At best, I thought that Lancelot had changed his mind, but now it was Certina who was the problem.

'why?'

I read the letter several times, but no matter how much I looked at it, it seemed that I was more of an annoyance than Lancelot.

'She didn't even look good that day.'

It was not an illusion either.

Certina hated me.

It's the first time I've seen you, why are you like that?

Leaving behind her troubled mind, she was surprised when she boarded the carriage heading to the imperial palace.

“Sonia.”

Cassius was sitting in the carriage.

"His Holiness? What brought you to our mansion?”

“I took a moment for pheromones. It seemed like it had to be done before arriving at the imperial palace.”

Prince Shane was in the imperial palace.

There are also Schwartz that appear occasionally.

So it seems that he came to meet me early in the morning to prepare in advance.

“Please.”

As if trying to do two days' worth at once, Cassius pressed his lips thickly against my neck, using alpha pheromones.

He did it a few times, but her heart pounded every time his lips touched her neck.

So she accepted his pheromone and headed to the imperial palace together.

Today's schedule is to pray as a group in the morning and attend an outdoor party held in the rose garden of the Imperial Palace.

This time, she wore a priest's uniform, not a dress.

There was also a priest who sold himself to the gathered nobles.

“If you have business concerns, please find me, Hans!”

“Are you having trouble sleeping? My prayers will help you sleep better.”

In that way.

There were priests who were frantic to earn promotion points, and there were many priests who just chatted normally.

I was just sighing heavily in the corner.

“Sonia, what happened at the mansion?”

Cassius, who had finished talking with the nobles, came closer and started talking.

"no. Thanks to His Holiness’ consideration, I had a good time with my family.”

"Fortunately, then."

“By the way, is His Holiness okay? You identified yourself as an alpha…….”

Didn't he even say that he fought with Schwartz with pheromones?

Alphas often fight over pheromones, but I never thought that would happen in public.

“It wasn't something to talk about openly, only a few knew about it, but it wasn't really a secret that I was an alpha. There was a time when I saved a fiancée as an omega.”

It didn't matter if it was just a normal alpha, there was no problem.

The problem is that there is no omega, so they can run wild, and the alphas of superpowers who don't know when they will die.

I asked , when remembered.

“His Holiness' rose...…. Shouldn't I take a look?"

Speaking of the brand of curse, he said it was a rose in case someone overheard.

"it's okay. You've been in contact often to share my alpha pheromone, and lately I've been suppressing my power.”

What is the power of His Holiness?

I was curious, but it seemed rude to ask.

Cassius opened his mouth.

“I guess you still have concerns.”

Cassius looked in my direction.

Standing there was Schwarz, with long black hair that could be seen from a distance.

Alone, he took a sip of red wine.

Wine, I'm sure, but it looked like he was drinking blood.

Was it because he saved Lancelot? I had the courage to look at him a little.

Looking closely, I could see that he was a handsome man with thick lines.

“Are you concerned about Archduke Lyndemere?”

Because Cassius knows too.

It was such a meaningful word.

I was still afraid of Schwartz.

I also thanked him for saving Lancelot at the same time.

“If it bothers you, I will take action to leave.”

"no. It's not because of His Highness.”

I thought I should say thank you at least once.

Perhaps feeling my gaze, Schwartz turned his head and our eyes met.

And isn't he coming toward me?

wait, why are you here?

I wanted to say thank you someday, but not right now!

“Archduke Lyndemere, what are you doing?”

It was a soft talk.

Schwarz, who had been looking down at me without even looking at Cassius, opened his mouth.

“Sonia has business to do.”

“Did you forget? The work of the ballroom.”

Cassius gave a relaxed smile.

“Last time, I applied for counseling prayer and was unable to proceed. I really want to get it this time.”

“Don't make excuses. If you forgot, let me remind you.”

“Why are you blocking me? Is it wrong to meet the priest?”

At those words, Cassius' eyes went cold. The target of his anger was not me, but Schwartz.

Cassius, which used to be like a still lake, has turned into a stormy sea.

It seems like it's about to sweep away everything around him with a rough wave.

The people who noticed the suspicious current were slowly moving away. I thought I knew roughly how the two of them fought in the ballroom.

I did not witness the scene where the two were said to have confronted each other.

I heard that Marlon Schwarz's life was hard even for the betas.

'I need to dry it!'

before the two fight.

"…… I have something to tell you, Your Highness the Grand Duke! Thank you for coming here.”

At the same time, Schwarz, who was looking down at me, glanced at Cassius with a faint smile.

There was no one to eavesdrop because the people around them were far away early.

I openly expressed my feelings.

“Thank you for helping Lancelot.”

"okay."

It was a short answer, but I wasn't upset.

It was because Schwartz was smiling.

Seeing that, the trembling fear subsided a little.

'It's much better than when I was straining my eyes.'

Because you look better.

If he smiles like that on a regular basis, rumors about him being a mad dog that slices people up will disappear.

“By the way, I hope that the reserved counseling prayer will continue.”

counseling prayer?

Ah, because of the Marquis of Sepentus, Schwarz's counseling prayer could not proceed.

Since the date has passed, it must have been canceled.

But when he said he wanted to offer his prayers with me, I couldn't refuse.

Because the priest's work must be done, of course.

“Yes, please visit again.”

“Did you hear?”

He glanced at Cassius and said.

“Yes, follow the proper procedure and apply.”

It was a light tone, as if he didn't care about provocations.

“Looks like business is over, so I’m going to go.”

Schwarz, who was heading towards the entrance to the rose garden, paused for a moment.

Under the arch of gorgeous roses stood a woman with the same dark hair as him.

"Brother."

It was Certina.

I remembered the letter I received from Lancelot this morning.

'Looks like she doesn't want to run into me.'

I lowered my head, not wanting to be seen by Certina.

In the meantime, Schwarz walked out of the garden at a brisk pace without saying a word to Sertina.

Schwarz's back showed a strong refusal.

Sertina, who has a problem with her legs, couldn't keep up with Schwarz in the first place.

Sertina, who was staring blankly at his back, came towards me.

'she said she didn't want to run into me!'

Why are you coming closer?

***

At Certina's instruction, one of her handmaids, who had been holding both of her arms, released her hands.

With one hand free, Certina saluted Cassius, clutching the hem of her skirt.

She said, “Meet Your Holiness, the Lord of the Holy Land.”

“You are the princess. nice to meet you May the Lord bless you.”

Certina's fingertips trembled.

It had been a long time since she did not believe in blessings or miracles from the Lord God.

“…… thank you I want to have a private chat with Lady Theodore. Is it okay if I take her with me?”

Cassius glanced at Sonia.

He wanted to ask her thoughts, but it was difficult to speak openly because he was in front of the princess.

He lightly placed his hand on Sonia's shoulder and used his superpowers.

'It would be nice to talk to Her Highness the Princess. There are many things I want to ask too.'

She also seemed to want a conversation with her princess.

"good. However, please return quickly.”

It was a soft, calm voice. He lightly grabbed Sonia's shoulders.

Certina and Cassius' eyes met.

“Until evening prayer time.”

The sun was slowly setting.

It seemed to mean not to hold on to Sonia for long, just say something and let her go.

'Am I offending you by saying that Lady Theodore?'

Sertina didn't want to mention the word priest, so she deliberately mentioned the imperial title.

Sertina didn't want to mix a single word with the priests of the holy kingdom, especially the priests of healing who couldn't even wake up.

'I see Lady Theodore everywhere I go!'

Sertina was especially offended by the feeling of being interrupted whenever she wanted to talk to Schwarz.

Certina, hiding her true feelings, placed a hand on her chest and bowed her head.

“I will keep that in mind.”

***

I arrived at the princess's palace with Certina.

She went inside first and I was waiting at the entrance.

The rose garden, which was in full swing, was noisy, but as soon as she stepped into the princess's palace, all sounds disappeared as if it was quiet.

It was like coming to another world.

“Follow me.”

Said the lady-in-waiting who was guarding the princess's palace.

I nodded my head and followed her maid to the place where Sertina was waiting.

The place I arrived at was a drawing room with a long, huge window.

Certina and the maids greeted me while seated.

Of course, there was no place for me.

It was a familiar landscape.

This kind of subtle bullying didn't hurt anything because I had experienced so much when I first became a trainee priest.