CH 76

Act 4: Covet Not What Is Mine

Whatever the case, the saintess couldn’t just answer Irene’s “Did you just try to run?” with a ‘Correct’. As she laughed sinisterly with her arms laced around the saintess’s neck, Irene radiated an almost palpable black aura. 

The saintess quickly put her mental cogs in motion. She had run out of holy power; in other words, she was incapable of using any ability whatsoever. What could she do even if she managed to escape Irene? Rather, seeing how impossible it was to barge in at the moment, was there any other way to get inside the imperial palace? 

Her head worked furiously, busily calculating her future plans. Although she did not know what was going on, there was only one answer to give. 

“Why, never, milady! How I have missed you!” she cried out, aggrieved, and pulled Irene into a hug. Trying to imagine the saddest, most tragic thing she could, the scene from before she passed out immediately was conjured in her mind. That moment when she could only hear Estian’s voice as Kane lay in her arms… Her memory of Kane’s face, his lips as they shimmered while he was unconscious… 

‘Blast it. I wouldn’t be feeling so bitter if I could’ve given one deep smooch.’ she thought, feeling surly. She couldn’t help but cry at the thought of the male lead she had yet to lay even a finger on. 

Wiping hot tears of unsatisfied desires, the saintess shouted, “I was so scared! I was lost and wandering everywhere when I suddenly heard a big noise! Knights were laying everywhere, then I opened the door and there was a dragon… but I don’t remember anything after that! What happened to me? Where is this? What IS all this? Ahh, my head… No, more than anything, milady, I’m so relieved you’re safe!” 

The saintess swiveled her eyes this way and that as she recited the most cliché lines of someone suffering memory loss. In any case, she had to stick by Irene’s side!

“Really?” Irene gave her the side-eye and the saintess clung to the former even more pitifully.

“But of course! How could I ever abandon you, milady! Whom would I work for if not you? You’re the only one for me! Don’t you remember how I gave my best adorning you this morning? You’re the best employer I have ever served, milady!”

“That wasn’t your last show of goodwill or anything?”

“Nn-… No!”

“Didn’t you stutter a bit just now?”

The saintess turned her head and discreetly tsked at Irene’s persistent questioning. So distrustful. Why is she so sharp at times like this, unlike her usual dull self? The way she pressed for answers was the very example of an obsessive male lead. Nevertheless, even as the saintess lamented the difficulty of life, she resumed her earnest sucking-up to Irene.

“Very well then. Let’s go back. What good is there in staying here any longer?” Irene suddenly stated.

“Pardon?”

Irene snapped her fingers before the saintess could say anything, prompting the servants waiting outside to rush into the room. “Take her away.”

“Ha-hang on a second! Lady Irene!” Before she could say anything else, the servants swaddled the saintess in a blanket and ferried her out. 

Irene watched the proceedings from behind, smiling. ‘I managed to find a personal maid after so long. Can’t just sit dumb and let Kane steal her away from me, can I now?’ Kane was certain to come looking for the saintess, claiming for the need to carry out a proper investigation.

‘And it doesn’t seem like that’s the only thing he’s got in mind.’

After the chaos had somewhat settled, Kane had asked Irene about her maid, claiming it was for the sake of cleaning up the case. However, the persistent way he asked her about the maid was odd. 

‘He’s got to be after something else.’

To all appearances, Kane was just a good-natured knight commander, but how could it be so simple? He was the right-hand man chosen by that hard-to-please Estian. In truth, Kane was only slightly less cruel than his master, but he was second to none when it came to having a record of dicing people up. 

‘It’s certain she won’t be coming back if she gets caught by Kane.’ Irene mused. Most of the people who disappeared from the imperial palace without a trace were most likely dealt with by Kane. ‘I’ve got to take her with me before that happens.’

Irene had liked that maid at first sight. The girl was as obedient as a puppet and had the knack for speaking the most pleasing words. But if that was all there was to her, Irene wouldn’t have troubled herself into looking after that maid like this. However… …

‘I also like how she hits the head on the nail sometimes.’ That made her all the more likable. The other servants would always grovel for her sake, but that maid would sometimes act so daring as if saying, ‘So fire me then!’

‘But I don’t really hate it. Difference in status aside, maybe this is what it’s like to have a friend.’

The saintess would have yelled ‘Don’t go thinking of me as a friend on your own!’ if she had heard Irene’s thoughts, but alas, she was wrapped up in a blanket and being loaded into a coach at this moment. In any case, Irene swore to herself. ‘It’s my first time meeting a maid like her. I’ll never let her be taken away!’