Upon hearing Maggie's words, Harlan raised an eyebrow slightly, a knowing smile playing on his lips, his tone carrying a deeper meaning.
"No need, the archbishop doesn't have the energy to cause you trouble lately."
Maggie was taken aback and looked the man up and down suspiciously, feeling that there was something hidden in his words.
"That would be best."
She didn't have the mind to analyze what Harlan was trying to say, so she could only politely smile in response to indicate that she had heard him.
"Your Highness, I have some interesting news to share. Would you like to hear it?"
Perhaps seeing her lack of interest, Harlan showed a hint of helplessness on his face and brought up another thing that could pique Maggie's interest.
I'll listen to what you want to say.
Maggie said she wouldn't force anyone; if she let Harlan control her out of curiosity, that wouldn't be her.
"About the Kingdom of Watia and your family."
As soon as Harlan finished speaking, Maggie's expression suddenly turned serious. This was indeed a very important matter, but how did Harlan obtain information about the kingdom furthest from Santa Fe City?
Seeing that Maggie was finally paying attention to him, a genuine smile finally appeared in Harlan's eyes.
"Has the Kingdom of Watia been heavily infiltrated?"
Maggie bit her lip silently, and after a long while, she managed to utter those words with difficulty.
In fact, she knew from the beginning that the Duke wanted to use her identity as the Holy Maiden of Light to open up the market for the Tumi potion in the Kingdom of Vatia, but given her situation when she first transmigrated, she was powerless to stop it.
According to the comic's plot, the poison has probably already quietly infiltrated many places within the Kingdom of Vartia, and many poor people have become addicted to it.
Every time she thought about it, she would feel a pang of fear, as if she had committed some heinous crime.
By standing idly by and doing nothing, strictly speaking, by taking advantage of her position, isn't she also an accomplice?
But she was clearly a victim as well.
She used to try her best to avoid thinking about these things, only wanting to survive while collecting evidence of Zefneaga's crimes.
Now that Harlan is mentioned in front of her, a mix of emotions wells up inside her.
"Hmm? You know?"
A look of surprise flashed across Harlan's eyes; she seemed not to have expected the Duke to tell her about such an important plan.
"I know, you tell me."
Maggie forced herself to suppress her terrible mood and managed a weak smile, though her voice was unconsciously hoarse.
"You're sad..."
Harlan seemed to notice that something was wrong with Maggie. The smile on his face vanished completely, and he took two steps forward to stand in front of Maggie, cupping her face in his hands.
If only I were more capable and powerful, being held back like this is truly unbearable.
"!"
Maggie was forced to look up and suddenly met Harlan's gaze. Before she could hide the negative emotions in her eyes, he saw them clearly.
What are you doing! Don't touch me! Did you waste all your time in your princely etiquette lessons?!
Maggie was already unhappy, and then she was startled. The little chibi character in her mind immediately jumped up and down in anger, pointing and gesturing at Harlen in front of her.
Harren paused, perhaps because Maggie's thoughts had changed too quickly and abruptly, and for a moment he was speechless.
[Wait a minute! You're not going to do something bad again, are you?! I still remember the time you hurt me!]
Seeing Harlan's somewhat strange expression, Maggie became wary, and the chibi-style figure jumped even more excitedly, with an angry exclamation mark appearing above its head.
"During this mission, I intercepted the largest batch of Tumi potions from the Zefnia family."
Harlan paused as he spoke, carefully observing Maggie's reaction.
With such close proximity and his deep-set eyes that seemed to gaze at everyone with affection, Maggie felt a heat rising on her face. So, after he finished speaking, she abruptly took two steps back and left his palm.
Once she realized what Harlan had just said, Maggie quickly snapped out of her almost shy state, her eyes flashing with intense, what could be described as surprise.
"real?!"
Maggie was surprised; then things weren't as bad as she had imagined.
Harlan looked at Maggie's completely genuine reaction, without the slightest pretense or concealment, and finally smiled and nodded.
"I have kept my promise to Her Highness the Holy Maiden. I have never broken my word before, and I will never do so again."
Upon hearing his words, Maggie couldn't help but recall the scene in the temple garden that day, when he asked her if she should show mercy to the Zefneria family, and she replied... no.
Harlan actually kept his promise; he remembered it.
Thank you.
Maggie felt a great weight lifted from her heart, so she bowed deeply to him and thanked him sincerely.
“You are my Holy Maiden, this is what a knight should do, Your Highness may command me at will.”
Harlan's gentle voice echoed in the empty corridor. When their eyes met, Maggie was stunned.
Does he even know what he's saying...?
If she hadn't known that the God of Light was asexual, she would have almost thought the wrong thing.
For some reason, all sorts of random posts that she had read before suddenly popped up in her head like boiling water bubbles, one after another. Maggie immediately lowered her head and refused to look at him again.
"Um... well, thank you anyway, I'll head back now."
Before Harlan could answer, she turned around and quickened her pace to leave the scene. She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, her mind would be filled with lust and she would say some perverted things.
My head may be severed, my blood may flow, but my public image must not crumble.
Every saintess's head is filled with fanfiction.
And so, Harlan was once again inexplicably left standing there by Maggie, without even finishing his sentence.
...
When Maggie returned to her room, she felt that even the air was much fresher. She had just received some wonderful news, and even the indescribable sense of guilt had disappeared. She felt incredibly relaxed.
“Maggie, I always feel like that paladin is a bit strange.”
Roy floated to Maggie's side, his expression conflicted.
"Are men and women not allowed to have intimate contact casually, or have I been deceived...?"
He tilted his head, his tone hesitant.
"Um...you remember correctly, it's him who's not normal."
Maggie didn't know how to explain, so she could only pin all the blame on Harlan.
Anyway, he was the one who started touching her without warning, so she's starting to doubt whether Harlan's germaphobia is real.
Could it be that the comic she was reading was fake?
"Oh, it seems he wasn't lying to me."
Roy patted his chest, looking relieved.
"He usually says these things to you?"
Maggie was curious; this "he" could only be a little ghost, not some other elemental spirit.
"It's none of your business..."
The little ghost appeared out of nowhere, its sharp eyes glaring at Maggie as it interrupted their conversation in a menacing tone.
"?"
I was glared at again for no reason; this was truly an undeserved misfortune.
Maggie said she was wronged.
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