We all went inside the closest restaurant, with Allen reserving the whole third floor for our use and foisting the food and drinks bill onto Darius out of pettiness.

Konrad even bought the most expensive wine to get back at Darius, and even urged Fion to pick the most expensive tea for me and him.

I knew we were a Ducal house, probably on the way to a Grand Ducal once my marriage to Konrad is done, and we were out shopping without a care for the world but it only sank into me that they spend money as if it's nothing.

Kieran had given me a warm, familiar smile while his younger brother kept to himself and quietly stroked the white fur of the carbuncle.

"Won't Corey be mad that we left him out of this lunch?" Darius asked Kieran while pointedly ignoring Konrad and Allen's piercing gazes.

"It serves him right. If it wasn't for his stupid suggestion of coming here to give the divine beast to its proper caretaker, I wouldn't have gotten into a useless fight earlier."

"Did Corey stay behind?"

"He probably went to your home, since he was the one holding onto your token."

I gazed at Kieran quietly, admitting deep within myself that I found him handsome and his voice being familiar to my ears, even though I don't remember creating him or his brothers before.

They were probably a small note in the corner of a character's profile, maybe created to be a love rival because every story must have that trope, and haven't been fleshed out.

Kieran lifted his eyes and was taken aback to see me staring at him, his cheeks and ears flushing red.

"W…what is it?" He asked me, flustered.

The grown men at the table instantly focused on the two of us, with Konrad slyly inclining his body close to mine, his arms crossed and a scowl directed towards Kieran.

"I apologise for staring too long but…your voice is somewhat familiar. Yet I'm sure we haven't met at all before."

Kieran blinked at me, slightly dejected by my words. "I see. You don't remember me saving you that night. I understand though, as I've heard it was traumatic for you."

I looked down on my teacup, sorting through my memories. Konrad must have noticed the troubled expression on my face when he reached out carefully for my hand and brought it up close to his lips.

"Even if the former prince claimed they were innocent, the fact that a person tried to impersonate me…the Principality still has to take responsibility for hurting you as someone from within their ranks still planted spies within your house."

Kieran scoffed at the display of affection and at the accusation thrown at his face, probably noticing I'm not comfortable with it.

Fion and Allen both reached over, slapping Konrad's hand off of mine, with Fion gently moving my seat closer to his.

☆☆☆

We returned home at the end of the day, with all of our purchases that weren't made-to-order all brought up to our respective rooms.

As Darius was giving orders to treat our new guests properly, two attendants came up to Konrad and Allen respectively, holding silver trays with a single envelope on it.

Both had frowned upon seeing the seal on it.

"Has our father returned?" Allen asked the approaching butler.

Konrad had picked his own letter up as if disgusted by it and flung it towards Fion.

I wanted to listen in and maybe even take a peek at the letters that arrived for them, however Robbe came up to me as well, holding the same silver tray with two envelopes on it.

One has the royal family's seal and the other has the official seal of the Bishop that is in charge of the Church of Anand in the kingdom.

My breath hitched upon seeing it as if it served as the key to unlocking all of my memories regarding this world, may it be from my past life or Aine's original memories.

I glanced back at Allen and Konrad, suppressing my fear.

I now remember.

The summons from the Church made Allen walk the path of the protagonist and had set the whole story into motion.

His goal was simple: to keep his blind and naive sister safe from the clutches of the members of the clergy, who wanted to use her as their puppet to raise a holy war and to line their pockets with gold.

That's why he reluctantly agreed to let her marry Konrad, the only person the Church wouldn't dare touch as they believed the sons born into the royal family are reincarnation of the First Holy Maiden's beloved son and the rightful king of the land.

However, the war still happened and with higher stakes as well, since a group who had been manipulating the clergy came out to the open to reap what they had sowed in order to call upon the Cursed One, the Lord of Despair.

The very creature that the First Holy Maiden had sealed away, and the reason why the system in the Holy State of Aenhe was established.

It was never because of the blessings to the land, but to continue on protecting it. If a Holy Maiden chose to side with one, the protection in other territories will weaken and the Despair's minions can squeeze through.

I jerked back to the present when I felt a hand on my wrist, letting out a panicked squeak when I turned to look at who touched me.

"Are you okay?" Darius asked with a frown.

My squeaking must have reached the others as they were all looking at us curiously.

Nervously smiling, I excused myself and quickly retired to my quarters, forgetting to grab the letters addressed to me, as I needed to sort through the newly unlocked memories.

That blunder would cost me my freedom, as Darius had picked the envelopes up with a scowl. He also read the contents before passing it to Allen, who then burned the letter from the Church when he tightly clenched his fist.