“I know, right? Why did you do that?”

Yulik asked.

“Are you asking me if I know what I’m talking about?”

Clive shook his head and told him that he should have seen it by now. 

Yulik was Clive’s shadow. 

He is always by his side but hides according to the situation.

Clive had already told Yulik of the fake Aishe, so he knew without explaining it. 

If his kiss with Eirene had taken place in the cafe’s private room, Yulik wouldn’t have known about it. 

However, Clive had no intention of kissing Eirene. He was not a pervert who would kiss just any woman he was interested in.

Clive didn’t even know why he turned his head at that moment. 

Eirene had pretty lips. Her exceptionally pale skin and lips, dyed red like a rose piqued his attention. 

Still, it wasn’t enough to make him lose his rationality.

“You fell in love with her, right?”

Yulik said it nonchalantly.

“In love? Who? Me?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Then why did you turn your head to kiss her?”

“It was just a joke. She’s not even beautiful.”

“Oh come on. She’s almost pretty, you could fall in love with her. In fact, Lady Vikes is more ravishing.”

“I don’t like little girls like Lady Vikes.”

As soon as Clive was done talking, he informed Yulik that Lady Vikes was the real Aishe.

“The more I know about Count Phineos, the more surprising it is.”

Count Phineos knew that deceiving the Imperial Family was the same as treason. 

It’s surprising that Aishe was hidden and has been changed to Eirene, and what’s even more surprising is that Aishe is socially active under the same name as a lady from another family.

“I wonder if Count Phineos is bold or fearless. Either way, the price to pay will be high, and it’s clear that there is something I believe in.”

“I hope your prediction is wrong.”

“I don’t care if I’m right.”

“But are you admitting that you fell in love?”

“I already said no.”

“Yes, yes.”

Yulik answered with little enthusiasm.

Clive, who was staring at Yulik, turned around abruptly.

“We’ll see, Your Highness.”

Yulik laughed, lowering his voice so Clive couldn’t hear it.

* * * * * * * * * *

Eirene got out of the carriage once she arrived at Phineos Mansion.

She tapped her chest, and Betty quickly ran towards her.

“Sigh. Did you get dizzy again?”

“Yes, a little.”

However, this time it was tolerable. 

Eirene exhaled a little, and Betty whispered as she helped her.

“Lord Siaran is waiting for you.”

“Is he waiting for me?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s important.”

Siaran rarely visited Eirene since she stopped giving Aishe divine power. 

He always smiled at her whenever he visited, but they never had a long conversation.

Eirene looked forward to what he had to say. 

The moment Eirene entered, the servants pretended to be absorbed in their work.

She saw that they too were trying to find out what was going on.  

Betty quickly figured out the situation and stayed right next to her.

“Let’s go straight to Siaran.”

“Shouldn’t you take a break?”

“it’s all right.”

With Betty’s guidance, Eirene went to the tea room where Siaran was waiting. 

Siaran might be surprised by Eirene’s changed appearance, but he had the same expression as usual. 

“Welcome my Lady.”

Eirene didn’t answer.

She walked over and sat down.

“Betty, I’d like a glass of cold water, please.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

After Betty left, Eirene pointed with her chin at the opposite chair.

“Sit there.”

She looked at Siaran’s complexion. 

     As expected, he hasn’t  changed. 

He politely placed his hands side by side in his lap and remained silent. 

“I heard you were waiting for me.”

“I have a few things to check with you.”

“Tell me.”

“How did you get out of the basement that day?”

“I already told mother about that.”

“I investigated, but none of the servants went down to the basement at that time. As you know, there were no outsiders either.”

Eirene looked into Siaran’s eyes in silence. 

     How could I not know before?

Now she realized what he was thinking. 

They all deceived Eirene for Aishe’s sake.

“I’m not lying, Siaran. Instead of sitting down and asking me, you should investigate the servants.”

“I heard you got out pretty clean.”

On that day, Countess Phineos let her go without a hitch, so Eirene thought she didn’t care. 

Eirene, too, could not afford to think deeply because she had to adapt to the changing environment. 

     But if I think about it, would there be an answer? How the basement door was opened or how her body was clean.

“How did you do it?”

“I don’t know.”

“My Lady.”

Siaran’s face, which had been smiling the whole time, crumpled.

Then Betty came in with a glass of cold water and left.

Eirene wanted to pour cold water on Siaran but couldn’t do it considering she was in a dire situation.

“Siaran, let me tell you clearly. I came out because the door was open, and I knew that my body was clean because the person next to me told me. I really don’t know.”

“Didn’t you use divine power by any chance?”

“What do you mean divine power. Didn’t I stop treating Aishe because I lost my divine power?”

“You’re right, but I’m asking because maybe your divine power is back, or maybe you still have some.”

Pffff.

Eirene couldn’t stop laughing.

“Does opening the door and my body being cleaned have anything to do with divine power? Did I have that ability?”

Eirene’s divine power was powerful to heal and kill.

She thought it was funny just thinking that she could have opened the basement door with her divine power.

     Even if it was related to my divine power, didn’t God take all of it?

“The basis of healing is purification. It’s a very basic step.”

Eirene, who was drinking water, stopped moving.

“Purification also has many stages and meanings. Purifying one’s own body is the first step, and later it becomes the ability to purify objects, animals, other people’s bodies and souls, and finally, even evil spirits. You didn’t know it because you haven’t used it, but it had all the abilities I just mentioned.”

Siaran explained it simply.

He always explained things to Eirene that she didn’t know.

Siaran was a person she relied on quite a bit, but even that wasn’t for her sake.

“I didn’t know it. It wasn’t my intention.”

“Why don’t you give it a try? Anyway, Lady Aishe’s treatment is over.”

Eirene, who swallowed the water and quickly put down the cup, shook her head lightly.

“I don’t like it. What’s the use of giving it a try? For the time being, I want to enjoy what has been given to me.”

What Eirene said and thought was the opposite.

If her divine power is back, even if it means practicing as Siaran said, then she had to do the same as before.

* * * * * * * * * *

“My sister is wearing my engagement ring. Wait a minute.”

These were the first words Aishe spoke when she came into Eirene’s room.

Looking at her older sister sitting in the window seat, she walked around her room and stood in front of Eirene.

Aishe put her hands behind her waist and looked at the ceiling.

She looked nervous.

“What did you do with the Grand Duke?”

Aishe asked while touching the edge of the table with her index finger.

“Walk and drink tea. That’s all we did.”

“Then at least you have talked. What did you say?”

“How have you been, did you recover from your cold. Well, something like that.”

“Your Highness is a bit unusual and difficult, but he is very kind.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“That’s because of me. Don’t misunderstand him just because he’s nice to you.”

Aishe’s eyes were poisonous.

     Do people know that there’s such a side to Aishe’s lovely appearance?

“I haven’t misunderstood. I’m just your replacement.”

“You must always remember.”

“By the way, how are you going to reveal your identity later?”

“That’s none of your business. Father will take care of it, so just stick to your role.”

“Yes. I will.”

BANG!

After Aishe slammed the door shut and left, Eirene burst out laughing.

She hasn’t done anything that can be called revenge.

This is just the beginning.

The fact that Clive knew everything was exhilarating.

     Where are we now?

It was a situation where Eirene was sharing secrets with him.

Eirene wasn’t sure what to do to help, but for now, it seemed that Clive could do anything she wanted.

Her head felt refreshed.

* * * * * * * * * *

Early in the morning, Eirene hurried Betty out after she brought the washbasin, telling her to take her time doing her chores.

Eirene, who was alone, opened the ink cover on her desk and dipped her index finger. 

She rubbed the black ink on her hands until her palms got dirty. 

Eirene took a long breath to concentrate and then closed her eyes. 

     How long has it been since I put my hands together? 

She opened her eyes and saw her clean hands.

She muttered to herself with satisfaction

“It worked.”

God said he would take her divine power. She didn’t know what was going on.

     Didn’t God take it back? It doesn’t matter.

Even a small divine power was precious to Eirene. 

This time, she dissolved soap in the water. 

When the water was completely foggy, she tried again, but nothing changed. 

     That’s right. It didn’t work. 

She was fortunate to have the ability to purify her own body. 

Her hands looked so clean that she didn’t know if they had ink on them.

Eirene wondered if she wouldn’t have to wash them in the future.

     No one, including Siaran, should know about this.

It would be better to hide it until her ability became much stronger.

Then, suddenly, the door swung open.

Only the servants, including Betty, knocked on the door, but the Countess and Aishe opened the door at any time.

Aishe came in with red eyes from crying and the Countess with a troubled expression.

“What did you do to His Highness?”

Aishe shouted and threw something at Eirene.

A letter fell on the floor.

A familiar seal with a snake was engraved in the center of the envelope, which had been ripped.

When Eirene looked at Clive, she thought of a snake, but she realized it was because of the seal.

Eirene picked up the letter.

“Am I supposed to read it?”

The Countess nodded.

Eirene took out the paper and unfolded it.

The letter started with ‘My dear Aishe‘ and it continued ‘since we met yesterday, my longing for you has deepened and I want to meet you again as soon as possible’.

Eirene already knew that Clive was good at writing, but it was the first time he was so affectionate.

Understandably, Aishe was angry.

If anyone reads it, they’ll think that it is about a couple who haven’t seen each other in years.

At the end of the letter, it was written that she was invited to Derevell, Clive’s estate.

And only she was allowed to come.

“Sometimes he would ask me out, but he never invited me directly to Derevell Palace!”

Aishe cried.

“I don’t even know what happened.”

Eirene was honest.

She doesn’t know how to interpret Clive’s request to stay for a week, no matter how much he pretends to love her.

Spending a week with Clive is exhausting enough.

Fortunately, on the last two days, the Phineos were invited to a ball.

“The Grand Duke will provide you with the items you will need, so you can pack some of your things.”

The Countess spoke bluntly.

That was also written in the letter.

Dresses, shoes, hats, accessories, etc.

Clive will take care of everything, so she just has to come.

She asked Clive to pretend to be in love, but he was overdoing it.