Aaron’s insides twisted violently for reasons he couldn’t identify.

First he was displeased with Lucilia smiling at just anyone, then his irritation surged toward the Duke who was flirting like a fox.

‘Giving help that’s hardly help, then acting so smug.’

He could have resolved the situation perfectly well without the Duke’s interference. The nobles’ petty slights were nothing new and made no impact on him.

And why was Lucilia smiling brightly in the midst of all this?

Yes, she must be grateful that the Duke helped.

Suddenly rendered ineffectual, Aaron pressed his tongue against the inside of his mouth.

He had intended to withdraw quietly, but that wouldn’t work now.

The only option was to reset the situation and handle it himself.

“Your Grace’s concern is justified. They did indeed mistreat me, and everyone here either participated or stood by.”

Everyone’s face turned pale at his unfiltered words.

After everything had been settled, he had turned it back into chaos.

Everyone inwardly clicked their tongues at his utterly foolish conduct, but Aaron couldn’t care less.

He looked at the flushing Marquis and his son as if they were mere animals, and methodically berated them.

“As everyone knows, my father bought his position with money. However, I reached this position entirely through my own strength. I’m different from all of you who survive by relying on family and bloodline.”

Nobles who relied on their family, members of the royal family who relied on their bloodline.

Aaron, who had lumped together not only the nobles but also Kel, noticed the small vibration in his grip and calmed his anger.

‘Well, I can’t even speak freely, it seems.’

She was trembling at the imminent crisis.

Aaron took a step back and bowed his head respectfully to Kel.

Though he didn’t like how the Duke flirted with his wife, he seemed to be on Lucilia’s side.

“Please don’t misunderstand—I wasn’t referring to Your Grace. I’m always grateful for your friendly treatment of us.”

“And here I thought you were mocking me, asking what I had to show for myself besides bloodline.”

“How could I?”

“Anyway, since it seems to be nothing serious, let’s enjoy the banquet again. If anyone uses their mouth again to ruin the saint’s mood, I’ll nail their lips and pierce holes in them.”

The mouths of those who had looked down on Aaron, including the Marquis and Haight who had damaged others’ character with their foul tongues, closed like clams.

It was because a picture had unfolded where the King and the King’s brother valued Aaron more than the Marquis.

As the commotion subsided, Lucilia finally felt relieved.

She felt both refreshed and embarrassed, but quickly organized her thoughts.

She decided not to hold onto any lingering attachment to her former family.

As she was about to thank Kel, Aaron gripped her hand tightly.

“Your Grace, we should be going now.”

“Why leave so early? If you must go, go alone, Lord Artnal. Why interrupt the saint’s debutante?”

While Kel was adding words that seemed half-joking and half-serious, Aaron’s arm wrapped around Lucilia’s waist.

Aaron pulled Lucilia close, pressing her tightly against his side.

“My wife usually lacks physical strength and finds it difficult to stand for long periods. As you can see, she’s lost a lot of weight and become even weaker.”

“Indeed, how much must her blood have dried up after such harsh ordeals? If you leave now, when will I see her again?”

Kel approached Lucilia.

He paid no mind to Aaron’s obvious wariness beside her. Rather, as if he had discovered an amusing game, he deliberately teased Lucilia more mischievously.

Such an expression on Kel’s face suddenly froze when he spotted someone.

Kel stopped mid-sentence and glared at the arched entrance.

“You’ve brought quite a growth with you?”

At the Duke’s remark, the people surrounding them all stared at one place.

“H-His Holiness the Pope has come to the banquet.”

In fact, there was no problem with the Pope attending the banquet. It was stranger that an excommunicated saint was attending.

Despite knowing this, everyone was surprised to see the Pope and Lucilia in the same place. Then attention shifted to the woman walking with the Pope.

“But who is that person beside him…”

“I wonder. It’s someone I’ve never seen before.”

Lucilia scanned the unidentified woman while listening to the noble youths whispering.

Without having to guess hard, she recognized who it was just by her attire.

A dress embroidered with gold thread, a headdress crafted with diamonds, the symbol of purity.

Anyone could see she was a saint.

Her previously calm heartbeat rose steeply.

Lucilia felt dizzy from her heartbeat that reverberated up to her throat.

As she staggered after trying to endure, Aaron pulled her waist to help her stand straight.

“Th-thank you.”

Leaning on Aaron to straighten her body, she adjusted her focus to stop her pupils from trembling.

What scheme is this?

A new saint has appeared already?

The saint who had appeared in the world after a hundred years—how long has it been since she was excommunicated?

Is this even possible in just a few months?

The disorganized questions that popped up were directed at the Pope.

Colon, who had been stroking his time-faded beard, spotted Lucilia and stretched his wrinkled lips long.

At that moment, both Aaron and Kel’s lips stiffened simultaneously.

Certain that he would drive them into a corner with malicious intent, Aaron was more on edge than usual.

Aaron quickly walked to stand before Colon.

Though it seemed like he was about to acknowledge him casually, he placed Lucilia behind him, volunteering as a shield in case of any mischief.

“Good day to you.”

Colon didn’t even glance at Aaron.

With a benevolent smile wide enough to cover all human flaws and more, he tilted his head to the side.

This allowed him to stare at Lucilia from an angle.

“I should call you Young Baroness now. Have you been well?”

He was a person who wielded power in the religious world equal to the King. Even the fearless Aaron couldn’t be as rude to him as he had been to the Marquis.

Even the King showed respect to the Pope—what ability did he have to confront him?

But he could take Lucilia and leave.

Aaron keenly observed Lucilia’s next reaction, ready to storm out if necessary.

“I’ve been spending peaceful days, thanks to you. Thank you for your concern, Your Holiness.”

Contrary to his concerns, she was quite composed.

She couldn’t hide behind Aaron, nor did she need to, so she stepped forward with dignified steps to face Colon.

Lucilia raised her eyes to see the face of the man who had falsely accused her of being a witch.

However, Colon lightly ignored Lucilia and spoke to the woman standing beside him.

“This is the person I mentioned earlier.”

“Ah… You mean Lady Lucilia Teneri? Now Lucilia Artnal. I had imagined a pure image, but my impression was off.”

The woman smiled, curling her eye corners, and exhaled languidly through her nose.

“Hmm… she’s more splendid than a peacock, so I didn’t notice at all. Who would believe she was once a saint?”

Lucilia clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh.

She hated being humiliated in front of Aaron more than death.

She had already tasted contempt from her family. That alone was shameful, but her pride wouldn’t allow her to fall for Colon’s schemes again, the man who had framed her.

Lucilia, whose hair shone softly like the dawn moon, pushed it behind her shoulders and looked down at her expensive dress with satisfaction.

Though her heart beat unsteadily, fortunately her voice remained calm.

“We enjoy different things depending on our circumstances. I’m enjoying abundance I couldn’t dream of when I was a saint, under my husband’s care. The loneliness I had to embrace as God’s person has also disappeared.”

“Is that so? But it’s not easy to completely wash away the disgrace once it’s been cast upon you.”

“It wasn’t disgrace, but deliberate humiliation.”

Once again, Lucilia looked directly at the Pope. Upon reflection, she had nothing particular to lose.

The one who couldn’t properly look into her eyes was the Pope.

‘You used to cover my head with thick cloth, but you can’t do that anymore.’

Sure enough, Colon’s gaze couldn’t rise above Lucilia’s cheek area.

Even though he knew her sacred power had disappeared, he didn’t remove his suspicion.

Yet he sneered, twitching his eyelids.

“Is that so? Your mind must be at ease now that the urgent fire has been extinguished. But since you haven’t yet proven your innocence, it’s also ambiguous to conclude it was humiliation.”

Colon’s momentum rose sharply.

But Lucilia knew well how to irritate the Pope who prided himself as God’s messenger.

He always condemned others by invoking God’s will, so she just had to respond in kind.