“We’ve arrived.”

The carriage finally stopped. Ariel held Charles’ hand and gracefully stepped down to the ground.

“Only carriages belonging to the Holy See can enter inside, so you’ll have to walk from here.”

“Thank you, Charles.”

As she got out of the carriage, the autumn sunlight broke through between the trees.

May quickly took out an umbrella and placed it over Ariel’s head.

While passing by the walls of the Holy See, Ariel couldn’t help but marvel.

Colorful maple trees, cosmos flowers, and chrysanthemums were beautifully planted along the path leading to the Holy See building.

With so much attention to landscaping, including fountains, ponds, and gazebos, the Holy See courtyard was quite busy, even though it was early in the morning.

There was not a single empty bench among those scattered everywhere.

Ariel pushed through the crowd and moved forward.

“Miss! Look at the building. I think it’s all made of sculptures!”

Ariel shifted her gaze towards the place May pointed to with her hand.

The Holy See building, shining with the color of ivory, appeared grand and magnificent.

Beautiful sculptures were carved into its exterior walls.

Upon closer inspection, Ariel realized that they depicted scenes from creation myths.

“Miss, why did you come here, by the way?”

“Well, I have someone to meet.”

As Ariel was about to enter the Holy See building, a female priest caught her eye.

She stood up from Ariel’s view, loading a box of relief supplies onto a carriage.

‘Right. I should ask that person.’

Ariel approached the priest.

“Excuse me, where should I go to meet a priest named Liese?”

The woman with brown hair, dressed in a white priest’s robe, turned her head in response.

“I am Liese.”

Ariel took a deep breath.

Almost transparent, pale skin. Large, slightly droopy eyes. Eyes filled with a star-like brilliance and a slender nose that looked like it had been molded.

Together with her delicate and innocent charm radiating from her, Ariel’s heart started pounding rapidly upon facing the strongest beauty in the world of the original.

It felt as if clear and pure life water was flowing into Ariel’s mana-depleted, withered heart.

Liese’s physical appearance was more beautiful than what Ariel had imagined while reading the original work, and she made Ariel feel healed and rejuvenated.

Thus, Ariel stared at her, lost in admiration.

“What brings you here to find me?”

How can someone I don’t even know look for me?

“Could it be… Did my father send you?”

But she seemed to be a noblewoman of extremely high rank.

Liese looked at Ariel with a gaze full of caution.

“Ah… I was wondering what kind of person you are that the people praise.”

Of course, Ariel hadn’t personally heard any rumors about Liese.

She just utilized the mention of circulating rumors in the original work.

Then Liese put the box in her hand on the carriage.

She scratched the back of her head playfully and smiled modestly.

“That praise… is undeserved. I just did as my superiors told me to.”

“Where are you going today?”

If it wasn’t too far away, she was going to go along with the original plan.

But seeing Liese’s guarded gaze, it seemed difficult to give her trust without any effort.

“I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Ariel, of House Clark. I’m also interested in helping… I heard a rumor and came here to find out what is needed and how to help.”

A very well-measured comment came out of Ariel’s mouth.

Feeling guilty, Ariel had difficulty looking into Liese’s eyes and wandered around the carriage.

But since you are destined to become the emperor’s woman, I should take you away right now!

… That’s what I wanted to say, but I can’t.

“I see. We are heading to the Norca region on the outskirts of the capital.”

Liese was relieved after hearing the clear identity of the person she met.

With a lighter face, she smiled at Ariel.

In response to Liese’s gaze, Ariel squinted her eyes and smiled, giving her all the strength.

“We’re going to a place not far from here! Can I come with you? I think it would be better to experience it firsthand than just hearing about it.”

“Well… I’m sorry. That might be a bit difficult.”

Liese furrowed her brow with a look of trouble and continued speaking.

“It’s a rather dangerous neighborhood, even though it’s in the capital. There are some people who have resentment towards the nobility.”

A society differentiated by social status…

There might be people who resent those born with a silver spoon in their mouth, but is there any reason to attack someone who is going to help?

Besides, didn’t she specifically choose to wear the most inconspicuous clothes today?

But she didn’t expect that she would need a sword, so she didn’t bring one.

It was a disaster.

With all her mana depleted, there was no way she could defeat the men’s strength with her bare hands.

Ariel realized it, but she acted as if nothing had happened.

“I wonder if something is going to happen. I’ll just watch from a distance.”

Liese glanced up and down at Ariel’s appearance.

‘To say that she came here just to visit the Holy See…’

Everything was too excessive.

Black two-piece outfit, determined eyes. It was clear to anyone that she came with the determination to deliver relief supplies.

It seemed like a waste of time to try to convince her that it would be better not to go.

So, Liese nodded helplessly and said.

“Phew… then, we are planning to leave soon, so please get on the Holy See’s carriage.”

“Thank you. May, let’s go together.”

Ariel got on the carriage belonging to the Holy See first.

Although she felt a little uneasy, she gestured to May with satisfaction, as things were going according to plan.

But Liese blocked her path.

Ariel looked at Liese in confusion, biting her lower lip slightly.

“She’s my personal maid. Can’t she come with me?”

“As you can see, this carriage is made for cargo purposes, so there is a shortage of seats.”

In short, May couldn’t ride.

“Ah…”

Looking closely, there were only four seats available in the carriage.

The coachman and the priest had to ride, leaving only one seat available.

It was only natural that May couldn’t take that seat since Ariel was to occupy it.

But she couldn’t just give up following Liese.

“When will we be able to return to the Holy See?”

“I think we will be back around four o’clock.”

It’s better to take precautionary measures just in case.

“May! Wait a moment.”

“Yes, miss.”

Ariel gestured for May, who approached the carriage, to come closer.

She leaned close to May’s ear and whispered.

“If we don’t come back by four o’clock, hurry back home… and tell them I went to Norca.”

“Miss!”

‘Don’t go to such a dangerous place! You have no mana and no sword.’

May looked at Ariel with a worried expression.

But Ariel remained expressionless and simply said, “Just in case.”

Realizing that she had no way to stop Ariel, who had already made up her mind, May reluctantly nodded.

“Please be careful and come back safely. I’ll be waiting here.”

After Liese finished loading the baggage, she finally got on the carriage.

The carriage soon departed for Norca.

“Miss! You really, really need to be careful!”

May shouted as she followed the carriage that was slowly moving.

Her spine still shivered when she recalled the moment when her master was found unconscious.

In response to May’s shout, Ariel waved her arm outside of the carriage.