“I have a prior appointment with the lady.”

“I didn’t ask you.”

“Oh, was there a law that prohibited someone from answering a nobleman instead?”

Curtis’ sharp eyebrows shot higher and higher at Valérez’s sarcastic tone. I pursed my dry lips in fear that his raised eyebrows would escape from his forehead.

“Lord Ares! I, the Grand Duke and I will go have a little chat alone.”

“No.”

At my words, Valérez’s eyebrows soared to the sky as high as Curtis’. I glanced at their handsome eyebrows that formed rugged mountain ranges, and broke into a cold sweat.

‘What the hell is wrong with them?’

“It’ll take just a moment.”

“My lady.”

Ares immediately softened his expression at my troubled face and grabbed my cheek. I pat the back of his hand briefly to reassure him.

“I’m really fine. The Grand Duke is someone I knew at the Marquis’ residence.”

“Yes, I see.”

Valérez stepped back as if helpless. Glancing at his dead back, I dragged Curtis, who was standing with a sullen face, across the courtyard of the mansion.

“How did you know I was here?!”

“I had someone look for you.”

Yeah, he was a nobleman after all.

I could only laugh at his obvious answer.

“Why?”

“Didn’t I say it earlier? I will take you to the Grand Duke’s palace.”

“What do you mean by that? You just come out of nowhere to drag me back there?”

Curtis opened his mouth with a slightly embarrassed look, as if he expected me to naturally follow him to the grand palace.

“The Marquis of Abina has been looking for you since you disappeared. Wouldn’t it be difficult if you were caught?”

Even though I didn’t choose to be Lirina’s missing maid, the Marquis seemed to be chasing after me. I frowned as I recalled the face of that fat pig potato-like Marquis.

Of course, it would be troublesome if I got caught, but it was ridiculous of a choice to go to the grand palace now. There wouldn’t be a target character except for Curtis who was useless.

“Even if I get caught, I can take care of myself. It’s none of your business, Your Highness.”

Curtis shut his mouth at my firm refusal. I was amazed that his face showed a hurt expression as his lips quivered.

“That’s it, okay? Now go back.”

“But the saint is worried about you, too.”

“Jian?”

“Yes. If you don’t want to go to the grand palace, you can go to the temple instead. She will protect you with her status as a saint.”

I narrowed my brows furiously at the card that Curtis took out to persuade me. Just hearing Jain’s name made my head throb with pain.

“…Your Highness, you didn’t tell Jian that I was here, either,” I dreadfully asked, “Did you?”

My lips moved hesitantly at the eerie feeling of the moment.

‘Please, Curtis. I knew you were clueless from the time I started to play, but this time please!’

“Don’t worry,” he said and I breathed a sigh of relief.

It was great that Jian didn’t know…

“She promised not to tell a soul.”

You crazy bastard!

Infuriated with what Curtis added, I tore my hair off and screamed at the top of my lungs.

“Why are you revealing other people’s locations so recklessly?! It’s an invasion of privacy!”

“I spoke only to the saint because I was afraid that you’d be in danger. The saint promised secrecy.”

No matter how much she promised, that idiot saint that had udon noodles in her head instead of brains, couldn’t have understood Curtis’ words right away.

“Argh! That’s enough, go back now! I won’t go to the Grand Palace!” I yelled with a fierce cry and turned my back at Curtis.

As soon as I stepped into the front door of the mansion, a chilling sensation and a system window announced a new message had arrived.

You have cleared the <SYSTEM> quest.

I cleared the quest?

I didn’t know what quest I’ve cleared, but my spine tingled with chills. The system showed me a series of messages that arrived as I wiped off my cold sweat.

<QUEST> Build the karma of Curtis, the man of regret! (SUCCESS)

Curtis’ Karma: 100/100

Congratulations. You’ve accumulated all of Curtis’ karma.

Reward: 50 Holy Power, 30 Charm, and the title Maiden.