After noticing the unusual interest Demus was showing in Liv, Charles offered to do a more detailed background check on her. He was uneasy that his master, who had never shown much interest in women in his life, was putting so much effort into her.

Naturally, he was suspicious of her since she had such a scandalous past.

Demus could understand Charles’ reaction. To the outsider, it would appear that the beginning of this relationship was a one-sided, desperate endeavor on Liv’s part.

“If she was that kind of person, she would have settled in anywhere.”

Demus replied casually, putting the report down and rubbing the corner of his eye.

“At least she’s been behaving herself lately…”

When they met in the greenhouse, she subtly rejected him, saying that they couldn’t have sex because she came with Coryda.

He could have forced her down, but he didn’t. It was because he liked the way Liv didn’t act like they had become something just because they had sex, or particularly changed. Better, she was rational enough to think about her sister in front of him.

However, that didn’t mean he was going to tolerate Coryda’s existence forever.

Still, that should be enough to get her to do what he wanted in any situation.

“It might be better that way.”

“Pardon, sir?”

“An ego that grows tall without difficulty is easily broken at the slightest provocation. I should probably get rid of this nuisance while I’m at it.”

Charles looked at Demus curiously. Instead of explaining it to him, Demus tapped a spot on the newspaper with his pen. There, dotted with black ink, was the date of the cardinal’s visit with the pilgrims.

The newspaper did not mention it in detail, but most likely the advance pilgrims would arrive in Buerno first, with the Cardinal arriving a few days later along with the rest of the convoy.

“Since the date of their request to visit me precedes this day, it is likely that Luzia will be arriving in Buerno before the Cardinal.”

Glancing at the dots of ink, Demus ordered Charles.

“Book an opera in time for Luzia’s visit.”

“… Opera, sir?”

Incredulity gradually colored Charles’ face.

“If you do that in front of the public… you won’t be able to avoid the rumor spreading within Buerno.”

“I was never going to keep it hidden forever, so it doesn’t matter.”

Even if he didn’t expose Liv Rhodes’ face, his appearance with a woman would be enough to set the town abuzz. Nevertheless, this didn’t bother Demus. He was used to being talked about, and unlike in the past, he was no longer in a position to be careful with his behavior.

“Besides, what’s the harm in having a rumor?”

“No, of course not… for you, my Lord.”

Dismissing Charles’ dubious mutterings, Demus rolled the pen in his hand over the newspaper. A few drops of ink splashed free, wetting the letters.

If it were revealed that the woman involved with Demus was Liv Rhodes, Liv would probably get a little troubled… but he was sure she would handle it in moderation.

And if things got so troublesome that she quitted her job as a tutor for the Vendons family, that would be even better.

“Oh, and I’d like you to buy some jewelry.”

With nowhere else to turn, she would settle down in his shadow, and he would enjoy his new collection.

He was generous with his money when it came to precious collectibles, so she would be surely delighted with the result.

Just like the first night they had shared.

***

Millian screamed out loud the second she saw Liv’s face.

“Aah! Teacher, have you seen the list of the pilgrims?”

“All right, all right. Everybody has been talking about it.”

Liv replied in a light tone.

She didn’t even have to look for it in the newspaper. Everyone on the street was talking about it.

On her way to work at the Vendons estate, Liv had heard a few names over and over again from passersby that had left her ears aching, and now those names were threatening to come out of Millian’s mouth.

“It’s Malte, the Malte! Oh, my God!”

“I see that your interest in Torsten is still strong.”

“It’s not Torsten, but Malte! They’re the protagonist of the engagement breakup that shocked the world not too long ago!”

Millian, a devotee of romance novels, cupped her cheeks and squealed many times. In her mind, Lady Malte had long since been honored as a courageous noblewoman who refused to marry for the sake of her passionate love.

In addition, Lady Malte was known for being a beautiful woman with honey-colored blond hair. She was probably nowhere lacking to be the heroine of many romance novels.

“Do you remember what I told you before? That Teacher Camille knows someone who serves the Cardinal. Well, I heard he’s close friends with Lady Malte! He’s also on the pilgrims list!”

At this point, Camille seemed to have no desire to hide the fact that he was hiding an extraordinary identity. Liv smirked and nodded, somehow not surprised by the news.

“So, would they be staying at the Vendons estate this time?”