The final dessert was a pudding with fruit.

Sirien's face lit up as she ate the pudding one spoonful at a time.

"Do you want mine too?"

"Is that really okay...?"

"I'm not really in the mood for something sweet right now."

"Then I'll take it! Thank you."

Her face brightened with a radiant smile. Seeing how happy she was made giving up my pudding worthwhile.

Meanwhile, I filled my stomach with more meat, while Sirien contentedly savored the pudding with a completely melted expression.

The Baron... was still swimming in a swamp of frustration.

"Should I recruit friendly nobles first...? Even so, how many nobles would be willing to stand against Marquis Eloran..."

Baron Isquente was treated as an outcast in noble society.

On the northern front, commoners who distinguished themselves in military service, sometimes with extraordinary achievements, were granted nobility.

Among the ancient noble families, many looked down on these newly elevated nobles.

Marquis Eloran seemed to think these new nobles threatened his position.

Well, it wasn't completely wrong.

As the commanders of the northern front grew stronger, Marquis Eloran's voice would inevitably diminish.

The previous Marquis Eloran, the old man I knew, didn't seem interested in such power struggles, but this generation appeared different.

After contemplating for a while, Baron Isquente let out a wail.

"Aaaagh! God, why do you test me like this! I can't see anything. My future is completely dark and I can't see a thing. I was wrong. I'm definitely going to die like this!"

"If you're not eating that, can I have it too?"

"That won't do, Holy Maiden. I'll eat it now."

"Tch."

Sirien clicked her tongue.

It seemed she had been eyeing the new dessert all along.

It had been a long time since I'd seen her indulge her appetite like this.

"Well, I'll need to think about this for a while. Something good might come to mind eventually. How much does Marquis Eloran know about this matter?"

"Hard to say. He probably knows for certain that information about the collusion has leaked."

"So the rest is uncertain. Sigh, it gives me chills to think he might have been caught unaware. This truly is an unexpected harvest."

"If you're grateful, then that..."

"No, I said I'm going to eat it! Instead, I've procured the book you asked for last time. You'll have to make do with that for now."

Baron Isquente firmly refused.

He was hurriedly devouring the pudding, seemingly worried that it might actually be taken away.

Though I doubt Sirien would actually snatch it from him.

The Holy Maiden herself pouted and popped a grape into her mouth.

"Those with gluttony will be punished."

"I don't want to hear that from you, Holy Maiden. Ah, Lord Razen, will you be heading straight to the training grounds?"

"If nothing else comes up. Is Lord Marlon here?"

"Yes, he was here until I left to welcome you both. Since you've finished your meal, shall we meet again shortly? Holy Maiden, please follow me."

"I'll be back soon."

I waved goodbye to Sirien and headed toward the back garden of the mansion.

* * *

[Sirien Ilensia]

After sending Razen ahead.

I followed Baron Isquente to the study.

The Baron often procured books I needed like this.

It seemed he had obtained the history book I had requested earlier than expected.

He had said it would take a few more weeks since it was difficult to find. As expected, Baron Isquente was the type of person who could squeeze out answers somehow.

While walking down the long corridor.

It felt oddly quiet, but then the chatty mouth opened again.

"Holy Maiden. I'm curious about something."

"What is it?"

"How far have you progressed with Lord Razen?"

"W-what?"

Baron Isquente looked at me as if he couldn't understand.

I was dumbfounded. Shouldn't I be the one feeling awkward right now?

"What are you suddenly talking about?"

"Well, normally you'd be mindful of others, but this time you two went to Requitas alone. Don't tell me there was no progress at all?"

"Progress? I don't know what you mean."

"Come on, Holy Maiden. Did nothing really happen? A man and woman went to Requitas alone and you just worked the whole time? Don't you want to be with Lord Razen?"

"B-be with him? Shut up!"

I quickly looked around, but fortunately, there was no one nearby.

If even one servant had overheard this conversation, they would all have to die for the sake of my honor and dignity.

How could he say such things without batting an eye?

I didn't know where to look from embarrassment.

Maybe I was wrong. I should have ignored whether this guy lived or died.

I could have even made a deal with Marquis Eloran instead!

"You. With everything that happened earlier, you have energy to worry about this?"

"Well, that's that and this is this. There's no point in agonizing over a problem that won't be solved right away. I'll think hard about it when I'm sitting at my desk in my office."

"You're so annoying."

"So, do you not need my help?"

...But Baron Isquente was my ally.

Since noticing my feelings with his keen perception, he had been subtly supporting me.

My feelings for Razen were supposed to be a complete secret. How did he figure it out?

Anyway, I desperately needed help now.

So much that I'd even borrow a cat's paw if necessary.

"Well, it's not like nothing happened."

"At last! Finally!"

"Shh! What if someone hears you?"

"Do you think I lack that much tact? There's no one around here. So, I'd like to hear what happened. Of course, you don't need to be too detailed. Haha! I'm not that shameless."

Is there anything shameless about this conversation anyway?

In any case, I was glad to have a chance to brag. I'd been itching to tell someone.

I extended my wrist toward the Baron.

I was appalled by the Baron's lack of discernment in not recognizing it yet.

"Look at this bracelet. Isn't it pretty?"

"Uh...? Yes, well. It's a beautiful bracelet. The value of accessories doesn't always lie in expensive jewels... It suits you well."

"Right? I knew you had an eye for these things. Razen bought it for me as a gift. He must have prepared it while I was choosing clothes!"

"I see..."

For some reason, Baron Isquente's energy suddenly deflated.

Whether he was deflated or not didn't matter to me.

Razen's bracelet continued to sparkle on my wrist, and I absolutely loved this sparkle.

It truly was a perfect bracelet no matter when I looked at it. Lately, looking at this bracelet had become my joy whenever I had nothing to do.

"You haven't kissed Lord Razen?"

"K-k-kiss! How shameless!"

"I guess not. I thought as much. Not surprising."

"Razen and I don't have that kind of worldly, vulgar relationship. It's much, much more..."

"So you don't want to?"

"Uh, uhhh."

I couldn't help but imagine it.

My face burned hot, and I rubbed it dry.

I couldn't speak. If I said something wrong now, I might bite my tongue and look foolish.

Even I know about relationships between men and women by now.

Living among rough mercenaries, it's impossible not to know.

I've even seen people kissing before.

Will I someday kiss Razen too?

Our lips touching, rubbing against each other as if devouring one another, with slick saliva glistening at the edges of our lips.

And then his tongue entering my mouth...

"Hiiik! Not yet!"

"Good grief! What on earth are you imagining?"

"Shut up. It's your fault for saying unnecessary things."

"Ow! Stop kicking my shin. That really hurts!"

Even after kicking the Baron's shin five times, my anger wasn't appeased.

The sight of him hopping around while clutching his leg was infuriating.

"Ugh, you broke the skin! I was trying to help you out of pure goodwill, and this is how you treat me."

"What's excessive is your mouth. If you say one more presumptuous thing, I won't let you off."

"Tsk. I understand. I think I was too hasty. I underestimated both of you."

After beating the Baron, my pounding heart finally calmed down.

Razen probably had no idea I was suffering like this and was comfortably swinging his sword somewhere.

Thinking about it made me annoyed with Razen too. I should definitely ask him to massage my shoulders today.

After clutching his leg for quite some time, the Baron finally stood up again.

When we arrived at the study, an elegant-looking book was placed on the bookshelf.

The Baron handed me the book with a sly smile.

"By the way, Holy Maiden. You don't have anything to do for a while, right? Your schedule will be empty until that informant arrives."

"I suppose so."

"I need time for various things too. I can only plan our next steps after sorting everything out."

That was certainly true.

The Baron would need to check his connections and calculate how much money could be raised from the merchant guild.

That would take considerable effort. It wasn't something that could be done in a day or two.

Meanwhile, this was my most leisurely period.

Having delivered the news to the Baron, the matter of Marquis Eloran was half out of my hands.

While I wasn't completely free of responsibilities, I did have plenty of time.

"So you want my help?"

"Of course I'll need your help, but that's for a few days later. For now, why don't you relax and enjoy the festival in my territory?"

"You're having a festival here?"

"The harvest is over, and the front is peaceful. If not now, when would we enjoy ourselves? It should start tomorrow."

The Baron moved closer to me.

Even though there was no one around, he seemed about to whisper something, suggesting he had important information to share.

"You see, at this festival..."