Lexion watched her quietly. She was too skilled at dealing with servants. He had received reports that the Arcis family was in such difficult circumstances that Estelle had to help with household chores, so he found it curious how naturally she accepted the imperial services.

“…What do you plan to do with me?”

“You must fulfill your duties as the saintess.”

Damn it. Lexion definitely heard her small muttering.

“So… do you have feelings for me?”

With a look that said, “What nonsense is this now?” Lexion smiled softly.

“The rumors are quite widespread.”

‘Ah…..’

Estelle frowned as she recalled her past actions.

“You misheard.”

“There seem to be too many witnesses for that.”

“You must have quite the self-love. I absolutely hate perverted creeps.”

“Now that you’ve become a saintess, have you lost all restraint? You seem to breathe insults against the imperial family.”

“People should act according to their position.”

Estelle threw his own past words right back at him.

“According to imperial law, you can’t even sentence me to hanging for my crimes. I’m no longer just the Empire’s property.”

“The new saintess is quite bold, I see.”

“I haven’t committed any crime, so why shouldn’t I be bold? Besides, I want to rest, so please leave. It’s not like you need purification.”

Estelle spoke while observing his stable aura. Having gained the power of a saintess, she could see the auras of those with special abilities. They shone like brilliant halos with colors unique to each person, and Lexion’s aura was blood-red. It suited the cruel man perfectly.

“Why did you covet the holy relic?”

Lexion asked with curious eyes, seemingly having no intention of leaving. Looking at this persistently annoying man, Estelle answered with irritation.

“I thought I might gain a special ability too.”

“Special abilities aren’t inherited unless you’re of bloodline chosen by the goddess.”

This was something Estelle already knew. But it seemed the goddess thought her special somehow. After all, the power of the holy relic had been passed to her. What an unwelcome kindness.

Estelle felt no need to share this fact with anyone. If people found out that she, without even being from an ability-user bloodline, had received the goddess’s power, they would either use her or regard her with suspicion.

“I was just hoping. People are greedy by nature.”

“Well, you’ve half succeeded. You’ve gained an even more special power.”

“Ha, I’m not happy about it at all. Being a saintess means nothing but being pushed around by the Guardians. What’s good about that?”

Seeming to agree somewhat, Lexion chuckled. What was so amusing? Perhaps he found it funny to see a tool that knew its place all too well.

It felt like mockery, so Estelle turned her head away.

* * *

“Light walks should be fine now.”

The doctor examining Estelle’s legs concluded his examination.

“But avoid prolonged contact with water as the wounds might fester. Stay away from it for about four days.”

After offering this advice, the doctor packed his bag, bowed deeply to Lexion who was sitting in a chair reviewing documents, and left.

“Are you my guardian or something?”

Estelle asked as she squeezed her feet into low leather shoes. Dressed in black attire, Lexion raised his eyes and put down the document. The golden cufflinks engraved with the imperial family’s emblem glittered magnificently with his wrist movements, making her frown.

“Estelle, you’re dropping honorifics and your speech is becoming increasingly casual.”

“Your Highness has been camping out in my room for over a week, so it’s natural for formalities to break down.”

Indeed, after having shared the room with him as if they lived together, showing all sorts of unsightly appearances, an inevitable sense of self-loathing washed over her.

Just as she would be taming her messy hair after waking up, he would enter immaculately dressed and greet her good morning. Whether she emerged from her bath like a drowned rat, ate meals in bed, or even when she returned from the bathroom, his red gaze followed her everywhere.

“Go to Your Highness’s palace! This is a palace for guests!”

“For someone who hasn’t left this room, you seem remarkably familiar with the palace’s purpose… Your abilities never cease to amaze me, Estelle. And wherever I choose to stay, the imperial palace is my home, so it’s not your concern.”

“Does Your Highness have no sense of shame?!”

“Estelle, don’t be so sensitive.”

“Ha!”

It was a life no different from imprisonment. The gatekeeper was the vicious snake before her, and the golden-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose bridge emitted an irritating light.

“Why do you keep wearing glasses when your eyesight is good?”

“There’s nothing better for emphasizing an intellectual appearance. I heard you hate men with empty heads.”

“……”

When did I say that? Estelle, with drowsy eyes, suddenly remembered how she had blurted out random things while mocking young aristocrats at a ball.

“I hate obsessive men. Men who keep bothering you even when you say you hate them.”

“That’s fortunate. It doesn’t seem like you hate me yet.”

“I’ve been telling you I hate you! What woman would like a man who follows her even into the powder room!”

“Ah, are you embarrassed? Don’t worry about that. I’m fine with it.”

“……”

What wind had suddenly blown into this man? Faced with this unreasonable, self-willed madman, Estelle just directly brought up the main point.

“Stop tormenting me and state your business.”

“Tormenting?”

Infuriatingly, Lexion wore an expression of genuine confusion.

“Have I tormented a lady?”

Estelle ruffled her hair in frustration, while Lexion smiled mischievously, finding her reaction amusing.

“Ha, please! My legs are healed. I want to go home. My father must be worried.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Why not?!”

To Lexion’s eyes, her threatening posture with hands on hips looked just like a kitten puffing up its fur. It meant she posed no threat whatsoever.

“Miss Estelle, you must fulfill your duties as a saintess.”

“I’m not saying I won’t do it! It’s not like I have to stay in the imperial palace, and whenever you call……”

“You seem to have forgotten, but you tried to take your own life. How can I trust and let you go?”

Ah… so that’s why he had been watching her to the point of humiliation. Estelle groaned.

“I, I no longer want to die. Back then, I knew I’d face hanging if caught touching the holy relic, so that’s why I did it. I want to see my father.”

After assessing Lexion’s seemingly uncompromising demeanor, Estelle offered an alternative.

“If that’s impossible, please invite my father to the palace.”

Lexion crossed his legs with a languid movement and tilted his head slightly. His attitude clearly showed he still didn’t fully believe her words.

‘They say the father-daughter relationship is close…..’

Though Estelle didn’t know, Count Merlin came to the main palace every day asking to see his daughter. It wouldn’t be difficult to arrange a meeting between them, but a parent’s love for their child often steered things in unexpected directions. Lexion didn’t particularly want to grant her permission to meet her family.

“I’ll think about it.”

“……”

She had loved him for a full eight years. Estelle knew the expression he was making now all too well. The sunken eyes and the slight twitch of his right eyebrow were habits that always emerged when he was lying.

“Give me a definite answer.”

“Estelle, I said I’ll consider it.”

Consider? That word from Lexion’s mouth meant he would absolutely not comply. The last time he had uttered those words was when he said he would ‘consider’ Jeff’s life or death. With surging emotions, Estelle’s voice became heated.

“I’m not a criminal, so why must I beg you to let me see my father?!”

“……”

His expression hardened, seemingly surprised by her vehement words. Estelle opened her mouth again with a trembling voice, suppressing her anger.

“I’m sorry for shouting. My father… will worry about me a lot. You know what it means to have become a saintess. I want to reassure him.”

The saintess, also called the incarnation of the goddess, wasn’t actually treated with reverence. In the past, when the goddess’s blessings were abundant, a saintess was little more than an accessory to ability users.

She was a living object that stabilized special abilities, and since saintesses blessed by the goddess’s love had appearances far above average, s*xual exploitation often occurred under the pretext of purification.

Saintesses from noble families were stigmatized as impure, received no marriage proposals, and most ended their lives alone.

“No matter what my father says, I won’t neglect my duties. I’m the Empire’s only saintess, and it’s not something I can avoid even if I try. Your Highness is concerned that I might be swayed by my father’s words and think differently… that’s what bothers you.”

“……”

Lexion silently stared at Estelle. She was clever and intelligent. She also possessed the perceptiveness to discern his intentions.

That’s why it was unpleasant. Anyone would feel the same if they sensed someone peering into their mind. And usually, that was his role.

“I’ll send a letter to the Count’s residence.”

Lexion removed his glasses as if bestowing a great favor.

“In return, whether you like it or not, you must stay in the imperial palace during the month you need to be in the capital. While you’re here, you’re my responsibility.”

Estelle sighed at his pettiness. Judging by his crooked lips, she had clearly offended him.

“Your Highness, don’t be so petty about letting me see my father.”

“What…?”

“You’re upset.”

What does this woman think of me? Lexion let out a hollow laugh.