As soon as Dietrich arrived at Calliphe’s annex, someone was there to greet him.
“Oh, kiddo.”
It was none other than Noah.
Noah hadn’t forgotten about the implicit alliance he had formed with Dietrich.
An alliance to ensure Calliphe and Lynen’s relationship progressed to marriage, preventing any potential breakups along the way.
Noah wanted to be adopted by the two and become a real family, while Dietrich wanted his stocks to flourish.
So Noah sought help from his only ally in this moment of crisis.
“There’s a dangerous person here.”
“What? Is someone attacking the annex right now?”
When Dietrich prepared to flee, Noah’s eyes narrowed skeptically.
“No. The saint.”
“The saint is here? But I didn’t see any holy knights outside?”
“He came privately.”
“Gasp.”
Are Calliphe and the saint that close?
Dietrich snickered, feeling pleased. Noah saw this and tugged at his sleeve disapprovingly.
“You promised to help them get closer with the Duke.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know.”
“Tell the saint that Calliphe is closer to the Duke.”
“Haha, kids. Listen here, you little fish poop.”
When Dietrich patted Noah’s head, Noah frowned and swatted his hand away.
“Precious things naturally attract many competitors. If someone else shows interest in Calliphe, won’t the Duke try harder?”
“…Try harder?”
“Trust me. Having a rival will make the Duke put in more effort. That’s what we need to aim for. Got it?”
“How do we aim for that?”
“Well, we could suggest doing things they haven’t done before.”
Noah fell into deep thought.
Dietrich entered the reception room with Noah trailing behind him.
Inside, two men were already engaged in conversation.
‘So, that’s the saint.’
Light brown hair that turned golden in sunlight. His gentle features and fair complexion gave him a mild-mannered appearance.
‘Looks like a pushover, fitting for a saint.’
While concealing his dismissive thoughts, Dietrich greeted Saint Alensis.
“It’s an honor to meet the son of the Light God. I am Baron Dietrich Rotten.”
“Nice to meet you, Baron Rotten. I am Alensis.”
After politely accepting the handshake that Alensis offered first, Dietrich took a seat.
It was next to Lynen.
Lynen’s expressionless gaze briefly turned toward him.
While Dietrich might be slow to notice others’ goodwill, he quickly detected negative emotions directed at him.
‘Duke Ortega… really seems to dislike me?’
Why? What did I do?
“I hear you’ve been getting closer to Calliphe lately, sharing various information.”
“Oh, does it seem that way?”
Dietrich chuckled at the suggestion they were getting closer. It meant his right-hand plan was progressing smoothly.
However, Lynen’s voice grew sharper.
“Why did you crawl in here today? I heard you rejected the business proposal yesterday.”
Has the Duke’s way of speaking always been this harsh…?
“Yes, I did. But after thinking it over, I realized there’s no one who could help Calliphe more transparently! More diligently! than me?”
“Am I not enough?”
“No way, how could that be? But no one wishes for Calliphe’s success more than I do!”
When Dietrich made this bold declaration, a strange silence descended.
“Baron Rotten seems quite confident.”
Allen, who had been quietly drinking tea, set down his cup with a slight smile. His face darkened with an ominous expression.
“How irritating…”
“W-What!? Saint, what did you just…?”
As Dietrich doubted his ears, Lynen spoke.
“Don’t be so arrogant, Baron Rotten. Information is all you can provide to Calliphe. Everything else is my domain.”
“What? Well, of course…”
As Dietrich floundered, Allen spoke again. But this time his words targeted Lynen.
“Is that really true about holy power too, Duke? The High Temple and I will provide Lady Calliphe with everything related to holy power. If needed, we’ll provide funding as well.”
“House Ortega’s financial power is quite sufficient.”
“It’s the High Temple’s sponsorship, not a fiancé’s money, that can create legitimacy where there was none. You know that, right?”
Sparks flew between their clashing gazes.
Dietrich, initially caught in the middle before being suddenly pushed aside, stood dumbfounded.
‘Why are they both acting crazy?’
Anyway, I don’t want to get involved in this testosterone-fueled tension!
Dietrich decided to make a quick exit.
“Don’t mind me. I don’t find Calliphe Offensa attractive at all anyway.”
“You dare to cross the line.”
“Are you perhaps unwell?”
Immediately, sharp hostility shot like blades from both men.
Lynen’s gray-blue eyes glinted with an otherworldly aura, and the saint’s reddish-brown eyes emitted a strange light, almost corrupted in appearance.
‘Oh, what do you want from me!’
Feeling wronged, Dietrich turned his accusations toward the saint.
“Huh? Saint, are you confessing that you find Calliphe attractive? Is it okay for a saint to feel that way about someone who’s engaged?”
“Oh my. I haven’t told you yet. About my special ability.”
“Special ability?”
“The Eye of Truth.”
Allen looked at Lynen with a meaningful smile.
“The ability to see through the truth that someone is hiding, just once.”
“…!”
“An ability I regained after meeting Lady Calliphe.”
Lynen’s brows drew together.
If Allen had used his ability on Calliphe, it meant he already knew that Calliphe and Lynen’s engagement was fake.
To Dietrich, who remained confused from not knowing this fact, Allen spoke again gently.
“I mean I’m attracted to Lady Calliphe’s truthful soul. Rest assured.”
“Uh… yeah.”
Talk of seeing the beauty of souls left him speechless. Dietrich rubbed the back of his neck. Though suspicious, he didn’t want to push too hard.
But Noah was different.
[Filial Piety Quest Arrived!]
[Filial Piety Quest Arrived!]
[Filial Piety Quest Arrived!]
“Gasp, what’s this? I thought it was a disaster alert.”
A chaotic quest window appeared in front of Calliphe, who was just heading to the reception room.
* * *
[Filial Piety Quest Arrived!]
[Create a foundation for Noah to execute his plan by any means necessary.]
[Multiple quests with the same content have been consolidated into one.]
[Reward: Filial Piety 10]
[When Filial Piety reaches 30, one of Noah’s abilities will increase slightly.]
[Current Filial Piety: 23]
It seems our Noah wants to do something by any means necessary.
‘But it wouldn’t be good for his education if I show him me actually using any means necessary…’
What should I do?
“Lisa. What’s a way to appear proper and righteous on the surface while secretly using all sorts of underhanded methods to favor one person?”
“It’s Lina…”
Answering with a slightly resigned voice, Lina thought for a moment before responding.
“How about a game, my lady?”
“A game?”
“You’re trying to scheme for Noah’s sake, right? If we do a physical game, wouldn’t Noah enjoy it too? Something children like to play.”
“Oh.”
An idea immediately sparked in my head.
Come to think of it, Noah isn’t alone anymore. He’s made some friends.
“This could be a good chance to give him time to play with his friends. Plus, it’s perfect for showing what it means to use any means necessary.”
After all, the person who sets up the game can manipulate it however they want.
Giving time to strengthen friendships while also achieving my goals. I’m a genius!
I immediately flung open the reception room door.
And declared to the three men who were somehow avoiding each other’s gazes in an awkward atmosphere.
“We’re going to have a treasure hunt!”
Translator
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midori
thanks! LOL it’s hilarious, with the tension in the room! and dietrich…you wanted to marry calliphe before, i don’t believe you don’t find her attractive at all!