The Lady Virgin Saint had not been feeling well for some time.
The reason was simple.
It was because a woman who was bothersome had stuck to the side of the man she loved.
Elsi Rainelle, the notorious “little villain” of the highest grade at the Academy.
She was originally known for her cruel hands. The Lady Virgin Saint had treated several students who had been harmed by Elsi, so she was well aware of why excessive violence was frightening.
Students who had been victimized by Elsi all refused to testify. They were afraid of what might happen if they dared to retaliate.
Elsi was cunning.
She never committed a crime that couldn’t be hidden by the light of the Rainelle Clan. She mainly targeted lower nobles and commoners.
This meant she only calculatedly tormented the weak.
Naturally, for the Lady Virgin Saint, who came from an orphan background, Elsi’s perception was the worst.
Wasn’t she a cruel and vile woman?
One had to admit to her appearance, though. She was just as cute and lovely as one could imagine. However, her character was one that truly deserved the nickname of “villain.”
The woman had been defeated by a man.
Since that day, the girl had submitted to the man. At first, she had shown an expression of humiliation, but after a while, she became a docile pet.
And her attitude toward the man had changed again as of late.
Hanging on the man’s arm, she gazed up at him with those sweet eyes, blankly.
There was no way the Lady Virgin Saint could be unaware.
She had occasionally given that kind of look as well.
A small crack appeared in the complexion of the Lady Virgin Saint, who had been smiling benevolently. She bit her lip slightly to hide it.
Beside her sat a remarkably beautiful noblewoman.
She looked young enough to believe she could be a sister of the Lady Virgin Saint. The mistress of the manor, known as “Lady Percus,” looked at her with a worried expression.
A devout follower of the Heavenly Deity Sect, she generally showed a great deal of interest in the Lady Virgin Saint.
Similar to how Viscount Percus was particularly concerned about Elsi, and Aaron was about Ceria. However, the type of attention Lady Percus had for the Lady Virgin Saint was somewhat different.
Elsi and Ceria were drawing attention as I-an’s prospective brides.
Viscount Percus had received the Rainelle Clan’s position from Raymond. There was no way he could ignore Elsi, who might become his daughter-in-law.
Moreover, the influence of the Rainelle Clan, who would become family, was greater than that of the Percus Clan.
Ceria was also receiving considerable trust from the taciturn Aaron. True to his heavy personality, he valued faith, and it seemed he quite liked Ceria’s single-minded nature.
It could also have been the mutual sympathy of two socially inept individuals.
On the other hand, the interest Lady Percus had in the Lady Virgin Saint was mainly related to faith.
Finding a proper clergyman in a rural territory was challenging. So, with the highest-ranking clergyman like the Lady Virgin Saint having come, it was only natural for her to show interest as a believer.
Instead, the person Lady Percus secretly had in mind as a prospective bride for I-an was someone else.
“…Lady Virgin Saint, can I ask if I-an will get along well with the Rainelle Clan?”
At the sigh-laden question, the Lady Virgin Saint flinched.
Elsi, who had been clinging to I-an, was indeed a source of discomfort for her. Furthermore, I-an had become too soft with Elsi recently.
It was after he called I-an “Master” in front of dozens of people that such a change occurred.
The Lady Virgin Saint did not particularly like that.
Especially as she had been the one who had physically touched him.
With a slightly sulky heart, she replied in an effort to calm herself.
“Well, that depends on Brother I-an. The Heavenly Deity gives righteous trials to the righteous. The important thing is to have roots that can withstand the storm. Be it faith or a sense of justice… Emmanuel.”
If she could, she wanted to spill all sorts of slanders against the Rainelle Clan.
A son-in-law from a minor clan might face discrimination, or he might only end up juggling dangerous and difficult positions.
But Lady Percus was currently seeking advice from a clergyman.
She could not distort the divine will with her private feelings. This was the belief the Lady Virgin Saint held as a clergyman.
Though it still left her feeling somewhat bitter.
Fortunately or unfortunately, even with the Lady Virgin Saint’s advice, Lady Percus’s unease did not completely dissipate.
“Every time I hear news about my son lately, it feels like my heart drops. With Mages and the Dark Cult… how could our fragile I-an defeat such terrible monsters?”
He managed just fine.
The Lady Virgin Saint wanted to retort that immediately.
It had not been long since she had seen I-an defeating dozens of monsters with an axe in hand. He had been the brightest star on the battlefield during the Homecoming Festival, cutting down the monsters without leaving a single one behind.
She nearly let her smile waver, but the Lady Virgin Saint again managed her emotions. She simply listened to Lady Percus’s laments.
“Actually, one doesn’t have to be famous to be happy. I’m worried that I-an is caught up in some unnecessarily dangerous things… I thought it would be fine if he quietly graduated from the Academy, married Celin, and lived happily together…”
As she spoke, Lady Percus looked at a girl with compassion.
The girl giggling and chatting with I-an’s hometown friends was named “Celine Haster.”
Having maintained a long connection with I-an’s family, she was friendly, so her popularity at today’s banquet was high. Reto, who sat beside her, was the same.
The fact that she was a less daunting opponent than a high-ranking noble like Elsi or even the Lady Virgin Saint herself also played a part.
There were too many rivals.
Even if Ceria was excluded for her shy nature that barely allowed her to speak up, Celin—a woman backed by her family—was a somewhat intimidating opponent.
There was no need to mention Elsi, who was even pursuing a marriage alliance between their families.
The Lady Virgin Saint felt like her insides were burning.
So she inadvertently accepted the drink that Lady Percus poured for her.
Lady Percus’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh! I- I’m so sorry… pouring a drink for a clergyman…”
Generally, the clergy of the Heavenly Deity Sect did not drink alcohol. A common understanding was that it was a grave offense to offer alcohol to a clergyman, even accidentally.
Moreover, to offer a drink to the Lady Virgin Saint, a guest, was a tremendous rudeness.
It would not take long for Lady Percus’s complexion to turn pale. She was anxious that it might interfere with her son’s future.
The Lady Virgin Saint snapped back to her senses at that moment.
Toward Lady Percus, who was about to bow her head immediately, the Lady Virgin Saint was shocked and had to quickly gesture.
“No, no! There’s no need to apologize. It’s not that clergymen are prohibited from drinking… if it’s just to enjoy the feeling!”
As she said this, the Lady Virgin Saint gulped the drink down her throat as if to prove it.
Until then, Lady Percus had still looked dazed, but soon she burst into a giggle.
She felt a sense of humanity from the flustered appearance of the Lady Virgin Saint.
The scorching sensation coursing down the Lady Virgin Saint’s throat made her eyes water slightly.
Even so, she could not dare to refuse the drink Lady Percus was pouring, and after downing several glasses of alcohol, she let her thoughts spill.
“…Do men only have interest in women’s bodies?”
It was an unexpected question.
Yet, at a drinking party, even the most out-of-context questions could be brushed away. Similarly, being tipsy with a rosy complexion, Lady Percus took a quick glance at the Lady Virgin Saint’s body.
The curves were remarkable even to a woman’s eyes.
It was obvious what a man would think. Thus, Lady Percus spoke thoughtlessly.
“Perhaps that could be so. Your body is quite, um… you know? But many women would envy you.”
“…Envy?”
“Yes, if there’s a man they like, they’d go visit him that night and…”
While continuing her playful chatter, Lady Percus suddenly realized who her counterpart was.
Immediately, her complexion turned pale.
Clearing her throat, she struggled to change the subject.
“…M-maybe they would go to convey their feelings boldly~?”
Lady Percus’s voice, attempting to deflect, sounded incredibly awkward.
The Lady Virgin Saint, who usually would not have noticed this, was unfortunately very tipsy at the moment.
Of course, this was a state shared by most participants in the banquet.
Thus, when the Lady Virgin Saint quietly slipped out of the banquet hall, very few noticed. Only Yulen glanced over briefly but merely offered a meaningful smile.
It was easy to guess where the Lady Virgin Saint was headed.
And so, the Lady Virgin Saint stormed into I-an’s bedroom.
