Aaron’s expression hardened severely, not realizing she was looking at him with excitement.

“Is that maid the culprit?”

If he hadn’t spoken to her, she would have continued staring at him blankly, lost in thought.

Quickly shaking off her daydream, Lucilia explained what she had read in Bessie’s eyes.

“Bessie’s inner thoughts revealed flashes of scenes. She was sitting in a corner of the greenhouse looking around nervously, took embers from the heating device, set fire on her way to the pergola, and climbed up the pergola railing to pour oil on the roof.”

“Good grief! You knew all this! Yet you remained silent while bizarre rumors spread?”

“I couldn’t help appearing foolish. Back then, my holy power was more of a poison than a blessing. Everyone thought I was a witch, and if I had revealed it then, they would have certainly accused me of using dark magic.”

Would it be any different now?

Even after all this time, Bessie would vehemently deny being the culprit. Without physical evidence, it would be reckless to make such accusations.

Moreover, Lucilia had duties to fulfill on the battlefield.

With so much at stake, how could she create discord before even departing?

“If I expose Bessie’s crimes now, everyone will discover I have holy power.”

“Are you suggesting we bury this matter? We can’t do that when we know who the culprit is.”

“Since you now understand the full details of the incident, I don’t intend to let it go. I’m just saying now isn’t the right time.”

As Lucilia imagined Bessie sneering with her freckled cheeks twitching, her heart grew cold.

“But there might still be evidence, so we should try. Would you mind coming somewhere with me?”

“Where to?”

“I saw oil stains on Bessie’s clothes that day. She must have obtained oil from somewhere to start the fire. If we probe Bessie’s mind now, we might find a clue.”

* * *

By the new baron’s order, all the staff assembled in the front yard.

Hans, who had just met Aaron, looked bewildered at the sudden assembly order. Moreover, seeing Lucilia accompanying Aaron for the first time made him suspect this was no ordinary matter.

Aaron scrutinized the staff with a sharp gaze before speaking.

“I’ve gathered everyone because I have something to say about the greenhouse fire.”

Lucilia stood beside Aaron, staring at Bessie. As they say, a thief is most afraid of being caught—she could see Bessie nervously swallowing.

“Despite our investigation, we haven’t found the culprit. Now is the time to fulfill our duty, so I want to resolve this unfortunate incident that occurred in my house. Therefore, put aside your suspicions of each other and focus on your daily tasks.”

With his hands behind his back, Aaron observed the relieved expressions of his staff.

Perhaps because of what Lucilia had told him, Bessie seemed particularly pleased.

He felt like dragging her out and cutting off her wrists would barely satisfy his anger. But because of Lucilia’s request, he had no choice but to suppress his rage.

Having bought them time, Aaron gestured to Lucilia to go upstairs.

He deliberately left his shirt collar unfastened and his hair disheveled. Even to Lucilia’s eyes, Aaron looked decadent.

To the staff, it would appear as though he was desperate to engage in passionate lovemaking with Lucilia again.

Aaron confirmed their assumptions by firmly grasping Lucilia’s hand.

“Hans.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Go tell Rombon to supervise the afternoon training alone. Tell him not to disturb me unless it’s urgent.”

“Understood.”

As soon as they returned to the bedroom, Aaron impatiently asked:

“Did you find out anything?”

“There’s an oil bottle wedged in the corner of her bed frame. Bessie’s room… is truly filthy. It seems she hasn’t cleaned it for a long time.”

Lucilia frowned as she recalled the room scene projected through Bessie’s eyes.

The bedroom was in complete disarray, as if it hadn’t been cleaned in ages.

All sorts of junk and dusty furniture everywhere.

It was surprising that Bessie herself didn’t smell terrible.

How fortunate that Bessie was so lazy.

“Please ask the head maid to secretly search Bessie’s room for the oil bottle. If we can confirm it’s the same oil as what remains on the pergola roof, we can identify her as the culprit.”

“But punish her later?”

She couldn’t understand why he still looked dissatisfied when they had already discussed this.

It would be better to punish Bessie after the war concluded to avoid complications.

Of course, if Aaron was determined, he could make Bessie disappear without a trace, but that might create unnecessary problems.

“If Bessie had destroyed the evidence, I would have been blamed. Even then, I would have been fine with it.”

“How could that possibly be fine?”

“I was prepared for it. I kept telling myself that I would prove myself through how I lived. That I would never harm Tudra, that I wished for everyone’s peace, that I wanted to get along with everyone, that I wasn’t a bad person.”

“…”

“So let’s entrust this matter to the head maid, and we’ll focus on our tasks.”

Aaron’s pupils trembled slightly.

It was because Lucilia’s vitality had been revived.

He could hardly believe this was the same person who had lived cautiously and timidly.

At first, he had wanted her to stay quiet and not draw attention. But gradually, he realized that her subdued demeanor bothered him more.

He couldn’t contradict himself, so he pretended not to notice, but now he found himself watching for her reactions.

Aaron privately mocked himself.

‘I’ve become such a fool.’

Still, those eyes that used to avoid his gaze were now full of life, and that was beautiful.

“I suppose that approach is more reasonable.”

Aaron awkwardly scratched his temple and glanced at the bed.

“Let’s wait an appropriate amount of time and then depart for the temple.”

* * *

Colon, who had been eagerly anticipating Aaron’s visit, lost his smile the moment he saw Lucilia.

His white beard twitched with disappointment.

“I didn’t expect you to bring her along. Have you been well?”

“You asked about my well-being at the banquet too, didn’t you? As I told you then, I’m living an ordinary and comfortable life here.”

Lucilia’s expression as she looked up at her husband was sincere.

Colon only regretted that he couldn’t cover her face with a cloth. He suspected her reason for coming to the temple was to probe into their secrets.

Even though he had confirmed her holy power had vanished, he still felt uneasy.

Colon couldn’t hide his disappointment in Aaron for bringing Lucilia everywhere. He was a man unworthy of his reputation as the “Black Fog.”

The man who once avoided women and fought solely out of loyalty to the kingdom was nowhere to be found.

Now that he had fallen for a woman, he was no different from any other man.

Colon smoothed his mustache diagonally while smirking at Aaron.

“You two seem to be getting along very well. How can you bear to leave for battle?”

“I’m taking her with me.”

“W-what did you say?”

The Pope’s sly tone came to an abrupt halt. Despite his years of experience manipulating others like a cunning snake, he easily revealed his surprise.

It was a display of shock worth witnessing.

Aaron gently took Lucilia’s hand in his.

“It doesn’t violate military law, so there’s no issue. Don’t you agree?”

“Well, that’s true, but I find it difficult to understand why you would bring your beloved wife to such a dangerous place.”

“Because I’m confident I can protect her. In fact, my wife was attacked and injured in the capital.”

“My goodness… that could have been disastrous.”

“My pride was severely wounded by my failure to protect her properly. I’ve decided it’s better to keep her by my side where I can protect her and receive her comfort.”

His answer was clear: bedding his wife was one thing, but ensuring her safety was his absolute responsibility.

He had already heard rumors that Aaron couldn’t tear himself away from Lucilia.
Though people said he was so distracted that he engaged in intimacy at all hours, it wouldn’t affect his combat abilities.

Whether it was determination or stamina…

Colon skillfully covered his contemptuous smile with a benevolent one before it could show.

“Since it’s a marital matter, I won’t discuss it further.”

“But… why did you suddenly come all the way to Tudra? Is there some important reason for your secret visit?”

As soon as Aaron asked this, the expression of the priest sitting beside Colon cracked like a dried leaf underfoot.

The priest waved his hand as if he’d heard something absurd.

“Secret visit? What kind of person do you think His Holiness is to say such a thing?”

“I must have misunderstood since I received no orders to welcome His Holiness. If you let me know your departure date in advance, I’ll give you a proper send-off with generous hospitality.”

Despite having already damaged the Pope’s dignity, Aaron’s attitude remained bold.