"Your Highness, it seems that Sir Rupert has only recently recovered from the curse, so it might be best if he takes some rest now," the Saintess suggested gently.

"Oh, I almost forgot that you’re still recovering, Sir Rupert. I was just so eager to share the good news that I overstepped," the Crown Prince responded with a sheepish smile, patting Rupert on the shoulder.

Rupert, who was still trying to make sense of the situation, could only muster a forced smile in response.

‘What’s going on? Why is the Saintess doing this?’ Rupert wondered, puzzled by her behavior.

The Saintess's expression and response were so natural that if Rupert hadn’t known the full story, he might have been completely convinced. But the way she glanced at him, as if she knew everything, made Rupert even more uneasy.

"Let me bless you before you leave, Your Highness," the Saintess offered.

"Oh, but this wound has already been healed by a potion…," the Crown Prince began to refuse, but the Saintess had already placed her hand on his right shoulder and began to pray.

Her hand began to glow with a soft light, and the Crown Prince's expression quickly shifted to one of surprise.

"What is this…?" he asked, astonished.

"A potion can’t regenerate nerves. This will prevent any lingering pain," the Saintess explained with a smile.

"Thank you. I didn’t realize there could be such a difference," the Crown Prince replied, genuinely grateful.

"It’s nothing. It’s a small repayment for someone who brings peace to the world," she said, smiling warmly.

The Crown Prince, a bit embarrassed by the praise, turned to Rupert.

"Sir Rupert, it seems it’s time for me to return to the palace. Let’s end our meeting here," he said.

"Your Highness…," Rupert began.

"Once the reports are completed, I’m sure there will be rewards for those involved in this matter. We’ll meet again then," the Crown Prince said before taking his leave with his knights.

He paused briefly to comfort Ada, who was whining about him leaving without playing with her, and then departed as suddenly as he had arrived.

Rupert was left standing at the entrance of the Somerset estate, watching the Crown Prince leave. Yet, he still had two other significant figures to deal with, and they were no less troublesome.

As they watched the Crown Prince depart, Rupert overheard the Saintess muttering something under her breath.

“The Crown Prince and the Earl’s second son… that could work.”

Rupert caught bits and pieces, but it was hard to decipher her exact meaning. Something about the Crown Prince and a second son…

"Lady Amelia, thanks to the Saintess’s intervention, we’ve managed to resolve this incident without issue. Please don’t worry too much," Rupert said, turning to Amelia.

"Thank you," she replied softly.

Rupert remembered her as a confident woman from their last encounter at the banquet, but now she seemed deflated, likely due to her recent mistake.

‘It’s understandable,’ Rupert thought. The daughter of a duke, cooking a meal that caused everyone who ate it to collapse—it’s the kind of story any noble would want to avoid.

Nobles live and die by their reputation, and for the eldest daughter of a duke, this was a particularly mortifying situation.

"Even so, I’m grateful that you visited to check on my health," Rupert said, trying to reassure her.

Amelia seemed to appreciate the gesture but still looked downcast. Perhaps she thought she had overstepped by coming to check on him, or maybe she felt guilty for her unintentional mistake.

‘I never expected her to come all this way, especially after hearing I was unwell,’ Rupert thought.

He appreciated her concern and the efforts she had made, even though things hadn’t gone as planned.

In the original story, she was always portrayed as someone who deeply valued her family, and Rupert found that he still liked her for that.

No, he admitted, perhaps he liked her even more now.

In the story, Amelia was depicted as a stoic and elegant figure, but the sides of her he was seeing now—her vulnerability and sincerity—made her feel more real to him, much like how the Crown Prince had revealed a more human side earlier.

"I'm sorry… I didn’t realize how bad I was at cooking. I’ve become so used to my family that I didn’t think my skills were lacking," Amelia said, finally letting her tears fall.

Her father and sister Evelyn would often eat her cooking, despite its flaws, out of love for her, and everyone around her kept praising her for improving day by day. So, she had been confident.

This incident had been a harsh shock.

On top of that, she had shown this side of herself to someone she wanted to impress. The thought of facing Rupert again filled her with dread.

The embarrassment of her poor cooking skills was one thing, but to have caused such a mess in front of both the Saintess and the Crown Prince—it was too much to bear.

‘I’ve been fooling myself…,’ she thought, suddenly realizing that perhaps Rupert didn’t feel the same way about her.

After all, the evidence she thought proved they had a connection was just in her head. They hadn’t exchanged letters filled with affection, nor had they ever spoken deeply with one another.

Just recently, she had been dreaming of a tragic, unattainable love with Rupert, imagining a life together at the academy. Now, that seemed foolish.

Amelia couldn’t even bring herself to lift her head.

But then,

"Please don’t say that. Although I didn’t get to taste the meal you prepared this time, I really do want to try it someday," Rupert said, offering her a handkerchief with a warm smile.

Amelia looked up at Rupert in surprise.

The bright daylight gently illuminated his golden hair, and the sunlight created a soft glow behind him, making his face clear and visible.

The Rupert she saw before her wasn’t just saying words to comfort her—he truly meant them. He wore a gentle smile that reached his eyes, showing his sincerity.

The Rupert she had met before seemed cold and distant, his smiles often feeling like they were hiding something darker.

But now, he seemed so much brighter, more genuine.

"Do you really mean it…?" she asked hesitantly.

"Of course," he replied without a moment’s hesitation.

Seeing his unwavering smile, Amelia wiped her tear-stained cheeks with the handkerchief and managed to smile back, hoping this time her feelings weren’t just wishful thinking.

"Thank you for your help," Rupert said.

"No need to thank me. I just thought the situation was becoming quite interesting, so I decided to lend a hand," the Saintess replied, smiling.

With Lady Amelia’s visit resolved, Rupert was now left with the final issue: the Saintess herself.

She had been the first to arrive and was the last to leave, yet her true intentions remained a mystery.

Initially, Rupert had thought she would be the most normal of the major characters to seek him out, but now he had his guard up to the highest level.

He still didn’t understand why the Saintess had helped him today, and that uncertainty made him wary.

As expected, once everyone else had left and they were alone, the Saintess's demeanor shifted entirely from the gentle and saintly woman she had presented earlier.

Rupert took a cautious sip of the coffee on the table as he observed her closely.

Even now, she maintained an innocent expression as if she knew nothing, but Rupert was convinced there was something hidden behind that facade.

"About a month ago, Sir Eustaf and Sir Harun visited the palace," the Saintess began, seemingly unfazed by Rupert’s scrutiny.

"They mentioned something related to dark wizards," she continued, her tone casual.

The Saintess then went on to explain that the Goddess Church had also conducted its own investigation into the matter, uncovering various incidents, which she shared with Rupert.

While the information she revealed was shocking, Rupert was more alarmed by the fact that the Goddess Church had the capability to gather such detailed intelligence, even about secret investigations being conducted by the royal family.

‘No wonder they’re said to be the only power that can rival the royal family,’ Rupert thought, feeling his wariness towards the Saintess increase.

The information she had shared was of the utmost importance, known only to the highest-ranking officials within the Empire, and yet she had casually relayed it to him. That made him deeply uneasy.

Typically, after such a conversation, the other party would reveal what they wanted. The fact that the Saintess had not only lied to protect him but had also shared such critical information with him suggested that she might have a dangerous request in mind—one that could very well risk his life.

"It seems the Crown Prince, perhaps due to some misunderstanding, believes that the Somerset estate is under threat from dark wizards," the Saintess said, smiling as if she found the situation amusing.

The Saintess’s smile, which had once seemed pure and holy, now appeared far more unsettling to Rupert.

"Sir Rupert," she said, her tone suddenly serious.

"Yes, please speak," Rupert responded, bracing himself.

"I considered this matter to be nothing more than helping a child of my Mother who was in need, but I’m concerned that you might feel burdened by it," she said, her words elegant but laced with underlying meaning.

Translated bluntly, she was essentially saying, "You know you owe me, right?"

"Indeed, I would be unable to sleep at night if I were to ignore the grace bestowed upon me by the daughter of Gaia," Rupert replied, equally formal but direct, as if to say, "Just tell me what you want already."

"I would feel guilty keeping a devout follower awake at night. May I ask a small favor?" the Saintess asked, her tone sweet yet firm.

"Of course, whatever it may be," Rupert replied, though internally, he braced himself.

Given how much the Saintess had drawn out this conversation, Rupert suspected that she was going to ask him to paint a mural or a sacred image for the church. It was unlikely that she had any designs on the Somerset estate’s wealth or property, as that would be insignificant compared to the riches of the Goddess Church.

The only thing of real value he possessed was his skill as an artist.

A mural or sacred painting would be time-consuming and difficult, but given the situation, he would have no choice but to accept, no matter how much he wished to decline.

‘It’ll be tough, but at least I’ll have gotten through this crisis,’ Rupert thought, already resigned to the extra workload.

The prospect of suddenly having to take on such a task was daunting, but considering that he had narrowly avoided being dragged off for insulting the royal family, he counted it as a fortunate outcome.

Mural or sacred painting commissions were difficult, yes, but if completed well, they could lead to many future opportunities.

"Could you paint a picture for me?" the Saintess asked bluntly.

Rupert, steeling himself for the challenge, was about to respond with acceptance when she continued.

"I’ve thought long and hard about it, but I think the scene of Edmund Eldric and Lloyd Cavallo embracing each other would be perfect!"

Rupert froze, his mind going blank as he processed her words.