CH 32

The promised 500,000 Mars was a substantial amount, but there’s no knowing when or where I would suffer a greater loss if I agreed to help him. Rizello wore a glum expression when I spoke firmly to him.

The issue is that Rizello’s face with Melody’s expression appeared plausible to that stupid expression.

“Are you sure you haven’t got anything else to offer?”

I said and gave Dame Joan a sidelong glance. If we took a long time talking, it wouldn’t be strange for Dame Joan to find it unusual and suspicious.

“There is one thing I want to ask you.”

However, I almost frowned openly in response to Rizello’s following words. I need to get him out of here quickly before Ian arrives. I smiled kindly, hiding my impatient heart.

“What is it? Please hurry up and tell me.”

“The Saintess’s foresight ability.”

My body tensed up slightly.

“Have you ever used your power to see into my future? For instance, to see through my plans.”

Melody’s gentle smile and smiling eyes became eerie the moment he asked that question. I quickly shook my head.

“I’ve never done anything like that. As you may know, God Elune bestows a Saintess with the ability to help others. So, my power is to help, not invade someone’s privacy.”

“Aha.” Rizello had a big grin on his face.

“It’s all right! I thought it would be a big deal if the Saintess knew my business plan beforehand. You could have patented it ahead of time.”

I didn’t like it and refused to accept it. If I were sane, I wouldn’t mess with the Master of Magic Tower, even if I really possessed foresight.

“It will never happen, so rest assured.”

“Haha, then I’ll trust the Saintess’ words and put my mind at ease. Oh, and.”

Do you have anything else to say? He said with a bright smile when I looked at him with slightly wary eyes.

“Please visit the Magic Tower frequently. We’ll treat you like the best customer in the future because you’ve spent this amount of money at once.”

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted.

“Can I get a discount?”

“Do you want a discount if you make 500,000 Mars at once?”

Rizello let out a boisterous laugh as if he was having a good time making fun of me. Of course, I want it! Even if I had ten million Mars, that was certainly a huge sum, and it wasn’t something like spring water that didn’t dry out.

[TL/N: it means something in such a large amount, cannot be obtained easily and flows continuously.]

I have no idea how much money it would take to return to my original world.

“Huh, hm. Well, rich people always try every possible means.”

“Yes. That’s the first time I’ve heard you say something like that.”

I smiled awkwardly because I had nothing to say. Rizello finally stood up, as if he was about to leave.

“Then let’s stop taking away the Saintess’ time here today.”

“Oh, are you leaving?”

“If I stay five more minutes, the Saintess would kick my *ss and kick me out.”

Ugh, did I make it obvious that I wanted you to leave as soon as possible?

“I can’t help it. I feel like I am committing a very serious crime.”

“Haha, don’t worry. No one will notice.”

Rizello said with a big grin on his face. I still had faith in him because it was the word of a genius, the Master of Magic Tower.

“Then please go back safely.”

Make sure you don’t get caught! With such a wish, I sent Rizello off.

“Thank you for listening to Melody today, Lady Irene!”

As Rizello’s tone changed, he smiled brightly as soon as he got up from his seat. I had goosebumps all over my body. He is a gifted individual who would have excelled even if he had chosen to be an actor rather than the Magic Tower’s master.

‘Is Lady Melody aware that Rizello refers to herself in third person in his own peculiar way?’

She’ll be embarrassed and angry if she finds out. I slid onto the sofa after sending Rizello away. I felt exhausted.

“Lady Irene! Are you all right? Do you want me to refill your teacup?”

“Ah, It’s fine. I’m feeling a little tired, but I think it’s just my feelings.”

In fact, my body was completely refreshed. A little too much.

This has been going on since the afternoon of yesterday. I feel the urge to jump at once because my entire body is brimming with energy.

‘I’m wondering if the tea Cordelia gave me is still effective…?’

I wasn’t tired at all, despite the fact that I had been arguing with Mercy about the catalog since the morning. A Saintess’ power is really great. I marveled as I gazed out the window. I couldn’t help it, but I should put this excess energy to good use.

“Miss Annette, may I go for a walk?”

“Oh, I’ll prepare it right away!”

Annette showed up with a cute picnic basket thirty minutes later.

“Let’s head to the rose garden for a picnic, Lady Irene!”

“I’d like to do so! Is Dame Joan also going?”

“It is my responsibility to look after Lady Irene wherever you go.”

Even if she said something stiff, we’d go together anyway. I was thrilled at the thought of going on a picnic. Okay, let’s organize our thoughts while looking at nature. Then the door slammed open with a thud.

“Gasp!”

The sound of a startled voice was heard. I hardened as I turned my head and saw a familiar face.

“Mr. Lucian?”

“Lady Irene! How did you know I was here? You opened the door right away and I was surprised! Haha. Oh, this is not the time.”

Lucian rushed to deliver the message to me.

“The Commander is looking for Lady Irene. Do you have time?”

“…Me?”

Boom. I could hear my heart sinking into the abyss.

No way. Could it be?

I don’t think Rizello was apprehended for coming here and leaving.

“…Is he angry?”

“Yes? No! Why would the Commander get mad at Lady Irene?”

Lucian smiled strangely, as if I was saying weird things. But it was something I wouldn’t know. Because he’s good at maintaining a poker face.

“…Let’s go.”

Nodding heavily, I felt like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

“Miss Annette, Dame Joan, let’s have a picnic next time.”

Of course, if I was still alive. I said it vaguely, looking at the two.

“See you later, Lady Irene!”

Annette squealed with glee, while my face became tense. I followed Lucian along with Dame Joan.

As we walked down the corridor, the gazes of those passing by were drawn to us. There is also the whisper that ‘the Saintess is passing by.’ I was no longer bothered by the stares that had previously been a cause of discomfort for me.

I sneakily moved closer to Lucian and whispered,

“Does Sir Ian look upset?”

“Yes? No! You’ve been worrying about strange things since a while ago, haha. Our Commander has a bad temper at times… No, hmm”

Lucian kept his mouth shut, his expression indicating that he had made a big mistake. I gave him the look of someone who knew exactly what he was talking about.

“Stop hesitating and just tell me.”

“That, hmm. He can be cold sometimes, but only when there are plausible reasons for it. Don’t worry; it doesn’t happen every time. Furthermore, he is much kinder to the Saintess.”

There was a reason. Is it because I had a secret meeting with the Master of the Magic Tower, who had infiltrated the church?

As my body trembled when I assumed the possibilities, Lucian and I finally arrived in front of a door. It was Ian’s office, which I had visited several times and had gotten accustomed to. Lucian knocked on the door politely.

“Commander, Lady Irene has arrived.”

“Let her in.”

The low voice coming from within sounded like a Grim Reaper. I – huff – took a deep breath. Let’s calm down. I’m still perplexed as to why Ian called me. Perhaps it’s not because of Rizello.

I walked through the door that Lucian had opened for me.

“Are you here?”

Ian, who was seated at the desk, shifted his gaze to me. Papers were scattered around his desk, whether he was working on documents or not, and he held a quill in his hand. Ian then stood up, pushing them away.

Raising my head, I stared at him in astonishment. He had silver glasses draped over his nose bridge.

“…Sir Ian. Do you wear glasses?”

Instead of the thoughtful words I was about to say, a question popped out of nowhere as soon as I met Ian.

Ian is wearing glasses. It was a strangely suited literary appearance for him. His silver-rimmed glasses added to his cool visual, but his nose seemed sharp, as if something could be cut out if they touched it.

“I use it only once in a while. Like right now, as I have to read many letters as a grain of sand.”

[TL/N: It means the letters are really small to read.]

I noticed his voice lowering as he said that. A faint hint of fatigue and an irritated look is also visible on his face.

‘Did he stay all night?’

His eyes looked tired. I looked at the documents piled up on the desk like a mountain. Considering the amount, it seemed like Ian was the only one in charge of the Rehart Empire.

“By the way.”

Ian took off his glasses and approached me. Gasp. I swallowed my breath.

As he was suddenly wearing glasses, I became distracted for a moment and forgot something important. Ian looked like the Grim Reaper without his glasses on.

“What’s wrong with you? Your face is pale.”

Ian frowned slightly at me after opening his mouth as if trying to get to the point. I quickly thought of an excuse.

“What’s wrong with my face? My face is originally fair.”

Ian raised one eyebrow as if he had heard bullshit.

“Well. That’s true. Do you know why I called you?”

Gulp. I swallowed my saliva.

‘Do you know that?’

Are you telling me to say it with my own mouth? It was such a cruel treatment. Calm down, Lee Seoyeon. I quickly comforted myself. I don’t know how much Ian knew, so I pretended to be dumb for the time being.

“Eum. What did you call me for?”

Ian furrowed his eyebrows. He looked like he had heard something ridiculous.

“Did you forget?”

What do you mean by I forgot?

My heart pounded like crazy.