True to his claim about acting, Ariel lay there with his eyes half-closed, not moving an inch.

The people who had been screaming around them gradually fell silent.

“…So those rumors weren’t true?”

“It seems she doesn’t know how to make physical contact?”

Though she hadn’t meant to listen, the whispers naturally reached Merrien’s ears. Everyone’s gazes of surprise converged on them.

Soon the banquet hall doors burst open with a thud.

“What’s all this commotion about now!”

“Bi-big trouble! Duke Hartez has collapsed!”

Forcite, who had left the banquet hall, returned with a panicking guard.

He strode confidently through the gathered crowd toward the fallen Ariel.

He immediately sat down next to Merrien as if facing a grave situation and examined Ariel.

“Duke Hartez…!”

No, that wasn’t it.

Though he pretended to examine Ariel, he was actually intently watching Merrien’s hands as she infused Holy Power.

Forcite looked satisfactorily at those hands that weren’t touching Ariel, then called out to the guards.

“Call for House Hartez’s servants!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The guards who had bowed respectfully brought in House Hartez’s knights who had been waiting outside.

Their movements were skilled and quick, as if they had been waiting for this.

“M-my Lord!”

The knight immediately ran over upon seeing their collapsed master. After looking back and forth between Forcite and Merrien anxiously, they carried Ariel on their back.

Merrien jumped up following the knight and carefully examined Ariel’s face feature by feature.

Having seen his acting many times before, it wasn’t difficult to tell whether it was real or fake.

‘……This is acting? Really?’

But seeing his pale face with closed eyes, she couldn’t help but worry.

Merrien anxiously bit her nails.

When her worried face came very close to Ariel’s, he whispered so quietly that only Merrien could hear.

“Stop biting your nails again.”

“……!”

“It is acting. Check my heartbeat if you want.”

“Open your eyes then.”

“Ah, thinking about it, that won’t work. My heart races when you’re this close.”

“……”

Seeing him spout nonsense so casually, it was definitely acting. She was sure now.

While pretending to worriedly pat Ariel’s back, she gave him a light smack, making him let out a tiny “Ack!”

Only then did Merrien let out a sigh of relief.

“Go ahead first. I’ll follow.”

She ordered the anxious-looking knight to go wait in the carriage.

“Yes, Saint!”

Since she wasn’t officially married to Ariel, she couldn’t leave until the banquet ended.

“Thank you all for coming to the banquet. However, due to this incident, we must end early, so please understand.”

Fortunately, perhaps trying to defuse the situation, Forcite announced to everyone that the banquet was over, and the nobles began to leave in agreement.

Merrien turned around too. Naturally, she was about to return to the carriage.

“Saint Merrien. Didn’t I tell you to remain after the banquet?”

“!!!”

A low, resonating voice, completely different from his urgent shouts earlier, penetrated Merrien’s ears.

Forcite, who had somehow appeared right behind her, firmly gripped her thin wrist.

‘……Someone just collapsed and you want me to stay? Are you sane?’

Though it was acting, Forcite wouldn’t know that.

Besides, even if he was a childhood friend in the past, he’s now a prince.

But Merrien had no time for such thoughts right now.

She turned her head while fiercely distorting both eyebrows.

It was an expression she hadn’t shown even to those impudent young ladies who had blushed at Ariel.

“Didn’t you have something to discuss with Saint Charlotte as well?”

As if completely unfazed by such a terrifying expression, Forcite didn’t even blink.

Rather, his steady red eyes were so intense it was uncomfortable.

‘More importantly, how does he know about that?’

Though she wanted to ask, she held back. Merrien continued to glare at him silently.

“……Haa, Merri. I thought you’d react this way. I’m really glad.”

At that, Forcite set aside his unwavering princely demeanor from earlier.

He roughly ran his hands over his face while muttering incomprehensible things.

If anyone had seen this, they might have gossiped that this wasn’t the Second Prince they knew, how unseemly.

Fortunately, all the nobles in the hall had already left.

When Merrien looked at him with confusion, her strength suddenly draining away, he merely smiled slightly, appearing satisfied.

“Charlotte will explain the details.”

“…Ugh!”

Still holding Merrien’s wrist that he had grabbed earlier, he led her somewhere.

Merrien had to almost run to keep up with his steps.

‘Why is he being so arbitrary!’

Although it would have been good to meet the female lead under different circumstances…

‘…Ariel is waiting.’

She also needed to hear from Ariel what this was all about.

Moreover, Forcite seemed so pleased that even looking at the back of his head made Merrien want to hit him.

Then seeing that black head of hair naturally reminded her of Ariel’s hair.

Hair that was similar yet completely different shades of black.

‘Ariel’s hair sometimes looks silver when it catches the light.’

Ariel’s hair was beautiful enough to cause illusions with its sparkle.

In contrast, Forcite’s hair was just deep and dark.

It was probably just because she had fallen for Ariel.

When she unconsciously smiled, Forcite turned his head.

“What, is there something on the back of my head?”

It was a question tinged with playfulness. Ah, come to think of it, he clearly hadn’t let go of his attachment to his childhood friend.

His reddened cheeks and expectant eyes were all too familiar.

Just like Merrien herself when looking at Ariel.

“No, I was just thinking about Ariel’s hair.”

“……”

At those firm words, Forcite’s expression completely froze.

He stiffly turned his head and gripped Merrien’s wrist even tighter.

Her thin wrist was now on the verge of swelling red.

Merrien said nothing. She just wanted to end this situation quickly and return to Ariel.

Following him cautiously like that, they arrived at the terrace attached to the banquet hall.

“I’ve really wanted to meet you, Saint Merrien.”

Charlotte was already there waiting.

‘Wow, dazzling.’

Merrien forgot that her wrist was now swollen and painful.

She even momentarily forgot that Ariel might be waiting.

When Charlotte’s white eyes curved prettily, it created an illusion of light radiating out.

There was a big difference between secretly watching from afar in the banquet hall and meeting face to face. So this is the real female lead…

Barely holding back her exclamation of admiration, she took a seat across from Charlotte.

Forcite sat next to Merrien.

Seeing him sit beside her as if it were natural made her want to hit him again.

‘…Is this going to make our female lead turn evil?’

Merrien wore an awkward smile while watching Charlotte’s reaction.

Fortunately, she seemed unconcerned as she began to speak.

“I heard Duke Hartez collapsed earlier. I couldn’t help since I don’t know what your relationship is. I’m sorry.”

“Ah, it’s fine. Thank you just for saying that.”

Merrien regretted worrying that Forcite and Charlotte might be working together.

Having seen Ariel’s countless acts as he schemed to tease her daily, she realized Charlotte wasn’t lying now.

A Saint apologizing sincerely with moist eyes.

Believing such a person would never do that, Merrien decided to trust her completely.

Charlotte hesitated to say something for a moment, then seemed to make up her mind and spoke.

“You probably don’t know this, so I’ll tell you. The more physical contact a Saint makes, the stronger their healing becomes.”

……Just as expected!

When she had placed her hands directly on Ariel’s chest and infused Holy Power, he had definitely healed faster.

Coming to the banquet hall to meet Charlotte was the right choice.