Chapter 10 (1/2)

The sound of sniffing came from Euteran. Ignoring the unpleasant laughter, I passed by in front of Euteran.

“Eugh!”

At that time, my wrist was held firmly. It was my left arm where I usually wore Astein’s silver thread bracelet.

“Where are you going? Go back in.”

“What are you doing?”

“Go in and change into the dress I gave you.”

“Let go of me.”

“No. Why should I?”

I shook my hand as hard as I could to shake him off. But the strength of the Euteran’s grip on my wrist became stronger. The pain came to my wrist. I might get a bruise later.

Then, Selemion’s small voice came from behind.

“You’re going to get bruises on My Lady’s wrist. Please treat My Lady gently, Young Master.”

“Who are you? A maid who rebels against the future Marquis… Is there any reason for you to stay in this house?”

I hated the sight of Euteran, who even set a blade to Selemion because of me. How could the Marquis and his son be so alike? The father-son relationship was exactly the same as before the reversion.

“Don’t think a girl who’s raising a Prospective Saint’s.”

I shouldn’t have lost my precious things like that. One such pain was enough at that time.

So I had to be strong.

“Hey, Freya. You must have forgotten, but don’t you know how important the relationship between the Saint and the successor of Marquis Futor is? Have you forgotten how well you should look to me if you want to be a Saint?”

I didn’t need to be a Saint. I really wanted to reveal to the world that I was a fake Saint right now and ran out of this house.

It wasn’t just because I couldn’t find Ellaner that I still remained here.

Because I had to watch and stop the Marquis’ plot that threatened Astein, I remained because when I left right away, he might destroy my precious things.

I was willing to endure only until I had the strength to protect what was important for me.

“So, if your father knows, he will not like it. Who would be suspected if a prospective Saint’s wrist had a bruise?”

However, what I said barely Euteran’s grip loosened, and soon he let go of my wrist. I covered my sore left wrist with my right hand. There was a red handprint on the wrist.

Thankfully, Selemion quickly noticed and asked other maids to bring the ointment. I soothed my wrist with it and glared at Euteran with all my might.

“I have a partner to go with, so if you’re done with everything, why don’t we go our separate ways?”

Euteran stared quietly at my wrist applying the ointment. I didn’t like the gaze, so I quickly applied it.

“Will the medicine work? What if it gets bloated?” asked Selemion.

“It’s all right. The medicine is enough.”

Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be bruising.

After applying the medicine, I walked past Euteran again, frowning between my eyes. Fortunately, he didn’t touch me this time.

Instead, he was chasing behind me.

“Have you changed a lot since I was away?”

I didn’t want to answer every single question. I just ignored him and tried to walk down the stairs silently.

“Besides, my father asked me so much to be your partner… is he the guy who gave you this dress? It’s vulgar of a woman who will be a Saint to meet any man.”

—You, have you slept with that knight? You’re a fake Saint so you’re fooling around with men? Dirty thing, I told you not to tarnish the name of the Futor family, did I?

The past overlapped with his words. That was why Euteran actively sought Ellaner.

I clenched my teeth at the contempt.

“Your father and your family, who made me a prospective Saint, are equally vulgar.”

The provocation I made this time seemed to have gone too far. As I saw Euteran raised his hand.

If I got slapped like this, my lips would bleed and I wouldn’t be able to go to the banquet, right?

I had been trying to protect Astein by being by his side for one day… I wanted to be his partner once. But I didn’t think that dream will come true.

I closed my eyes tightly and clenched my teeth to the point where my jaw hurt. Just in case it would hurt less.

“Stop it.”

Then, the fragrant aroma of lilac spread through my nose. The low, stable voice that sounded a calm lake reassured me.

As soon as I opened my eyes, he was there. Grab the wild arm of Euteran, with a terrifying face.

1

“Why are you here? Who gave you permission to come in?”

“It’s you… No matter how much I hate His Majesty, I don’t know if a boy who hasn’t yet inherited his title will call me like that as a blood-related descendant of the Imperial family.”

Was it because of Astein who had succeeded his family? I heard a commotion in the mansion.

No, the commotion might have already begun because of the uninvited guest. The Butler and the knights guarding the entrance arrived late and flocked under the stairs.

“Your Excellency the Grand Duke, no matter how high is your position, you can’t just enter the Marquis of Futor’s mansion like this.”

The Butler protested. But Astein ignored it and glared at Euteran.

“It’s to protect the prospective Saint.”

“What qualifications do you have?”

Astein and Euteran growled at each other, glaring as if they wanted to kill each other.

“What’s the fuss?”

Even the Marquis intervened in the mess. He ran with both eyes wide opened, as his son was held in Astein’s hand.

“Grand Duke, what is this?”

Astein released the hand that grabbed Euteran only after the Marquis came. Euteran frowned, looking alternately at me and Astein. He looked very angry and was disgusted.

“Father, my sister will not go to the banquet with me. Do you think that she has been in and out of the temple these days and lured a man?”

In the words of Euteran, anger was on the face of the Marquis. He turned an arrow of anger at me.

“Did a prospective Saint do something to be misunderstood? Did you not feel ashamed? You don’t have to go to the banquet with Euteran. Go back to your room right now!”

Then Astein came forward. He was wearing a white tailcoat and a blue cape. I recognized the meaning of it and opened my eyes wide. Don’t tell me….

“It’s ridiculous that the family made insulting remarks to the prospective Saint.”

“Grand Duke, what do you mean?!”

“Well, it’s not that the Marquis realizes it, though.”

The voice of Astein gave me strength. With a little ridicule, he pushed the parchment to both men. It was stamped with the seal of the temple.

“I don’t think you and Lady Freya will go together the banquet,” said Astein to Euteran.

There was displeasure on the face of the Marquis who had ripped off the seal. Euteran took it and read it aloud.