Cedric’s knights were mostly close-knit, having grown up together in the north. Thus, they were inwardly pleased about this situation since Cedric had never had any interactions with young ladies before, worrying about his s*xual identity.

But the commander couldn’t just be happy about it. He had seen the secret of Renigrad on the day Cedric officially became Renigrad’s successor during his coming-of-age ceremony.

“The emotion you’re feeling now might not be affection, but the curse of Renigrad.”

“…….”

“I am not only the commander of the Renigrad Knights but also your friend, so I will tell you. The Grand Duke of Renigrad is watching over both of you.”

That short sentence sent a chill through Cedric’s mind.

Noble marriages meant alliances between families; going against the will of the Grand Duke of Renigrad was difficult. Normally, one shouldn’t reveal the Grand Duke’s commands carelessly, but as a friend, he hoped Cedric wouldn’t get hurt.

“I don’t know why you think it’s affection, but I’m not naive enough to believe love is necessary for engagement.”

Cedric faintly smiled in self-derision. Like Rein, the mage, everyone keeps talking about affection. Is it because the lady proposed an engagement?

“Ladies at this time are all like that, aren’t they? If they truly understood the curse of Renigrad, their childish hearts would naturally fade away.”

The commander’s gaze slowly met Cedric’s. Remembering what happened during his coming-of-age ceremony, Cedric’s gaze drifted.

Cedric gripped the reins tightly.

“It’s neither affection nor a curse but pity. I almost crushed her mana core and strangled her to death during her mana surge, mistaking her for an assassin. Renigrad does not ignore those who have been unjustly harmed; I promised her safety and healing until then. So, there’s no need to worry too much. You can pass that on to grandfather.”

“…Understood.”

Worry flashed in the commander’s eyes. Being the sole successor of the empire’s Grand Ducal family carried its own heavy burden.

Noticing the commander’s concern, Cedric spoke calmly.

“You just have to do your job.”

* * *

Arne opened the door of a carriage adorned with the Ronia family crest.

When the door opened, a woman in a black silk dress gracefully outlining her figure appeared, following her black shoes.

Her face was barely visible due to the black lace veil of her hat, but she held a white chrysanthemum in one hand.

The gatekeeper of the Imperial Honor Cemetery wondered if she was the Duchess Ronia. The silk was a high-quality fabric, and only those with permission could enter the Imperial Honorary Cemetery unless it was Peace Day.

For example, a duke or duchess or someone whose status they guaranteed.

As the small heel stopped in front of the gate, the gatekeeper paid his respects.

“I greet Duchess Ronia… Lady Ronia?”

When Arne slowly turned her head, she smiled slightly. It was quite enjoyable to see the guardian’s surprised face.

The detestable black dresses she had worn were of poor quality and limited to only seven outfits, so people recognized Arne from afar.

“What brings Lady Ronia here… This place is not for you to enter.”

The gatekeeper awkwardly replied upon seeing another black dress but with a different aura and shimmer. Arne silently opened her clutch and showed a small badge.

“This is Lord Ronia’s badge… Please have it.”

When the gatekeeper hurriedly ran to open the gate, Arne smiled again.

The one thing Arne had asked of Duke Ronia was his badge representing his authority; it meant he had given his permission.

「Father, rumors are rampant in society that I am a mad villainess. I want to build a good impression with the Grand Duke of Renigrad now. As a noble lady should, I want to show charity, service, and respect.」

「Charity and service and respect?」

「Just recently, it was Peace Day, a day to honor and respect war heroes. Of course, I didn’t attend.」

All high-ranking noble ladies participated. Alone in her absence, Arne followed her father’s orders but ended up being seen as a vulgar lady who knew neither manners nor respect in society.

「It doesn’t make sense not to express condolence and respect while visiting Grand Duke Renigrad, a war hero. There’s still time left to visit the Imperial Honorary Cemetery if I have Duke Ronia’s badge allowing me entrance.」

「That makes sense.」

「Indeed. Before attending any banquets from now on, I want to build up on virtues I lacked as a lady. Along with volunteering at Freya Orphanage…」

「Go ahead.」

‘Go ahead, that’s right.’

To think that this badge could so easily come into my hands. A sneer escaped from Arne.

In her previous life, she had written several letters to Duke Ronia not long before she was due to give birth.

Begging for just one mage to defend the castle.

If they had no time to search for a mage, then they could at least send his badge indicating his permission. She would handle everything else; it wouldn’t take his time.

A bitter smile appeared on her face. Arne tightly clenched the badge. Inside the open handbag was a high-quality teleportation scroll secretly given by Cedric.

It was unclear when he had left it, but Cedric had placed the teleportation scroll inside a drawer. The note written on the back was very much like Cedric’s.

[Use this when you’re in real danger, my lady.]

Arne placed the badge next to the scroll and closed the handbag. A crisp clicking sound rang out.

With that sound, she closed off the memories of her past. Now, she must focus on finding a gift to win over the Grand Duke’s favor.

‘I’ve received such a grand gift from the Grand Duke, so I must prepare a return gift.’

Even if, as Bianca had said, the Grand Duke truly despises other races, there is no way he would not appreciate this gesture.

Arne’s steps halted upon discovering someone’s tombstone.

[Judith Holycrossen de Renigrad]

The greatest holy knight in the history of the empire and Cedric’s grandmother.

And the wife of Grand Duke Calon Schopendha de Renigrad, the only woman he ever loved in his life.

And the woman he killed himself.

“Judith Holycrossen de Renigrad, I need your sincerity.”

Arne slowly placed her hand on the graveyard. Then, she concentrated and sent forth Cedric’s spirit mana. This was because only Cedric’s spirit mana could reveal it.

Arne slowly closed her eyes. Then, she recalled the memory of when she had asked about Cedric’s grandmother in her past life, and what he had whispered about in his letter.

The last letter she left was for the Duke and her grandson. However, in her past life, the previous Duke, who had already passed away, hadn’t seen this letter without an owner.

‘But now, Calon, the Grand Duke of Renigrad, is alive.’

White light leaked from Arne’s violet mana core.

* * *

Instead of the letter he had picked up, Cedric took out a bottle of wine. It had been a tiring day. The meeting was boring and tedious. Listening to the whims of the knights in the capital, who had never faced a proper demonic beast, was truly exhausting.

Perhaps it was because of what the commander of the knights had said that his head felt cluttered. Rubbing his tired eyes, Cedric watched the sunset.

‘She’s not coming?’

Since he promised to help Arne use the spirit mana as much as she wanted, given her nature, she would have come asking for guidance today with sparkling eyes.

‘That’s strange.’

His head was complicated. It was because of the commander’s nonsense talk.

‘Affection. The curse of Renigrad.’

Frowning, Cedric picked up a bottle of holy water and poured it over the steaming hot spring. The priests would clutch at their necks if they knew he was using precious holy water as a bath additive.

But there would never be a day when priests would find out about what happens in Cedric’s private hot spring.

Cedric submerged himself fully into the hot spring. Although it was diluted in the hot spring water, since it was a high-grade holy water sourced directly from the Grand Temple, its ability to purify curses and demonic energy was certainly excellent.

‘I thought I was used to it, but purifying demonic energy is still hard to bear.’

Holding his breath to the limit, Cedric eventually raised his upper body. Water droplets trickled down his black hair.

How much time had passed? The night sky, filled with hot spring water, came surging in waves. Watching the full moon floating in those waves, Cedric tilted his wine glass.

One glass, two glasses, he continued emptying glasses but somehow his head filled up with more random thoughts.

‘Maybe it’s because of the full moon that demonic energy is denser and I have more random thoughts.’

Running his hand through his hair, moisture trickled down from his hand. The words of the captain kept coming back to him.

The knight commander overimagined it. Maybe it was for the best that she didn’t come today. He couldn’t help but worry as he kept imagining Arne struggling like a rabbit caught in a trap.

Cedric frowned deeply and tilted his wine glass. His throat moved slowly. An unexplainable thirst arose.

‘If it’s out of sight, it won’t bother me anymore. Yes, surely that will be the case.’

However, as if to mock his thoughts at that moment, white light leaked from the full moon on the water’s surface, and a magical circle for the teleportation scroll was drawn.

‘I definitely gave it to the lady to use in emergencies.’

Cedric’s pupils slowly dilated.

‘Could it be.’

Arne emerged, bathed in moonlight above the magical circle, her figure floating above the steamy night sky and moonlight looked like a statue from the temple of the moon goddess. It was so surreal that when Cedric’s gaze met Arne’s red eyes, he was captivated.

As a gentle night breeze blew, her hair, which resembled the moonlight, fluttered slowly. At that moment, he realized. This woman always easily twists his firm predictions.

“……Cedric.”

He could no longer think of anything else. Cedric unknowingly sprang up and headed towards Arne. His thick knuckles tightly wrapped around Arne’s body as she fell from the fading light of the magical circle.

“What are you exactly……”