Inside the manor.
The servants had become very talkative.
"Did you hear? That groom beat a knight black and blue."
"What? I heard he ripped off one of his legs!"
"No way, I heard they fought over a woman, and in the end, the groom used dirty tricks to steal the knight's wife."
"..."
In just half a day, the rumors had mutated into something entirely different.
"Nonsense, all of it!"
"My brother won fair and square."
The maid slammed down her laundry basin and put her hands on her hips. "He was called away by the Lord to discuss rewards. Stop talking behind his back."
She was thinking:
Since Silas could beat such a sturdy, active knight, then Silas's part... must be very powerful.
No, no.
Must endure.
Wait until they get closer, until he has no guard against her and treats her completely as family... slurp.
The maid wiped away her drool.
The Convent.
Sia Rose sat in the Abbess's office.
"Are you saying that the assessment, which was supposed to just be a formality for Flores to provide a few bodies, turned into a very strict trial?"
She was asking the knight before her—a knight belonging to the Knight Order of the Church of Noe.
"Yes. In my view, the personal guard knight in charge of the assessment was taking his anger out on the candidates because he lost to a groom."
"...A groom?"
Rose paused.
"Yes, a servant responsible for the horses at Count Flores's manor. Although I didn't actually see how he defeated the guard knight, for that knight to remove his helmet and bet his honor as a knight to state the fact of his defeat... I don't believe it's a lie."
"What does he look like?"
"..."
The knight was stunned, confused as to why the Archbishop would be interested in a groom's appearance.
But he described him roughly. "Compared to other servants, he is a very young groom. His face isn't exactly exquisitely handsome, but he looks very approachable. I also inquired a bit; I heard he joined the Count's manor only a few days ago and hadn't shown any outstanding abilities in swordsmanship or combat before."
"I believe we should remind the Guard Knight Order to investigate his background."
"No need."
Rose waved her hand. "Go and tell Count Flores that tomorrow... no, the day after, I will pay a personal visit."
"...Yes."
After the knight bowed and left, Rose remained in a daze.
Joined the Count's service just a few days ago.
She had also just arrived two days ago.
And this happened to be the place where they once knew each other. It's almost... like an arranged reunion.
Of course his swordsmanship is outstanding. After all, it was a technique even Fiona praised endlessly. Facing the living dead and the fog zone that the Knight Order was helpless against, he solved it alone. Defeating a guard knight would be effortless... if it were him.
There probably isn't a lovers' reunion where the first step is checking teeth and the second step is touching the bump on the buttocks for confirmation.
It would take at least twenty days for Elena to reply. But she was becoming increasingly impatient.
She picked up the newly bought clothes from the wardrobe—over a dozen pieces.
The one on the left was too flashy...
The one on the right was too simple.
But it shouldn't be that ordinary, right? Wasn't he a merchant before? Then looking like a merchant's daughter or something wouldn't be bad.
What woman doesn't want to look prettier in front of the man she loves?
As long as she wasn't a nun. Nuns can't marry.
Knowing that Silas didn't just vaguely remember things about her, but could still use his swordsmanship, she was in a very good mood.
Even the fact that the Princess continued to ignore her didn't bother her anymore. Whatever, she would just go visit personally. She wouldn't have to deal with her anymore after that. She wanted to pick out more suitable clothes.
In the stable.
The smell of fodder and fresh horse manure intertwined.
"Do you not want to be a knight at all?"
"..."
Silas didn't know why the noble Princess insisted on coming here to find him.
"I only defeated him by chance. I appreciate your kindness."
"Why don't you dare look at me?"
"..."
Silas just ran through the risks in his mind.
He realized his current self couldn't possibly afford to be involved with the Royal Family. He was simply choosing to avoid the risk.
If you're going to pick a wealthy lady, you have to pick one you can control. He had no interest in being a Prince Consort.
"I'm actually quite troubled. Everywhere I go, people surround me. I might have an appetite, but when I see a servant test the food for poison first, I lose it."
"Yesterday I just wanted to ride out and play by myself. But there are always knights watching, and the horse wouldn't have gotten lost... I thought my riding skills were enough."
"Hey!"
"It's not like I did it on purpose. Going back like that yesterday would have been humiliating. And later, I told Count Flores that you're actually decent. But you have a mind for business."
"...?"
Silas shifted his gaze.
"Many people want to be a knight under me, but few make me want to proactively offer an olive branch. However, I don't like forcing people to do things they don't want to do. I said I'd give you a reward, and I will."
She seemed unaccustomed to being stared at directly, appearing somewhat bashful.
"Thank you, but there's no need for special care. I already apologized to that knight for yesterday."
Silas continued to mess with the fodder.
"Why apologize?"
"Because he wasn't going to do anything to you; instead, he was a knight begging you, hoping you would return as soon as possible."
"You hated yesterday? I just wanted to play a bit longer."
"Sorry, I think instead of playing with a groom, you should be with people of your own class."
This wasn't a game; there were no save files or re-simulations.
If she were just a noble lady with less power, he might gamble, but her status was too blinding. It sounded like a massive headache.
"Since I was a child, there is nothing I wanted that I couldn't get."
"..."
Unfortunately, I am not an object.
"But none of it was something I got myself. As soon as I speak, people deliver it. Things I liked would end up being things I dislike."
"I promise I won't cause you trouble because of my status."
"So, keep sneaking out to play with me, okay?"
"..."
"Ugh. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean it yesterday."
She started wiping away tears.
"During the day, I might have some time."
"Really?"
Seeing her stop crying immediately, Silas felt like he had been tricked.
The next day.
The Sister arrived in the city by carriage.
Besides preparing her clothes, she also planned to personally observe whether Count Flores stood with the Church or the Royal Capital.
If she wanted to make a home here, she needed a certain level of influence. For example, the Fiona family, which currently stood completely with the Church; even if the Church's power was subtly transferred to them later, there would be no fear of betrayal.
And if the Flores family stood with the Church, they would naturally have to consider the weight of the Fiona family.
Of course... what she cared about most:
"His job is a groom, watching horses at night. He probably sleeps during the day, right?"
After lingering near the Flores manor for a long time, Rose pulled the carriage curtains shut. She tapped the carriage wall, signaling the driver to continue forward.
On these streets, there were both people from the Guard Order and people from the Church... was he trying to please both sides?
If it were a time when the Church and the Capital were on good terms, it wouldn't matter.
Whatever.
No need to worry about that. At worst, she'd just move to an even more remote town in the future. She wasn't a frail, weak nun.
"Miss, you have excellent taste."
"This is lingerie that many women rave about... I guarantee that once you go back, your husband won't be able to look away."
"..."
Still feels weird.
He used to be the one giving them to her; now she was the one buying them. It really solidified her reputation as a "little slut."
"I'll take them all."
"Eh?"
"I-I'm buying them to give to someone else!"
Luckily she wore a silk veil, so she wouldn't be recognized.
Little slut it is, then. Regardless, if she could become the kind of woman who would make him retreat the moment he thought about playing the hero, that would be a good thing.
However, should she change the way they interact? At least, she couldn't just listen to everything he said anymore. Yes, she had to make the current, reborn him both afraid of death and lustful.
To achieve the latter, she had to ensure he had zero interest in anyone else except her at a single glance.
"See, if you want to be a merchant, you have to have the right outfit first. Yesterday I didn't have money, but today I'm paying for everything."
Just as the Sister finished packing her clothes and got on the carriage, she heard a somewhat familiar voice outside.
"...No need."
"Are you that unwilling to accept my kindness? I said it was the reward and compensation for yesterday."
"A groom doesn't need fancy outfits."
"You're the first one to refuse a reward after hearing one was coming. Usually, the people around me would say I should chop off your head."
"..."
"But as long as you tell me a story, I won't chop your head off. How about that? A fair deal, right?"
"..."
The Sister lifted the curtain. It was easy to see.
A woman wearing a hood, her figure comparable to her own, whom she had met once in the Capital. And standing next to her was a man in an old undershirt. Occasionally, they stood very close.
What are they doing?
How did she find out about her and Mr. Silas, and now she wants to use it as leverage?
For the first time in a long while, the Sister felt a surge of murderous intent, even if that person was the decreed next Queen—the person who currently held the real power behind the scenes.