I slipped my hand into my pocket without Lucian noticing.

My sweaty hand felt the hard, teardrop-shaped object.

“Don’t come any closer!”

Though it was an act, my scream was half sincere, which made Lucian’s smile grow even more wicked.

“Oh my, my toy shop owner seems very afraid.”

Just a little closer.

“Trust me. I’ll make it quick.”

Just a bit more.

As I continued to back away, my back hit the wall.

Sliding down to the floor, I quickly glanced under the bed.

The recording magical device was revealing its presence with a faint light.

The preparations are complete.

I looked forward again.

Lucian’s purple eyes had a strange gleam as he reached out to strangle me, and his excited face couldn’t hide his thrill.

So he probably hasn’t noticed what I’m holding.

Pretending to resist, I grabbed Lucian’s wrist with the hand holding the Fairy’s Tear.

“You stole the sacred relic, didn’t you?”

At my sudden question, Lucian’s heightened expression slightly subsided.

“Hmm.”

He smiled faintly and asked.

“Why are you curious about that right before death?”

“Answer me, quickly. You stole the sacred relic.”

I asked again.

Lucian looked at me with a leisurely smile.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Of course I…”

Finally, his lips opened.

“Stole it.”

“……”

“Hmm?”

It worked.

I slowly smiled and opened my mouth.

“Marquis Berto. What did you do with the stolen sacred relic?”

“…A contract.”

Seeing Lucian’s expression gradually hardening, I felt completely satisfied.

I quietly called out to him.

“Hey.”

“…Hey?”

Lucian, repeating my words, had an expression as if he’d never heard the word “hey” before in his life.

“You think you’re something special, don’t you?”

I spoke in clear, deliberate pronunciation so he could hear me perfectly.

“You are nothing.”

Lucian stared blankly, unable even to blink.

I looked at him and sneered contemptuously.

“So stop acting so high and mighty.”

You know what? I’m someone who has already died and come back to life once.

You dare to put on airs in front of me?

Even as my throat was being strangled and oxygen was gradually depleting, I faced him and smiled broadly with composure.

BANG-!

Just then, the sound of a door being smashed echoed loudly.

When I turned my head, I immediately met Adriel’s red eyes.

Sir Knight! I got him to confess!

Just as I was about to wave in delight, I saw Adriel’s eyes widening.

Why is he looking like that?

Before I could even wonder—

WHAM-!

Lucian, who had been pressing down on my body, went flying far away.

***

Going back in time to my first day at the temple.

Cynthia came to see me.

“What’s the matter, Miss Wit?”

Behind Cynthia, who asked me with a gentle smile, Adriel was standing quite naturally.

I stared at him and asked.

“It’s not Captain Daniel…?”

While formulating a plan to catch Lucian, Cynthia and I concluded that we needed more people.

That person needed to be strong enough to subdue Lucian immediately in case of any dangerous situation. They had to be strong, and since they would be sharing our plan, they needed to be discreet and trustworthy.

To that end, Cynthia had recommended Daniel, the Captain of the Holy Knights, as the most suitable person for this task.

I also knew what kind of person Daniel was, so I had agreed without much comment.

Today was when we were all supposed to meet and discuss.

That was certainly the plan, but why was Adriel…

“I told you.”

Adriel answered in his characteristically blunt voice, clearly perceiving my confusion.

“That it was only a matter of time anyway.”

As he said this, Adriel’s expression seemed strangely overflowing with confidence. His triumphant look was a bonus.

Looking at him with a dumbfounded face, I found myself smiling slightly without realizing it. Somehow, his appearance seemed cute.

Just as I was thinking how fortunate it was that my face was hidden by the robe, Cynthia provided an explanation.

“Let me explain instead. Last night, Lord Adriel caught a spy from Marquis Berto.”

And with Cynthia’s next words, I was surprised.

“He said the spy was secretly following Miss Wit on Marquis Berto’s orders. The lord came to me to understand the full details of the situation.”

After hearing Adriel’s story, Cynthia decided after much consideration to include Adriel in our plan instead of Daniel.

“Lord Adriel is as trustworthy as the Captain of the Holy Knights.”

Cynthia looked at me, her expression suggesting I already knew the answer well.

Well, that’s true, right?

Adriel isn’t the type to carelessly disclose secrets.

“Besides, thanks to the lord catching the spy, we now have an opportunity to plant a double agent on our side.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I nodded, signaling that there was no need to convince me further.

Cynthia smiled kindly and came closer to whisper to me.

“Even though it’s Lord Adriel, I couldn’t tell him about the true identity of the sacred relic, so please be careful about that.”

She didn’t tell him about the true identity of the sacred relic? But…

I glanced at Adriel.

On the day Taro first came to find me, Adriel was also present.

That meant Adriel also knew Taro’s identity and that his contractor was Lucian.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Adriel could immediately deduce that the sacred relic was Taro.

But someone as perceptive as him would figure it out eventually, wouldn’t he?

Well, he might already know.

As I was pondering this, I suddenly became curious.

But why didn’t Adriel report the fact that Lucian had contracted with a demon?

Wit and I couldn’t do that because of the magical contract, but what about Lucian and Taro?

Considering Adriel’s hatred for demons, it wouldn’t have been strange for him to go straight to Lucian and kill Taro.

But why didn’t he?

Just as I was struggling to understand this—

I felt an intense gaze that made my face tingle.

When I turned my head, I immediately met Adriel’s eyes.

“Do you have something to say to me, Sir Knight?”

“……”

I looked at Cynthia with eyes that asked, do you know why he’s acting like this?

Cynthia covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.

“It seems the lord has a lot to say to Miss Wit.”

What on earth…

“Then shall we continue the rest of our conversation after dinner?”

Thanks to Cynthia leaving the reception room with those words, I was awkwardly left alone with Adriel.

“Were you injured?”

“Pardon?”

Just as I was about to say goodbye, Adriel spoke to me.

For some reason, he looked displeased, and after a moment of silence, he asked me.

“What did that Lucian Berto do to you while I was away?”

Ah, so that’s what he was asking about.

I suppose Adriel wouldn’t know what had happened to me during that time.

“Ah, well… There were a few dangerous moments.”

Adriel’s expression contorted briefly, making me pause, but I continued.

“But I was fine. Wit helped me each time.”

As I shrugged and spoke nonchalantly, Adriel’s expression finally relaxed, visible relief washing over his features.

Then, as if lost in thought, his long eyelashes slowly lowered, and he muttered quietly.

“That demon, you mean.”

“Hey, watch what you say…”

Is this person determined to get me killed?