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~Chapter 44~
Astia headed to the terrace with Cecilia. A fair number of nobles were visible, taking a break from the hot, fervent atmosphere of the banquet hall. Damian looked too busy exchanging greetings with other nobles, so Astia came alone with Cecilia.
Astia asked Cecilia, who looked happy:
“Lady. How is the Seah Grand Temple?”
“Actually, I wanted to thank the Lady again.”
Cecilia placed her hand on her chest and slightly bowed.
“Thanks to the help I received from the Lady at the Zailt Temple, I was able to go to the Seah Grand Temple. The High Priests are treating me well.”
“I’m glad to see that. If you need anything at all, you can ask me for help.”
“No. I’m very satisfied with my current life. I love that there’s no discrimination based on status there.”
Cecilia gave a soft smile. Astia fully understood, as Cecilia desired a righteous world where no one was discriminated against or suffered. The Seah Grand Temple was the right temple for that.
“I will also work hard to become a Saintess. I don’t know if I’m worthy of such an important position… but since the gods have arranged it for me, I will do my best.”
Astia responded to her determined voice with a smile.
“You’ll do great.”
“Thank you, Lady. I’m just sad that I can’t stay by your side all the time.”
“What do you mean?”
“Now that the Lady has debuted in society, you’ll soon become the flower of the social world. That means many young gentlemen will be flocking around you…”
Cecilia trailed off, looking genuinely worried, and then made another firm resolution.
“Once I become a Saintess, I will be able to handle a lot of pure divine power… so perhaps I can create a Divine Beast to stay next to the Lady?”
“…Pardon? Isn’t that a waste of divine power…?”
“Of course not! The Lady helped me, so I want to help you even a little.”
Astia involuntarily gaped.
‘Wait, was Cecilia this kind of character?’
She knew her as a lovely character with a kind and pure soul, but the way she acted today was unexpected. Not only was her first meeting with Diego awkward, but now she was talking about creating a Divine Beast with divine power, which shouldn’t be used lightly…
Astia was confused about whether this was good or bad. Still, she was happy to gain the favor of the original female lead.
“I appreciate the thought, but shouldn’t you use the divine power given by the gods in a good way…”
“The thing I value most is the safety of the Lady. The gods will forgive me.”
Faced with Cecilia’s serious expression, which answered without hesitation, Astia took a stronger approach.
“Perhaps my brother will take care of any young gentlemen who crowd around me? He’s constantly looking my way even now.”
As Astia said, Damian was using his sensitive perception to continuously keep an eye on Astia. Cecilia nodded in understanding but looked regretful.
“That’s a shame. Still, I feel reassured. Ah, and the illegal activities at the Elling Orphanage, which the Zailt Temple sponsored, were exposed, right? The Seah Grand Temple has decided to take in the children.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
“Yes. It’s said that the investigation proceeded quickly, thanks to someone capturing High Priest Clay. The Seah Grand Temple made sure High Priest Clay was punished in the name of the gods.”
Astia flinched internally and looked away. She had gone to the Elling Orphanage herself with Haruon to uncover the corruption. Of course, since the incident was already concluded, calling Damian had helped resolve things quite easily.
“…But there’s something a little strange.”
Cecilia quickly looked around to see if anyone was watching and lowered her voice.
“High Priest Clay said he saw a certain family crest just before he was attacked by an intruder at the Elling Orphanage.”
“…Did a certain family preemptively get information and do that?”
“Yes. I don’t quite understand, but the High Priests told me that the crest belongs to the Selion Duchy.”
Thump—
Astia’s heart plummeted.
‘So that’s what happened.’
Everything made perfect sense now.
The man in the robe who passed her at the Zailt Temple. And the fact that High Priest Clay and the director, who committed fraud at the Elling Orphanage, were captured, and the ledger was found—all of it was related to Diego.
Diego Selion, the current head of the Selion Duchy, had intervened directly. He had wanted to tell Astia that he was Ruby somehow, and he subtly helped her before they met face-to-face.
Astia felt a sharp ache in her chest, causing Cecilia to ask worriedly:
“Lady?”
“Oh, no. If that’s true, I think I’d be touched. You said it was really the Selion Duchy’s crest?”
“…Yes, Lady. Although High Priest Clay committed corruption, he is a priest chosen by the gods, so he wouldn’t lie. Is something wrong?”
“No… I was just surprised.”
Cecilia tilted her head, but Astia had no intention of explaining. She had confirmed that Diego had left the banquet hall completely just now…
‘If I get the chance, I must thank him.’
Since he had helped her with the Elling Orphanage, which could have become very complicated, Astia vowed to sincerely express her gratitude to Diego.
Just then, Cecilia’s expression suddenly hardened.
“Is something wrong?”
“Just a moment, Lady.”
Cecilia turned her gaze to the garden below the terrace and stared at it continuously. As if confronting some presence. This was the first time Astia had seen Cecilia—who was always lovely and pleasantly smiling—look like this. Because of that, Astia felt uneasy, wondering if a big problem had occurred.
Finally, Cecilia, who had been staring at the bushes in the dark garden, shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
“I must have been mistaken. I felt a sense of opposition to the divine power from the garden, so I was on guard, but it’s nothing.”
“…Are you really okay? You look a little pale.”
“Ah, maybe it’s because I drank wine, I feel a little dizzy.”
When Astia supported the slightly swaying Cecilia, she smiled, as if to say she was fine. Astia knew she said that to keep her from worrying.
A bead of sweat trickled down her chin. This was because fear lingered in Cecilia’s sea-blue eyes. But Astia couldn’t ask any more questions.
“Shall we go inside now?”
“Yes, let’s.”
Cecilia calmly led Astia back into the banquet hall, keeping an eye on Diego, who was watching them from afar.
‘Did I see it wrong?’
Because of that sight, Astia was able to completely forget the unsettling moment with Cecilia.
Crackling—
A figure in a black robe was running madly, as if being chased by someone. Sweat dripped down to his chin, but the man didn’t care.
“Hah! Huk! Crazy…”
He glanced back but felt nothing. Surely, if it were a mage, he should feel the flow of magic. That only made the man more terrified, and he finally stretched his hand up.
A dark red mist began to settle thickly. The man seemed to be using all his strength, sweating heavily as he spread his arms.
“Die!”
The dark red mist billowed up and headed straight for a target. No, it tried to head straight.
Whoosh—
The golden eyes of a man who appeared behind him were vertically slit.
“Not a chance.”
He eliminated the dark red mist that was slowly creeping toward him just by waving his hand.
“T-this monster bastard!”
“Call me Half-Dragon, rather than monster.”
Immediately after saying that, Ian grabbed the man’s neck.
“Ugh!”
“Speak. Who used the forbidden ancient spell? Who is the mastermind?”
“I-I can’t say that! I’m just acting according to my mission…”
Ian intensified his grip and focused his magic into one hand. The man trembled all over and his teeth chattered from the different dimension of magical power.
“I-I am…!”
It was just as the man was about to say something.
Crash—
Ian instantly teleported a short distance due to the explosion of an alien energy. In his hand was a torn piece of the robe.
After the aftershock of the explosion subsided and the smoke cleared, Ian clucked his tongue at the scene in the alley. The man in the robe had melted away, leaving no trace, and the ground was covered in a strange, alien energy.
“Was it a contract that automatically explodes if he reveals a secret…”
Ian sighed deeply. He had tracked the magical residue left at the scene of the murder in the alley and caught the culprit, but there was no major gain. The dark red mist was something he could study since he had just captured it with magic and put it in a glass bottle.
Ian suddenly thought that he was doing a lot of research for Astia. He was currently conducting research on Astia’s illness, which wasn’t completely healed yet.
“Hmm?”
Rummaging through the burnt robe, Ian picked up a broken crystal ball on the ground.
“Was it a connected crystal ball… it might be useful…”
Although the crystal ball had lost its function, he might be able to trace it back if he restored it. Of course, they would have already moved their base since they would have heard that their subordinate died.
Ian put the crystal ball into a subspace and smiled slightly at the bright lights visible in the distance.
“It’s a shame I couldn’t go to the debutante…”
He was glad to have found even a small clue. Although he was unable to attend the debutante banquet, Ian’s steps felt lighter, thinking he could see Astia in the garden after returning from the Magic Tower.
