Chapter 73: I came because I was genuinely worried.

Inside the swaying carriage, I blankly gazed out the window, basking in the drowsy sunlight streaming down.

The unnecessarily bright sunlight somehow reminded me of Lillian’s eyes.

‘But things are a bit different now.’

The rumor I secretly spread quickly circulated, and from that point on, Lillian’s social life was anything but smooth.

Wherever she attended a gathering, ridicule and scorn followed.

People surrounded her all day with degrading comments like, ‘She’s unfit to be a saint,’ or ‘A commoner is just a commoner.’

Since most of the nobles were disgusted by Lillian, an orphan from a warring enemy nation, the harassment grew even worse.

Of course, she wasn’t entirely without supporters.

However, they were mostly conservative nobles loyal to the royal family. The problem was that they held little interest in social affairs.

They were the stodgy types who preferred dedicating themselves to the empire’s safety over wasting time in society.

Thanks to this, I hadn’t seen Lillian smile brightly at a single recent banquet.

No matter how positive she might be, it would be impossible for her to smile brightly in a situation where everyone at the gathering ignored her.

Honestly, I did feel a bit guilty.

After all, I was the one who made it that way.

But every time that guilt welled up, I would think to myself:

Even if I do these things, Lillian will eventually awaken as a saint. After that, she’ll be welcomed wherever she goes.

Every time I had that thought, the guilt that stabbed at me would be covered by jealousy.

Even if it was despicable and ugly, I comforted myself this way, brushing away all the guilt I felt toward Lillian.

‘Once she’s worn down by people’s slander and lies, Lillian will likely lose interest in the social scene.’

If it could just turn out that way, I wouldn’t have to worry about her anymore.

But things didn’t go as easily as I’d hoped.

Though many nobles despised Lillian, she always had someone standing firmly by her side.

Arien Caltry.

True to her title as ‘Lillian’s Bodyguard’ in the game, Arien was always by Lillian’s side, enduring the nobles’ contempt and oppression with her.

The main reason Lillian continued to attend gatherings, even though she knew she’d be criticized each time, was probably because of Arien’s presence.

A thorn in my side.

Given her family’s blind devotion to swordsmanship, she should have stayed in the training hall swinging her sword, instead of constantly attending banquets and ruining my plans.

‘Well, that’s all up until today.’

The rocking carriage came to a stop, and the coachman soon opened the carriage door for me.

I slowly stepped out, stretching my stiffened body.

The mansion that stood before me looked quite grand.

It wasn’t as impressive as the Mardian or Viviana estates, but it was respectable enough for the family’s reputation.

I approached the mansion’s main entrance at a leisurely pace, where a woman awaited me.

A woman with blue hair and a slender yet well-balanced figure. Her slightly lowered brows gave her a sharp impression, but I knew that she was surprisingly gentle at heart.

An NPC with one of the highest appearances when playing the game as Lillian.

Arien Caltry.

“Hello, Lady Caltry.”

“…Welcome, Lady Bland.”

Fatigue lay thickly on Arien’s face.

The shadows under her eyes betrayed her worn-out state.

Watching her, I allowed a faint smile to cross my lips.

***

“Please, have some.”

“Oh, thank you.”

In the quiet guest room of the Caltry Marquisate, Arien carefully handed me a steaming cup of tea.

I received the teacup with both hands and took a small sip. The subtle aroma of the hot tea filled my mouth, leaving a warm, lingering taste as it gently flowed down my throat.

“I was quite surprised when I received your letter about visiting us.”

“Surprised, you say?”

“It’s not like you and I share a particularly close relationship.”

Arien’s cautious tone held a touch of tension, but I simply responded with a harmless smile.

“Well, even if it’s not a special relationship, there must be more than a few people who would like to get closer to Lady Caltry. You have no idea how much my heart flutters at your ever-stalwart and strong demeanor.”

“…You don’t have to flatter me.”

“Flatter you? Perhaps you’re unaware, but countless women admire you, Lady Caltry.”

Arien’s gaze remained sharp. However, a faint tremor lay hidden within that stern look.

“May I ask the reason for your visit?”

How blunt.

It seemed she intended to get straight to the point.

I slowly opened my mouth, a faint smile on my face.

“I came because my heart feels heavy.”

“Your… heart feels heavy?”

“Yes. I happened to overhear something about Lady Caltry at the recent social gathering.”

Arien’s eyes trembled slightly.

She would already know. The rumors about her weren’t anything pleasant.

Since she stood by Lilian’s side, she’d always been the target of criticism.

“…What did they say?”

“Ah, that’s… hard to put into words…”

Feigning hesitation, I looked around, gauging Arien’s reaction. She was staring at me intently, without saying a word.

Under that pressure, I sighed and finally spoke.

“They called it a cunning family, one that schemes to rise in status by using the Saintess.”

Crack—

Arien’s face twisted, her teeth grinding loudly in the quiet room.

“So… did you come here to mock me?”

Her anger, lost without a clear target, turned toward me.

Yet her blue eyes looked far more tired than when I first met her.

And seeing her dry lips, it seemed she hadn’t been able to sleep well.

As expected.

Like her character in the game, she hid her pain beneath a composed facade, but deep down, she was wounded.

It was understandable.

Sometimes, words sharper than any blade could pierce the heart.

No matter how strong the body, the heart doesn’t harden so easily.

And in a situation where everyone around her despised and disparaged her, how many could truly maintain their sanity?

Perhaps no one, aside from a few rare cases like the infamous madwoman Mardian or the sociopath Viviana.

“They called my family cunning…”

Arien’s fists began to tremble.

“Tell them not to spout such nonsense. There’s no one as noble as our family head.”

“Lady Caltry…”

“A cunning family, they say! Who dares utter such words! We…”

“……”

“Let’s just… leave it at that. Talking to you seems pointless.”

Arien’s last words were almost a sigh.

“…Please forgive my rudeness, Lady Caltry.”

I moved closer, sitting beside Arien, who was overwhelmed by emotion.

She looked at me, her eyes filled with confusion, and I pulled her into my embrace with all my strength.

“W-What?!”

Arien’s body shook intensely.

She placed her hands on my shoulders, but I wrapped my arms around the back of her neck and pulled her head firmly to my chest.

“Lady…! What is this…!”

“I know. How faithful and loyal the Caltry family is. How they’ve walked the path of integrity in silence all this time.”

“…What?”

“That’s why it pains me. I don’t want to see noble families like yours slandered by people who know nothing. If I feel this way, how much more painful must it be for you, my lady?”

“…You’re just saying that.”

“Believe it or not… I came because my heart is truly heavy. I genuinely respect the Caltry family.”

I gently patted Arien’s back.

The trembling in her body slowly subsided, eventually coming to a complete stop.

Arien stayed there, her face buried in my shoulder, without moving for a while.

By now, my body must be giving off a subtle scent of blueberries.

Her favorite fruit. I had gone to the trouble of buying a special perfume just for her.

Though the fact that it had a slight stimulant added to it was a secret.

“…You respect my family, you say.”

“Yes, I’ve heard so much about you from my mother. Even though you’re walking a different path from our family, the Caltry Marquessate has always followed a path of integrity without wavering.”

“………”

“A few years ago, didn’t you receive a medal from the royal family as the family that produced the most mana-wielding swordsmen? I think that’s truly impressive.”

“….You know about that as well?”

“Of course. I also heard that the Marquis was promoted to the Master level last year.”

“……..”

“And I know that the textbook the Marchioness wrote was adopted as a teaching material at the academy. What an outstanding family you all are.”

“Even that…”

“When you admire someone, it’s hard not to pay attention.”

“Are you saying… you really respect our family?”

Of course.

After all, it was a setting I had seen countless times in the game.

“Yes, I’ve mentioned how much I admire the Caltry Marquessate. Although, I must admit, I’m personally drawn to those who are skilled with a sword.”

I gently smiled and rested my head on Arienne’s shoulder.

It might have seemed somewhat forward for a first meeting, but Arienne only stared at me in a daze, without any hint of reproach.

“Lady Caltry, they say the social world is a battlefield for nobles… But I wish everyone could get along a little better.”

“That would be unlikely.”

“Yes, as long as factions among nobles are so clearly divided, conflicts will be inevitable.”

As Arien struggled to hide her embarrassment, I slowly reached out to her.

When my fingertips gently touched her palm, her body gave a noticeable shiver.

Unlike Lillian, who would grab hands right away, I moved slowly, as if seeking her consent, approaching carefully, like a snake cautiously coiling around its prey.

I slid each finger between hers, giving her the time and space to pull away if she wanted.

But Arien did not.

With a soft touch, my hand overlapped hers, and a subtle tension filled the air each time our fingers touched. Yet, she didn’t pull away.

Finally, my fingers interlocked completely with hers. I lifted our clasped hands slowly to my chest, feeling a gentle warmth radiate from them.

Arien, with an absent gaze, stared at our intertwined hands, a faint trace of confusion lingering in her eyes.

“I came because I was genuinely worried. And, yes, partly because I wanted to get closer to you, Lady Caltry.”

I looked at her with a sorrowful expression, concealing the smile that threatened to surface within.

“Are you truly alright, Lady Caltry…?”