‘…So that was the problem.’

The problem stemming from that smile he never showed her.

This realization, which passed by unnoticed during her adolescence, had come back to her now that she was an adult.

Ariel tried to shake off the shock. She was someone who didn’t know despair, so it was only right to quickly brush off this level of impact. After forcing herself to clear her mind, a new question arose.

‘If the male protagonist is Lionel and the villain is me, then who is the female protagonist?’

Surely, there must be someone who served as the model for that role. And if that person was assigned the role of the female protagonist over her, there might be something significant between her and Lionel.

The first person that came to mind was the older lady who had danced with Lionel, receiving his beautiful smile and affectionately patting his back.

‘There’s no way Lionel would cheat, but…’

The third realization hit Ariel even harder than the previous two.

‘…Even if he mingles with other ladies, it wouldn’t outwardly be called cheating.’

No matter how much Ariel thought about marrying Lionel, there was nothing promised between their families. Since she turned sixteen, the marriage talks she expected never happened.

It was ambiguous to consider them officially dating. Lionel had never verbally expressed liking her or wanting to marry her.

So, from others’ perspectives, it was just like in the novel…

Ariel was simply following Lionel around one-sidedly.

“Ah.”

With a short sigh, Ariel closed her mouth. The sudden realization, combined with the stress of her exams, began to create ripples in her heart that had always been full of love. As the wave of melancholy started to engulf her, Ariel almost reflexively questioned herself.

‘But so what, what can I do now?’

After all, she had come this far to marry him. It was a problem without a clear answer, even if she worried about it alone. First, when Caelo returned, she would ask if he also thought the book was based on her. After that…

‘I’ll just ask Lionel honestly.’

Is there a lady you’ve been meeting recently? I want to marry you, but are you planning to marry me…?

‘Ugh.’

The more she thought about it, the more it felt like a heavy burden. It was a question that was hard to actually voice.

‘…Should I just bury it for now?’

Ariel decided to stop thinking about it. If she took even one wrong step, she might fall into an unimaginable scenario.

What if Lionel had no intention of marrying her?

All the things she had pursued so far were based on dreams of a future with Lionel. What if she had been heading in the wrong direction all along?

What if he truly found her annoying and had only been polite to her out of obligation?

What if he showed that smile to anyone but her…?

‘The lady will eventually find her true calling and leave.’

‘Officials aren’t treated very well in the Holy Kingdom, are they? Priests are treated much better.’

‘You didn’t get selected for the subjugation team last time, did you?’

‘When will she realize there’s no hope?’

At the same time, the words she had heard but ignored until now flashed through her mind. They were words she had deliberately ignored when she decided her path solely thinking of Lionel.

“Oh. I’m thirsty.”

Suddenly feeling parched, Ariel jumped out of bed. She thought about pulling the bell to summon a maid, but she wanted to walk a bit, so she decided to go to the dining room and ask for water herself.

‘Yes. Walking might make me feel better.’

This was probably just stress from the entrance exam. As always, the feeling of despair would fade, and her heart would be filled with love for Lionel again.

As she walked down the corridor to the dining room, passing by the drawing room, she heard her father’s unusually heavy voice.

“Is it impossible to adjust the deadline?”

“It might be difficult, Marquis Tenia.”

“Hmm…”

“High-ranking nobles have been delaying their payments lately… Ah, not you, Marquis.”

“……”

From the drawing room, she overheard a conversation between her father and a merchant who had lent him money. Suddenly, Caelo’s words about the declining fortunes of the Holy Kingdom’s nobles came to mind. Ariel realized she hadn’t been paying attention to the recent financial situation of the marquisate. A bitter taste filled her mouth.

‘Despite studying so hard, I didn’t even look into our own family’s situation.’

She had been worrying about the supply and budget issues for a subjugation team she hadn’t even joined. Calculating the appropriate supply distribution for a potential expedition.

Her attempt to lighten her mood only made it heavier. Ariel turned her steps, trying to cut off her thoughts.

‘…Let’s just focus on studying for now.’

This was all a problem that would be solved if she joined the subjugation team. The team paid danger allowances to its members. She could use that allowance to support her family and go on subjugations with Lionel.

Meeting Lionel, whom she hadn’t seen for a while, and spending time with him would help her shake off the unpleasant thoughts she had earlier.

‘Everything will be solved if I pass.’

From that moment, Ariel immersed herself in her studies again. She decided to bury her thoughts about the romance novel.

* * *

“…Please at least tell me what the problem was.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Ariel.”

The result was another rejection. Ariel felt it was an unfair outcome.

‘Even though I got distracted by the romance novel for a while!’

Ariel’s test scores in other areas were nearly perfect. Even if her holy power was lacking, her other scores were high enough to compensate.

“This is unfair. When I did my own scoring, there were no problems…”

“Miss, it’s a matter within the subjugation team.”

“At least tell me what the issue is.”

Seeing Ariel’s desperate plea, the instructor in charge of the subjugation team entrance exam looked at her with pity.

“Miss.”

He knew better than anyone how hard Ariel had been trying for the past few years. He also knew that normally, upon hearing she didn’t pass, Ariel would say, ‘Then I’ll pass next time!’ and move on.

“Tell me what I need to fix. Please, just that much.”

It was rare for Ariel to be this desperate. Her mind was complicated with various thoughts.

‘I need to pass this time.’

If she did, all her worries would be resolved. Ariel must have looked quite dejected. The instructor, who usually wouldn’t give such advice, spoke up.

“Miss Ariel Tenia. Even if your holy power isn’t great, there are ways to temporarily boost it.”

“……”

“If you’re really desperate, it’s worth considering.”

As soon as the instructor said that, the content of the romance novel flashed through Ariel’s mind. The scene where the female and male protagonists shared their holy power through passionate physical union. And she thought about trying that method herself.

Her face flushed, but the instructor was still in front of her. Ariel quickly pressed her cheeks with the back of her hand. Even as her head spun, she thought.

‘…Lionel has returned.’

Lionel had returned from the expedition the day before her entrance exam. Normally, she would have rushed to see him, but she was too focused on passing the exam this time.

‘If it’s Lionel, now…’

He was probably resting at the duke’s residence. As if reading her thoughts, the instructor gently suggested.

“The next retest isn’t far off. It’s in three days.”

“Three days?”

“There was an unexpected vacancy as soon as the results came out.”

Normally, she would have had to wait at least a month for the next exam, but this time it was just three days. She was confident she could pass if she boosted her holy power a bit and tried again.

‘Yes, while I’m at it… I’ll remove the dragon’s horn in one go.’

This could be an opportunity. A chance to resolve all her worries in one stroke.

‘Besides, I need to see Lionel’s face.’

She always had her tea time with him. Ariel looked at the burning sunset with renewed determination.

* * *

By the time she arrived at the duke’s residence, it was a bit late. She had spent time dressing up as neatly as possible after returning home, choosing and re-choosing clothes that Lionel might like.

‘But… it’s not too late yet.’

The duke and duchess, who had known Ariel since she was a child, wouldn’t mind her visiting a bit late. She only felt sorry for potentially disturbing their quiet rest.

However, when she arrived at the duke’s residence, she witnessed an unexpected scene.

“Ahaha.”

“Viscount, you’re quite something.”

The entrance and lobby of the residence were bustling with people who appeared to be holy knights. The armor adorned with silver, a specialty of the Holy Kingdom, glittered everywhere. It seemed a banquet was being held to celebrate the knights’ return from the expedition. Many saintess candidates and priests who had accompanied them stood around, sipping wine.