Liana squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head before the solemn temple.

Red blood, black earth, a paradise in ruins.

She felt as though, the moment she set foot in the temple, all her sins would be laid bare for the whole world to see. It was as if the temple bell would toll for Ideana, announcing her guilt to everyone. She imagined the angels carved above the entrance collapsing and burying her beneath their weight.

Just then, the supervisor and workers in charge of restoring the temple rushed out from inside.

“D-Deputy High Priestess Giselle Marlhein!”

They quickly lined up before Giselle, bowing respectfully.

“It’s dangerous over there with all the construction—please come this way!”

They were devout believers, visibly excited to have the deputy high priestess among them.

The supervisor led them to the rear of the temple. There, a small lemon tree stood in a central courtyard, surrounded on all four sides by low, modest buildings. These had once served as dormitories and offices for priests and acolytes.

“You may use this space. We’ve tidied it up, but if there’s anything you need, please let us know!”

“Thank you. May God be with you.”

The little office was simple but solid—a sturdy wooden desk and a cushioned chair, a small table and chairs for visitors or brief meetings on the carpet in front.

Liana prepared refreshments and a light blanket for Giselle.

“Thank you. You may go now.”

“I’ll see you again later!”

Before leaving, the supervisor called out in an energetic voice.

Liana moved to follow, but—

“Liana. I’d like you to stay.”

Giselle called her back.

As a maid, Liana had no choice but to obey. She stopped without protest, finding a place near the door where she wouldn’t be in the way.

Giselle turned her attention to her work, leaving Liana standing there.

The ceiling was adorned with holy iconography; the walls, painted with murals of revered saints.
Beneath her feet, scenes from scripture were inlaid in colored marble.

The spot where Liana was standing showed a devil crying out, pierced by an angel’s spear. The floor seemed to burn beneath her, and she shifted her feet slightly.

Her stomach felt unsettled, as if the bread she’d eaten that morning wasn’t sitting well. Uncomfortable, she fidgeted with her collar.

Just then, as Giselle sorted through paperwork on the temple renovations and offerings, she finally spoke.

“Was it difficult, working for the Lester family?”

Liana glanced at Giselle in surprise as the deputy high priestess suddenly broke the silence and addressed her. Giselle, however, kept her eyes on the papers in front of her, calmly moving her pen.

Liana immediately sensed her intention. Now that everyone else had left, it was clear that Giselle wanted to speak to her privately.

Liana answered in a steady, respectful tone.

“Yes, Deputy High Priestess.”

“It must be difficult, coming all the way out to a strange and distant place like this. The conditions here can’t be easy compared to other places.”

“It’s simply what we’re supposed to do.”

“You’re truly diligent and loyal. If only there were more maids like you.”

Giselle turned the page and smiled.

“I heard you once served Lord Lester directly?”

“…Yes, Deputy High Priestess.”

“So, you must know him better than I do, having served him for so long.”

At that, Giselle finally lifted her gaze from the paperwork. In the sunlight, her long lashes cast shadows over her golden eyes, which sparkled beneath her smile with an unreadable coolness.

“What do you think of him? Your master?”

It was more direct than Liana had expected.

Come to think of it, the Giselle she had met when she was younger had always been refreshingly straightforward.

“His Grace is a good man.”

Giselle’s delicate brows drew together ever so slightly, as if dissatisfied with the answer.

“I didn’t ask for a generic or evasive response. I want to hear something specific.”

She found Liana’s careful, formulaic reply lacking in sincerity. It was clear Liana understood what Giselle really wanted to know—yet she pretended not to.

As Giselle pressed further, Liana lowered her eyes and spoke again.

“He’s never withheld our wages, he never makes us feel guilty for taking time off and he never gives us too much work. To us, he’s a good master. I imagine the same could be said of the people of House Marlhein. Besides, working for the esteemed Lester family is something to be proud of.”

As Liana reeled off her answer, Giselle’s eyes grew round with surprise—then she burst out laughing.

“You really are quite amusing.”

Everything Liana said was purely from a maid’s perspective—no personal feelings or judgments. Even the way she’d said “to us” was clever, showing that her opinion wasn’t just her own, leaving nothing to criticize.

‘So she’s determined to keep her distance, is that it?’

Quick-witted and sharp—Giselle found it charming.

She set her pen down and looked at Liana with growing interest.

“Not that kind of thing. I want to hear something personal about His Grace.”

“Something personal…?”

“Things I wouldn’t easily know—things only a maid working so closely with him could tell me. For example… what do you think His Grace likes?”

The deputy high priestess asked, her eyes curving prettily as she spoke.

There was a subtle edge to the question.

Giselle was no longer hiding her feelings. She made her intentions clear, leaving no doubt as to why she’d called Liana here or why she was asking these questions.

She knew she had nothing to feel embarrassed or defensive about. Whatever secret might exist between Shed and Liana, it was they—not Giselle—who should feel exposed.

As Liana watched the relaxed, smiling lips before her, she was reminded of the bold, bright girl who’d once visited Ideana long ago.

‘She’s hoping I’ll be flustered by that question…’

But Liana didn’t so much as flinch.

“I’m sorry, Deputy High Priestess, but I haven’t worked for the Lester family for very long. I don’t know His Grace well enough to say.”

“For someone who hasn’t been here long, you certainly seem to play an important role as his personal maid.”

Giselle’s question was as direct as it could be. At this point, she was openly asking about Liana and Shed’s relationship.

Liana met her strong gaze. Giselle’s golden eyes were as beautiful as ever, but there was no jealousy in them.

Giselle Marlhein was proud and wise.

If she felt any anger, it was not as a jealous lover, but as someone frustrated with herself for being unable to hold onto Shed. What truly annoyed her was the fact that a mere maid might have succeeded where she could not, and the ugly rumors that had followed.

Liana lowered her head with steady composure in the face of this not-quite-jealousy.

“With all due respect, Deputy High Priestess, it is impossible to make a bouquet of dandelions growing in the cracks between stones.”

Giselle’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I may not know His Grace’s tastes well yet, as I’m still new to the work, but I imagine he would surely prefer a bouquet of white roses.”

White roses were the symbol of House Marlhein.

Liana Serpens had read Giselle’s heart and offered comfort in the form of a gentle metaphor.

Noticing this, one corner of Giselle’s mouth lifted in amusement.

‘A maid who speaks in metaphors like this?’

Perhaps if she had been a lady’s maid to a noblewoman. But among the other maids, she’d never met anyone like Liana. If anything, Liana was truly remarkable.

‘It’s not just her looks, then. She really is exceptional—so quick, so clever.’

And she knew her place perfectly—never arrogant, always humble, her quiet bearing only adding to her charm.

Her gestures, gaze, and tone all betrayed an air of careful education. She carried an aura completely unlike any other maid.

“You say you haven’t worked long in the Lester household, yet you carry yourself with such grace and skill. Where did you learn it?”

“When I was young, my mother served as a lady’s maid. I suppose I picked it up by watching her.”

“Is that so? Judging by your accent, you must have grown up in Marlhein territory. Do you remember which lady your mother served?”

“I was very young, so I don’t remember exactly. We moved around quite a lot after that, as well.”

“I see…”

Giselle stared intently at Liana.

There was something she’d realized after meeting countless people as a deputy high priestess: It isn’t the people who are loud or forceful that are truly frightening. The ones to be wary of are those like her—unbreakable, impossible to win over.

Giselle pressed her fingers to her temple, frowning.

‘Why do I understand Shed Lester’s feelings so well?’

She thought she could finally see why Shed had taken an interest in Liana Serpens. If it weren’t for her issues with Shed, she might have wanted to bring Liana to House Marlhein herself.

Just then, someone knocked at the office door.

“Deputy High Priestess, His Grace the Duke has arrived.”

At the words “His Grace,” Liana, who had been bowing respectfully, whipped her head toward the door.

Giselle nodded with easy composure.

“We have a guest. Would you mind opening the door for him?”

Liana pressed her lips together, barely managing to hide her surprise.

So Giselle had known all along that Shed would be visiting today.

At Giselle’s instruction, Liana carefully opened the door.

As the old door creaked open, a familiar, broad silhouette appeared.

Violet eyes, laced with confusion, met hers.

“What are you…?”

“Don’t just stand in the doorway, come in, Lord Lester.”

When Shed froze upon seeing Liana, Giselle rose from her desk and greeted him with feigned innocence.

That finally drew Shed’s gaze to Giselle.

“What exactly is going on here?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m asking why a maid of the Lester household is here, Deputy High Priestess.”

Shed’s voice came out through gritted teeth.