“…So, I am the one who extended my hand to you guys first?”

“Yes!”

Despite Cardien’s chilly expression, Veros energetically nodded unswervingly.

“Ah.”

Looking at Veros like that, Cardien suddenly let out a hollow laugh.

“It seems like the temple’s nonsense has increased.”

“But Your Grace.”

Suddenly, Veros spread his arms.

It was the gesture of a devout believer who preaches his faith without reservation.

“It was you who asked us to lend you our divine power.”

“…….”

“Reconciliation begins when one side extends their hand first. I am grateful for your generosity.”

As if speaking from the heart, Veros clasped his hands together and closed his eyes.

The sight disgusted Cardien to the point of nausea.

“Borrowed divine power? What nonsense. I’ve exhausted all means at my disposal. Divine power is just one tool, neither more nor less.”

“Faith itself often starts with a small doubt.”

“The temple has sent someone truly mad.”

There was no getting through to each other.

Even fanatics wouldn’t be this extreme.

It was all for nothing. With a sigh, Cardien stood up.

“I won’t see you off. Just leave.”

“The temple awaits you, Your Grace. Anytime…….”

Bang!

The door was slammed shut, cutting off Veros’ words.

“Butler, don’t let any more white carriages in here.”

“……Yes.”

It was the law of the Empire that a priest’s carriage must be allowed in regardless of the reason, but within the Duke of Mercedes’ estate, Cardien was the law.

Leaving the bowed Winston behind, Cardien made his way to his office.

Bam!

He stood a moment to catch his breath after violently closing the door before roughly seating himself at his desk.

He had never expected such a day since requesting priest support at the temple, least of all that they would send a madman who could get under his skin.

“Baptism ceremonies, everywhere you look, it’s chaos.”

He grumbled in a weary tone.

Sting.

Suddenly, a headache hit Cardien, and he pressed his forehead.

Receiving a ring from Livia and having her around felt refreshing, but now it felt like someone was pouring poison into his ventilated mind.

“Meeting those temple folks always ends up like this.”

At least Eden Aquilium hadn’t caused this level of discomfort, which had made him complacent. But after meeting Veros, a different dimension of headache arrived.

Cardien shook the bell cord as if he were tearing it apart.

In less than a minute, Winston visited.

“Were you calling, your Grace?”

“Bring me some relaxation tea and the pipe…”

He closed his mouth before finishing.

Soon his lips parted again.

“…..Where is the tutor now?”

* * *

I was still loitering in front of the carriage.

‘It’s definitely a temple carriage.‘

Given its quality, it seemed to belong to a high-ranking priest.

‘Why would a priest suddenly have business here?‘

Knowing Cardien’s hostility towards the temple, I couldn’t help but feel concerned.

For a moment, I contemplated visiting the reception room or Cardien’s office, but soon shook my head.

I had a pretty good guess as to why the priest had come.

‘It’s because of me.’

Cardien must have requested a priest from the temple to cure me.

And he probably came looking for Cardien using that as an excuse.

‘Then by now, Cardien must be in a terrible mood.’

If I, who am essentially the culprit, am hanging around in front of him, it will surely fan the flames of anger.

‘Does he regret calling the priest?’

Most likely, wouldn’t he?

In a way, he asked the temple for help, so he must have felt a great blow to his pride.

He would regret that much.

“……I know it can’t be helped, but it’s rather bitter.”

Thinking that Cardien might be regretting calling the priest to save me, I can’t help but feel a bitter taste in my mouth, despite understanding that it’s natural.

‘I’m sorry, Cardien.’

If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have had to ask for help from a priest.

Just as I was thinking this and was about to turn away.

“Who are you?”

I turned to see a man coming down the stairs.

I immediately recognized him.

‘A priest…!‘

His white, ankle-length robe seemed to match his carriage.

He had light brown hair and narrow eyes.

He resembled a fox, a very mean-looking fox.

“Are you a resident of this mansion?”

He approached me and started talking.

With a small bow, I took one step backward.

“I apologize. I am the home tutor for the Mercedes family.”

“Ah, so you’re a tutor. It’s no inconvenience.”

The priest with the sneaky fox face was surprisingly friendly.

‘Should I ask him about the purpose of his visit?’

I hesitated for a moment but soon nodded.

He probably got kicked out by Cardien, so there was no point in keeping him longer than necessary.

“Well then…”

As I was about to quietly step back.

Clap!

“Oh, it’s you!”

Suddenly, he clapped vigorously and approached me with a delighted expression.

“Yes, uh, yes?”

What’s going on? Why is he like this?

He was getting too close, so I took another step back.

A wave of discomfort swept over me, but I managed to smile and licked my lips.

“What are you talking about…”

“It’s about the patient. I heard from the priests who were dispatched. They said it was a woman with brown hair.”

“Oh…”

“When I heard the story, it seemed like the symptoms were severe, but I’m glad to see you’re feeling better now. Are you feeling a bit better now?”

“Haha, yes…”

As I awkwardly nodded while laughing, his face brightened immediately.

“I’m really relieved. The gods must’ve taken care of you.”

“Ahaha…”

It was uncomfortable.

Despite his kindness, there was a sense of false exaggeration somewhere.

I wanted to leave now, but the priest wouldn’t let me go.

“Oh, this is also fate, and it seems to have worked out well. I’ll give this to you, too.”

As the priest said that he pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to me.

It was a white card.

The moment I received the card unexpectedly…

“Surely, I told you to leave.”

Suddenly, I heard a cold voice and turned my head sharply.

Cardien was looking down at us with merciless eyes.

“Oh, Your Grace. It’s just that I was fortunate enough to meet the tutor who received divine assistance, so…”

The priest chattered excitedly, laying his hand on my shoulder.

At that moment, Cardien, who went down in an instant, twisted the priest’s wrist.

“Ugh?!”

“I told you to leave. I said it three times. There won’t be a fourth.”

“Ah… I, I’ll go. Please let me go…”

Swish.

With a swift motion, Cardien tossed the man aside.

The priest, almost falling to the ground, staggered to his feet.

“Well then, until next time!”

Shouting so, he boarded the carriage and left the mansion.

‘Wow, until the end…’

Whether he was oblivious or pretending to be, the priest was remarkably adept at getting under Cardien’s skin until the very end.

Confirming that the carriage had left, I discreetly observed Cardien’s expression.

‘Does it seem……. like he’s angry?’

Yes, he’s very angry right now.

‘Let’s quietly disappear.’

“Well then, I’ll be going now…”

I was trying to quietly slip away like that.

“Just a moment.”

He approached me briskly and extended his hand to me.

“Hand it over.”

“…Yes?”

Who would understand if you said it like that without context, Your Grace?

“The priest gave it to you. Hand it over. It’s not like the tutor needs it anyway.”

“Oh, this…”

The moment I raised the card.

Cardien immediately reached out for it.

“Oh, wait!”

Not knowing what it was, I couldn’t let it be taken from me, so I extended my hand holding the card upward.

And then I realized my fatal mistake.

‘Oh, right.’

As my arm raised, the wide sleeve of my robe slipped down.

And there, the flower-shaped mark on my wrist was revealed.

I hastily pulled up my sleeve, but it was already too late.

Cardien’s gaze was fixed on my right wrist.

* * *

The carriage hastily departed from the mansion of Duke Mercedes, heading swiftly towards the temple.

‘That woman.’

Veros recalled the household tutor with dark brown hair.

‘What’s her relationship with the duke?’

He had requested a priest for that woman and reacted fiercely just by touching her.

Certainly, their relationship seemed unusual…

“Either way, it seems the duke treats that woman in a special way.”

I should convey what I observed to him.

A satisfied smile formed on Veros’s lips.