Chapter 14
“You fool! Are you trying to disgrace the pride of the Holy Knights? Don’t you dare use such vulgar words in front of us, who carry out a sacred mission!”
“No.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I’m going to keep using them.”
It seemed this childish argument had been going on ever since before Catherine arrived.
For people who called themselves knights, they had made such a scene that many passersby had stopped to watch.
Fortunately…
Percival wasn’t among them.
She needed to get rid of the Holy Knights before the situation grew any worse.
“Sir Damian.”
“…Miss?”
“What’s with that outfit?”
“Stop arguing for now and come over here.”
Damian turned around.
The moment he saw Catherine wearing a paper bag over her head, his eyes widened.
After pulling him back, Catherine looked at the Holy Knight.
“What business do you have at my house?”
“Hm.”
“So you’re the owner of this estate?”
“You’re dressed in quite a ridiculous way.”
Catherine raised an eyebrow at his arrogant tone.
Who does he think he’s talking to like that?
“So?”
She answered him with the exact same attitude.
The Holy Knight’s face twisted with annoyance.
“How fearless.”
“But I’ll at least praise you for not running away.”
“You wicked demon worshipper!”
Demon worshipper?
“A mansion covered in such dark shadows in the middle of the city!”
“It was a wise decision to return through Christopher.”
“Did you think hiding in the Grand Duke’s territory would keep you safe from our eyes?”
Honestly…
There were far too many things that made her feel guilty.
Still…
Since they couldn’t see her expression behind the paper bag…
She answered only with her voice.
I know nothing.
I’m just an ordinary citizen of Christopher.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You evil worshipper!”
“Pretending to be innocent won’t work on me!”
Damian, who had been quietly watching, leaned closer and whispered,
“The Holy Knights really believe you’re a demon worshipper.”
“I think it’s because of that magic circle in the basement.”
I knew it.
That cursed magic circle has never done anything good for me.
What should I do?
The crowd around them had already grown much larger.
Several Holy Knights stood together while curious people watched from a distance as if they were enjoying a show.
Looks like there’s only one way.
If that was the case…
She had no choice.
Even if it meant becoming the subject of a horrible rumor afterward.
“My goodness… Marriage?”
“A romantic marriage?!”
“How wonderful! I can’t believe you’re proposing to me!”
Catherine shouted loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear.
Then she quickly whispered to Damian,
“Do you know his name?”
“Ah…”
“Carlos Benzen.”
As expected of lifelong rivals.
He even remembered the name of some random Holy Knight.
Without giving Carlos time to recover from his confusion, Catherine raised her voice again.
Not toward Carlos…
But toward the crowd behind him.
“Oh, my beloved Carlos!”
“You propose to me the moment you return from your mission?”
“Just how much are you trying to move my heart?!”
Carlos looked completely stunned.
He awkwardly cleared his throat and glanced around.
“What nonsense is this crazy woman saying…?”
“But Carlos…”
“I can’t accept your proposal.”
“I already know you have a lovely lover.”
“You’ve even shared a bed with her.”
“If you do this to me…”
“Wouldn’t that be betraying her?”
The whispers among the crowd gradually became louder.
Even the knights sitting on their white horses slowly turned their eyes toward Carlos.
Covering her face dramatically with one hand…
Catherine lowered her head in sorrow.
Though…
The paper bag hiding her face completely ruined the effect.
“I even covered my face to hide my tears from you…”
“But Carlos…”
“If you truly wish it…”
“I’m willing to run away with you!”
“We’ll leave the Vatican behind…”
“And build our own paradise together!”
“Damn it!”
“Shut your mouth!”
She had noticed it when Damian kept provoking him.
Carlos simply couldn’t tolerate being humiliated.
His face turned bright red with rage as he grabbed the iron gate.
Another Holy Knight quickly grabbed his shoulder.
“Please calm down.”
“Shouting won’t help anything, Sir Carlos.”
“We should report this to the Temple and wait for orders.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
“That crazy woman just ruined my honor!”
“And you’re telling me to calm down?”
“More people are gathering.”
“If we cause trouble in the Grand Duke’s territory…”
Creak.
Just then…
The door of one of the white carriages opened.
The sound was so quiet that it was barely audible.
Yet the two arguing Holy Knights instantly fell silent.
Their stiff faces slowly turned toward the carriage.
Both of them looked completely terrified.
“Haa…”
It was a slow…
Calm sigh.
Depending on how one heard it…
It also sounded slightly irritated.
For the first time in a long while…
The hairs on the back of Catherine’s neck stood up.
Because the one stepping out of the carriage was none other than…
Percival Benedicto Pachenrihin.
“How boring.”
He hadn’t changed at all.
His soft dark brown hair remained the same.
So did the gentle warmth burning within his eyes.
His appearance made him look like someone who would always walk the path of justice.
But Catherine knew better.
Everything about him was the exact opposite.
His kind eyes…
His gentle voice that felt like a spring breeze…
None of it was real.
Because he was…
A pleasure-loving madman who didn’t act anything like a Holy Knight.
“You’re too boring, Carlos.”
“And to make this dull show even worse…”
“You actually ruined the fun.”
“Being boring is one thing.”
“But being boring and lacking common sense?”
“Haha…”
“That’s honestly pathetic.”
“No wonder you’re a disgrace to the Holy Knights.”
“Don’t you agree?”
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“Cat got your tongue?”
Percival slowly walked over before casually throwing an arm around Carlos’s shoulder.
He smiled gently.
Yet his face was filled with boredom and irritation.
“Haha! Sir Percival, I…”
Although both were Holy Knights directly serving the Pope…
Their positions couldn’t have been more different.
Percival was the Pope’s favorite.
He was also the heir to the kingdom.
He was undeniably one of the five most powerful people in the entire Vatican.
“Carlos.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Thanks to you…”
“I’m dying of embarrassment.”
“Why don’t we just go back now?”
“Y-Yes.”
“O-Of course.”
The instant Percival removed his arm…
Carlos hurried onto his horse as if he had been waiting for permission.
Well…
That man can actually be useful sometimes.
If they leave quietly now, that would be perfect.
“How strange…”
Unfortunately…
Percival wasn’t that kind of person.
One step…
Then another…
He slowly walked closer.
Catherine frowned.
She had never been more grateful to be wearing the paper bag.
Percival rested his forehead lightly against the iron gate.
Then he quietly stared at Catherine.
His ruby-colored eyes felt as though they could see straight through the paper.
As if they were examining every part of her face.
Without realizing it…
Catherine gripped the paper bag tightly and took a step back.
“To think there’s another woman who does crazy things just like her.”
She was certain…
The “her” Percival was talking about…
Was herself.
She had assumed he had completely forgotten her existence.
She never expected him to mention her like this.
A strange sense of danger filled her chest.
“Hey.”
“What’s your name?”
There was a curious sparkle in Percival’s voice.
His taste really hasn’t changed.
There was no way she was giving him her real name.
So Catherine blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Goat Droppings.”
Percival merely raised one eyebrow.
He didn’t seem surprised at all.
Instead…
He stepped away from the gate and slowly backed off.
“You’d better be careful…”
“Goat Droppings.”
“My friend Carlos…”
“The only thing he inherited was his bloodline.”
“He’s narrow-minded.”
“And he never lets go of a grudge.”
With a playful laugh…
Percival climbed back into the carriage.
The Holy Knights of the Vatican soon disappeared toward the city, leaving a cloud of dust behind.
“Haa…”
Whatever happened afterward could wait.
The important thing was that it had ended here.
Talking with Percival any longer would’ve brought nothing but trouble.
Catherine pulled the paper bag off her head and returned to the mansion.
After dinner…
Everyone naturally gathered in the drawing room.
In front of the crackling fireplace…
Rosé quietly embroidered a handkerchief.
Damian sat nearby, nodding off.
Everyone looked a little tired.
“Everyone…”
“Please pay attention for a moment.”
Damian slowly opened his eyes.
Once everyone was looking at her…
Catherine began speaking.
“Mr. Damian.”
“This is Miss Rosé.”
“She’s our maid…”
“Our attendant…”
“And our butler.”
Rosé blinked in surprise.
Then she smiled brightly.
“Ah!”
“So it’s finally time for introductions?”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Damian!”
“I’ve never seen such a young and handsome gardener before.”
“Hehe.”
“A lovely young lady and a handsome gardener.”
“I must be very lucky.”
“And this is…”
Suddenly…
Damian’s eyes widened.
He stared straight at Catherine.
The sleepy look in his eyes vanished instantly.
His gaze clearly told her not to reveal who he really was.
That actually made things much easier for Catherine.
Explaining everything would’ve been troublesome anyway.
“This is Mr. Damian.”
“He’s working here as our gardener.”
“He’ll be staying with us for only ten days.”
“Yes.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Rosé.”
“Oh…”
“Only ten days?”
“That’s such a shame.”
Rosé sadly placed the handkerchief on her lap.
“More importantly…”
“What are we going to do now?”
“Judging from that pig of a Holy Knight…”
“I don’t think he’ll let this go.”
“Hmm…”
“What is there to worry about?”
“Miss…”
“I mean…”
“Isn’t this what Lord Cesare is for?”
Damian seriously held up his little finger in front of Catherine.
“No matter how arrogant those fools are…”
“They wouldn’t dare make a sound in front of Lord Cesare.”
“If you tell him what happened today…”
“They’ll definitely end up like I did.”
Ask Cesare for help?
On what grounds?
They weren’t lovers.
They weren’t even friends.
Not relatives.
Not teacher and student.
They weren’t even ordinary neighbors.
Asking someone like him to protect her…
When they barely had a relationship…
Would be shameless beyond belief.
Catherine didn’t want to owe Cesare anything.
Especially when she remembered that smug face of his.
She quietly stared into the flames of the fireplace.
Then she noticed Damian staring at her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Unable to endure it any longer, she finally asked.
Damian immediately replied,
“May I ask you one question?”
“No.”
Just as expected…
Damian ignored her answer without hesitation.
“I’ve been dying to ask this ever since earlier.”
“Miss…”
“How exactly did you win Lord Cesare over?”
“He’s the kind of man who doesn’t even know the first thing about romance.”
