“I really didn't know.
How would I know?
I was just guessing.”
Cassia was rubbing her chin and repeating what I said in a whisper.
The more Cassia thought deeply, the more my flaw would be exposed.
I wish she lived mindlessly like Leon.
“You don't seem to trust people, Saint.”
“Not people, but you, Duchess...
Anyway, you should apologize for entering my room so rudely.”
“I'm sorry about that.”
My quick apology seemed to make Cassia speechless.
“Just as I kept your trust, I hope you keep my trust in you.”
"Yes, don't worry.
This seems to be resolved, so can we move on to using the bathroom?
Saint, can I use the bathroom?"
“No way.
I was about to use it myf.”
Cassia spoke seriously.
Now, even if she looked at me coldly or frowned, I felt familiar with her.
'She's still hungry, so why doesn't she finish eating instead of taking a shower?'
“Then, I will leave.”
I quickly gave up and left her room, but I didn't forget to look at the desk drawer full of food.
Cassia felt my gaze, and her face turned red again, as if on fire.
When I returned looking shabby, Amy and Mary looked at me in amazement.
“Isn’t the saint bathing now?”
Fortunately, my room was soon set up, and I was finally able to soak my exhausted body in hot water.
I remembered Cassia's confused face and laughed softly.
'She has a kind of gentle side… Has Leon fallen for this side?'
Everything related to Cassia always ended with Leon.
I imagined Leon smiling happily when he saw Cassia with bread crumbs on her mouth, and I felt upset for no reason.
"Oh, I don't know.
What do I care?
Why am I like this?"
I immersed myf in the water to wash away the disturbing thoughts, but they did not go away and continued to bother me throughout the night.
“Ma’am, that priest, Aaron, who offended you yesterday, has come to apologize.”
Yesterday, the guard knights were so angry that they wanted to cut off his head and present it to Leon, and I had hardly calmed them down.
With his unfortunate circumstances, I didn't want things to get worse.
He has to stay quiet until I leave, so why did he come to see me?
“I told him many times to leave, but he refuses and says he will not come back until he sees you.”
I sighed, got up, and left the bedroom.
The guard knights were pointing their swords at him.
Aaron was kneeling, and when he saw me, he crawled to me on his knees and dropped to the ground.
“Duchess, I have committed a sin worthy of death.”
“I heard about your circumstances from the High Priest.
But that does not excuse your behavior.
I came to Esta for a good reason and I don’t want to make a fuss.
If you sincerely apologize, I will sense your sincerity.”
I motioned to the guard knights to lower their swords.
They seemed complaining, but they obeyed because it was my command.
“Go now and help complete the sponsorship event without any problems.”
He raised his head slightly at my words.
His white face was swollen.
I remembered his circumstances as narrated by the high priest, and I felt pity for him.
I shook my head, wishing him peace.
He got up on his knees, but stumbled and stood in front of me awkwardly.
He continued to bow and thank me even after I asked him to stop.
“Thank you, Duchess.”
“Enough now and go.”
When I spoke firmly, he stopped saying thanks, bowed, and turned around with a limp.
“Ma’am, your heart is truly so broad that you are asking the Saint to go.”
'The saint is not broad-hearted.
I'm much broader than her.'
I shook my head at Mary's words.
She is so petty that she took advantage of my weakness and took my room.
Yes, weak point.
“Priest Aaron?”
At my gentle call, Aaron turned with wide, puffy eyes and approached me again.
“Duchess, what's wrong?”
“After the patronage event is over, I want to complete the temple tour that I didn’t complete yesterday.
I hope you can accompany me then.
You said you wanted to apologize, right?
I’ll give you another chance.”
I smiled gently.
Aaron nodded, his face flushed with gratitude.
"Yes, thank you, Duchess.
I won't go wrong this time."
He bowed to me and returned with lighter steps.
I felt my heart beating with the same lightness as his steps.
'I think I will be able to enter the forbidden area.'
At the pastoral event, I was like a sack of wheat set aside.
Everyone was only interested in Cassia.
The only person interested in me was the high priest, but I preferred to avoid his attention.
I sat wearily, watching Cassia look so full of kindness.
Sometimes I would imitate her expressions when she smiled.
Sometimes my eyes would meet hers, but Cassia would strictly avoid me.
The High Priest repeated to me the purpose of the pastoral event five times.
“Yes, I will definitely tell the Duke to support the event.”
Every time I answered like this, the High Priest's face lit up more than ever.
Although I repeated the same reply five times, he did not trust me, and began explaining the purpose for the sixth time.
"I'm sorry, but I'm feeling a little dizzy.
I want to get some air.
Can you call the priest Aaron?
I have an unfinished conversation with him."
The High Priest tried for a moment to comprehend my intentions, but immediately summoned Aaron when he saw my gentle smile, imitating Cassia.
The high priest whispered something in Aaron's ear.
He must have threatened him not to repeat what happened.
It was clear from seeing Aaron shiver and nod.
As Aaron and I exited the event hall, Amy, Mary, and the guard knights approached me with a frown.
“I felt a little dizzy so I went out.”
All eyes were on Aaron, as if to say: Why did you bring this person?
They had threatened to cut off his head, so I understood their cold looks.
“Priest Arun promised to guide me at the temple yesterday, so wait here.”
“Ma’am!
This is unbelievable!”
I understood their response, but I had something big to plan with Aaron.
'If you were there, I would be extremely annoying.'
“Aaron has sincerely apologized, so if you do not follow my orders now, I will consider it as if you disobeyed the Duke’s orders.”
I included Leon's name because I was sure they would argue.
The name Leon had a great influence, so they stopped objecting despite their complaining.
“I'll just go one round.”
Aaron and I headed to the left side of the temple, away from the central hall.
I was not able to explore this area yesterday due to the noise.
After yesterday's incident, Aaron, unlike before, was explaining what I asked very kindly.
“This is a no-go zone.”
I smiled and nodded.
“I know, I know.”
“So, from here...”
"But!
Why is this a forbidden area?
Is there something I shouldn't see?"
“Not so, but here is the prayer hall where the trainee priests gather every morning, and a corridor leading to their quarters.”
"Oh my God!
How nice.
Trainee priests!"
“They're not as young as you think, nor are they as cute.”
Aaron responded in a negative tone to my talk about niceness.
“I really want to see them!
In fact, my dream when I was little was to become an apprentice priestess!
You know how much I believe, right?”
“…Yes, but this is a restricted area.”
“Priest, what did the High Priest say?”
"What do you mean?"
“Didn't he tell you not to make me angry?
I'm a little upset right now.
Even though I forgave you with a tolerant mind after your treatment of me yesterday, you refuse such a trivial request!”
“No, it's not.”
Aaron bit his lips and closed his eyes tightly.
I couldn't give him much time to think.
Thinking is always forbidden.
“Priest, I want to return to the event hall.”