Chapter 147 – Rumors 

“You really didn’t have to bring this many people…”

Standing in front of the Guest Castle, I rubbed my forehead as I looked at the long line of knights behind me.

All I did was come out to greet Prince Lucion, who suddenly showed up without warning. But in the very short walk from the main castle to the Guest Castle, two separate knight orders had joined as escorts.

“Today is the day for the 9th Knight Order to escort her.”

Tiern grumbled and glared at Norton.

“…Then why is the 1st Knight Order here?”

“Lady Annette, aren’t you feeling hot? Bring the parasol.”

Norton pretended not to hear and changed the subject.

“Sir Perel, isn’t this… too much?”

I turned anxiously toward Perel.

At this rate, it really looked like the knights were preparing to throw Prince Lucion into a dungeon as soon as he arrived.

Perel understood what I meant and forced a polite smile.

“Well, it should be fine at this level. They were the ones who acted disrespectfully first, after all.”

‘A foreign prince showing up at the fortress without prior notice—how rude.’

Perel had said the Grand Duke ordered them to chase him out immediately, and Perel had barely stopped him, saying, “He’s still royalty after all…”

‘But why is he taking so long?’

Loic had personally gone out to the Second Wall to greet Prince Lucion.

‘Though technically speaking, Perel did stretch the meaning of “greet”…’

Just as I was spacing out, I saw another knight order in formation beyond the garden.

‘Are they going to the training grounds?’

But instead of heading toward the training yard, the knights suddenly turned sharply and marched toward us.

“…What now?”

Tiern muttered, clearly annoyed.

Soon, I saw the short, neatly cut ash-gray hair of the knight leading them.

It was Gamon, Captain of the 3rd Knight Order.

As soon as he approached, he suddenly dropped to one knee.

“I greet the Holy Consort.”

The knights behind him kneeled in unison.

“I greet the Holy Consort.”

…He added something weird to the greeting just now.

“…S-Sir Gamon. Long time no see.”

Startled, I answered awkwardly. Gamon raised his head, surprised.

“You know my name?”

“Of course. We met during the introduction ceremony.”

It made sense he was surprised. Except for the knight order currently guarding me, I rarely had reason to meet the others.

Gamon spoke again with admiration in his eyes.

“Let me introduce myself properly once more. I am Gamon Benetrias, Captain of the 3rd Knight Order.”

He rose, placing his fist over his chest.

“The greatest and most devout High Priest of the Goddess, Cadias, was born from our Benetrias family.”

“…Uh-huh.”

At the sudden mention of a High Priest, I suppressed a sigh.

‘So the knights heard the rumors too.’

Even though we tried to keep quiet, apparently everyone in the castle already knew I was “something like a saint.”

‘I didn’t expect to hide it perfectly, but still…’

No one seemed remotely interested in keeping it a secret.

The morning after I returned from the Temple—

I was washing my face when Retta suddenly lifted the washbasin as high as her forehead.

— “Retta? What are you doing?”

When I asked why she was holding it like that, she answered seriously:

— “I once saw a priest carry holy water like this.”

— “It’s NOT holy water! It’s just wash water!”

Her eyes remained solemn.

— “Do not worry, Lady Annette. I know nothing.”

Asking what she “didn’t know” only made her nod silently.

And it was the same with all the maids.

They carried sheets and pillowcases like they were handling holy relics.

Servants in the halls stared at me with reverent, almost fearful eyes.

One maid even made the sign of the cross when I walked past.

So, of course, the knights who hadn’t even gone to the temple yet heard the rumors quickly.

Gamon continued,

“Those with strong faith in the Goddess are all gathered in the 3rd Knight Order. This senior knight here, Royrek, is even from the Temple.”

A brown-haired knight behind him stepped forward with a bow.

“We think we’ll be serving the Holy Consort often, so we wanted to greet you in advance.”

Gamon said sincerely.

“We will formally introduce the 3rd Knight Order soon.”

“…Why would the 3rd Knight Order serve the Consort?”

Tiern suddenly cut in from behind me.

“She already has TWO knight orders escorting her today.”

“Isn’t dealing with the Temple usually the 3rd Knight Order’s job?”

Gamon replied stiffly.

“Now that the Consort has become a saint—”

Ahem.

Perel quickly cleared his throat, and Gamon reworded himself.

“…Anyway, the Consort’s safety will overlap with our duties. I thought perhaps the 3rd Knight Order could take over the escort entirely.”

“The 1st Knight Order has protected her since she arrived in the north.”

Norton said coldly.

“But those who have deep faith in the Goddess would naturally serve the Consort better.”

Gamon argued earnestly.

sorry, but this Consort has absolutely zero belief in the Goddess.

“This isn’t some Holy Knight Order…”

Tiern tapped his sword sheath on the ground.

“The 9th Knight Order doesn’t worship the Goddess.”

“How disrespectful.”

“We only worship the Consort.”

“….”

Gamon and the 3rd Knight Order went pale.

‘Excuse me, but could you all please remember that I am standing right here?’

My face felt hot with embarrassment.

“At least the 1st Knight Order agrees.”

Norton said lowly.

“And really, why are you talking about the Goddess in front of the Consort?”

“Because, naturally—!”

Gamon almost raised his voice, but forced himself to stay calm.

Finally, I managed to speak.

“Sir Gamon.”

“Yes, Lady Annette.”

“I appreciate the 3rd Knight Order’s intentions, but I have no plans to change my escort.”

Gamon’s expression stayed polite, but his ears turned red.

He clearly wasn’t expecting such a firm refusal.

“I will still accept your sincerity.”

Thankfully, he didn’t behave like Tiern did back then. He slightly bowed.

“The 3rd Knight Order will always be ready. If you grant us a chance someday, we will not disappoint you.”

The disappointed knights bowed and began to retreat.

‘Sacred power or not, I don’t even know how to use it.’

Just thinking about the Temple interfering made my head pound.

Then—

The sound of hooves echoed, and a carriage came into view at the end of the road.

“One guy leaves, another one arrives…”

Tiern grumbled irritably.

***

“Lady Annette, it has been too long.”

Prince Lucion stepped down from his carriage with a bright smile.

His white robe, embroidered with gold, made him look like a figure from a myth.

“Prince, welcome to the Grand Duke’s castle.”

“With you welcoming me, I’m relieved.”

Ignoring the murderous aura from the knights behind me, Lucion suddenly stepped closer.

He took my hand and brushed his lips lightly across the back.

“The Grand Duke told me, ‘Get out of my land and go home.’”

Loic dismounted from his large black horse, frowning.

Well… saying “Get out” was a bit much.

I glanced sharply at Loic, who then glared at Lucion as if accusing him.

“That bastard— I mean, Prince— said even worse things to me. I’m just sparing Lady Annette’s ears.”

Loic muttered in a low voice.

“Of course we’re happy to receive you.”

I told Lucion with a polite smile.

“If you had sent word in advance, we could’ve prepared better for your visit.”

“Well, I didn’t intend to arrive rudely like this, but circumstances forced my hand…”

Lucion sighed dramatically, his eyebrows drooping.

“So I’m afraid, Lady Annette… you’ll have to take responsibility for me.”

The temperature around us suddenly dropped.

Actually, scratch that.

It wasn’t cold—it was boiling hot.

As if flames erupted, the air around Loic shimmered dangerously.

But Lucion smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“I was kicked out.”

His beautiful eyes curved in amusement as our gazes met.

“Please let me stay here for a while.”