

“My danger doesn’t compare. We’re talking about the wrong Pope being installed.”

If this commotion is happening before the enthronement, it’s impossible to even imagine what impact it will have on Caldeblanca after the enthronement ceremony.

Rublier’s expression wavered at Satin’s rebuttal. A distant regret settled deep in his eyes.

“Why doesn’t it compare? Between this country and you… it’s you. I don’t want to regret twice.”

“What… How can someone who was a Paladin say such a thing?”

“You’re the priority. That’s why I quit being a knight and came out. Why shouldn’t I choose you?”

While he was away from Satin, she was imprisoned. This time, who knows what threats might be made.

Satin looked up at Rublier for a moment.

“I can’t live like this.”

The first words flowed out in a casual tone.

“When we were young, we didn’t even know about evil spirits, right? At the academy, we were envied by other students for coming from guardian families. But now? I’m treated like a criminal, embroiled in scandals and false accusations, and the Papal Palace sees me as a thorn in their side. They want to eliminate me.”

Satin objectively faced her reality. She had experienced so many ups and downs in a short period. It was like the life of a completely different person before and after.

“Is that all? There’s no guarantee of safety even if we give up everything and run away. Sir Ka Dillon himself has gone on several trips because of evil spirits. While you are by my side, I might be safe from evil spirits, but we can’t do this forever. And I don’t have a way to beat those things on my own. In the end, it’s equally dangerous everywhere.”

So there was only one conclusion to be drawn.

“That’s why I want to return the country to how it was before–safe, and live as an admired noble. To proudly pass on the name Del Mare to the child that will be born, I must do this.”

If she had asked him to find a safe place and take her there, Rublier would have gladly done so.

If she had asked him to prevent those who would harm her from the Papal Palace from barging into this house, he would have gladly carried it out as well. Even if she had asked for more than that, there would have been no reason to hesitate.

But Satin was looking to the future. She left Rublier no choice.

Not a word Satin said was wrong. They needed to depart as soon as possible to save Vitalis.

But the thought of having to leave Satin and the child under Kirion’s influence made his breath catch.

“…Then Satin, promise me one thing. That you’ll at least change your residence and hide somewhere safe until I return. I’ll arrange the place.”

“No. Where would I go when my parents are here?”

Satin firmly refused.

“I need to stay here.”

Besides, in order to hide his absence while Rublier went to fetch Vitalis, she had no choice but to remain in this house and draw attention.

“What if something happens to you while…”

Kirion, realizing Rublier’s absence, might try to harm Satin. Even a moment’s imagination filled him with terror.

However, Satin asserted,

“He can never harm me anyway.”

Kirion’s side will try to do something, of course.

Rublier’s absence will be discovered before long, and they won’t leave the exposed gap unattended as it would be a shame for them.

Still, Satin had at least one safety measure.

“He keeps trying to persuade me with the sacred artifact. I’m the only one who knows the location of the sacred artifact, so he absolutely can’t do anything to me.”

The sacred artifact meant a lot to Kirion. He was obsessed with it until the end of the trial.

Satin felt both grateful and confused. While the sacred artifact does confer legitimacy to the Pope, the pieces of the sword originally existed as symbols of each family, not as possessions of the Papal Palace.

“That is strange. Kirion hasn’t returned the sacred artifacts to each family yet.”

Moreover, the fact that he still holds onto the sacred artifact used in the trial deepened the question.

“There shouldn’t be any need to keep it anymore.”

They used the method of holding the sword to identify the successor in the trial. He heard the call of the sword in front of people. This is not doubted.

Kirion said he had received a revelation when he accidentally touched the Ka Dillon family’s sacred artifact at the age of fourteen.

The sacred artifacts have fulfilled their roles. Nevertheless, Kirion is not returning the sacred artifacts taken from other families, and is even trying to receive Del Mare’s sacred artifact.

Why? Has there ever been a previous Pope who was this obsessed with sacred artifacts?