CHAPTER 07……………
Although one major issue had been resolved, Cassius’s mood had not improved at all.
How irritating.
He was displeased not only with the priests who had planned to dump everything on Sonia, but also with Grand Duke Lindmere himself.
He wanted nothing more than to throw the man out of the Holy State immediately and make sure he never returned.
Cassius spoke.
“I will go to the Grand Duke myself. The meeting will adjourn for now.”
The intermediate priest who had greeted the Grand Duke with Sonia leapt up in shock.
“There is no need for Your Holiness to trouble yourself! Thanks to Priest Sonia’s mediation, the Grand Duke even surrendered his weapon!”
The priests who had doubted Sonia’s competence gasped.
“Is that true?”
“Yes, he handed it over without resistance.”
“Last time he flew into a rage and absolutely refused to give up his weapon. I can hardly believe this!”
The intermediate priest added proudly, as if it were his own achievement,
“And Priest Sonia has healing power! She used her holy healing energy to remove all of the Grand Duke’s fatigue.”
The assembly erupted in noise.
Healing attribute?
Such a power hadn’t appeared during the reigns of multiple Holy Sovereigns.
The intermediate priest continued.
“The Grand Duke even smiled at Priest Sonia’s speech. I am certain she will guide him well and keep things peaceful until the meeting ends.”
In other words—ignore the Grand Duke and continue the meeting.
That was the clear implication, but Cassius ignored him.
No—he found the priest’s words so aggravating he felt his patience snapping.
Clenching his fist, he spoke through his teeth.
“Summon the holy knights at once. This man shows blatant disrespect toward the Holy State. To come on the day of the Grand Assembly—this is nothing short of hostility.”
For the first time since the founding of the Holy State, a Grand Assembly was forcibly halted.
The Grand Temple garden was filled with fully bloomed white flowers, their scent so strong it would surely mask the pheromone smell coming from me.
Perfect.
If only the person I was with weren’t terrifying, I could stand here for ages just admiring the scenery.
In the center of the garden stood a pavilion with a long bench and a table for tea.
Schwarz lounged across the bench, half-reclined, while I prepared the tea and snacks the priests had brought.
“I’ve prepared lavender tea.”
I poured the tea until it filled the cup. The sharp scent of tea leaves mixed with a strong lavender aroma.
The priests had listened to my request and brewed a very fragrant lavender tea.
With this much scent, it should hide an Omega’s pheromones.
Schwarz’s hand, holding the teacup, stopped in midair.
Did he need sugar or something?
“Is there anything else you require, Your Grace?”
“Drink it.”
…Excuse me?
Drinking the guest’s tea violated noble etiquette.
I blinked, stunned, holding the teacup awkwardly—until he spoke again.
“You said you would protect me.”
“I did.”
“Then you should confirm whether it’s poisoned.”
“I didn’t put any poison in it.”
“How do I know that?”
Ridiculous. I knew he had paranoia issues, but this was extreme.
Our eyes met. Reclining with his long black hair draped elegantly, he stared at me with a crooked posture.
His golden beast-like eyes flashed dangerously.
If I disobeyed, he’d surely turn violent again. And I didn’t want that.
I squeezed my eyes shut and took a sip.
I don’t even like lavender tea…
The bitter flavor beneath the heavy lavender scent made me frown slightly.
I swallowed, my throat bobbing.
“See? Totally fine.”
“Drink again.”
Annoyance made my lips tremble.
Fine, fine. Just do as he says.
A weak novice priest couldn’t argue with a Grand Duke.
Being a count’s daughter meant nothing before him—a scrap of paper.
I lifted the cup to my lips again. His gaze felt especially persistent.
His intense staring slowed my movement.
After taking a sip, I lowered the cup and waited briefly before drinking again.
His attention moved from my lips to my throat.
Why is he staring like that?
Of all places, his gaze was fixed on my neck—a vital spot. Maybe he really hadn’t given up the idea of snapping it.
I swallowed. As my throat moved, his eyes followed it.
When I finished, he finally spoke.
“If you’re done, sit.”
There was only one long bench in the pavilion.
Unless he wanted me to sit on the table, he meant to sit next to him.
“How could I sit beside Your Grace? Please relax and rest.”
“Sit. I must see whether the poison spreads.”
His voice dropped slightly.
Not wanting to provoke him, I sat at the farthest possible end of the bench.
He moved and picked up a cookie.
He said the tea might be poisoned—are cookies fine?
As I wondered, he suddenly grabbed the teacup from my hand and shoved a nut-filled cookie at me.
“Check the snacks too.”
Unbelievable.
His absurd behavior made me hesitate—but after using holy power, I was indeed hungry.
The rich buttery scent of the cookie tempted me, so I took a bite. It was so delicious it made my eyes widen.
I cleaned off the cookie quickly.
“You eat well. How is it?”
My hunger still lingered from using holy power. One cookie wasn’t nearly enough.
I glanced sideways at the basket full of cookies.
“…I can’t tell if it’s poisoned from just one. I think I need to try several.”
“Eat.”
With Schwarz’s permission, I grabbed another cookie.
The moment it entered my mouth, the luxurious butter scent spread richly.
Well, since this was happening, I’d take the chance to eat fancy cookies I normally couldn’t even touch.
How long had it been since I had proper snacks?
Priests rarely used sugar or chocolate—luxury ingredients were forbidden—so their snacks were bland and dry.
Guest cookies are the best!
The occasional walnut or almond added delightful crunch.
I relaxed enough to forget I was sitting right beside Schwarz.
“Your lips are small. The way you nibble is cute.”
“…What?”
At some point, he had leaned right next to me. Startled, I dropped my cookie.
He picked up the half-eaten cookie from the plate and firmly placed it back into my hand. I froze.
His languid eyes looked down at me. He lifted his hand and gently brushed my cheek.
A crumb stuck to his fingertip.
He licked it off with his tongue.
“Does the temple starve its priests?”
Only then did I realize how greedily I’d been devouring the cookies. Embarrassed, I quietly put the cookie down.
My ears burned.
They were probably bright red.
“No…”
He stared at me, then let out a soft laugh. He picked up the same teacup I had used and drank from the exact spot my lips had touched.
After taking a sip, he looked at the cup as if puzzled.
“It’s warm.”
With that, Schwarz drained the rest of the cooled tea.
He stood, straightened his coat, and said,
“I’ll return now.”
“You’re leaving already? Didn’t you come because you had business at the temple?”
“The Emperor nagged me to visit. I had no business.”
The imperial family didn’t want relations with the Holy State to worsen.
Since Schwarz had caused trouble once, it seemed they sent him to mend things.
It seemed to have had the opposite effect.
“Besides, if I get into a fight with the holy knights again, the Emperor will truly be furious.”
He glanced toward the main building of the Grand Temple and murmured,
“I’ll bring plenty of cookies next time.”
He’s coming again?
Honestly, I hoped he wouldn’t.
Though I had indeed eaten those cookies with suspicious enthusiasm in front of him…
“I’ll come again.”
With that, Schwarz disappeared toward the main building.
Only after he vanished did my body feel like it was melting.
I-I survived…
At least I wouldn’t be dragged off to Schwarz’s assassin base like Lancelot.
His promise to return worried me, but for now, it seemed I’d gotten through safely.
Just when I relaxed—
Noise erupted from the direction of the Assembly Hall, and a group of holy knights rushed over.
No slacking during work!
I jumped up from where I’d been slumped.
Why had so many holy knights come?
When I looked closely, the one leading them was Cassius.
He approached with sharp, disciplined steps.
I quickly bowed.
“I greet Cassius, Holy Sovereign and Lord of the Holy State.”
He stepped close and spoke in a worried voice.
“Are you unharmed? You were not hurt anywhere, were you?”
Even if he was just a character from a book, I had met the man who killed me.
His murderous aura had frightened me.
My heart still fluttered from the shock, but nothing serious had happened.
“I’m fine. Nothing happened.”
“That man… the Grand Duke Lindmere did not act rudely toward you?”
“No. He just had tea and left.”
“You were with him until moments ago.”
Suddenly, my skin tingled, and amid the strong floral scent, I sensed a familiar one.
That cool-water scent I smelled the first time I met Cassius.
He was using his holy power.
Pressed down by Cassius’s energy, breathing became a little difficult.
