Despite his words, Seiden’s face did not show displeasure. It was an indifferent expression, as if he already knew Bellota would be startled to see him. He started the conversation before Bellota could even respond.

“As you said, we found the reknil hiding in the forest near Eviden village.”

Of course, Bellota was already aware of this fact. That’s why today’s banquet was held.

“We’ve dealt with every single one of them, so people won’t be attacked by reknil for a while.”

Bellota looked at Seiden as though he were a stranger. His tone made it seem as if he was reporting to her. Before Bellota could react to his words, Seiden was staring intently at her.

Bellota thought Seiden would first bring up what happened at the last full moon. She braced herself for that conversation but found herself at a loss for words when Seiden talked about something else.

Feeling awkward, Bellota looked at Seiden with an embarrassed face before slowly moving her lips.

“……Well done.”

That was all Bellota could say in response to the report that all reknil had been dealt with. But that was precisely the response Seiden wanted. His eyes, which had been filled with a quiet but fierce energy, finally softened. Seiden let out a satisfied sigh and then unexpectedly said something more bewildering.

“That’s good.”

Bellota’s eyes were filled with confusion, unable to predict such a response. Seiden, noticing the perplexity in her gaze, dryly added an explanation.

“A praise from the saintess.”

At that, Bellota was genuinely baffled. So, he followed her here just to hear praise for subduing the reknil? That couldn’t be right.

“Did you come out here to talk about that?”

Unable to bear the awkward atmosphere, Bellota quickly got to the point, furrowing her eyebrows, and asking for clarification. Seiden then finally asked the question he truly wanted to ask.

“……Are you alright?”

As soon as the topic Bellota had been dreading came up, a sharp pain shot through somewhere deep in her chest. She knew exactly what Seiden was asking about.

That day, Seiden had pressed her aggressively, and she had endured it all. It was true that until the unidentifiable energy manifested and its traces disappeared, her waist and entire body had been in pain. Yet, Bellota calmly met Seiden’s gaze and gave a composed reply.

“I’m fine.”

Seiden gazed intently at her firm eyes. The saintess of Runhardt, Bellota Rosebeth, always had such strong eyes, despite her fragile appearance. He didn’t like it, yet he found himself wanting to gaze into those eyes forever because what he truly loved was also those profoundly noble blue eyes.

“If it’s a curse that manifests when divine power reaches a certain level, shouldn’t someone among the priests have stopped it? Is there not a single one among them with enough sense?”

The day after that incident, Seiden immediately went to see the Pope and vented his frustration. Having already heard everything from the priests, the Pope calmly explained.

“Bellota did not wish for it. She wanted to save the empire’s citizens with more divine power and greater nobility and did not stop her training.”

Seiden knew it too. That Bellota Rosebeth would never run away or stop, even if her body burned to ashes and turned into dust.

“Besides, Bellota has already been chosen by God. Even if she tries to deny or stop it, her divine power will only increase as time goes by.”

Yes, everyone knew it. Yet Seiden’s resentment towards those who dared bring a condemned prisoner before Bellota did not diminish at all. Seiden broke several items in the Pope’s office, and the Pope stopped the cardinals from intervening, accepting all of Seiden’s anger.

Certainly, the woman before him would not have expressed such raw anger; thus, he felt he had to bear such petty consequences. But this did not alleviate the deep discomfort that coiled tightly within his heart, Seiden knew that any further anger was not his right to express.

Because Bellota’s gaze, enduring everything, remained unshaken and sacred.

“You must have heard that I’m leaving on an expedition tomorrow.”

When Seiden brought up another unexpected topic, Bellota could not follow his train of thought and slowly raised her eyebrows. She was of course aware that the Order of Holy Knights was departing on another expedition tomorrow. But why? The Order’s expeditions were too frequent to be considered anything special.

Seiden looked at Bellota’s puzzled face and spoke indifferently.

“I’ll be back before the full moon.”

At his words, Bellota’s cheeks flushed uncontrollably.

“So don’t think of anything else.”

Seiden’s voice was firm, as though he was issuing a warning. Bellota was taken aback for a moment, then coldly retorted.

“I haven’t accepted your proposal yet.”

Despite her sharp response, Seiden’s expression did not change in the slightest.

“Then accept it now. It’s going to end up that way anyway.”

Bellota’s eyebrows slightly furrowed at Seiden’s shamelessly brazen attitude.

A chill night wind blew between the two for a moment. Seiden watched her brown hair fluttering in the wind. The lovely light brown hair tickled her long neck, which was flushed red.

If only he could reach out, flip that hair back, and caress that warm skin. At that moment, when his heart fluttered slightly, Bellota spoke.

“I have a condition. If you agree to that condition, I will also accept your proposal.”

At those words, Seiden’s gaze returned to Bellota’s eyes. Bellota seemed more resolute than before, as if she had made a significant decision. Seiden looked into her eyes as if to say, go on and speak. Soon, Bellota opened her mouth again.

“We must not speak of this matter outside of the tower.”

Seiden looked at her impassively.

Of course. The mere thought of someone discovering Bellota’s secret was enough to make his blood boil, let alone him spreading it around. But the next words she spoke made it impossible for Seiden to maintain his expressionless face.

“Also, do not speak to me outside. Like following me out today, that should not happen.”

Seiden’s brow furrowed at her stern command.

Of course, Seiden had anticipated this. There was never a reason for a saintess and a knight to converse intimately, and thus Seiden and Bellota rarely spoke at length about anything other than their duties.

If people suddenly saw them getting along, anyone would be suspicious, and everyone knew Bellota did not want that. So he had refrained from approaching or speaking to her throughout the banquet until he finally followed her out to talk.

But hearing her explicitly tell him not to speak to her was another matter. And Bellota showed no interest in how Seiden would take her command.

Bellota continued.

“And for the next full moon,”

Bellota paused for a moment. The next words she would say were evidently embarrassing for her. Soon, she composed herself and said in a dry voice,

“I will be leading everything.”

Seiden’s eyebrows rose at her calm statement.

“You must lie down as you did when you first entered the tower and not move.”

Seiden watched Bellota instead of responding, pretending nothing was wrong, but the nape of her neck was flushed red.

That day, because he foolishly left a mark, Bellota had to wear clothes that covered her neck for days. He was well aware of that fact. That was why Bellota was proposing such terms.

At that moment, Seiden felt a strange emotion coursing through him, making his heart ache. Why did he find himself wanting to see more of that troubled face that no one else had seen? Really, what a pervert he must be. Despite being dumbfounded at himself, Seiden maintained a calm face and spoke.

“What happens if I do not comply?”

As Seiden asked slowly, Bellota’s face became even more determined.

“I will reject your proposal and return to what was originally planned.”

Seiden’s eyes hardened dangerously at those words.

“Return to what was originally planned?”

His voice, as though he was suppressing something, was icily cold.

“The original method?”

Yet, Bellota faced him squarely without blinking an eye.

“Yes, that is what I will do.”

Bellota’s ears and neck were no longer flushed red.

“I am not ashamed. It was the best choice I could make.”

Seeing Seiden clench his mouth in anger, Bellota spoke with an unwavering voice. Her blue eyes shone with an unbreakable pride. A high pride that could not be shattered by anything.

“Even if you think of me as a dirty saintess who mingles with convicts…”

“Enough.”

Unable to listen any longer, Seiden cut off Bellota’s words.

“Who would ever think of you as…”

Seiden swallowed a breath of disbelief.

“Dirty.”

His voice, asking back, was heavy with suppressed indignation. No one in this world could cast a stone at the woman before him. If there were such a person, he would be the first to end them.

“……”

Bellota watched Seiden’s face harden in anger. She couldn’t understand why seeing his angry face filled with self-loathing was comforting. But what she wanted from him was not comfort.

Bellota slowly opened her lips.

“It doesn’t matter who it is. So if you do not accept my proposal, I will also not accept yours.”

Her voice, as calm as the night wind, was firm. Seiden eventually let out a small sigh after seeing her face so determined; it was almost hateful.

After all, he could never win against this woman. Probably forever.

“Alright.”

At his neat answer, Bellota’s eyes quietly settled down. Her resolve, which she had been repeating to herself that she would end this relationship without giving Seiden another chance if he did not accept this condition, scattered powerlessly. A strange mix of anxiety and bitter relief surged within her, painfully squeezing her throat. So, it has come to this. Yes, this had to be the best.

Seiden continued to speak, staring intensely into Bellota’s eyes, which seemed somewhat lonely.

“I will follow all the conditions set by the saintess. However.”

When Seiden attached another condition at the end of his sentence, Bellota’s gaze, which had been settled, turned towards him again.