“Thank you so much! May the gods bless you!”
I repeatedly bowed to the High Priest, who had granted me permission to enter the Grand Temple.
He tilted his head slightly, as if he wasn't used to this kind of reaction from me.
“It seems your demeanor has changed since the last time I saw you, Lady.”
“Ah... yes...”
I flinched but forced a calm smile.
I had been so happy to receive permission that my real personality had slipped out instead of Irel's.
Wondering how I got permission?
“I am truly sorry, Your Grace!”
I simply begged with all my heart...
Ugh, how embarrassing.
“Well... as you've probably guessed, I've had a change of heart. One morning I woke up and suddenly realized I couldn't keep living the way I had. Haha.”
“That is certainly a welcome change.”
I had worried he wouldn't believe such an excuse, but the High Priest simply smiled kindly.
Placing a hand over his chest, he bowed reverently.
“Then I pray that the gods bless the new path you have chosen, Lady.”
“Your Grace...”
Not only had he forgiven all of Irel's past behavior, but he was even praying for my future.
Aside from Jenis, he was the first person to treat me kindly since I came here. My nose stung with emotion.
“Thank you. I hope the gods bless you as well, Your Grace!”
I waved at him enthusiastically with devoted eyes.
The High Priest stared at me for a moment before letting out a quiet chuckle and turning away.
“Then I look forward to seeing you again.”
Watching him slowly disappear into the distance, I turned around with a heart full of hope.
My destination was the lake inside the Grand Temple.
And there...
I was planning to kidnap the male lead.
'The novel mentioned that Lisid fell into the lake before he boarded Seria's carriage...'
I narrowed my eyes and checked the time.
'Thirty minutes left.'
The reason I could make this plan was because I had figured out exactly when Seria's carriage would pass.
I had casually praised the newly appointed Saintess in front of Edwin, Irel's older brother, who had been assigned as her escort. Delighted, he had eagerly told me everything.
Pure love really did make people forget their hatred for their own sister.
I had never been so grateful for that setting.
'Time to go.'
After taking a short breath and confirming no one was watching, I sprinted off.
The lake was still quite far away, so I had to run with everything I had.
But there was one thing I had overlooked.
'Why can I barely run?!'
The Empire's one and only ducal lady, Irel Blandiche...
...didn't have enough muscle to even be called physically fit.
As someone who used to run every morning to catch the bus to work, I was genuinely horrified.
I hadn't even run that far before my stamina completely gave out.
By the time I reached the lake, panting heavily...
...the thirty minutes had almost completely passed.
Without even wiping the sweat from my forehead, I frantically searched the area.
The lake.
The trees.
The bushes.
I carefully examined every place the male lead might be hiding when—
Rustle.
A faint sound came from somewhere nearby.
I quickly turned my head.
'...There he is!'
That black hair.
That round little head!
A tiny head was sticking out from the lush bushes.
At that very moment—
Seria's carriage happened to be approaching from this direction.
“No...!”
Panicking, I threw myself forward before thinking.
'I'm sorry, Your Grace!'
I successfully grabbed the male lead and stuffed him into my pouch.
...Though I also tripped over my own feet and rolled across the ground several times.
“Your Grace! Are you alright?!”
I hurriedly stood up and checked the now much heavier pouch.
I had held it tightly against my chest while rolling, so he shouldn't have been hurt.
“...Irel Blandiche.”
A cold voice answered me from inside.
Shing.
The sound of a blade being drawn followed.
“So you've finally decided to die for insulting the Imperial Family?”
My legs trembled, but I forced myself to stand.
The moment I saw Seria's carriage, I had acted without thinking.
Now it finally felt real.
I had actually kidnapped the male lead.
“I-I'm sorry!”
For stuffing you into my pouch when you were supposed to meet the heroine.
“But I'm only trying to help you, Your Grace.”
...And save my own life while I'm at it.
Moistening my dry lips, I slowly lowered my stiff neck.
Then—
'...What? He's even cuter than I expected?'
The moment I looked at his face, I stopped breathing.
Those crimson eyes shining inside the pouch were unbelievably bright and round.
The novel had certainly described the shrunken Grand Duke as adorable.
And I already knew Lisid Epenterion was absurdly handsome.
But—
'I had no idea he'd be this cute and this handsome!'
Earlier I'd grabbed him without seeing his face.
The black-haired, red-eyed Grand Duke had delicate, beautiful features.
His universally attractive face looked like a perfectly crafted porcelain doll.
I was honestly stunned.
“You claim to be helping me... Lady Blandiche?”
After a long silence, the Grand Duke let out a cold laugh.
His silky black hair swayed as he tilted his head.
The tiny sword protruding from the pouch pointed directly at me.
But...
'...What do I do? He's so cute that I can't find him scary at all.'
Some people become irrationally emotional when they see something too adorable.
I was one of them.
'So he didn't just shrink... he actually became round and doll-like?'
Suppressing the urge to pinch his soft-looking cheeks, I nodded.
'Get a grip.'
If I failed to kidnap the Grand Duke here...
Death was all that awaited me.
“Yes. I thought it would be dangerous if anyone saw you like this.”
I deliberately turned away from Seria's approaching carriage, trying to remain calm.
Then, in a trembling voice, I whispered the words I had prepared.
“Your Grace, did you know? The carriage over there is being escorted by Edwin... and the knights of my family's house.”
“...Edwin? The young Duke of Blandiche?”
“Yes.”
I nodded solemnly.
House Blandiche was known as the Emperor's sword, a family that had served the Imperial Family for generations.
And the current Emperor regarded his nephew, Grand Duke Lisid, as a thorn in his side, fearing Lisid might one day take the throne.
Naturally, the houses of Blandiche and Epenterion were far from friendly.
Especially Lisid and Edwin.
Having graduated from the same swordsmanship academy, they were famous rivals who despised each other.
'In the original story, Lisid tried to jump off the carriage the moment he saw Edwin.'
Lowering my voice, I looked around.
“Fortunately, I'm the only one who saw you. So please don't worry. I don't know what happened to you, but I'll find the person responsible for this.”
“...”
Hearing no reply, I cautiously glanced at his face.
His sharp eyes had gradually narrowed.
“What's your plan?”
“Huh?”
“I asked how exactly you intend to help me.”
His cold voice rang out once more.
Trying to hide my nervousness, I glanced sideways at Seria's carriage.
It had already reached us and was passing by.
'The original story has changed...!'
I deliberately stalled until the carriage had completely disappeared.
“F-First... I plan to take you to my estate. I'll hide you somewhere safe. You won't be in danger anymore.”
Those words were completely sincere.
Because I had arrived later than expected, Lisid had already fallen into the lake and climbed back out.
He was completely soaked.
My pouch had also become drenched.
'I should've brought a handkerchief.'
What if the Grand Duke caught a cold?
With Jenis's help, I had made the pouch from soft wool, but my preparations hadn't been thorough enough.
If only I'd brought a handkerchief too, it would've been perfect.
How unfortunate.
Then the Grand Duke spoke sharply.
“The Blandiche ducal estate? You're telling me to walk into enemy territory in this state? Why should I trust you?”
“Well...”
“You just mentioned Edwin Blandiche, yet your actions contradict your words. If you take me to your estate and hand me over to the Duke, who exactly will save me then?”
“Huh?”
His endless suspicion left me speechless.
Lisid let out a cold, mocking laugh.
“If you hadn't suddenly grabbed me and thrown us both to the ground, I intended to board that carriage.”
“I...”
“I was planning to ask a priest to purify this curse.”
“...”
“But thanks to the gracious Lady Blandiche... you've completely ruined my plan.”
His unmistakable sarcasm made me flinch.
