At the end of the long rosary hung an ornament made of mother-of-pearl. At first glance, it looked like a cross, but it had an additional leaf decoration at the bottom.

‘I saw the same thing at the monastery.’

The nun who had urgently pushed her to flee also had the identical rosary around her neck. The nun had claimed she was the Marquis’s person and that the rosary was proof of it.

Since she hadn’t confirmed this with her father, she hadn’t fully believed it, but with her life in danger, she had fled anyway, choosing to risk being deceived. As the nun had said, Aaron was waiting at the end of the road as her savior, which led her to believe the nun’s words.

‘Then that person must also have been sent by Father!’

Finally, a way out had opened.

Of course. No matter how greedy, parents are still parents and couldn’t abandon their child.

Her heart, which had been weighed down by guilt, felt relieved.

Lucilia couldn’t take her eyes off the nun for a while. The nun very naturally grasped the rosary ornament and hid it in her palm.

‘Still, I should confirm it once more to be sure. But they won’t allow me to come to the temple… what should I do?’

Sneaking out of the mansion was impossible from the start. Given that she had to share Aaron’s bedroom, surveillance would not be loosened.

While she was contemplating a method, Aaron looked to the side.

Just five or six more steps and she could reach the nun’s feet.

She thought about approaching under the pretense of greeting, but Aaron took her hand, preventing her attempt.

He even pulled her slightly, as if warning her not to be distracted.

Lucilia spoke to him before his attention could reach the nun.

“Is it over now?”

“Is there a problem…”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just tired from not having eaten anything since morning and being nervous.”

“The celebration remains. If you’re really struggling, you don’t have to attend.”

“No, I think I might feel better if I eat something.”

“The celebration will be held at the castle, so let’s return now.”

She wanted to watch for an opportunity, but she wasn’t confident she could escape Aaron’s net of surveillance.

If she acted clumsily, he would keenly notice and interrogate her.

To avoid suspicion, she didn’t even glance at the nun.

Abandoning her lingering thoughts, she moved close to Aaron, who led her toward the arched exit.

The couple left the temple without a chance to savor the joy of marriage.

Just as they were about to step onto the stone stairs:

Another nun approached and gently took hold of Lucilia’s arm.

“Be careful of your step. Your dress is long, and you might fall.”

The nun gave her a sympathetic smile.

She seemed concerned that throughout the wedding, not even a hint of happiness, let alone a forced smile, had been seen on the new bride’s face.

Even though Lucilia was no longer a saint and could be shunned, the nun showed kindness as if helping a woman in a pitiful situation.

She must know that Lucilia had been excommunicated by the papal office and somehow ended up in Tudra.

Perhaps she felt a sense of kinship as a servant of God.

Well, sympathy is better than hatred.

Or maybe this person is also sent by Father…

Lucilia slightly lifted her dress to prevent it from tangling around her feet. Then she smiled sincerely.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Our mission is to spread love regardless of status.”

As the mere nun lingered beside the young lord’s couple, the priest immediately issued an order to dismiss her.

“Sister Bonizella.”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t you say you would visit the orphanage this afternoon? They must be short-handed.”

“Ah, I was just about to go.”

The nun awkwardly wrinkled her nose bridge and walked away with quick steps.

The priest bowed his head to Aaron.

“I’m truly sorry about this. I haven’t been appointed for long, so there are still many shortcomings in education and management.”

“It’s a joyous day. The sister must have been caught up in the excitement too.”

The priest was relieved by Aaron’s lukewarm response.

Because no matter how powerful the papal office’s influence was, Aaron was the one who reigned like a king here.

Since he actually had the king’s trust, it wouldn’t do to get on his bad side over such a trivial matter.

Especially with an important duty ahead.

To prevent any sparks from flying, the priest behaved like a gentle lamb before Aaron.

Lucilia also hoped the matter wouldn’t escalate. She didn’t want to be the cause of problems, and she needed to quietly wait for the right time to contact the nun with the rosary.

The steps she took with her husband, who was a husband in name only, were awkwardly out of sync.

With different stride lengths and speeds, it was difficult to match their steps.

It was only after spending some time in the mansion’s banquet hall that they somewhat realized they had become a couple.

Aaron and Lucilia sat side by side at the head table. It was the place for today’s protagonists.

The Baron had gone straight to his bedroom upon arriving at the castle.

Besides his health, he probably didn’t want to see people laughing and chattering while celebrating the marriage.

Lucilia suppressed her complex feelings and steadfastly gazed ahead.

Burly knights filled the long table. They couldn’t hide their excitement at being able to eat plenty of meat and drink.

However, there was a faint hostility toward Lucilia in their demeanor. She felt intimidated, as if they were questioning her for shackling their master.

Nevertheless, they couldn’t disrupt their master’s wedding, so they conveyed their congratulations without showing their displeasure.

After raising a toast together for the newly formed couple, the knights came forward one by one to offer congratulatory words.

“Now that the young lord has established a family, Tudra will be more stable,” “Please work for the prosperity of Tudra,” and so on.

Some even showed a bit of goodwill, saying they looked forward to the activities of children who resembled the two.

Children…

It couldn’t help but be an uncomfortable topic.

Lucilia glanced sideways at Aaron.

His expression remained consistently blank.

She also tried not to mind her husband and responded perfunctorily.

Her mind had been filled with thoughts of the nun since earlier, leaving no room to focus on anything else.

The newly united couple was absorbed in different thoughts.

Aaron was mulling over the king’s message.

The Pope’s person had crossed Tudra’s border…

From what he had observed, one nun who approached Lucilia had been spotted.

Was there really a need to speak to her on the chapel steps?

The priest who scolded the nun shouldn’t be overlooked either.

‘Before they notice, I should first find the connection to the Pope.’

There was more to do.

He also had to be faithful to the act of monitoring Lucilia.

The emotionless greetings were unbearably tedious.

She too merely moved her lips without enjoying herself.

Of course she would.

She had said she was weak from not eating anything, but she only nibbled at her food without eating properly.

“You’ve been hungry all day, aren’t you famished?”

“I’ve eaten enough.”

“Then let’s go upstairs.”

His bold statement encouraged imagination of a hot night.

He had been sitting as stiff as a wooden stick, causing the knights to restrain themselves while watching his mood.

But now, instead of pushing away a woman of uncertain identity, he was trying to embrace her.

The entire gathering was stirred at once.

The knights pounded the table with their fists and made a fuss. Whether she was a saint or a witch, they didn’t care; it seemed the excitement was finally building.

Their master didn’t care at all whether his subordinates cheered or not.

Aaron pulled Lucilia’s chair back.

“Wait a moment.”

As the atmosphere suddenly changed, she felt dazed as if she’d been struck. Lucilia pressed her forehead while tensing her buttocks.

Even if she had feelings for Aaron, she didn’t know with what mindset she should receive a man’s l*st.

“Are we going up already?”

“What good would staying longer do except make us sick?”

“But still…”

“A pale woman without blood color is a bit frightening.”

Though his intention was clearly to mock, the knights didn’t interpret it that way.

They all laughed at the sight of him urging his wife with a bland joke.

“Let’s go.”

An invisible hook pierced the nape of her neck.

As the two protagonists exited, Rombon laughed heartily, showing even his gums.

“Hahaha! You acted so proper, but in the end, Commander, you’re a man too!”

“Originally, you should have stayed in the territory and received heir training, but you couldn’t because you were out fighting with us!”

“Well, it’s about time you devoted yourself to your family.”

“The time has come to let you go. Sigh…”

“Our commander, I hope you’ll be happy!”

The more they wished for the young lord’s bright future, the more sighs accumulated.