"...."

Maggie remained silent. This man was far too clever; she knew she shouldn't talk to him too much.

"Or rather, can I take it as Her Highness the Holy Maiden being concerned about me?"

Harland's voice carried a hint of languor, as if he had dropped his pretense and was no longer the fair, gentle, and flawless knight commander he was; rather, he sounded more like an ordinary friend.

Maggie was momentarily stunned by his attitude, but after hearing the words "Are you concerned about me?", she instantly dispelled any remaining doubts.

She felt an urge to roll her eyes; she really shouldn't have trusted him.

Harlan definitely did it on purpose. He's too good at manipulating people's hearts. Maybe he deliberately set her up to soften her heart.

"...You're overthinking it."

Maggie didn't turn around; her voice was cold and unreadable.

"All right."

Harlan shrugged and didn't press the matter further.

Just as Maggie was about to push open the door to a prayer room, Harun suddenly stopped her.

"Maybe we should go somewhere else."

Maggie's elbow froze in mid-air, her mind racing. She and Harlan were now in the same boat, and she had no choice but to trust him.

"good."

Maggie lowered her eyes and softly agreed, then strode outside.

The two walked into the flower bushes, where there were fewer and fewer people around. Behind the cathedral was a large garden, planted with flowers that were said to be the favorites of the God of Light. Now, in the height of summer, the flowers were in full bloom.

Walking along the path, you can hardly see anyone.

This is a place Maggie often comes to alone. Apart from the nuns who come to water the plants at fixed times, no one usually comes here. It seems dangerous, but it is actually very safe.

"This is where we can talk about it."

Maggie stood under the tree, turning to face Harlan. Looking up, she saw a church with a pure white spire, and looking down, she saw a vast number of flowers. The nobles of this world loved all kinds of flowers, including the royal family and temples.

"Isn't Your Highness curious about the missions I've been assigned these past few days?"

Harlan stepped closer to Maggie, his voice suddenly becoming deep, his warm breath brushing against her neck, carrying an air of ambiguity.

"What?"

Maggie was uncomfortable from the close contact and was about to pull away when Harlan grabbed her waist with one hand.

Shh, someone's watching us.

Harlan said in a low voice.

Maggie was startled, but remained outwardly calm. It seemed that they had been targeted by Ford's men.

What are you going to do now?

Knowing that this person must have other motives for asking her out, Maggie decided to get straight to the point. Since someone was watching them, it was better to hurry up.

“Every task Ford assigned me was related to the Zefner family.”

Harlan's voice was like a rich, mellow black tea, flowing directly into the ear and instantly causing an indescribable itch to rise from the bottom of one's heart, coupled with the faint fragrance emanating from him.

If Maggie hadn't had such an incredibly strong sense of conviction, she might have succumbed to it.

"oh."

Maggie's initial nervousness vanished instantly, replaced by an eerily calm demeanor; she even seemed to want to laugh out loud three times.

Isn't this karma coming to pass?

I never expected Ford to target the Duke's mansion first. Did he think that by taking down the Zefner family, he could get rid of her as well?

What a pity! It's exactly what she wanted. She couldn't be happier if Ford dealt with the Duke; it would be a fantastic opportunity.

Maggie was in a good mood, and even her tone became much more lively. She also gave Harlan some serious advice.

"Then you should investigate thoroughly and not overlook any detail."

After she finished speaking, Harun didn't reply for a long time. His hand, which was on her waist, was loosely placed at her side. He seemed to be petrified, not reacting.

"?"

The man remained motionless and silent for a long time, leaving Maggie completely bewildered. Growing impatient, she simply stretched out her slender finger and secretly poked his stomach.

So hard!

The idea flashed through Maggie's mind.

Why aren't you saying anything?

She asked in a low voice.

"...No, does Her Highness mean that we shouldn't show any mercy to the Duke's family?"

Harlan seemed to only then realize the meaning behind Maggie's words, and spoke hesitantly.

"Huh? Who told you to go easy on them?"

Maggie was also shocked, and almost cried out like a duck.

However, considering that someone was watching them, Maggie could only force herself to lower her voice.

The original manga never mentioned that Harlen would show mercy to the Zefnia family. How could things go off track when she wasn't involved? That doesn't make sense!

"..."

And so, the two remained silent in what was almost an embrace for what seemed like an eternity before Harlan finally spoke softly.

"Would it be good for you if the Duke's mansion fell from power?"

This question made Maggie think about it on the spot.

From a purely self-interested perspective, if she were willing to accept the Duke's sins, she only needed to demonstrate unprecedented prophetic abilities to help the Duke overcome various difficulties.

With the demon king within her, she was even confident that no one would be able to catch the Zephnea family in the act.

The help that the entire Zefnia family could provide her was beyond imagination, far better than what she was currently struggling to obtain.

There's no need to worry about the downfall of the Duke's mansion affecting her.

Can......

She is a person first and foremost.

Finally, Maggie shook her head slightly.

"There's no benefit, but the Duke must die."

Harlan seemed to be thinking as well, and spoke carefully in his tone.

“If it were just a feud between you and your father, it wouldn’t be enough to make you lose the protection of the entire Zefnia family.”

These words left Maggie speechless, completely bewildered as to whether this person's thought process was broken.

"The entire Zefnia family has no reason to exist."

Maggie's voice was so cold it sounded like ice crystals were about to fall, as if she harbored an irreconcilable hatred. Immediately afterward, Maggie felt her wrist being gripped by this person again.

[The crimes of the Zefnia family are all true; not a single one is slander. The Duke is no different from a demon. Why show them any mercy? Wake up! You are a paladin of the Temple of Light!]

Sensing Harlen's actions, Maggie's thoughts changed again.

Why are you grabbing my wrist again? Aren't you supposed to be a germaphobe?! Is your germaphobia just an act?!

Maggie struggled for a moment, and the man finally let go.

"I see."

Harlan smiled and took two steps back, finally creating some distance between them.

What's wrong with you?

Maggie frowned. They both liked to grab each other's wrists, including Perkin. Could this be some kind of inexplicable tacit understanding between the God of Light and the God of Darkness?

"The people who were following us have left."

Harlan didn't answer Maggie's question, but instead gave a look towards the church.

Suddenly, a possibility flashed through Maggie's mind, and then her gaze toward Harlan became strange.

"You...you wouldn't be rebelling against Ford's plans against the Duke's mansion because of me, would you?"

In fact, Maggie wasn't sure either. The moment she said those words, she even felt a little narcissistic, but no other guess could explain Harlen's behavior, so this was the only guess she could make.

Maggie stared straight at Harlan, trying to find the answer on his face, only to see him slightly raise the corners of his mouth and softly utter a single word from his thin lips.

"yes."