"Let me take that out of your mouth. You shouldn't scream, okay?"
I carefully took the still pale-faced Hestia, who had been crumpled in the closet, back to the bed with Runiel's help.
I whispered softly to her, who was still shivering, and reached out my hand.
"Hah, hah."
As soon as I removed the pillowcase that had been shoved into Hestia's mouth, she exhaled roughly for a moment before opening her mouth with a determined expression.
"I… whatever you do to me, it won't matter."
"Hey…."
"I won't move the way you want me to anymore."
Though her face still showed signs of fear, her eyes were resolute.
"You dirty dark mage."
"Haha…."
She spat out the words as if chewing them, then shut her mouth. I almost applauded her spirit like a third-rate villain.
Now, however, it was time to clear up the misunderstandings that had built up.
"I'm a white mage."
"What?"
"Look, let me show you."
First, I needed to prove that I wasn't a dark mage, so I extended my hand in front of her, who had a serious expression, and silently gathered my white magic.
"This… this white magic is a bit different from what I know."
But, as expected, Hestia's eyes seemed to find my grayish dark magic suspicious.
Even someone with the saint's talent might be unsure about this white magic. Will I be stripped of my white mage qualification too?
"Anyway, it's not dark magic, right?"
"Well, I guess so…"
Fortunately, after observing my white magic for a while, Hestia seemed to have concluded that I wasn't a dark mage.
"By the way, doesn't the voice that was hurting your head stop now?"
"How do you know that?"
"My white magic is neutralizing the curse on you. Though it's only a temporary measure."
With that, I took the opportunity to reveal the secret she had been hiding and whispered quietly to Hestia, who was now looking startled.
"I'm actually trying to save you."
"Me…?"
"I know that dark mages are targeting you, and I also know the only way for you to survive."
Her eyes widened, and they began to tremble once again at my words.
"I apologize for using somewhat rough methods due to the circumstances, but please, I have one request."
"..."
"Will you stay here for a few weeks? It will take time to find the only person who can guarantee your safety."
As I carefully untied the blanket that bound her hands and feet, I laid out all the facts before her.
"How can I believe that?"
As expected, Hestia looked at me with considerable distrust and slight fear.
"Actually, you could be the one behind that cursed voice. That's why the voice isn't in my head anymore."
"If that's true, then there's no reason for me to act like this now, is there?"
"That's something we don't know. Maybe there's a situation where you had no choice but to deceive me to persuade me."
Given that she had been used without anyone to trust, it made sense she'd react this way when someone who had abducted her without any explanation suddenly started talking calmly.
"…If what you're saying is really true, then please send me to the Holy Church."
"That would be difficult. You know well enough how stubborn they are, right?"
But even then, I couldn't comply with Hestia's earnest request.
"They'll push you into endless trials instead of protecting you. So…"
"Then, explain the situation to the Empire and request personal protection."
"That won't work either. This may sound disrespectful, but the Emperor is targeting you."
Of course, I fully understood the situation, but to Hestia, it must have seemed like I was dodging the issue.
"In the end, you want me to stay here, right? Without any evidence that I can trust you."
I understood her sharp reaction, but I had to convince her—who would eventually become the saint—somehow.
"Umm, how about you trust me just this once, based on this innocent face?"
"Innocent…?"
"It was a joke, so don't give me that serious look."
Of course, revealing that I was actually someone who had experienced this world as a game in my past life would probably make me seem like a madman, so I hesitated for a while.
"Ah, I've got it! How about this method?"
"…?"
Suddenly, a simple solution came to mind, and with a bright smile, I started explaining to Hestia, who was looking at me with anxious eyes.
"Hestia, why don't you read my soul directly?"
"Your… soul?"
"If you're the saint who received the divine oracle, you should be able to easily tell if my soul is evil, right?"
Though it felt a bit awkward to say, I could confidently claim that I had lived a decent life in both my past and present lives.
I've never harmed anyone, and I've always made it a principle to share what I have.
So, at least when the saint reads my soul, it should reassure her.
"I'm… not a saint."
However, Hestia's reaction to my words wasn't what I expected.
"Because of that damn voice, I've had to pretend to be a saint, but I'm actually just a bastard's daughter, nothing more."
"What about the divine oracle from the Holy Church?"
"They must have fabricated it. I have no divine power, not even magical talent. I'm just a puppet, useful for them to manipulate."
She said this while looking down at the engagement dress she was still wearing, and her face seemed very dark.
"My thoughts are a bit different."
But knowing from my previous life that she was the most powerful saint ever, I understood that she was an extraordinary character.
Her survival in the prologue alone determined whether the game would end happily or badly, so I knew it was pointless to say more.
"Now, extend your hand."
"Yikes."
"…I won't do anything this time, so go ahead."
So, as Hestia hesitated, I quickly grabbed her hand and whispered softly while resonating my soul.
"Now, close your eyes and focus. Try to feel the flow of my soul through my body."
"Even if you say that…"
Maybe it was because of her terrifying talent.
"…Oh, oh?"
"See? You can feel it, right?"
At first, she looked at me with a confused expression, but soon she recognized my soul and her eyes widened.
"Is this… a soul?"
"That's right. Normally, sensing a soul would take months of hard effort, but as expected of a saint?"
"Huh? But why is it so pure…?"
As she muttered in surprise, looking at my face, I instinctively sensed that she was beginning to understand, and I gave her a bright smile, about to seal the deal.
"This is proof that I'm a good-hearted white mage, full of thoughts of saving you…"
"…Wait a minute."
Before I could finish my sentence, Hestia's pupils began to shake violently.
"This is… Yikes!"
"Saint?"
Suddenly, she twisted her body in fear, her face pale, and sweat began pouring down like rain.
"Ah, ah… Ahhh…"
"It seems that was a bit too much for you. But you did well for your first time."
I watched her with concern, but as her condition worsened and she began screaming, I hurriedly cut the connection to her soul and tried to comfort her.
"Hah, hah…."
"So, how do you feel now? You can trust me, right?"
Still, Hestia's face remained pale, so I carefully asked her, watching for any signs of change.
"I… I'll do as you say."
"Ah, that's a relief…"
She soon lifted her head again and began speaking in a whispering voice, and at first, I was somewhat relieved.
"I… what should I do?"
"Uh… just stay here safely until the time comes, that's all."
I realized something was off about her reaction, and I couldn't help but show a perplexed expression.
"Anything… I'll do anything… please…"
…?
Why is this person suddenly malfunctioning?
– Bang! Bang! Bang!
At that moment, as I stood stunned by her sudden change, a frantic voice from Shasha could be heard from outside the door.
"Shasha, right now I…"
– The Imperial family has arrived!
"What?"
Given the situation, I thought I would put off whatever news Shasha had, but the moment she mentioned the 'Imperial family,' I rushed toward the door.
"Why is the Imperial family here…?"
"They… they bring a command from the Emperor!"
I slightly opened the door and greeted her, and fortunately, the news she brought was not the worst situation.
"Where is Alfred?"
"Ah, Lord Alfred went to attend the Empire's servant meeting."
"Then, where is Parsha?"
"Pa… Parsha has been bedridden since yesterday…"
However, the problem was that if I left now, there would be no one to take care of Hestia, whose condition was already worsening.
"Master, I'll take care of this place first…"
"Take care of it? How?"
Luckily, Runiel, who was nearby, spoke up.
"Shouldn't we put her back in the closet first?"
"Hah…"
Since Runiel seriously suggested locking the saint in the closet as a solution, her approach was far too lacking in subtlety, so I couldn't entrust it to her.
"Well, from the looks of it, it seems like they want to take the young master somewhere immediately…"
"..."
"What… what do we do? Young master?"
In this case, the only person I could trust in such a situation was Shasha.
"Shasha."
"Y-yes?"
"You know I trust you very much, right?"
"Wh-why are you saying that all of a sudden?"
I hesitated for a moment and, seeing Shasha looking so uneasy, spoke seriously.
"Just for a little while, please take care of the person inside until I return."
"Who… who…?"
"You don't need to know."
"Ugh."
I felt bad seeing Shasha's eyes tremble with pity after hearing my firm words, but it was something I had no choice but to do.
"Just… if it seems like anyone might find out, ask Runiel about the secret passage in the office."
However, to protect our family's fate and continue paying Shasha a high salary, I needed her help, and this was inevitable.
"Just… give her a little time…"
"I'll trust you, Shasha."
"Uh, uh?"
With that thought in mind, I gently pushed the still-frightened Shasha into the room, sighed quietly, and began fixing my attire.
– Hieeeeeek!
As Shasha's deflated scream, after realizing who was inside the room, reached my ears, I smiled wryly.
"Haha…"
When I return, I'll give her a generous reward for her help, including a vacation and salary. Just this one time, please, Shasha.
°°°°°°°°°
Meanwhile, at the Embergreen Duchy.
"So, why are you here?"
As usual, Meredia was acting as the head of the house in place of the Duke of Embergreen, who was absent. For some reason, a group of Imperial Knights arrived, almost the same number as when Whitney had visited.
"We are here to take Miss Meredia as a witness for the incident at the engagement ceremony yesterday."
"I've already cooperated with all the investigations on-site."
"New facts have come to light during the investigation, and we apologize for the inconvenience."
While Whitney's visit had been more ceremonial, it seemed there were other motives behind the knights' visit.
"However, it wasn't just an investigation. There were secret matters that cannot be revealed at this time, and His Majesty the Emperor has ordered Miss Meredia to come."
The first clue was that the ones sent to fetch her were none other than the elite First Imperial Knights, the core of the Empire's military.
"So, please cooperate."
"…We don't want to be hostile to you either."
Moreover, the second clue was the way the captain and vice-captain of the knights stood at attention, closely watching every movement of the person in front of them.
"So?"
However, unlike them, Meredia stood with a relaxed expression and smirked slightly.
"Do I have to bow my head and go just because the Emperor says so?"
Had it been anyone else but Meredia saying those words, it would have been considered treason, punishable by death.
"You know very well about the oath between the Imperial family and the Embergreen Duchy, don't you?"
"…But…"
"And as the temporary head of the Embergreen family, I have the authority to act on behalf of the Duke. Do you need further explanation?"
However, unlike the cowardly Mayer, who had knelt before the Emperor, Meredia, acting as the head of the family in the Duke's absence, had far more authority.
"If you keep being uncooperative, it will be difficult for us as well…"
"I don't think you're understanding, so let me say it one last time."
Even if Meredia had no authority as the head of the family, it was impossible to take her without her will.
"I'm extremely tired and annoyed right now."
"…"
"So if you want to see me, His Majesty should come himself."
Despite facing the First Imperial Knights without any formalities, it was clear that the ones who were truly nervous were the knights, not Meredia.
"This is bad."
"Lord Whitney just left with the Second Imperial Knights."
"Sigh… then, for now…"
The knight commander, who understood the situation all too well, sighed as his vice-captain whispered the report and was about to pull the knights back.
"Hey, you."
"Yes?"
With a dismissive expression, Meredia suddenly shot a sharp look at the vice-captain.
"Did you say… Whitney as well?"
"Yes, Lord Whitney received the Emperor's orders too."
"…That one?"
"Well, Lord Whitney is just going to have a brief interview as a witness, and then he'll be under the Emperor's command…"
The vice-captain hesitated but continued speaking while watching Meredia's eyes, sensing she was waiting for the right moment.
"To ensure proper rewards, the testimony of the noblewoman who attended the engagement ceremony with him is crucial…"
"…Then, let's go."
"What?"
Before the vice-captain could finish, Meredia immediately replied, completely nullifying the previous tension.
"Did you not hear?"
"No, it's just…"
"I said I'm personally going to the Imperial Palace."
With that, Meredia confidently moved forward, leaving the stunned knights behind.
"If my fiancé is there, then I'll go too."
"…"
"I still have business with him."
After saying that, Meredia passed through the knights and climbed into the waiting carriage. As the vice-captain, still in shock, glanced at the knight commander, he quietly asked him.
"They're saying the Imperial news is all fake, right, Commander?"
"…How would I know?"
As the vice-captain, still bewildered, stared at Meredia, who had boarded the carriage, the commander responded with disbelief in his tone.
"That Meredia, who until yesterday, no one knew was actually in a relationship with the eldest son of an unknown count."
Though all the knights were watching Meredia, she, sitting with her chin resting on the carriage, was focused on something—someone's handkerchief still tied in her hand.