When word spreads that Bellota is coming, all the nobles will gather at the banquet to see the saintess. Every breath she takes there will undoubtedly become their prey.

And the biggest problem was that the full moon was approaching soon. The imperial banquet was scheduled for three days before the full moon. Which meant that immediately after the banquet, in just three days, they would have to explain these horrible rumors. However, those rumors……

Those terrible rumors were unfortunately true. Bellota was actually cursed and couldn’t avoid it. How could they possibly explain that?

“We can’t avoid it forever.”

Bellota gave Felton a faint smile as if everything was fine, but Felton couldn’t smile along with the saintess.

“I’ll be fine, High Priest Felton. So please send my acceptance to attend.”

When Bellota politely requested, Felton could no longer stop the saintess. Bellota was right. Even if she avoided this banquet, Geril would try something else. The more they avoided it, the more the rumors would snowball. After racking his brains without finding any way to break through this situation, Felton finally nodded and Bellota smiled gratefully.

“Thank you.”

Felton left the tower to inform the imperial palace of the saintess’s intention to attend the banquet. Only then did the smile lingering on Bellota’s lips fade dimly. Slowly lowering her head, Bellota caught her trembling fingertips that shook against her will and swallowed a shaky sigh.

The room, now empty of all rumors, was so frighteningly quiet it felt like she might suffocate in it. Bellota tightly closed her eyes, trying hard to shake off everything that was slowly constricting her.

* * *

The atmosphere within the Holy Knight Order over the past few days was truly at its worst. Unlike when Geril proposed to Bellota and she rejected it, shaking the temple’s foundations, an unsettling and gloomy atmosphere spread as if it would devour the entire order.

This time, the entire Grand Temple was in danger of being condemned by the angry imperial citizens. Moreover, this time not only the saintess but also the Holy Knight Commander and the knights had become the subjects of ridiculous and absurd rumors, so it was natural.

“I absolutely cannot forgive this. If I find whoever spread such, such shameless rumors, I will definitely……”

Philip couldn’t hide his indignant and wronged feelings as he jumped up and down. Sometimes he would grind his teeth and shed tears when he couldn’t contain his anger. However, this time, none of the holy knights mocked or scolded Philip. He wasn’t the only one trembling with shame and anger at suddenly becoming participants in an orgy with the saintess.

“This has gone too far. To dare spread such filthy and heinous rumors about the Saintess……”

“We must find the source of these rumors. Though it’s obvious where they came from.”

Ren ground his teeth in frustration. If no one else, the holy knights had a good idea who had spread such malicious rumors.

“Everyone stay quiet until orders come down. There’s nothing we can do right now. This will be handled by those above.”

Kabillon, the only one who hadn’t lost his composure, took on the role of calming the angry knights. Though he too was angry about these rumors, he had things weighing on his mind that kept him from simply dismissing them as smoke without fire like the other knights.

“But Vice Commander! Do you know what kind of rumors are spreading now? Our Commander…… ha! They’re even saying our Commander became a holy knight because of the Saintess! Because he was in love with her!”

An enraged Luke loudly spread the fresh rumor that had been consuming the capital for the past two days. Right at that moment, the training room door burst open and Seiden appeared.

Hic, the knights all froze at the sight of Seiden. Even Kabillon was caught off guard by the sudden situation and could only gape. However, for some reason, Seiden’s face remained as indifferent as ever.

They wondered if he hadn’t heard what was just said, but that was impossible. Luke had been practically screaming.

“……”

Seiden walked steadily through the artificially quiet silence, picked up a handful of longswords from the corner as he always did, then turned and left the training room. Though he could feel the knights collapsing behind him with cold sweat as their legs gave out, he didn’t look back.

Of course, Seiden had heard exactly what came out of Luke’s mouth earlier. That he had become a holy knight because of his unrequited love for Bellota. That too was clearly a rumor deliberately spread by Geril. Because Geril probably wanted to strike at him more than Bellota.

“…… What is he, a fortune teller?”

Seiden muttered quietly as if in disbelief.

Geril’s randomly thrown malice had surprisingly good accuracy. To get it right every time like this… maybe he should have become a fortune teller instead.

Nevertheless, Seiden was certain that Geril didn’t yet know everything about Bellota’s curse. He had simply made the worst assumptions to drive Bellota to the edge, which happened to coincidentally touch on the truth.

The proof was that Geril hadn’t given up on Bellota yet. Given his personality, he would never accept a woman who had slept with another man.

Just then, as Seiden was walking with his teeth clenched while thinking of Geril’s oily face, Felton suddenly appeared and blocked his path.

“The Saintess will attend the imperial banquet today.”

Seiden silently stared at Felton.

He knew that fact well too. Today Bellota would attend the imperial banquet. Since he hadn’t received an invitation, only Bellota would be attending. And the one holding the banquet was Geril. So that man hadn’t given up on Bellota and had no intention of doing so.

“Don’t you have any plans?”

Though Felton urged with an anxious face, no answer came from Seiden. Seiden just stared into space as if he was holding something back, then started walking again to pass by Felton.

“Where are you going!”

When an exasperated Felton turned to demand an answer, a low reply came.

“I’m going to the training grounds, so don’t follow me.”

A frustrated breath escaped Felton’s lips.

He had well heard the rumors that recently Seiden had been going to the training room whenever he had the chance and was destroying everything in sight. However, Felton no longer had any patience left to understand him.

“The training grounds? At a time like this? How can you be so leisurely? Can’t you see what kind of situation the Saintess is in!”

At Felton’s sorrowful anger, Seiden’s heavy footsteps stopped. After a moment of silence, he turned to look at Felton.

“I promised her not to feel sorry.”

Felton’s eyebrows twisted at the sudden words. Only then did Felton notice the explosive energy lingering on Seiden’s face despite his calm voice.

“I will keep every promise I made to the Saintess. And anything that interferes with that,”

The end of Seiden’s quiet voice was frighteningly cold.

“I will surely destroy.”

Having said what he needed to say, Seiden stared at Felton steadily with still calm eyes before turning again to walk away.

This time, Felton couldn’t stop him and just stood there watching Seiden’s retreating back.

* * *

Finally, the imperial banquet began. Tonight, those attending the banquet had only one interest. Would the saintess actually appear at this banquet?

Since the temple had confirmed the saintess’s attendance, the banquet hall was packed with nobles who had rushed there after hearing the news. And at last their expectations were met. The saintess really did appear in the banquet hall.

For a moment, a suffocating silence descended over the banquet hall. Countless eyes were fixed on one spot, not moving. Receiving those hot and cold gazes, Bellota walked with dignity.

“My goodness. How shameless. She came wearing holy robes. Can you see?”

When someone muttered in disbelief, everyone’s gaze turned to the holy robes Bellota was wearing. Until now, whenever she attended imperial banquets, she had worn dresses sent by the imperial family. This time too, the imperial family had sent a dress without fail, but Bellota had refused it and chosen pure white holy robes.

“She won’t give up her position as saintess, that’s what this means.”

“Ha, it was a position that never suited such a country bumpkin from the start.”

Bellota’s stubbornness seemed to have touched some people’s nerves. Here and there, whispers filled with obvious hostility could be heard. However, Bellota just stood quietly staring into space as if she couldn’t hear any of it.

Previously, everyone would have greeted Bellota kindly, but now, not a single person approached her. Most just surrounded Bellota with eyes like they were watching a monster in a cage.

After some time passed, someone who seemed to be the bravest among them approached Bellota and spoke to her.

“Saintess.”

Bellota turned her head to look at who had called her. It was a countess whose face was familiar but with whom she had never properly conversed.

“Have you been well lately?”

When the countess spoke with a kind smile, Bellota returned an equally kind smile in response.

“Yes, I have been well.”

At that, scornful snorts erupted from here and there. Bellota tried to move away, worried the countess might catch stray sparks, but the woman held her back again.

“That’s good to hear, Saintess. But are you perhaps aware of the terrible rumors currently circulating in the empire?”