TMD - Chapter 77 < The Saintess's Strategy (5) >

Not long after hearing the report that information about the Holy Water had been leaked to the paladin, the two demons returned to my side.

They were none other than Decarabia and Pocalor.

I knew that they were going to leak information to the paladin, but I didn't know that Decarabia, who had difficulty moving under the sunlight, and Pocalor, who had limited movement as a clone, would go.

I looked back and forth between Pocalor, who seemed to be doing okay, and Decarabia, whose complexion was particularly bad.

"Are you okay during the day?"

I had thought that it would be difficult to be exposed to sunlight.

Of course, there were curtains drawn around the area, but Decarabia, who was still avoiding the window, looked somewhat uncomfortable.

"This doesn't hurt that much."

I hesitated at those words.

"Does it hurt?"

Doesn't saying it doesn't hurt that much mean it does hurt?

This time, it was Dekarabia who hesitated.

"...If you get direct sunlight."

As I approached her, speaking casually, I saw her face turn pale.

I  glanced at Belled with concern, and Belled was looking at me.

“It’ll be okay. She’s not that weak of a demon.”

Only then did I feel a little relieved.

However, seeing her expressionless face reveal something, I vowed to myself that I would never let her go out into the sunlight.

“The paladin will probably be exploring the underground soon.”

If her words were true, then the plan would go well.

It didn’t matter if the paladin didn’t totally get the holy water.

Even if they were caught in the middle and questioned by Orobas, it would only be a mud fight between Orobas, who was trying to hide the holy water, and the temple, who was trying to steal it.

In the meantime, Vine would soon become a ‘good family’ that did its best to deal with the monsters that would soon invade.

Of course, we had no intention of ending it there.

“The paladin will likely not report the monster’s corpse to the temple because he’s only bringing the holy water.”

It was a good opportunity for the temple to witness the decisive evidence that Orobas had been hiding the holy water and was also collecting the corpses of demons.

“Now that the holy water has been made, they will soon try to dispose of the coffin that was brought in there.”

Unlike human blood, demon blood was sticky and had a foul smell, so they would try to burn it.

And no matter how corrupted the temple was, it was not to the point where they could not recognize even the blood of the demons.

“Let the other families see the way the coffin is disposed of.”

That alone would ignite the spark of suspicion. And there, the final plan prepared by Vine would drive a wedge into the minds of the people.

Orobas and Yubar would be trapped in a trap from which neither could escape.

Everyone would call Orobas and Yubar demons.

It was then.

“Your Highness.”

A low voice was heard from outside. I remembered the voice.

“Sir Ratley?”

I clearly remembered the red-haired fire demon. He must have finished preparing the banquet with Ronove.

“I have something urgent to tell you.”

I looked back at Belled. Belled motioned silently.

He didn’t seem to know what was going on either.

When the door opened, Ratley, who quickly came in, looked even worse than Decarabia.

“What’s going on?”

He lowered his head at Belled’s question.

“The temple came looking for Lord Ronove.”

“Huh?”

My eyes widened.

“There was no contact.”

Belled, who had been silent for a moment at those words, answered in a low voice.

If you’re going to borrow a servant from the family, it would be polite to talk to the owner at least for a moment.

Did they think that Vine wouldn’t know that courtesy since we had only recently entered the social world?

I also had the same thought and tightly shut my lips.

“But the name of the person who took him was Cladda.”

“...!”

I forgot to even breathe at those words.

“The atmosphere was unusual. It was as if he were going to question him about something.”

Ratley poured out his words in an urgent voice. I looked at him and then turned to Belled.

“I should go.”

It was ominous. Cladda was one of the priests who had a great ability to sense magic.

Of course, if he was really that great, there was no way he wouldn’t have noticed that Vine was a group of demons, but it meant that he was the best among the current priests.

And if he smelled it, the temple would likely be interested in him since he was particularly sacred.

“Let’s go together.”

Belled seemed to feel the same sense of crisis as she did. However, I shook my head.

“It would seem dangerous for the Duke and Duchess of Vine to move for one servant.”

“Then I’ll go.”

Belled got up. He was met with a slightly surprised look from Decarabia and a strangely smiling look from Pocalor.

Of course, the most surprised one was me.

“Belled?”

However, Belled naturally got up and didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping his movements.

“He is dangerous. And above all.”

He took a step closer to me in his outerwear. I looked up at him as he suddenly got closer.

He gave me a light kiss on the forehead and brushed the back of my head.

“I think Beryl doesn’t like meeting him.”

His two hands touched my lips and my fingertips.

I opened my mouth slightly as I remembered what he had said one day. Did he say it was a sign that I was nervous?

I relaxed where I had been exerting my strength. Then I slowly closed and opened her eyes.

It was only after he spoke that I realized that my heart was pounding.

Of course, it was beating differently than when I saw him. Anxious and fast.

“Ah...”

But on the other hand, my heart didn’t feel as tight as I had thought.

I let out a breath. Suddenly, I felt that I was tense, but more bearable than I had thought.

Compared to the worst-case scenario I always thought of, meeting Cladda didn’t seem like much.

Even after meeting him, Belled would wait for me.

It wasn’t like I was in danger of being separated from him.

I took a deep breath and spoke to him in a clear voice.

“As the hostess, it’s right for me to go.”

Belled stopped moving at those words and looked into my eyes. As if asking if I was really anxious. As if asking if I was okay.

“Just Belled moving yourself would seem like you were moving too much for your servants. But the position of the hostess who manages the servants of the family is different.”

I reached out to Belled’s shoulder. And I led him to a chair and pressed his shoulder.

Tak.

He could not have been dragged around or pressed by my power, but he followed my hand obediently.

And he sat down and looked at me.

I smiled at him.

“And in front of the priest, would the Saintess be in danger or the devil be in danger?”

Belled answered without hesitation.

“The Saintess would be in danger.”

It was an answer that ignored all causal relationships.

I smiled faintly. It seemed that his heart was not being stubborn but rather wanting to reduce my danger even a little. A soft smile appeared on my face.

“This is the Orobas mansion. Many eyes are watching, so they won’t be able to harm me. And there’s no reason to do so at this point.”

What if I ran away from Duke Yubar like in my previous life?

I hugged Belled and whispered.

“So don’t worry, and prepare for Yubar.”

For this to go as planned, it was necessary to make it clear to the people that Yubar’s actions to save Orobas, who he thought was a demon, were noticeable.

“...I understand.”

Belled eventually nodded. Of course, he didn’t forget to rest his forehead against mine for a while.

He whispered, sharing the warmth.

“Take care.”

Even though I was meeting someone whose identity was clear in the mansion, he was worried as if I were walking in the middle of a battlefield. He shouldn’t worry me. He didn’t want me to worry.

But I smiled faintly, liking the feeling of being worried and loved.

***

Ronove was in a very difficult situation right now.

“Would you explain?”

In front of Cladda, who asked that, he was recalling what had happened just ten minutes ago.

‘I have something to tell you.’

‘Did you request a visit in advance?’

At first, he thought that this priest had come to visit the heads of the family.

Ronove, who knew about the temple audit, was not a very welcome guest, but he was not a beginner enough to show it.

However.

'Do I need to request to meet that individual as well?'

'...?'

The one that Claddah had pointed out was Ronove.

'I would like to speak to you as a priest of the temple.' 

Moreover, Cladda spoke so confidently.

Ronove felt uneasy at that. However, if he left the place in front of someone who was talking about the temple, unnecessary suspicions might spread to the family.

'...Let's leave for a moment.'

He gestured to Ratley, who was with him.

And he followed him here.

"Do you really not remember meeting me on the third floor?"

This priest was clearly showing hostility. The corners of the priest's mouth went up in a sneer.

"I remember. It's no use pretending not to know."

He pointed to the floor.

"When the morning bell rang. Didn't we meet on the third floor right after you bumped into the two maids?"

There was conviction in those words. Ronove's face hardened.

This was the appearance of someone who was questioning with clear evidence.

It was an emergency.

Previous                Next

Support Novellate!