“Indeed. Why did you do that?”

Ulik asked after hearing Clive’s words.

“Are you asking when you already know what I mean?”

Clive countered, shaking his head and adding, “You must have seen it too.” 

Ulik was Clive’s shadow. Sometimes visible, sometimes disappearing as the situation required. Having already discussed the fake Aishe with Ulik, no explanation was needed. 

If the kiss with Eirene had happened inside the café room, Ulik wouldn’t have known, but it occurred right after he delivered the shoes outside the door. 

Clive had absolutely no intention of pressing his lips against Eirene’s. He wasn’t the type of womanizer who kissed any woman who sparked his interest. 

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand why he had turned his head at that moment. 

They were pretty lips, certainly. The red rose-colored lips against her unusually pale skin had caught his attention. But not enough to lose his senses over.

“You’ve fallen for her.”

Ulik remarked casually.

“Fallen? Who? Me?”

“Yes, Your Grace. That’s why you suddenly turned your head and kissed her.”

“It was just a mischievous impulse. She’s not beautiful enough to fall for.”

“Come now. She’s close enough to being that beautiful. Though Miss Baix is certainly more dazzling.”

“Miss Baix acts too childish for my taste.”

Since the topic had come up, Clive informed Ulik that the Baix lady they knew was the real Aishe.

“Count Phineas becomes more surprising the more we learn about him.”

The Count wasn’t ignorant of the fact that deceiving the Imperial family was tantamount to treason. It was shocking enough that he had hidden Aishe and replaced her with Eirene, but to have Aishe active in society as a lady from another family, even using the same name, was extraordinary.

“I wonder if he’s incredibly bold or simply fearless. Either way, the consequences will be severe, but it’s clear he has something he’s counting on.”

“I hope Your Grace’s suspicions are wrong.”

“I don’t mind if they’re right.”

“So, are you admitting you’ve fallen for her?”

“I told you I haven’t.”

“Yes, yes.”

Clive glared at Ulik, who had responded halfheartedly, then turned away abruptly.

“We shall see, Your Grace.”

Ulik smiled as he spoke in a voice too quiet to be heard.

When Eirene arrived at the Phineas mansion and stepped out of the carriage, she pounded her chest lightly. Betty came running out from inside.

“Oh dear. Motion sickness again?”

“Yes. A little.”

Still, it was more bearable this time. Betty supported Eirene, who was exhaling softly, and whispered:

“Master Siaran is waiting for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes.”

“That’s unusual.”

Siaran had rarely visited since Eirene stopped giving Divine Power to Aishe. On the few occasions they met, he still smiled at her the same way, but their conversations never lasted long. It seemed related to her impersonating Aishe, and she looked forward to hearing what he had to say. 

The moment Eirene entered the mansion, the servants pretended to be busy with their tasks. Even Eirene could see they were trying to assess the situation. Betty, having quickly sized things up, stuck close to her side.

“Let’s go to Siaran right away.”

“Shouldn’t you rest a bit first?”

“I’m fine.”

With Betty’s guidance, she went to the tea room where Siaran waited. Though he might have been surprised by Eirene’s changed appearance, his expression remained the same as always.

“Welcome, Miss.”

Eirene didn’t respond but walked over and sat down.

“Betty, please bring a glass of cold water.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After Betty left, Eirene pointed to the chair across from her with her chin.

“Sit there.”

She studied Siaran’s face as he sat down. Indeed, he showed no change in expression. As always, he sat politely with both hands placed neatly on his knees, saying nothing.

“I heard you were waiting for me.”

“I have a few things to confirm with you, Miss.”

“Go ahead.”

“That day, how did you get out of the basement?”

“I already told Mother about that.”

“We investigated, but none of the servants went down to the basement during that time. And you know there were no outsiders.”

Eirene quietly looked into Siaran’s eyes. She hadn’t noticed before. The shadow hidden in his smile. 

Now that she understood his true feelings, she could finally see it. Along with the Count and Countess, he had deceived Eirene, all for Aishe’s sake.

“I’m not lying, Siaran. Instead of interrogating me, you should investigate the servants more thoroughly.”

“I heard you emerged with a clean body.”

That day, the Countess had dismissed it so casually that Eirene thought she wasn’t concerned. Eirene herself had been too busy adjusting to her changed environment to think deeply about it. 

But even if she had, would she have found an answer? 

Just as the basement door had been open, her body had somehow become clean on its own.

“How did you do it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Miss.”

Siaran’s perpetually smiling face crumpled. At that moment, Betty entered with a glass of water and left. During the ensuing silence, Eirene wanted to throw the cold water at Siaran but lamented her inability to do so.

“Siaran, let me be clear. I left because the door was open, and I only realized my body was clean when someone pointed it out. I truly don’t know.”

“Did you perhaps use Divine Power?”

“Divine Power? Wasn’t my Divine Power gone, which is why I stopped treating Aishe?”

“That’s correct, but I’m asking because it might have returned or some might have remained.”

Pfft. Eirene didn’t try to suppress the laughter that burst forth.

“Are you suggesting that opening the door and my body becoming clean are related to Divine Power? Did I ever have such abilities?”

Eirene’s Divine Power had only two aspects: powerful healing and death. Looking back, she found it amusing that she had once thought of using Divine Power to open doors. 

Even if it was related to Divine Power, hadn’t the deity taken it all away?

“Purification is the foundation of healing. It’s the most basic stage.”

Eirene’s hand froze as she was drinking water.

“Purification has several stages and meanings. Cleansing one’s own body is the first stage. Later, one can purify objects, animals, the bodies and souls of others, and eventually even evil spirits. You had all these abilities I just mentioned, but you didn’t know because you never used them.”

Siaran explained simply, just like when they had been close. He had always been the one to explain things Eirene didn’t understand. She had relied on him quite a bit, but even that hadn’t been for her sake.

“I don’t know. What happened that day wasn’t my will.”

“Why not try practicing? Aishe’s treatment is over anyway.”

After swallowing her water and quickly setting down the cup, Eirene shook her head lightly.

“No thanks. What’s the point of practicing? For now, I want to enjoy what I’ve been given.”

Of course, Eirene’s words contradicted her thoughts. If the Divine Power that the deity had taken away was returning, if it could be developed through practice as Siaran suggested, she needed to restore it to its former strength by any means necessary.

“My engagement ring is with my sister. It’s just temporary.”

Those were the first words Aishe uttered when she visited Eirene’s room. After glancing at her sister sitting on the window seat, Aishe circled the room once before standing in front of Eirene. 

She clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at the ceiling. Her habit of repeatedly touching the tip of her nose suggested she was anxious.

“What did you do with the Grand Duke?”

Aishe asked casually while tracing the edge of the table with her index finger.

“We walked and drank tea. Nothing else.”

“You must have talked too. What did you talk about?”

“Just things like how have you been, has your cold gotten better, that sort of thing.”

“The Grand Duke may be difficult to understand and approach, but he’s affectionate.”

“Yes. He seemed that way.”

“But that’s because it’s me. Don’t mistake his kindness toward you as genuine.”

Aishe’s eyes grew fierce. Did people know such a side existed beneath her lovely appearance?

“I’m not mistaken. I’m just your stand-in, after all.”

“You need to remember that always.”

“By the way, how will you reveal yourself later?”

“That’s none of your business. Father will handle it, so just focus on your role.”

“Alright. I will.”

Bang! 

After Aishe slammed the door shut on her way out, Eirene couldn’t help but smile. She hadn’t done anything yet that could be called revenge. 

This was merely the beginning. But seeing Aishe so anxious and flustered, just the fact that Clive knew everything was deeply satisfying. And that wasn’t all. 

She was sharing secrets with him and working together. Though uncertain what help she needed to provide, at this point she felt willing to do whatever Clive wanted. Her mind felt clear.

Early in the morning, Eirene hurriedly sent Betty away after she brought the washing water, telling her to take her time with her chores. Once alone, Eirene opened the ink bottle on her desk and dipped her index finger slightly before withdrawing it. 

She rubbed the blackened part with her other fingers, quickly dirtying her palm. After exhaling a long breath to concentrate, she closed her eyes. 

How much time had passed while she prayed with her hands together? When she opened her eyes and saw her clean hands, Eirene spoke to herself with satisfaction.

“It worked.”

The deity had clearly said it would take away her Divine Power, but somehow it remained. Or had it never been taken? Whatever the case, what did it matter? 

Even a small amount of Divine Power was precious to Eirene. This time, she dissolved soap in water. When the water became completely cloudy, she tried again, but nothing changed. Well, that was to be expected. 

It couldn’t work right away. She was fortunate to at least have the ability to purify her own body. Looking at her hands, now so clean one would never know ink had stained them, she briefly wondered if she no longer needed to wash. 

But she stopped that train of thought. No one, including Siaran, should know about this. It seemed best to keep her ability hidden until it grew much stronger.

Just then, the door suddenly burst open. Only the servants, including Betty, knocked; the Count, Countess, and Aishe entered whenever they pleased. Aishe, with eyes reddened from crying, and the Countess, with a troubled expression, walked in.

“What did you do to the Grand Duke to receive this?”

Aishe shouted, throwing something at Eirene. It was a letter that fell to the floor. The familiar seal with a snake was stamped in the center of the envelope, which showed signs of having been opened. 

Eirene had always associated snakes with Clive, and now she realized it was because of his seal. She picked up the letter sent by Clive.

“Should I read this?”

She asked the Countess, ignoring the agitated Aishe, who nodded in response. Eirene took out and unfolded the letter. 

Beginning with “My beloved Aishe,” it expressed how his longing had deepened since their meeting yesterday and his desire to see her again as soon as possible. Though Eirene had exchanged letters with him before and thought he wrote well, this was the first time she had seen content so full of affection. 

No wonder Aishe was upset. Anyone reading it would think they were lovers who hadn’t met for years. At the end of the letter was an invitation to Dervel, Clive’s domain. Specifically, to the Grand Duke’s residence. And only her.

“He occasionally asked me to visit, but he’s never directly invited me to Dervel Palace!”

Aishe sobbed.

“I don’t know what’s going on either.”

She was sincere. Even though she had agreed to pretend to be in love, she wasn’t sure how to interpret his request for her to stay for a week. The prospect of spending a week with Clive already seemed overwhelming. 

Fortunately, for the final two days, he would host an all-night ball and invite the Phineas family members.

“He says everything you need will be provided at the Grand Duke’s residence, so you can pack lightly.”

The Countess said tersely. That was also written in the letter. Dresses, shoes, hats, accessories, everything would be provided by Clive; she should come with just herself. 

She had asked him to pretend to love her, but this was excessive.