Before the butler’s somewhat trembling voice could finish, Seiden’s legs moved first. He quickly moved with clearly different, angry steps from before toward the reception room. As gentle laughter could be heard from outside the reception room, the back of Seiden’s neck tightened even more. He forgot even the courtesy of having to knock and flung open the reception room door.

At that moment, the quiet conversational sounds abruptly stopped.

Seiden checked the people in the room with cold eyes. The ones having a friendly conversation were Bellota and that detestable blonde man. The two who had been sitting face to face turned to look at him.

“Seiden.”

After getting momentarily flustered by her husband’s sudden appearance, a welcoming smile soon appeared on Bellota’s face. Bellota stood up and approached Seiden.

“You’re back?”

At Bellota’s gentle question, the anxiety that had risen up to Seiden’s chest subsided just a little.

Seiden nodded and deliberately wrapped his arm around Bellota’s waist, kissing her white cheek very slowly. Then, maintaining that position, he looked up at the prince standing awkwardly.

However, when the blonde prince’s eyes met Seiden’s, he smiled brightly without showing any sign of embarrassment or awkwardness while watching the couple’s affectionate greeting. That brazen attitude made Seiden’s mood even more unpleasant.

“Seiden, stop……”

Flustered by his overly lingering greeting, Bellota finally came to her senses and stopped him in a whispered voice. Though Seiden didn’t want to let go of her face at all, he had no choice as Bellota removed his hand from her waist as if scolding his impulsiveness.

“His Highness Prince Derent came personally to deliver His Majesty the Emperor’s gift.”

When Bellota kindly explained the reason for the prince’s visit, he opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.

“His Majesty the Emperor is greatly satisfied with the successful completion of this source’s subjugation. He said he would never forget that it was all thanks to Sir and the Saintess. He also conveyed that the imperial citizens are at peace because of you both, and as Emperor of the Empire, he expresses his sincere respect to you two excellent people.”

The handsome blonde man conveyed the Emperor’s message with a bright smile. Though it was high praise, Seiden’s face remained so stiff it was disconcerting. However, the prince before him seemed unaffected by Seiden’s stiff expression and continued speaking with a smiling face.

“I also conveyed in detail to His Majesty what I saw and heard while at your side. About what an amazing knight you are and how you are an indispensable existence to the Rundhardt Empire. Also……”

As his gaze turned to Bellota standing beside Seiden, Seiden’s forehead creased even more.

“I conveyed the Saintess’s achievements without omission. Having the Saintess in our Rundhardt Empire must be the greatest blessing of all.”

The prince looked at Bellota with loving eyes. Unable to endure any longer, Seiden immediately blocked that gaze by stepping in front of Bellota.

“I see. I have heard His Majesty’s words well. I will gratefully accept the gift. I will visit His Majesty soon to convey my thanks personally. So if your business is finished, you may leave now.”

What came from Seiden’s lips were surprisingly stiff and rude words. The sound of Bellota’s breath catching in shock at his attitude could be heard. At the same time, an awkward silence descended upon the room. This time even the prince couldn’t hide his bewilderment and held his breath for a moment. However, a smile quickly appeared on his face.

“Yes, it seems I have taken up too much of your precious time. Then I shall return and inform His Majesty that you gratefully received the gift. Ah, no need to see me out. Well then.”

The prince, who smiled freshly as if he had never witnessed Seiden’s rudeness just now, bowed politely to the two of them before turning around.

An even more flustered Bellota tried to see the prince out, but Seiden immediately grabbed her waist and wouldn’t let go.

“Seiden……”

Though Bellota tried to stop Seiden, it was useless. With a firm expression, Seiden finally watched the detestable man’s back as he disappeared from his mansion. Every time he saw the prince’s blonde hair, an unpleasant feeling surged up inside Seiden.

Derent Lylester. An imperial knight who was the second prince born to the Empress, who had kept a low profile until now but had achieved notable accomplishments over the past two years and seized the position of commander of the Fifth Imperial Knights. And recently, an unpleasant man who had accompanied the Holy Knight Order’s subjugation and spent over a month at Seiden and Bellota’s side, monitoring their every move.

Seiden had countless reasons for finding him unpleasant, but the clearest reason was that his external features were too similar to Geril’s. That detestable blonde hair and oily smile. Besides that, this prince who was full of irritating qualities was strangely favorable towards Bellota. Almost reminiscent of Geril from back then.

“Why are you acting like this? It’s disrespectful to His Highness.”

Though Bellota scolded Seiden in embarrassment, he didn’t budge. This time he had no intention of making an insincere apology.

“He could have sent a letter announcing his visit. That would have been proper etiquette. Even if he barged in unannounced, knowing the husband was absent, he should have promised to return another time.”

When Seiden spoke in a stern voice, methodically laying out valid reasons for his rudeness, Bellota’s face turned incredulous.

“He must have thought His Majesty’s errand should be delivered as soon as possible. Besides, His Highness wasn’t having a conversation with Mrs. Bellota Blackwood, but with the Saintess who accompanied the subjugation.”

Bellota countered Seiden’s opinions point by point and looked at him with furrowed brows as if telling him to quickly admit his mistake. However, there wasn’t the slightest change in Seiden’s gaze.

No matter how much Bellota defended him, Seiden had no intention of changing his mind. Seiden felt the same unpleasantness from Prince Derent that he had felt from Geril.

“Let me be clear. I don’t like that bastard being with my wife.”

It was an utterly honest and blatant statement. At those words, Bellota lost her words and let out an overwhelming sigh. After a moment, having barely gathered her thoughts, Bellota rationally asked Seiden.

“Why?”

Seiden didn’t give a clear answer to that question. However, all the answers were written in his gaze as he stared intently at Bellota. Seiden recognized Prince Derent as a man.

That was an obvious fact. Every time Seiden saw Prince Derent who would make insipid jokes to Bellota while following the subjugation, or try to guard her as if he had some duty to protect Bellota, he felt deep unpleasantness.

Seiden became angry just seeing the guy who would approach Bellota whenever there was even a small gap and shower her with praise. Above all, it drove him crazy that he could no longer act violently towards men who approached Bellota like when they were traveling.

“This is ridiculous.”

Realizing the true nature of Seiden’s anxiety, Bellota whispered in an exasperated voice. Seiden slowly raised his eyebrows in response. His look questioned what was ridiculous.

Bellota shook her head with a laugh that sounded like a helpless sigh.

“His Highness couldn’t possibly harbor such feelings. I can sense that much. Besides, I’m married.”

Bellota nodded firmly as if that fact was some solid and massive shield. But Seiden didn’t agree with Bellota’s words.

Not at all. Though Rosebeth Bellota had become Bellota Blackwood and a married woman with a husband, her beauty hadn’t faded in the slightest. No, rather, Bellota grew more dazzlingly radiant with each passing day. And Seiden knew well that men didn’t care whether a woman as beautiful as Bellota was married or a priestess.

Especially with someone born of the same blood as that worthless Geril, he couldn’t let his guard down for even a moment. Even without that prince adding to it, Seiden was anxious every moment. Because Bellota was a woman who was benevolent and kind to everyone. Because that love and kindness were distributed equally even to men.

Bellota didn’t know. That even when she smiled kindly at Philip who still blushed and stammered when facing her, Seiden’s throat tightened with jealousy.

Of course, even Seiden didn’t act overly cautious and make a fuss about every man. He simply noticed those who held something special towards Bellota in his eyes, and that unpleasant prince was one such person.

“This is really ridiculous. You’re misunderstanding. There’s nothing good that can come from antagonizing Prince Derent. You know that.”

Bellota, who couldn’t know such facts, tried to persuade Seiden, but failed. When his resolute gaze didn’t change, this time Bellota’s brows furrowed.

“If you trust me, you shouldn’t have such anxiety.”

At those words, Seiden’s unmoved eyebrows rose.

“This has nothing to do with that. It’s a separate matter.”

“No, it’s not. A married couple should be connected by firm trust. If you trust me, such misunderstandings couldn’t arise.”

When Bellota, who had finally gained the upper hand, looked at Seiden with a stubborn face and firmly insisted, an incredulous sigh flowed from between Seiden’s lips.

It was a ridiculous claim. To say he was anxious because he didn’t trust Bellota. Though Seiden trusted Bellota more than anyone else in the world, he didn’t trust the men around her who looked at her with admiration at every moment.