When she arrived at the training grounds, a knight approached her. He looked as though he had been waiting for some time, since Selen had noticed him even before entering the yard.

“The Duke requests your presence in his office.”

He threw the words at her and left immediately. Selen would have liked to ask what it was about, but he was already far away, and she had the feeling he would not have given her any further explanation even if she had run after him.

Standing before the Duke’s office door, Selen took a long breath before knocking. When she heard permission to enter, she opened the door and stepped inside.

The Duke was writing at his desk while the advisor was organizing documents nearby.

“I was told Your Grace wished to see me.”

The Duke did not even lift his eyes from his papers. The advisor placed the files he was holding onto a shelf and approached her.

“Sir Anna, I do not know whether you are aware, but all knights sent by the Emperor must present themselves at the temple,” the advisor said.

At that precise moment, she felt the Duke’s gaze on her. He was studying her reaction. Clearly, his suspicions toward her were still at their peak. To think she might have some kind of connection to the temple? Of all people? What a joke, Selen thought.

“I was not aware. That was likely a task meant for our group leader, but given the circumstances…”

“Yes, unfortunately. Given those circumstances, you will have to go. The Emperor’s knights must serve the temple just as they serve the duchy. It would be inappropriate for you not to present yourself,” the advisor replied.

Selen nodded, bowed toward the Duke, and left the room.

The temple was far larger than she had imagined—almost as grand as the one in the capital. She stood before the building with sweaty palms and a pounding heart. The last time she had entered a temple, she had been regarded as a saint. She had healed many people and received gratitude and reverent stares in return. The sight of this structure reminded her of that time—and everything that had followed.

After a few minutes, she finally decided to step inside. She cast a sideways glance to see whether the knight who had been following her since she left the castle was still there.

The Duke truly was suspicion incarnate.

Selen wondered whether this business about presenting herself at the temple was even real, or if he had invented it to observe how she would react inside.

The priest was preaching, so Selen took a seat to wait. She noticed the massive statue of Belladore at the center of the altar and let out a sarcastic smirk. If only they knew that the saint they worshipped so fervently was nothing but a fabrication built from lies.

She paid no attention to the priest’s words. After all, they were the same ones she had heard her entire youth: the saint will return to eradicate the heretics, the saint will return to eliminate all disease, the saint will bring us prosperity…

When the sermon ended and the temple began to empty, Selen hurried toward the priest before he could leave. She wanted to get out of this place as quickly as possible.

“Excuse me, Father. I have come to present myself.”

The priest gave her a surprised look.

“And who might you be, my child?”

“I am a knight sent by the Emperor to serve the North against the heretics.”

The priest smiled.

“A most noble mission, my child. To serve the Empire—and above all the saint—by fighting heretics is a great calling.”

“Thank you, Father.”

The priest glanced around with a perplexed expression.

“Usually the Emperor sends more knights, does he not? Surely you did not come alone to present yourself?”

Selen put on the saddest, most pitiful expression she could muster.

“To tell you the truth, Father… I am the only one left. We were attacked on the road by heretics, and our group was wiped out.”

It lasted only a brief moment, but the priest’s smiling, honeyed expression twisted into something that looked like shock—and fear.

Selen thought she must have imagined it; she could not understand why he would react that way.

He quickly composed himself and, with a compassionate smile, placed a hand on her shoulder.

“That is tragic news, my child. Know that any knight who dies in the Lord’s path shall enter paradise and receive the saint’s blessing.”

Selen nearly burst out laughing. The saint’s blessing? She herself had killed those knights.

“I will take my leave, Father.”

“Wait, my child. I have a letter to deliver to the Duke. Would it not be better if you handed it to him directly?”

Selen smiled. The priest retrieved a letter from his robe and placed it in her hands.

“I trust you will give it to His Grace personally. He rarely visits the temple, and that is not a good example for the duchy’s people. The late Duke—may his soul rest in peace—was far more devoted…”

The priest shook his head as if chasing away old memories.

“I will deliver it to him personally, Father.”

Selen felt as though she could finally breathe normally once she had left the temple.

On her way back, she noticed that the knight who had discreetly followed her earlier was no longer there.

When she realized what had truly happened, she was stunned at having missed it.

The Duke had not been judging her.

He had been judging the priest.

He knew she would eventually mention the attack before the priest. It was the priest’s reaction he wanted to observe.

But why?

Even she had been unsettled by the priest’s response. Still, she could not grasp what lay beneath it.

A bitter smile crossed her lips at the thought of being used like a puppet.

She would have to teach that Duke that one does not use her without consequences.

He thought he was the only one capable of watching others?

He would see about that.

After returning to the castle, she headed straight for the Duke’s office. Just as she was about to knock, she heard voices inside.

She glanced around to make sure no one was nearby and cast a sound-amplifying spell to better hear the conversation.

“Would you rather let those people die when I can help them?”

It was Rose’s voice.

“It is an important battlefield right now. It’s too dangerous. Even if the situation is under control at the moment, you know very well that with heretics, things can turn at any second.”

The Duke’s voice carried clear irritation.

“Don’t you understand? A doctor belongs beside the sick—not here waiting for you to bring back the wounded.”

“I am tired of your obsession with trying to save the entire world, Rose. The only reason I allowed you to study medicine was because I thought it would keep you occupied and make you happier. But if it means putting yourself in danger, then believe me—I can shut down that hospital and find you a husband immediately.”

Selen grimaced in disgust. Using marriage as a threat was truly a low blow.

“You’re unbelievable, Jason. Always trying to control everyone’s life. If you truly wanted me to be happy, you would let me—”

“Enough!”

Selen flinched.

“All I am trying to do is keep this family alive for as long as possible. Don’t you see that there’s only you and me left? Our mother left us long ago.”

Silence followed.

“Do you even realize what you just said?…”

Selen heard rapid footsteps approaching and barely avoided being struck by the door when Rose stormed out.

“What now?” the Duke nearly shouted upon seeing her standing there.

The beast is angry, Selen thought.

“The priest asked me to deliver this to you, Your Grace.”

She handed him the letter. He studied it for a long moment before taking it.

“You may leave,” he dismissed her coldly.

Selen smiled as she left.

The Duke did not know it, but he had just given her a wonderful opportunity.

She headed toward the castle hospital and found Rose treating an elderly man. Selen sat on one of the beds and waited until Rose came to her.

“Sir Anna, what brings you here? Are you injured?”

Selen shook her head with a sorrowful expression.

Rose sat in front of her and took both her hands in hers.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my profession, it’s that what affects the body is not always physical. If something weighs on your heart, you can tell me.”

Selen hesitated deliberately.

“In truth… I overheard part of your conversation with His Grace. It brought back unpleasant memories.”

Rose looked embarrassed and tried to withdraw her hands, but Selen tightened her grip.

“I did not mean to make you uncomfortable. It’s just that my family also struggled greatly with my becoming a knight.”

Selen lowered her head pitifully.

“In truth, our families love us, Anna. My brother loves me. His problem is that he loves protecting me too much. He doesn’t realize I am capable of protecting myself.”

“You are right, my lady. I am sure the Duke cares deeply for you. Thank you for listening. It has been so long since I have been able to speak like this with someone.”

Rose smiled and released her hands as she stood.

“Come back whenever you like, Anna. You will always find a listening ear here.”

Selen smiled back before leaving the hospital.

She had successfully placed a tracking spell on Rose.

Casting such a spell required time and prolonged physical contact. She had initially considered placing it on the Duke, but she doubted she would ever have enough physical contact with him to manage it.

Still, she congratulated herself.

Rose was involved in the Duke’s secrets—and in the matter of the mysterious building behind the castle.

Keeping an eye on her would certainly prove useful.