Colon flicked Birgita’s pouting lips with his index finger and smiled maliciously.

“What’s the point of collecting those few coins? Just be patient a little longer, and all of Caldman will be ours.”

Colon wrapped his arms around Birgita’s waist from behind. Resting his thick chin on her snow-white shoulder, he whispered.

“Our Saint, so skilled in healing and restoration.”

“Ah, that tickles.”

Finding her scrunched neck adorable, he turned her chin and pressed his lips against hers.

“Mmm, the venerable Pope shouldn’t be doing this. Haah…”

As she was accustomed to accepting his hand lifting her skirt, Birgita twisted her body when he suddenly jabbed her.

In an instant, Colon grabbed her hair.

“You’re the one who shouldn’t act this way, you wh*re. Have you already forgotten the favor I bestowed upon you?”

“F-forgotten? How could I?”

“I saved you when you were about to be sold as a slave to Mrangel, and even gave you a noble status.”

“Of course. I certainly remember that.”

“Don’t forget where you came from. If you understand, spread your legs.”

Birgita didn’t resist and obediently bent over, lifting her dress up to her waist.

After savoring her luscious backside, he pressed against her firmly, causing Birgita to cover her mouth and m*an.

“Mmph! Mmm!”

This decrepit old man enjoyed sadistic games.

He would hit her and spew unspeakable insults.

So she deliberately matched his rhythm with exaggerated movements.

This made him puff up with pride, as if he were something special.

Despite his lack of strength.

Sure enough, her suppressed cries quickly subsided.

Colon adjusted his pants after barely satisfying his l*st with his aged body. Then he slapped Birgita’s plump buttocks and giggled.

“I’ll do the groundwork, and you stir up the people with the justification I’ve given you.”

“Don’t worry. I’m already sweating from secretly spreading poisonous insects, but I’m deceiving people perfectly. By the way… what are you going to do about the Tudra temple?”

Birgita lowered her rolled-up dress and wiped her flushed cheeks with a wet towel.

The unrest at the border was a setup for fulfilling the new saint’s prophecy.

Finally, with the outbreak of war, it added legitimacy to Saint Birgita’s abilities.

It was the typical reason—covering Caldman’s misfortunes with holy power.

Thanks to smooth sailing so far, the disgraced old religion had gained an opportunity to rise again, which was a great achievement.

And that wasn’t all—by now, the epidemic should be spreading, making it possible to eliminate the witch and her associates.

The traitor Marquis Teneri, the increasingly powerful royal family, and Aaron Artnal.

But now, because of that fool of a priest, they were at risk of being held back just as they were about to reach their goal.

“We need to consider the possibility that they might find the secret room.”

“What if the Baron t*rtures the priest? If he spills everything, we’re finished.”

“We’re holding his family hostage, so he won’t talk easily. Though he seems slippery on the outside, he’d die for his little sister.”

Feeling that wasn’t enough, he had also offered a tempting reward.

He promised to make him a cardinal if they completely eliminated the new religious faction and replaced the king.

But what was he thinking, stealing medicines for such a petty thing?

He had treated a grand ambition as trivial in order to satisfy a small greed.

If he had known this would happen, he would have killed him long ago.

It was impossible to assassinate the priest now that he was imprisoned in Aaron’s dungeon, of all places.

Colon, becoming irritated, poured himself whiskey and downed it in one gulp.

“Even so, we can’t trust the priest. That’s why we must seize power at all costs. You’ve done enough ministry in the capital, so from tomorrow, start traveling to the provinces.”

“The provinces? But I’m really tired.”

“Tsk! Is this the time to be picky? If we hesitate, we’ll die. You stupid woman!”

The glass flew mercilessly and shattered into pieces in front of Birgita’s feet.

* * *

The fresh spring scent wafted from every blade of newly sprouted grass.

Step by step, Lucilia enjoyed the soft sensation beneath her feet before looking up at the sky.

Migratory birds seemed to be freely flying across the clear sky, looking down upon the earth.

If only they could bring peace to this place, which was becoming a ruin due to human greed.

“The morning air is still chilly.”

“Oh? When did you come out?”

Aaron naturally kissed Lucilia’s cheek.

Since returning to the estate, he had been uninhibited.

It was fine that he acted as his heart desired, but he seemed to have forgotten the emotion of embarrassment, often making her feel awkward instead.

When his body heated up, he would pick her up from the first floor and carry her upstairs; during meals, he would sit right next to her with his plate, despite it being against dining etiquette.

When she looked particularly beautiful to him, he would deeply entwine his tongue with hers, regardless of whether knights were present.

After being exposed to repeated embarrassment, gentle touches no longer bothered her.

She even wanted to stay closer because of the excitement she felt.

As she affectionately linked arms with him, the corner of Aaron’s mouth twitched with pleasure.

“I want to make the garden beautiful.”

“Whatever you wish.”

“And the greenhouse… too.”

Aaron gazed at her intently.

Lucilia turned her gaze away first.

She disliked the feeling of stealing his thoughts.

Aaron had also grown accustomed to this and could now comfortably look at her even when she avoided eye contact.

“I have to allow it, don’t I?”

“Really? Then, should I leave the pergola as it is?”

Aaron quietly took Lucilia into his arms. He felt as if the satisfaction she gave him was spreading throughout his entire body.

When one becomes fixated on one thing, they often push true value to the background.

Though the heirlooms were important, it had taken him a long time to realize that a life that remembers and appreciates his mother’s love was more valuable.

“As long as you don’t remove it completely, you can do whatever you want.”

“Wow! I didn’t think you’d really allow it.”

“Though it’s painful that the heirlooms burned, filling the empty space with something else seems meaningful too.”

As if to say that she was that something, he left a soft kiss on Lucilia’s eyelid.

Just as he was expressing his affection regardless of who might be watching, Ension reported with an excited voice.

“My lord, I have urgent news to report. It’s about the temple.”

He bluntly delivered the important content so there would be no delay, and as expected, Aaron separated from Lucilia.

The three of them moved to the study without anyone needing to take the lead.

The secretly delivered note contained the location of the secret room.

Besides the few clues read through Mannea’s eyes, the pieces that Lucilia had belatedly remembered became an important key.

Aaron looked at Lucilia with surprised eyes and murmured.

“It was the altar… You were right.”

Lucilia was excited at the prospect of finding a clue.

She felt immensely proud that her contribution had solved the difficult problem.

She wanted to go to the temple as soon as possible to confirm it with her own eyes.

However, she wondered if the sub-priest, who couldn’t possibly know about this, would vacate the temple.

Aaron, noticing the concern on Lucilia’s face, curved one corner of his mouth.

“Shall we storm in, then?”

“Are you going to use force without trying to persuade them?”

“Since I’ve publicly declared that I’ll investigate the temple, I should make a bold demand. Tell them all to leave because they’re in the way. Anyway, the sub-priest seems to know nothing about the Pope’s true nature, so he’ll probably back down and pretend to give in.”

He had made threats despite defying the Archbishop’s words.

He had said he would do anything for Tudra’s safety and investigate the base of the criminal priest.

To do that, he needed to clear away any obstacles.

Without hesitation, Aaron immediately went to the temple and cleanly expelled everyone.

The sub-priest, who had been supervising internal repairs, strongly resisted, but he had no chance of stopping Aaron, whom even the Archbishop couldn’t handle.

It was ridiculous to stubbornly hold out when he had already sent a messenger to the royal palace announcing his intention to investigate the temple first.

In the end, the sub-priest willingly surrendered his territory to the lord.

Thus, they occupied the temple in less than a day.

Aaron took Lucilia, Rombon, and Ension to the altar placed in front of the temple.

Kite, disguised as a craftsman, bowed deeply.

“I greet you, my lord.”

“You’ve really worked hard.”

Aaron approached Kite and patted his shoulder.

Being a spy was more dangerous than participating in combat.

In most cases, if discovered, one would suffer severe t*rture.

Kite had faced such crises while working with Aaron. Yet he never betrayed him until Aaron came to rescue him.

Aaron bit his lip, overcome with emotion.

In place of his master, Kite changed the atmosphere.

“Aren’t you curious about how the altar connects to the secret room?”

Everyone’s gaze fixed on the large altar.