Chapter 07
One major issue had been resolved, but Cassius still wasn’t in a good mood.
‘This is annoying.’
The priests who were eager to pin everything on Sonia and the Grand Duke, also made him uncomfortable. He just wanted to banish him from the Holy Kingdom and make sure he never returned.
Cassius spoke up.
“I will go to the Grand Duke myself. Let’s pause the meeting for a moment.”
The mid-level priest who had welcomed the Grand Duke along with Sonia was startled and jumped up.
“There’s no need for Your Holiness to go. The Grand Duke returned his weapons thanks to Sister Sonia’s mediation.”
The priests who had doubted Sonia’s abilities were shocked and asked again.
“Is that true?”
“Yes, he returned his weapons willingly.”
“Last time, didn’t he refuse to return them and get angry? I can hardly believe it!”
The mid-level priest spoke proudly, as though it was his own accomplishment.
“Plus, Sister Sonia has the power of healing! She used her divine healing power to relieve the Grand Duke’s fatigue.”
The meeting room became lively at that.
Healing magic, something not seen in years, was certainly a surprise.
The mid-level priest continued.
“The Grand Duke was so moved by Sister Sonia’s words that he even smiled. I’m sure the meeting will proceed in a positive atmosphere until the end.”
In other words, they were telling Cassius not to worry about the Grand Duke and to continue the meeting.
But Cassius ignored the priest’s words. In fact, he was even more irritated by them.
His fists clenched, and he spoke bitterly.
“Gather the holy knights immediately. This man is acting disrespectfully toward the Holy Kingdom. To even visit on a day of the Grand Assembly is practically an act of hostility.”
It was the first time since the founding of the Holy Kingdom that the Grand Assembly had been interrupted.
The garden of the main temple was filled with blooming white flowers, their fragrance so strong that it would surely block any pheromones I might emit.
‘I like it.’
It would be so beautiful if the person I was visiting with wasn’t scary, I could easily stand there for a long time just enjoying the view.
In the center of the flowerbed, there was a long bench and a table where tea could be served.
Schwartz sat half-lying on the bench, and I served the tea and snacks that the priests had prepared.
“I’ve prepared lavender tea.”
I poured the tea into the cups, the bitter scent of the tea leaves blending with the strong lavender fragrance.
The priests, following my request, had brought out the strong lavender tea.
This should be enough to hide an Omega’s pheromones.
The Grand Duke’s hand froze in midair as he held the teacup.
“Do you need something else?”
“Drink it.”
Right away?
It was against noble etiquette to drink a guest’s tea.
Confused, I held the teacup and stood still, only for him to speak again.
“You said you would protect me, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You should check if there’s poison in it.”
“I didn’t put any poison in it.”
“How can I trust that?”
It was absurd. I knew he had trust issues, but to this extent?
Our eyes met, and Schwartz, with his long black hair elegantly cascading down, sat crookedly and stared at me.
His beast-like golden eyes flashed.
If I didn’t do as he asked, he’d probably become hostile again. I didn’t like dealing with someone scary.
I shut my eyes tightly and took a sip of the tea.
‘I don’t even like lavender tea that much.’
The strong lavender scent mixed with the bitter taste, and I couldn’t help but wince.
I swallowed the tea, feeling it move down my throat.
“See? I’m fine.”
“Drink more.”
I felt irritated, and my lips trembled.
‘Ugh, fine. I’ll do it.’
What could a powerless trainee priest do?
The title of Count’s daughter meant nothing in front of the Grand Duke.
I pressed my lips to the teacup again. His gaze seemed especially intense.
His piercing stare made my actions slower, and I took my lips off the teacup, waiting for the steam to die down before sipping again.
His eyes, which had been fixed on my lips, shifted to my throat.
‘Why is he staring like that?’
His unrelenting gaze was focused on my neck, the most vulnerable part. Maybe he still hadn’t given up on breaking it.
After swallowing the tea, he continued to watch my throat move and then spoke.
“When you’re done, sit down.”
There was only one long bench in the garden.
He wasn’t asking me to sit at the table, he was suggesting I sit beside him.
“How could I sit beside you, Your Grace? I’m fine, so please, make yourself comfortable.”
“Sit down. We need to make sure the poison doesn’t spread.”
Schwartz’s voice dropped a little.
Not wanting to further upset him, I sat a bit farther away from him.
He moved and grabbed a cookie.
‘He said the tea might have poison, but the cookies are okay?’
As I thought about this, he snatched the teacup from my hand and handed me a cookie loaded with nuts instead.
“We should check the cookies too.”
It was unbelievable.
His behavior was so absurd that I hesitated for a moment, but after using divine power earlier, I was a bit hungry.
The tempting, nutty scent of the cookie made me take a bite. It was so delicious that my eyes widened.
I finished the cookie Schwartz gave me, leaving nothing behind.
“You eat well. How is it?”
Due to the divine power I had used, I was still hungry. One cookie wasn’t nearly enough.
I glanced at the basket full of cookies.
“…One cookie doesn’t tell me if there’s poison. I think I need to eat more to find out.”
“Eat it.”
With his permission, I grabbed another cookie and took a bite.
As soon as I bit into it, a rich butter flavor filled my mouth.
Since I couldn’t usually enjoy such high-end cookies, I decided to eat as many as I wanted.
How long had it been since I had a proper snack?
Priests’ snacks were often made without sugar or chocolate because they were considered luxuries.
The cookies they baked with grains were good for the body but dry and tasteless.
‘This is what guest cookies should be like!’
The roasted walnuts and almonds that occasionally crunched were delicious.
I was so relaxed that I almost forgot I was beside Schwartz, and my guard was lowering.
“Your lips are small. It’s cute when you chew.”
“…What?”
Before I could react, he was suddenly right next to me. Startled, I dropped the cookie.
He picked it up and handed the half-eaten cookie back to me. I froze, stiff as a board.
He looked down at me with a lazy expression, then raised his hand and gently rubbed my cheek. There was a cookie crumb stuck to the tip of his finger.
He licked it off.
“Does the temple make its priests starve?”
It only then occurred to me that I had been so absorbed in the cookie, and a wave of embarrassment rushed through me. I quickly set the cookie down.
My ears burned with heat.
I was probably red in the face.
“No…”
He stared at me and then let out a small chuckle. He picked up the teacup I had been drinking from and pressed it to his lips, drinking from the part I had touched.
After taking a sip of the lavender tea, he stared at the teacup in confusion.
“Strange.”
With those words, Schwartz finished the cold tea in one go.
Standing up, he adjusted his coat.
“I’ll leave now.”
“You’re leaving already? Didn’t you come to the temple for something?”
“It was the Emperor who insisted I visit. There’s nothing particular I need to do.”
The imperial family didn’t want things to sour with the Holy Kingdom.
Schwartz had caused a scene once, so they probably sent him to smooth things over with the temple.
Although it seemed like the opposite had happened.
“Besides, if I keep arguing with the holy knights, the Emperor would really be upset.”
He mumbled as he looked at the main building of the temple.
“I’ll make sure to bring cookies next time.”
He was coming again?
Honestly, I’d rather he didn’t.
Although I couldn’t argue, since I had just eaten cookies right in front of him.
“I’ll come again.”
With those words, Schwartz disappeared toward the main building of the temple.
Once I confirmed he was gone, I felt like my body was melting from relief.
‘I… I survived.’
At least I avoided the fate of being dragged to Schwartz’s assassination squad headquarters, like Lancelot.
I was still concerned about his comment about coming back, but for now, it seemed I had made it through.
It was then that the atmosphere around the Grand Assembly hall grew chaotic, and holy knights rushed in.
‘I hope they’re not slacking off!’
I quickly jumped up from my seat.
What on earth was going on with all the holy knights arriving?
As I looked closer, the person leading them was Cassius.
He approached quickly with disciplined steps.
I quickly bowed.
“I greet His Holiness, Cassius, the master of the Holy Kingdom.”
Cassius, who had come close, spoke in a voice full of concern.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Though it was just a story from a book, I was now facing the man who had killed me.
I was intimidated by his murderous aura.
Despite the rapid beating of my heart, there was nothing to worry about. Everything was fine, despite his concern.
“I’m fine. Nothing happened.”
“That man… Did the Grand Duke do anything inappropriate?”
“Yes. He just drank tea and left.”
“You were with him until just now.”
For a moment, I felt a sting on my skin and caught the familiar scent of fresh water, just like the first time I met Cassius.
Was he using divine power?
The pressure from Cassius’s power made it harder for me to breathe.
