A chill settled over Xenon's face, which had been filled with dubious emotion.
Xenon turned the words he had heard over in his mind several times, then let out a hollow laugh as if finding it absurd.
'Choice?'
With a crooked lift of his lips, he spoke in a slow, drawn-out voice.
"Well, well. That's a rather strange question. It's one that could be easily misunderstood, depending on how you hear it?"
He had answered 'yes' to the question of whether they had met separately at night, and now he was being asked if she had chosen him?
"Doesn't it sound a bit insolent coming from a clergyman who has likely sworn an oath to devote his body and soul to the goddess?"
To Xenon's near-sarcastic remark, Samuel retorted as if chewing on the words.
"That person is the proxy of the goddess. It is only natural that I serve and follow her."
"Ah, I suppose so. But even if that's true during the day, is there a need to serve her at night as well?"
Samuel's expression stiffened rigidly. Xenon observed each change as he continued.
"I am always clinging to Lady Anelli, begging her to choose me. Did she choose me? If you're asking about that night after we captured the Rusalka..."
Trailing off and pausing for a moment, Xenon smiled more brightly than before.
"Yes. At least for that night, it seems she definitely chose me."
Samuel's face remained rigidly stiff. Yet, Xenon somehow felt that wooden puppet-like face was revealing a multitude of emotions.
So many emotions that not a single one could be clearly distinguished.
Without asking further, Samuel turned away. Staring at Samuel's back as he quietly entered his room, Xenon muttered irritably.
"What kind of cultist bastard is that?"
What was that? The paladin the High Priest is so proud of? The best paladin?
That?
That dangerous bastard who looks ready to discard all the oaths he swore at any moment?
'Is it right to leave him by Lady Anelli's side like this?'
Xenon pondered seriously.
He had not managed to extract a promise of a future from Anelli in just one night, nor was he acting possessively as if he had some authority over her.
In his relationship with Anelli, Xenon had long since acknowledged that he was thoroughly the weaker party.
Thus, all he could do was preen his feathers prettily, offer delectable food, and try to win her heart.
'And if, in that process, someone better than me appears... damn it.'
Xenon frowned.
He didn't want to think about it, but if such a dreadful thing happened, he would probably just preen his feathers even harder.
He likely wouldn't be able to give up, leaving behind some hypocritical words about wishing for the other's happiness.
'I still have many spells I haven't shown her, so I should be competitive enough.'
Although his train of thought had briefly strayed down an odd path, that was the conclusion anyway.
He was confident he wouldn't be surprised even if someone suddenly threw themselves at Anelli, wanting to catch her eye.
Because falling head over heels for Anelli was only natural!
'But not that bastard. He's a paladin, isn't he?'
Of course, during their travels, Xenon had repeatedly emphasized Samuel's dangerousness to Anelli.
But back then, it was more due to his fanatical demeanor, never because of that beast-like appearance.
'And a devout paladin at that!'
If such a person seemed capable of throwing away his clerical life, just how dangerous a state must that be?
It seemed better to give a separate warning about this.
And just then.
As Xenon was about to enter his own room to contact Anelli immediately, the firmly closed door to Samuel's room swung open.
Samuel, who had quietly entered moments ago, reappeared.
"Hey, mage."
Samuel's face as he called Xenon looked much more rational than before.
'Just a moment ago, his eyes seemed to have rolled back. I guess even he thought this wasn't right?'
It was fortunate he regained his senses quickly. He had almost filed an anonymous report to the Temple, branding him a potential apostate.
Looking at Samuel with disfavor, Xenon reluctantly replied.
"What."
"You said you'd help with my work."
"I did."
As Xenon nodded, Samuel stared at him intently, as if trying to gauge his thoughts.
Then, in a flat voice, he spoke.
"Do you know what rumors circulated when the Empress was first attacked by the Monster?"
"Well... I was trapped in the imperial palace at the time. How could I possibly know?"
"They said the Empress was attacked by a Monster that could transform into an animal."
Xenon narrowed his brow. Samuel looked at him and continued calmly.
"There were also rumors it was an attack by a Dullahan."
So that's why everyone was more terrified and sought out Anelli, the one chosen by the goddess. Xenon clicked his tongue.
He had noticed voices praising the Resurrected One were growing louder in the city lately, but he hadn't known such a story lay behind it.
"Surprising. A Monster that transforms into an animal, and even a Dullahan."
The Monster attack was ultimately the work of the Rusalka. Though no one knew that.
Xenon, who had immediately thought of the fallen fairy, the Rusalka, upon hearing the Empress's symptoms, naturally hadn't known about the early rumors. He hadn't been interested either.
But hearing this now, it seemed he should be interested. It was too specific to be mere idle gossip...
"I am currently trying to find the source of those rumors."
It was too specific to be mere nonsense blurted out by ignorant gossips.
"There might be a real eyewitness."
"If there is a real eyewitness, it means Lady Anelli's subordinate is somewhere nearby."
Xenon swept back his bangs. Who would have thought this paladin was investigating matters related to Anelli?
He had only intended to help a little, take some credit, and live comfortably, but now he couldn't just do it half-heartedly.
"Right. I intend to locate that 'subordinate' in advance if possible."
"Fine. I'll look into it too."
Xenon answered as if there was nothing to ponder. At his words, Samuel nodded as if in agreement.
After sharing a few pieces of information he had gathered over the past few days, Samuel turned as if he had said all he needed to say.
Just as he seemed about to close the door, Samuel suddenly stopped. Then, with a face full of displeasure, he said in a low voice,
"If your reckless attitude, carelessly leaving traces, tarnishes that person's honor, I will not let you be."
And before Xenon could even reply, he swiftly went inside.
Left alone in the hallway, Xenon wore a bewildered expression. What on earth was that about just now?
"What traces?"
Naturally, there was no one to answer his question.
It was several hours later that Xenon discovered the bruise on his neck, which had almost faded away and whose existence he hadn't even known.
* * *
As if to mock my worries about whether to intervene in Lilia's affairs, the matter was resolved abruptly.
Because Lilia was summoned by her father. It was a very secretive summons.
And not long after, Maxel and Lilia departed for the Ruejak barony. Father assigned knights of Roam as Lilia's escort.
Though called Lilia's escort, this was also Maxel's escort. It also symbolized the relationship between the Crown Prince and Roam.
'So it ends up like this after all.'
Even though I knew from the start it would come to this, watching my family prepare to abandon me once again felt strangely peculiar.
It wasn't feelings of betrayal, sorrow, or anger. It was just... peculiar.
"I didn't think you would agree to meet me."
At the words coming from ahead, I snapped out of my brief reverie.
This was a shop within the capital. A shop where one could drink tea or have a meal. Primarily a meeting place for those who couldn't invite guests to their mansions.
And the person who had called me here was Sister Phrygian.
"Well, there's no reason not to meet."
"I thank you for your kindness."
Sister Phrygian had grown noticeably gaunt since I last saw her. It seemed the hastily conducted married life did not suit her temperament at all.
If a man dared to marry Sister Phrygian, who had initially lost her senses and raged, he too must have possessed a formidable temper.
Thinking that, Sister Phrygian's hardship seemed natural.
"As you know, accurate information about Roam cannot be obtained outside. So... I was curious about how the family is doing, which is why I asked to meet you."
"I'm sorry, but I cannot discuss Roam's internal affairs with an outsider."
At my indifferent reply, Sister Phrygian retorted with a flustered expression.
"I am a direct descendant of Roam!"
"Oh my, Sister. You are now Phrygian Kendal."
I had tried not to provoke her if possible, but I inadvertently mixed a sneer into my voice. Sister Phrygian, recognizing my mockery, contorted her face fiercely.
"This name is little more than a borrowed one."
"Would Mother think the same?"
The letters Sister Phrygian sends to Mother aren't even opened. Knowing that, I could easily tell it wouldn't be easy for Sister to return to the Roam family.
'Looking at it extremely, there's the option of enduring scandal and getting a divorce...'
But Baron Kendal wouldn't comply willingly.
Even if she did divorce, the label of the Kendal family, once attached, would follow her for life. Sister Phrygian could no longer be a perfect successor.
"Ha, my husband has greater ambitions than you think. He is not a man content with the name Kendal."
"My goodness, to hear the word 'husband' from Sister's mouth. My resurrection feels worthwhile."
Sister Phrygian's face crumpled miserably. Yet, the reason she didn't storm out was purely to extract information about Roam from me.
That patience was surprising. It was certainly impressive that she hadn't given up her desire to become the head of the Roam family, even in that state.
So I decided to show a bit of kindness.
"Sayri's tutors have doubled."
At my casually thrown remark, Sister Phrygian flinched, startled.
"Sayri's?"
"Yes. Didn't I tell you before? That Mother introduced Sayri to Maxel."
Sister Phrygian's face flushed red. It was from anger.
"To finally abandon me..."
She had been abandoned long ago, but did she still believe Mother would save her?
Or Father?
As I inwardly mocked Sister Phrygian's futile anger, I slowly parted my lips.
"Who would have known that cunning little thing would swiftly insert herself between Sister and me, who care for each other?"