Chapter 26
It was truly fortunate that Dimidius had come to help when she couldn’t even think of creating a white sphere. If she had been struck by Ancedo’s swinging sword, she would have been painfully injured or even killed. Thinking about that, it wasn’t the time to be angry at Dimidius.
Olentia spoke again, her voice softened.
“Thank you so much for saving me. That’s why I didn’t want to be angry either.”
Dimidius leaned his upper body forward, coming closer to Olentia.
She caught a faint scent of bitter tree bark.
“Even though you said back at the Perfume Museum that you didn’t want to be hated, there’s a reason for this.”
“You said you’d feel uneasy if I weren’t in your arms immediately.”
Those words still lingered deeply in her heart.
“Yes. You’re someone I want to deal with, so if you were hurt, that would be a huge problem.”
Hearing that, Olentia sighed and shook her head. Of course. It wasn’t a purely caring remark. He was acting like this because she was the only one who could receive his divine power at the moment.
Suddenly, Olentia felt drained. Her whole body sank, and she had no strength at all.
Seeing Olentia collapse, Dimidius reached out. His hand touched her shoulder.
“Are you hurt? Did something happen before I arrived?”
Olentia brushed his hand away and spoke coldly.
“Don’t worry about it. I can take care of my health myself.”
A cold silence filled the room. Olentia absentmindedly rubbed her shoulder, and Dimidius just watched her.
Why are you acting disappointed in His Grace the Duke? That’s odd.
Regaining her composure with effort, Olentia coughed awkwardly and said,
“I’m fine, so you don’t have to worry. By the way… did you follow me again this time?”
Dimidius avoided her gaze and shrugged.
“Yes… I suppose so.”
“You don’t even deny it anymore. Do you think that will make me His Grace’s ally?”
She asked, not to pick a fight but out of genuine curiosity. This was the first time she brought up anything related to him after seeing his pain.
Dimidius stiffened for a moment, then turned to look at her again. Through the eyeholes of his mask, his red eyes were piercingly intense, as if they could see right through her.
“I only hope you’ll become my contractor. I don’t intend to force you.”
That was unexpected. She had assumed that most people with divine power, being priests, would be uncooperative and try to gain an advantage over him somehow.
Olentia bit her lip and cautiously tested him.
“What if I had something His Grace needed? How would you respond?”
Even then, suggesting marriage immediately was impossible. Even a contract marriage carried enormous weight in the Bonus Empire.
Dimidius rested one hand on his chin and spoke in a more relaxed tone than before.
“Whatever it is, I will definitely deliver it to you, Lady.”
He exuded confidence, as if he could accomplish anything. After all, he was the only Duke of the Bonus Empire. Even if he wanted a gem from the depths of the ocean, it seemed like he could manage it.
Feeling a tension she couldn’t explain, Olentia swallowed hard.
The presence of Duke Dimidius Belial was overwhelming.
Unless the Archbishop canceled the wedding, it seemed as if she would inevitably end up in his grasp.
Only after ensuring Olentia had lain down to rest did Dimidius leave her room.
Immediately, Killen approached him.
“Your Grace! Ancedo… that man was smuggling forbidden magical tools. Upon investigation, it reeks of corruption.”
Dimidius lightly tapped Killen on the shoulder.
“Yes. There were a lot of magical tools. I saw them all. Count Odor went after Ancedo, so by tonight, we should have a clear picture.”
Dimidius thought that personally intervening while Count Odor was already present in the Odor Territory would be overstepping, so he left it to him.
Killen sighed, feeling he had been too late.
“Ah… I was too slow. I apologize.”
Dimidius put his hands in his pockets and shook his head.
“No. It would have been difficult to move alone without the other aides. Odor Territory is unfamiliar, so getting cooperation wouldn’t have been easy either.”
Normally, Killen had more than five aides. Coming alone to Odor Territory would have been exhausting.
Since Olentia was safe, Dimidius’s words were comforting. Killen bit his lower lip, knowing this.
In Ancedo’s secret warehouse were dangerous magical tools that should never be used, along with embezzled money. The scattered magical tools gave off an eerie feeling.
Count Odor was greatly dismayed upon seeing the minting date, location, and serial number on the gold coins. While the money was found, Ancedo—the embezzler—had vanished.
He was surely trying to escape Odor Territory.
Olentia… I should have trusted that child more…
Count Odor vowed to capture Ancedo. Failing to do so would make it impossible for him to face his niece.
Using the communication stone, he instructed the captain of the Odor Territory guards.
“We will issue a public arrest for Priest Ancedo of the Odor Cathedral. Make sure he doesn’t escape!”
“-P-Priest Ancedo? Why? What happened…?”
“He’s the perpetrator of the Odor Cathedral embezzlement case. More importantly, he threatened my niece.”
“-Yes! Understood! We’ll assemble immediately!”
After confirming the situation with the captain, Count Odor went to meet the Archbishop, carrying news the Archbishop would be most curious about.
“Why is the atmosphere so grim? Huh?”
Bobby approached Olentia, who was lying on the bed. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and her fingers twisted nervously. She seemed extremely uneasy.
Olentia held her hand tightly and spoke warmly.
“It’s because my uncle went to capture the person who deceived the people of Odor Territory.”
“So what does that have to do with you? Where did you go just now, Lady?”
Bobby’s voice wavered like a candle in the wind. Suspicion had clearly grown, as Olentia had been sneaking around.
The incident is almost over. I guess I can tell Bobby now.
Olentia checked Bobby’s reaction before speaking.
“So, here’s what happened…”
Of course, she left out the part about the prophetic dream. That was something she still had to be careful about. It wasn’t that she doubted Bobby, but it was far too important.
Bobby’s expression shifted from confusion to shock as she heard the story.
“Lady! What on earth did you do? Huh?!”
Bobby’s eyes went wide, and she even stomped her foot on the floor. It was hard for her to believe. The lady she thought was quietly staying at Count Odor’s house had acted alone in danger—it must have felt like a betrayal.
Olentia urgently spoke to Bobby, who looked on the verge of tears.
“Hey! Don’t cry! I’d feel too guilty!”
Bobby didn’t cry but wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and shook Olentia’s shoulder.
“Please, please! Whatever happens, tell me too! Do you think I’d oppose everything? Did I nag too much? Even if it’s for your sake, if you keep hiding things from me, I’ll listen to everything. So don’t do that anymore, okay?”
Bobby’s earnestness made Olentia almost share her sorrow.
Suddenly, she felt dizzy.
Olentia pressed a hand to her forehead.
“W-wait a moment.”
Bobby immediately withdrew her hand and checked on her.
“Are you still unwell?”
“Your forehead feels hot.”
“I’ll check your temperature!”
Bobby placed her hand on Olentia’s forehead and was shocked.
“You have a fever, Lady! Why did you stay still without calling a doctor?”
Feeling chilled, Olentia pulled the blanket over her neck. She just wanted to sleep.
“I was planning to call one anyway.”
Her voice gradually weakened. She felt as if the summoning maelstrom was beckoning her.
But she held on, waiting for Bobby to bring the doctor. She needed to explain the nature of the magical tools, their scent, and taste. Minor cuts on her neck had self-healed, but she wasn’t sure about the effects of the liquid magical tools.
Soon after, the doctor arrived.
After hearing the explanation about the liquid magical tools, the doctor spoke seriously.
“You need to be detoxified immediately. The antidote can be made from similar substances, so it’s manageable, but it will hurt for a while.”
It will hurt? How much?
From that day on, Olentia sweated profusely, waking and sleeping fitfully. Her temperature rose to 40°C, and her entire body ached as if beaten.
Even so, she was curious whether Ancedo had been caught and asked Bobby, who was nearby.
“Bobby, did they catch Ancedo? What happened with the incident?”
Bobby wiped Olentia’s sweat with a sad expression.
“They ran, and they’re chasing him. Don’t worry too much.”
“Ah, I see. That bastard.”
But the person who truly seemed doomed right now was Olentia herself. Half-delirious, she even conversed with Pieta.
Pieta appeared when needed but now teased Olentia.
[Malenga, are you okay? You’re about to die.]
So you usually appear in danger? But you don’t help.
[I woke you up! Don’t you remember?]
Ah, yes. I remember. I was hit by the liquid magical tools and woke up immediately. But after that, you told me to handle it myself. That annoyed me.
Even if wishing for divine power was human weakness, she couldn’t help it.
At that moment, Olentia realized she didn’t have the ability to create a white sphere immediately.
