ILOIML 48

Chapter 48

“What are you doing?”

Leon tilted his head and asked innocently. Both I and Cassia couldn’t answer his question and just stared at him.

“…Your Grace, it’s been a while.”

Cassia was the first to come to her senses and greeted him politely. Leon looked at her, nodded, and then turned back to me.

“Were you waiting for me? Why are you standing? Your legs will hurt.”

Leon grabbed my hand and led me to the sofa. He sat down next to me. Cassia, who was watching us, also came back and sat where she had been sitting before.

“We’ll step out for now.”

Amy and Mary looked at us in turn and quietly left, closing the parlor door behind them.

“I just…”

“Your Grace…”

Cassia and I spoke at the same time, then fell silent and looked at each other. Her eyes meeting mine in the air somehow felt sharp and uncomfortable.

“Saintess, I’d like you to leave this place now—or rather, our house.”

“I still have something to say to His Grace.”

As tension sparked between us, Leon turned to look at Cassia. His gaze toward her had changed from before. Seeing his eyes made me nervous.

“Just leave peacefully…”

“What are you talking about?”

Before I could finish, Leon suddenly asked Cassia.

“Leon, get up. Want to play a game with Bell-bell?”

I took his hand and tried to stand up. But Leon pulled his hand away from mine.

“No, the Saintess said she had something to tell me. Leon wants to hear it.”

He pouted his lips as he spoke. I let out a deep sigh and leaned back against the sofa, folding my arms, waiting for Cassia to speak. It was going to be a ridiculous story anyway, and I was sure Leon wouldn’t take it seriously.

“Her Grace the Duchess… took the Holy Sword, Aesar…”

“Cassia!!”

You should’ve just said I walk around dragging monsters with me. Talking about Aesar? That hadn’t even been discussed. I glanced at Leon and gave Cassia a desperate look.

‘Please, just let it go this once.’

That story can’t be said—especially not in front of him, the one I sold it to.

“Ei… What?”

Leon pretended not to understand and asked again.

“Aesar. The Duchess stole the legendary holy sword Aesar and sold it to someone.”

“…”

I looked at Leon nervously and slowly stood up. I really wanted to escape. Cold sweat dripped from my clenched hands, and I wiped them on my dress. But as soon as I stood up, Leon grabbed my hand and made me sit again without even glancing at me.

‘Wait… he’s calmer than I expected?’

Could it be that he already knows I’m the one who exchanged the promissory note at the bank? No way. I was so careful with my disguise…

Suddenly, Leon started clapping.

“Wow! Our Bell-bell made money! Hehe. Bell-bell’s money is mine too, right? Right, Bell-bell?”

“…”

“But Bell-bell, stealing is bad. It’s wrong.”

Leon scratched his chin and looked at me. Even with his innocent face, his dark eyes looked a little scary.

“W-Who stole anything? I didn’t steal! Saintess, say something. Tell him I didn’t steal it!”

Cassia stared at me for a moment and then turned her head coldly.

“And… Her Grace the Duchess is possessed by a demon.”

“What?”

Now even Leon was surprised. He let go of my hand and scooted far away.

“Saintess, how did you know?”

He looked between me and Cassia and asked her.

“Did Your Grace also suspect it?”

Cassia smiled faintly. Her eyes were full of confidence, like she had won. I was speechless and looked between her and Leon.

“Bell-bell is possessed by a lewd demon. A wolf.”

For a moment, I was tense, but now I covered my face with both hands and let out a long sigh of relief.

I was so tense for no reason. But now, strangely, I felt at ease.

I turned to look at Cassia. She stared at Leon in disbelief. Her body trembled slightly, maybe from anger.

She must have felt my gaze, because she suddenly turned her head and looked at me coldly.

“So, the temple will now begin an official investigation into the Duchess.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Leon tilted his head and asked. His voice sounded innocent, but his tone was not. It felt oddly hostile. Cassia frowned and looked at both of us in confusion.

“…”

“You’re going to investigate our Bell-bell?”

Since Cassia didn’t answer, Leon asked again. Still, she didn’t respond. It seemed she was at a loss for words.

‘Our Bell-bell…?’

I kept repeating those words in my head, overwhelmed with emotion.

He called me ‘our Bell-bell’—right in front of the female lead, Cassia! It felt pretty amazing. I barely calmed my racing heart.

“Leon…”

I softly called his name with a dreamy voice.

“Why do you sound so cheesy? Even your voice is possessed by the lewd demon.”

Leon looked disgusted as he said it. But I was too touched today to argue. I just smiled gently.

“…The temple’s right to investigate is sacred. Even His Majesty the Emperor cannot refuse it. If the Duchess has no connection to the demon, then nothing will happen.”

She was determined to investigate me. Leon’s hand trembled. The air between him and Cassia crackled with tension. And it definitely wasn’t a good kind.

‘Is it okay to leave things like this?’

Of course, I was happy with how Leon acted, but deep down, I felt heavy. The male and female lead are supposed to work together to end the era of demons… I’m supposed to get in their way a little so their love can blossom. But now it felt like Cassia was trying to get rid of me. Was something wrong?

Maybe I’m just seeing it from my side. But people’s feelings can change easily. They could fall in love any minute. That thought made me cringe. Do they have to fall in love to save the world?

Can’t we just cooperate as a business deal? I found myself wanting that.

“Then… don’t torture our Bell-bell too much. Be gentle, okay?”

“….”

I scolded myself for getting my hopes up. I glared at Leon with narrowed eyes. He looked back and winked.

“Your Grace, how do you see us who serve the god Rianus? Even a Grand Duke shouldn’t insult us like that.”

“You’re just thieves. Bell-bell is wasting money on your temple. Boohoo.”

He meant the money I donated to the goddess Thea’s temple. I shook my head.

“It’s okay. Bell-bell’s going to give it to me now. She earned money.”

Leon looked at me with a creepy glint in his eyes.

“I only promised donations for Leon’s safety…”

“What are you two doing, talking like this in front of me?”

Cassia suddenly cut off my words, clearly annoyed. Leon and I turned to her at the same time.

Cassia stood up and stared at us—well, at me—and gave a warning.

“Please cooperate sincerely with the temple’s investigation. I’ll take my leave now.”

She bowed politely and walked out of the parlor without giving me a chance to follow. I tried to stand and at least give her a formal farewell, but Leon grabbed my hand and made me sit again beside him.

I sat there, held by Leon, watching the door close with a loud bang.

“If the temple sends an investigation request, don’t go.”

“But the Saintess is right. If I have nothing to hide, nothing will happen.”

If the order came from the temple, I’d have to obey—even if it didn’t make sense. Even the Emperor couldn’t ignore a temple order.

Still, why was Cassia treating me like this? Was she really that upset that I got Aesar first?

As I thought about it, I felt Leon’s gaze. I turned to find him quietly looking at me.

“…You’re worried about me, aren’t you?”

I cautiously asked. His eyes clearly showed concern.

“Who’s worried about who?”

Leon looked away as he answered.

Wait, he really is worried about me?

“Why are you embarrassed?”