Rich Girl SEDUCES the Most DANGEROUS Holy Knight! | Manhwa Recap

The story kicks off in the Uden Empire, where the upper class is completely dominated by Count Sergio. His family controls the resource-rich South, sitting at the absolute peak of the Empire's economy. And the chosen heir to all this massive wealth? That would be the eldest daughter, Adelaide Sergio, currently enjoying a perfectly brewed cup of tea. A young man named Jer arrives, and she immediately calls him Out for being a day late. He tries to smoothly change the subject by offering up some new textile samples he picked up on his trip. But Adelaide completely brushes off

the business talk, casually waving it away for later. Jer is genuinely shocked, since this is the very first time he's ever seen the workaholic heir put off her duties. She flashes him a knowing smirk, hinting that they'll be seeing a lot more of each other in the future anyway. Jer Blushes, looking totally caught off guard by the sudden charm. Adelaide smiles to herself, thinking his flustered reaction makes all her prep work totally worthwhile. You see, despite her usual grind, she actually woke up at the crack of dawn just to stare in the mirror instead of

reading documents. She didn't go completely overboard, but she definitely put in some serious effort. Her entire flawless look was carefully calculated down to The last detail. Back in the present, Jer is caught staring, and she playfully asks if she has something on her face. He awkwardly laughs it off, claiming everything is just fine. But Adelaide's sharp eyes catch every little detail. She notices his shaky pupils and realizes he's absolutely sweating bullets. He keeps gulping nervously, looking completely stiff. Sensing his hesitation, she decides to take the lead and speed things up. She casually drops That she

knows he made a secret stop at Setona before coming here. Jer flinches, panicking now that his cover is blown. Adelaide presses him, asking why he'd go all the way there when their own estate has plenty of gems. After all, the top merchant in the South already has the best jewelers on speed dial. Going out of his way to a tiny jewelry town could only mean one specific thing. She leans in and asks if if found any valuable gemstones. Jer stumbles over his words, Making Adelaide sigh internally at his stalling. She thinks his shyness is a

little embarrassing, but cute. She gently tells him to just spit it out, reminding him they've known each other forever. Almost 9 and 1/2 years to be exact. Jur finally admits he has something important to say, but didn't know how to bring it up. Adelaide's heart skips a beat as she realizes he's about to pop the question. She's already hearing wedding bells and is totally Hyped to give her answer. But being the logical boss she is, she starts calculating his tight schedule. Between harbor checks and sales reports, the poor guy is completely slammed with work. So

she figures he must be rushing this proposal to fit it in. Jur interrupts her daydreams to ask if she's even listening to him. She waves him off, too busy basking in her own perfect deduction skills. She finds it hilarious that her calm childhood friend is now Reduced to a stuttering mess in front of her. Then her eyes lock onto the unmistakable square bulge in his chest pocket. She instantly visualizes the box size, expecting at least a heavy 3-carat rock inside. She smugly thinks that if he didn't go all out, he wouldn't deserve to be her

partner anyway. Jur sighs in relief, thanking her for being so incredibly understanding. She smiles warmly and says it's only natural given their close relationship. Jur's face Lights up, completely thrilled that she's cheering him on. Suddenly, Adelaide's brain hits the brakes. Wait a minute, he's thanking her for her support, not her acceptance. The awful truth hits her like a freight train. She's been hyping up a friend who is about to propose to someone else. Jur cluelessly asks if she can inspect the rings and she knows her taste the best. Adelaide sits there utterly wrecked, realizing she

just played herself in the Worst way possible. Adelaide sits there, her mind going completely blank. She never thought a giant diamond wouldn't make her smile. She feels her soul leaving her body like a cracking stone statue. But being the absolute professional she is, she quickly reboots her brain to keep her charm intact. She plays it cool, praising the beautiful cut and grading of the shiny rock. Jer lets out a massive sigh of relief, thinking he's completely in the clear. But hold up, Adelaide raises a hand to pause him. Even though this situation is getting incredibly

awkward, she still needs one major question answered. Just to be absolutely sure, she asks him to clarify exactly which Nola he's talking about. Meanwhile, her maid Jackie bursts into the room crying happy tears. She totally misreads the room, hyped up and asking how Jer's big proposal went. Adelaide just face plants on her desk, completely defeated. Jackie rushes over, Totally oblivious, fussing over her lady's beautiful eyes. She gushes that it's only natural the young master finally made his move. Adelaide complains about a massive headache. Jackie brushes it off thinking it's just the shock of getting engaged.

But Adelaide coldly asks the maid to leave her alone. Jackie stops dead in her tracks, confused. So Adelaide drops the bomb, the girl Jer actually likes is Nola. The maid looks like she just got Struck by lightning. She instantly loses her mind, screaming that it makes no sense since Jer just confessed to Adelaide. Adelaide calmly corrects her panicked maids. That confession was actually three whole years ago when he swore he'd wait for her. She gives Jackie a side eye, realizing the maid totally eavesdropped on them back then. Turns out during that past proposal, Adelaide was

too busy fighting to become the heir. She told Jer that if his Feelings were real, he should confess again in three years. But she definitely didn't expect him to catch feelings for her younger sister in the meantime. Jackie is absolutely fuming and asks if she should drag Nola in right now to interrogate her. But Adelaide just casually picks up her paperwork, completely unbothered. She tells Jackie to lower her voice because she still has important documents to hand over by dawn. If she lets her feelings get in The way of work, 32 stores won't open and

hundreds of employees will be totally screwed. But speak of the devil, the blonde little sister in question is already waiting outside the door. Nola peeks in, looking like a total innocent angel and asks if she can enter. She immediately starts apologizing, asking if her older sister is mad at her. Gripping her dress, Nola claims she had absolutely no idea Jer had feelings for her. Adelaide gives her a freezing cold Glare, bluntly stating that she isn't okay and wants to be left alone. She waves her documents in the air, using her busy schedule as an excuse

to kick her out. She coldly tells Nola they can talk early tomorrow morning if the girl can even manage to wake up that early. Before Nola can turn on the waterworks, Adelaide orders Jackie to escort her out before she faints from the drama. Nola tries to protest, but Adelaide has her back completely turned. Once the door Clicks shut, Adelaide immediately drops the boss act. She slumps over her desk as a mysterious voice chimes in, joking that she just created quite the tragic heroine. The newcomer praises her for always managing to get the job done despite

the chaotic fuss. This edgy guy is Count Sergio's only son, Adelaide's younger half-brother Caden. Back when he was 14, he showed up completely covered in blood, declaring his hatred for merchants and money. He was a totally Wild kid who established his dominance from day one. In the end, Adelaide was the one who actually gave him his name. Since then, Caden grew up under her wing, leading a top-secret guild for the family. And let's just say the business they handle is definitely not legal. In the present, Caden offers to look over the documents later and tells

his tired sister to get some rest. But as he turns to leave, Adelaide stops him dead in his tracks. She asks exactly when he found Out Jer changed his mind. Caden pauses, glancing back over his shoulder. He takes a slow step forward into the shadows. With his red eyes glowing, he casually asks if she just wants him to off the guy for her. Adelaide knows that when Caden flashes those cold red eyes, he is absolutely not joking around. The last time he gave someone that exact stare, a merchant heir who insulted her ended up completely

losing an arm. And since there was zero evidence left Behind, everyone just assumed Caden was the one who did the brutal slicing. Wanting to avoid another bloodbath, Adelaide quickly shuts down the murder plot, explaining that Jure's rare accounting skills are way too valuable to throw away. She glares back at her brother, firmly reminding him that it isn't his place to execute people without her explicit permission. She tells him to stop meddling in useless drama, preferring to handle her own Business personally. Caden just turns to the window, asking why she's pretending to be oblivious to the

obvious truth. With a dark smirk, he drops an absolute truth bomb. Their sweet little sister Nola is actually a two-faced snake. Adelaide crosses her arms and immediately warns him to watch his mouth about family. Caden just chuckles, noting how funny it is that the all-knowing heir is completely blind to this one little detail. With a loud Bang, he casually walks out, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Adelaide lets out a heavy sigh, wondering how the kid grew up to be such a battle-hungry edgelord. She knows she could easily punish him for his constant disrespect or

even kick him out, but she holds back for one specific reason. Tilting her head, she admits to herself that his brutal honesty is actually better than the alternative. And that's purely because her supposedly lovable and Pitiful younger sister uh was actually born a manipulative little demon. Suddenly, we get a peek into Adelaide's mind as she recalls her past life. Back in Korea, she lived the miserable bottom-tier life of an absolute dirt spoon. Even though she busted her back to get into a top-tier college, she was still stuck at the bottom of the food chain. She

worked herself to the bone at her corporate job without receiving a single word of encouragement. To make Things infinitely worse, all her grueling all-nighters were completely stolen by a nepo baby boss who took all the credit. One night, completely fed up, she got drunk and angrily asked her mom why their life had to be so incredibly unfair. She screamed into the night city, begging the universe for just one real chance to prove herself. She yelled that if she was born rich, she'd never slack off. She'd even gladly take an arranged marriage like an Absolute champ.

Standing on a rooftop, she shouted to the heavens, demanding a massive inheritance to fight over instead of fighting over petty side dishes. But in all her blind drunken rage, she took one reckless step back. Her foot slipped and she plunged off the edge of the building like a ragdoll. Her last screaming thought before hitting the bottom was a desperate plea to be reborn as a conglomerate's daughter. She hit the water hard and slowly sank into The dark abyss, unable to open her eyes again. That is, until she suddenly wakes up to blurry vision and strange

voices discussing a baby's eye color. A panicked maid can be heard scolding someone for barging into the room uninvited. Our protagonist tries to move, utterly confused as to why her tiny stubby hands aren't cooperating. She starts completely freaking out, realizing she's trapped in a baby's body and is definitely going to get fired for Missing work tomorrow. Suddenly, a dazzlingly handsome man leans over her crib, noting that she has the perfect sharp eyes for business. He gently pinches her cheek and proudly declares her new name, Adelaide. Still panicking, baby Adelaide's eyes lock onto a very specific

flashy ring on his finger. It's a massive diamond-eyed eagle crest, an exact match for a legendary ring from a fantasy novel she read days before dying. She intensely counts the carved Feathers, realizing there's absolutely no mistake about where she is. The insanely attractive man beams with pride, while Adelaide sits there stunned that this guy is actually her new dad. She quickly puts the pieces together. She literally died and reincarnated into a fictional world, but not just any world. She's now the daughter of Count Sergio, the absolute titan of wealth in the south. Her drunken rooftop

wish actually came true. She's officially the Heiress to the biggest conglomerate in the entire empire. She immediately grabs her dad's finger with a greedy little smirk, already plotting her corporate takeover. She internally vows to never, ever let go of this golden ticket. Fast forward a few years and little Adelaide is sprinting through the sunny gardens while a maid desperately chases after her. The exhausted maid lists off Adelaide's insanely packed morning schedule, begging her to slow down Before her next class. Adelaide just spins around joyfully, playfully ordering the maid to keep her little escape a secret

from her dad. She basks in the gorgeous sunlight, realizing this luxurious, high-class lifestyle is exactly what she was made for. She's out here absolutely living her best life, soaking in the fresh air and freedom she always dreamed of. Sure, her mother passed away early and her dad is always away on business trips, but compared to Her past life, this is an absolute walk in the park. Flashback time, a tiny Nola looks up nervously asking if she can call Adelaide her sister. Adelaide looks down at her, perfectly calm because she already knows exactly what this kid

represents. See, in the original novel, this cute little girl is actually the ultimate villainess. Yep, sweet little Nola Sergio. When Adelaide first woke up in this world, hearing the Sergio name and seeing Nola made everything Instantly click. While Nola was the beloved golden child, Adelaide was cast as her evil half-sister. Originally, the author wrote Nola as the pure, kind-hearted heroine of the story, but there was a major catch, the novel was actually unfinished. Nola was so frustratingly passive and forgiving that the readers absolutely hated her guts. That's when Nola's best friend Chloe entered the chat.

Chloe was a total boss who checked every single box, looks, Smarts, and crazy chemistry with the male lead. She completely outshined Nola and actually understood the crown prince. The readers literally rioted, forcing the author to swap the main character. Chloe stole Nola's spotlight and suddenly all of Nola's good deeds were rewritten as crazy conspiracy theories. Driven completely mad, Nola went off the deep end, committing half the crimes in the entire empire. Back in reality, Adelaide sighs, wondering how She's supposed to stay chill with a walking time bomb as a little sister. Even if Adelaide plays

nice and ignores all her annoying tricks, Nola is still canonically fated to die at the age of 20. So, Adelaide decides to just accept reality and tells the kid to call her older sister. She flashes a fake sweet smile agreeing to get along. She thought doing the bare minimum would keep the peace. And honestly, she didn't want to see the former heroine get totally Wrecked. She genuinely tried her best to change Nola's tragic fate time and time again. But Nola was a total menace. At 10, she falsely accused innocent people of theft and at 12,

she bullied a kid out of the academy. Heck, her little brother Caden almost died multiple times thanks to Nola's nonsense. And worse, every time Adelaide tried to alter the plot, her merchant group took massive financial hits like a divine curse. Laying in bed, Adelaide decides she's Officially done playing savior. With only one year left until Nola's fated death, Adelaide resolves to just play the basic role of an older sister. No matter what crazy stunts Nola pulls, Adelaide will just focus on securing the bag. Still, she wonders if Nola is already plotting her villain arc, knowing

Caden is just as wild but knows when to heal. She brushes it off. Why stress when she's about to inherit the entire merchant empire anyway? She Closes her eyes knowing tomorrow's massive banquet is way more important than family drama. The next day, the Sergio family banquet is absolutely popping off with the South's top elites. The room is buzzing with rumors that the official heir is finally going to be announced. Meanwhile, a snobby noble named Baroness Denia starts whispering trash about Adelaide to anyone who will listen. She acts all high and mighty greeting the other guests.

But Adelaide Suddenly glides over smiling like an angel and welcoming them to the party. The Baroness breaks into a cold sweat acting totally fake and assuming Adelaide didn't hear her. As they walk away, Adelaide's loyal maid Jackie is absolutely fuming. Jackie whispers that the Baroness constantly runs her mouth at every single event. Apparently, the old bat keeps calling Adelaide too cold and calculating. Jackie begs to know if they're just going to let it slide, but Adelaide coolly asks if she wants a messy public brawl. Instead, Adelaide drops a genius ruthless plan. Have the staff heavily

inspect the Baroness's fabric delivery tomorrow to find a defect. Jackie asks what happens if the fabric is perfect. Adelaide just smirks guaranteeing there will be a defect no matter what. She sips her drink refusing to let anyone disrespect her in her own house without getting sniped from the shadows. She glances back at the Oblivious Baroness ready to show her who really runs the South. Since the Baroness has gotten lazy with their textile monopoly, squeezing them will strike fear into every other business. Jackie whines amazed that Adelaide isn't exhausted from constantly scheming like a mastermind. But

Adelaide just swirls her glass genuinely having the time of her life playing this ruthless corporate game. Looking over her lavish estate, she smiles knowing this chaotic rich Life is a million times better than her last one. Nola makes her grand entrance at the banquet looking like a literal angel. But her tightly holding her hand is Jer. Jackie shoots Adelaide a worried look. The loyal maid reminds her that this is the same guy who confessed his undying love to Adelaide not too long ago. Adelaide just scoffs joking that if she accepted every confession she'd have half

the empire's nobles on a roster. Internally she admits she only considered Jer because he was the perfect political chess piece, good looks, decent family, and useful for business. She originally treated his proposal 3 years ago as a test of loyalty to see if he was truly trustworthy. But since he just proudly paraded in holding her sister's hand, she completely cancels his application. She sighs thinking she really needs to level up her judge of character. Suddenly Nola spots her and calls out making the entire room freeze. The crowd immediately starts whispering dying to know how Adelaide

will react to her former shadow upgrading to her sister. Adelaide is slightly annoyed that no one is paying attention to the actual merchant party she worked so hard to organize. But she honestly can't blame them because this level of tea is absolutely top-tier entertainment. A quick flashback shows Nola confronting Adelaide on the balcony earlier that night, claiming she tried to get Jur to arrive separately. She pulls out the ultimate innocent, tear-filled puppy-dog eyes. Adelaide just grins, telling her not to sweat it and that she's actually glad they worked out. She admits she was caught off

guard yesterday, but has already made peace with it. After all, if Nola marries Jur, she won't become dangerously obsessed with the crown prince like she did in the original Novel. This means Adelaide might just dodge the execution block entirely. Nola whines that Jur insisted they arrive together. Jur apparently told Nola that Adelaide is so perfect she'd be fine alone. Adelaide mentally facepalms at his absolute cluelessness. Adelaide agrees they make a great match and suggests telling their father immediately. She pats Nola's shoulder, smoothly playing the role of the supportive older sister. She tells Nola To hurry

up since Jur is literally peeking from around the curtain waiting for her. Adelaide jokes that the guy is looking at her with so much honey in his eyes he's going to drown. As Nola scampers off, Jackie approaches asking if Adelaide should have acted a little more heartbroken. Jackie notes that Nola seemed genuinely worried about her sister's feelings. Adelaide completely shuts that down. If Nola actually cared, she wouldn't have brought him to the Party in the first place. She looks out over the hall, noting that every major powerhouse in the South is watching them. If Nola

gave a single thought to Adelaide's reputation, she would have stayed home instead of parading her stolen prize. Adelaide genuinely wonders if she should have faked some anger, but it's hard when she feels absolutely nothing. She turns to Jackie and dramatically gasps, asking if she looks troubled enough. Jackie deadpans that She really needs to force out at least a couple of fake tears to sell it. Adelaide laughs, asking if she should drop to the floor and throw a full toddler tantrum to make the headlines. But suddenly, Adelaide freezes mid-laugh. She turns around asking Jackie if she

just heard a man's voice. Jackie is confused insisting they're completely alone in the hallway. Adelaide is certain she heard something and narrows her eyes. Heavy footsteps Echo and a voice casually greets her. A man steps out of the shadows claiming he's been searching everywhere for her. Adelaide looks up and recognizes her older cousin Myrtle wondering why he's lurking around. Myrtle is a traditionalist who absolutely despises the idea of a woman inheriting the family business. Even though Adelaide gave him a cushy job, he constantly glares at her like she personally robbed him. He casually asks if

Nola already Left noting they were just talking. Adelaide spots a smug grin forming on his face and instantly knows he's plotting something. She braces herself wondering what kind of rotten scheme he's trying to pull now. He gestures towards the main hall specifically pointing out a certain group. He highlights Nola who is currently soaking up the attention of the nobles. Adelaide completely brushes him off telling him his attempts to rile her up are useless. She keeps her face totally apathetic refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. The crowd is definitely buzzing completely eating up

the juicy drama of Nola holding hands with Jer. But Adelaide just stares Myrtle down with absolute ice telling him to stop being a busybody and actually do his damn job. Myrtle sneers warning Adelaide that their father is returning next week and won't go easy on her just because they are family. Adelaide shoots back Asking if he thinks the other nobles are idiots. They aren't flocking to Nola for no reason. She glares at him arms crossed and tells him to just spit out whatever scheme he's hiding. Myrtle takes a step closer completely ignoring her question to

drop his own bomb. Their uncle is finally going to officially name his successor. He leans in uncomfortably close and whispers a massive secret that she completely missed. The official successor of the Sergio family has to be legally married. Adelaide's eyes widen in absolute horror as the realization hits her. The family rules strictly state the heir must be a married adult. Back in her room, Adelaide stares out the window, internally screaming at herself for missing such a massive, game-changing detail. Even her loyal butler is completely flabbergasted, asking how this makes any sense. Adelaide feels like she

just got hit by a truck. The Position she worked her entire life for might actually slip through her fingers. She tightly clenches her dress. Since the day she reincarnated, she lived flawlessly, completely focused on becoming the head of the conglomerate. She furiously whips around, yelling about why her father didn't tell her this crucial rule in advance. The butler nervously explains that most nobles usually have a political marriage right after their coming-of-age ceremony, so It's common knowledge. He adds that the count always praised Adelaide as the legitimate heir, so he assumed she didn't need to rush

a marriage. The butler glances away, awkwardly pointing out that the count definitely didn't expect Jur to suddenly court Nola instead. Adelaide buries her face in her hand, completely stressed out. She knows even the count couldn't have predicted this mess. She realizes her dad gave her the grace period to naturally marry Jur, And she just completely ruined it in a single morning. Desperate, she asks the butler if her father said anything else in his letters. The butler drops the final nail in the coffin. The count ordered them to prepare for Adelaide's immediate marriage the second he

returns to establish her power. Adelaide squints, suddenly piecing something together. She asks a very specific question. She asks if Nola was the one who handed the butler that specific Letter from the count. The butler stutters, confirming it. Adelaide immediately dismisses him, her mind racing. Jackie rushes in, completely panicked, asking what on earth is going on. Adelaide flops onto her bed in pure defeat. She realizes Nola offered her hand to Jur after secretly reading that exact letter. Jackie refuses to believe it, arguing that Nola isn't smart enough to plan that far ahead. Adelaide glares into the

distance, agreeing that Nola Isn't usually a mastermind. In the original novel, Nola's evil deeds were totally laughable and petty, but the novel always emphasized Nola's massive inferiority complex about being an illegitimate child. Adelaide violently grips her bedsheets, realizing Nola's true goal isn't just stealing a man. Jackie tries to calm her down, arguing that the count wouldn't strip Adelaide of the heir title just over an old family tradition. But Adelaide scoffs Knowing her father all too well, she absolutely wouldn't put it past him. Jackie then asks the logical question, won't the count furiously punish Nola for

stealing his golden child's fiance? Adelaide shakes her head. She knows her father will actually think Nola is more skilled than he realized for pulling off such a massive heist. He's exactly that kind of ruthless, results-driven person. He doesn't care about ethics or morality. The only reason he favored Adelaide was because she constantly delivered perfect results. If she loses her fiance to her little sister, he'll just view Adelaide as weak and worthless. Jackie vigorously shakes her head, refusing to accept that twisted logic. Adelaide imagines Jur and Nola together, completely fuming that this stupid romance plot bit

her in the back. Jackie asks if Adelaide is going to go win Jur back. Adelaide completely snaps, yelling that she isn't a recycling Plant. Jackie panics, asking if she's giving up the successor position. Adelaide screams that she'd rather rip her own heart out. She takes a deep breath, totally deadpanning that she only has one choice left. She refuses to back down after putting in years of blood, sweat, and tears. Nola won't win just because she got a shiny ring. Adelaide declares her master plan. She's going to tell her father that she dumped Jur for a

much better man. Jackie freaks Out, pointing out the count returns in exactly one week, which is nowhere near enough time to fall in love. Jackie practically begs to know who Adelaide could possibly marry on such insanely short notice. Adelaide is totally zoning out, realizing that to impress her dad, the new guy has to be an absolute titan compared to Jur. She starts rapidly calculating. Her father doesn't care about money since the Sergios are already filthy rich. Jackie chimes in Agreeing that they just need a reliable capable man who won't cause unnecessary drama. Adelaide lists the

brutal requirements. He has to be a high-ranking noble, totally quiet, and greedy enough to sign a contract, but obedient enough to leave when she inevitably divorces him. Adelaide visualizes her absolute dream candidate. Tall, incredibly handsome, and ridiculously smart and totally faithful. She excitedly asks Jackie what she Thinks of her perfect made-up man. Jackie just stares blankly telling her that Guy literally does not exist. Adelaide lets out a massive sigh. The more she lists off her impossible standards, the more she realizes Jur was actually a decent catch. She starts brainstorming out loud. They need someone with

a noble background, great looks, high intelligence, and zero greed. She jokes about kidnapping a guy with those stats, but wonders if he'd Actually stay loyal. She points out that any guy with a resume that perfect would definitely already be married off by now. But then her eyes go wide. It hits her like a lightning bolt. There is exactly one place where a guy like that would still be single. Jackie tilts her head confused repeating Adelaide's sudden suggestion, a holy knight. Adelaide's face lights up. If they need a guy who is blessed with every single perfect

trait, but has absolutely zero Earthly greed, he has to be a holy knight of San Fidelio. But as Adelaide starts scheming, Jackie points out that she's making a really weird face. Maid slowly raises a hand terrified to ask what crazy plot her lady is cooking up now. Adelaide completely ignores her grinning like an absolute maniac. She can't believe she didn't think of this genius loophole sooner. Jackie nervously stutters completely terrified of what's about to happen. She asks Adelaide to Explain the sudden shift in mood. The scene instantly cuts to a fancy carriage galloping down the

road. Adelaide is officially on the hunt for a groom. Inside the bouncing carriage, Jackie asks Adelaide when she even had time to pack. Adelaide casually pops open a heavy chest, asking if Jackie seriously expected her to go empty-handed. The chest is absolutely overflowing with gold. Adelaide confidently states that money is the ultimate compass in this World, and she's going to need a lot of it for what she's about to pull off. She taps her fingers, entirely focused on one goal, finding a top-tier husband before her father returns. She calculates his travel time. Since the count

has already reached the East, he should arrive within a week. Jackie innocently asks if they could buy more time by sabotaging the Lennox bridge. Adelaide stares at her, pointing out the bridge was built last year and won't Just magically collapse. Adelaide calls out a name into the shadows. Caden's glowing red eyes suddenly appear in the dark corner of the carriage. Jackie gasps, asking why Adelaide didn't just order the terrifying young master to kidnap a groom for her. Adelaide sighs, admitting she strongly considered it, but she was worried Caden wouldn't bring the poor guy back alive.

Caden casually drops down from the roof like a ninja. She internally admits that while Caden Is completely loyal, he has limits. Specifically, his immediate solution to every single problem is just to kill whoever is involved. Adelaide leans on her hand, calmly asking Jackie why she'd ever be afraid of her own little brother. Jackie stammers, explaining that while he's incredibly handsome, he literally makes grown men shiver in terror with a single glance. Adelaide completely brushes it off, calling the lethal assassin quite cute. Jackie Practically passes out from shock. Adelaide smirks, arguing that if you look closely

enough, Caden is basically just a big grumpy dog. She visualizes him as a stray black hound, no ears or tail, but the exact same grumpy energy. She wonders if things would have been different if his real mother had lived, though he was reportedly heavily abused before coming to the count. Remembering the bloody feral kid he used to be, she feels a sense of pride just seeing him Fully grown. Plus, she knows exactly how hard it was to tame him. But, the most important fact is that Caden has never ever failed a mission she gave him.

Because of him, zero rival gangs ever dared to mess with the Yuden Mercantile Groups. He's literally the undisputed king of the underworld. She completely brushes off Jackie's worries, fully trusting her lethal little brother. The carriage hits a bump and Jackie sighs, realizing she just has to trust Adelaide's insane plan. They finally arrive at their destination, a place that represents the south, but isn't open to just anyone. It's the Grand Holy Temple of Uns, the secret sanctuary for priests, saints, and holy knights. For most people in the empire, just looking at the stunning white pillars brings

a sense of deep comfort. For the commoners, the temple is a symbol of peace, trust, and divine courage. But, Adelaide smiles, adjusting her dress. To Her, this sacred holy ground is nothing more than her very own personal husband shopping mall. She figures that since the temple is so gorgeous, they definitely have to have some gorgeous grooms locked up inside. After all, the temple strictly filters its knights, thoroughly examining their family, identity, and raw power. But, Adelaide does have one tiny concern. These guys are so incredibly saintly, they might be completely lacking in certain physical Departments.

She quickly shrugs it off. Since this is purely a contract marriage, having a husband with zero sex drive is actually a massive bonus. It completely eliminates any messy romantic drama. For a real marriage, that would be a huge red flag, but for a fake one, as long as he's drop-dead gorgeous, she's totally sold. Jackie finally asks the most obvious question. Is a holy knight even legally allowed to get married? She's never heard of it Happening. Adelaide smirks, fully prepared. She proudly declares that while it's extremely rare, there are absolutely zero legal rules stopping a holy

knight from tying the knot. Adelaide explains that while the Holy Temple doesn't usually mix with marriage, her merchant network gathers dirt on absolutely everything, including religion. She breaks down the brutal process. To even enter the temple, trainees must survive a grueling Monastery boot camp where nine out of 10 people drop out. The system is insanely strict, but it built the temple's god-tier reputation. If just anyone could waltz in, holy knights wouldn't be nearly as respected or envied. She then breaks down the perfect logic for Jackie. Noble families never send their firstborn heirs to the temple,

only their extra sons. Jackie nods, noting that the training is so intense guys literally died trying to pass. Adelaide Smirks. Even if a knight survives, they get zero personal wealth or status. So, marrying a loaded heiress gives them a permanent sugar mama while she gets a perfectly obedient husband. The carriage finally rolls up to the massive temple entrance, and Jackie nervously asks what the plan is. The maid worries they'll just get rejected at the gate since they definitely can't sneak in. Adelaide gives her a side eye, asking who said anything about sneaking. She is the

Literal heir to the Sergio family, the absolute rulers of the South. She aggressively pops open her chest of gold. Jackie sweats, asking if she's just going to throw cash at the priests to buy a groom. Adelaide corrects her. They brought a bunch of money, sure, but she isn't here to spend it. She flashes a wicked grin. She's actually here to collect a massive debt. Cut to the temple entrance where a stern priest immediately blocks their path. He stands His ground, firmly stating that this isn't just some ordinary church they can casually tour. Adelaide just smiles

politely as he continues his strict lecture. He tells her there is absolutely zero chance she's meeting the archbishop without a prior appointment. Adelaide remains completely unfazed by his rude rejection. The priest coughs awkwardly, insisting that rules are rules and he can't let her in no matter how far she traveled. Suddenly, a much Higher ranking priest walks up asking what all the commotion is about. The guard quickly bows, respectfully greeting him as Vice Bishop Samuel. Adelaide peaks over, realizing this guy is the second in command of the entire holy operation. She internally swoons a bit, noting

that while knights are cool, this priest has a very restrained, subtle charm straight out of a movie. Samuel coldly glances down at her, asking who the young lady is. Adelaide Turns on the charm, buttering him up by complimenting his perfect vice bishop aesthetic. The guard quietly explains that this random girl is aggressively demanding to see the archbishop. Samuel narrows his eyes, clearly unamused by her audacity. He dramatically sighs, calling her out for showing up without an appointment and completely dismissing her. Adelaide notes that he won't even look her in the eye, treating her like an

absolute peasant. He lectures her, Stating Mount Fidelio is a sacred place of temperance and perseverance, not a tourist trap. Adelaide just keeps smiling, agreeing with his holy words while secretly preparing to drop the hammer. Samuel turns away, finally asking for her name and family house. She elegantly curtsies, saying it's a pleasure to meet him. Then she loudly declares herself as Adelaide Sergio, the daughter of the famous count. Samuel breaks a slight sweat, asking why the Daughter of the South's wealthiest man is suddenly knocking on their door. Adelaide flashes a predatory grin, correcting him. She isn't

here as the count's daughter, but as the heir to the Yuden Mercantile Group. Samuel's holy intuition immediately starts blaring like a siren. His face goes pale as he realizes this is definitely a trap, and he awkwardly tries to excuse himself to go on a little tour. Adelaide ignores his retreat, smoothly stepping in front Of him to compliment the beautiful, purifying temple grounds. Samuel quickly thanks her, but firmly repeats that the temple gives absolutely zero exceptions, even to rich nobles. Adelaide nods, stating her mercantile group actually has a very similar strict rule. She claims her business

always repays a stranger's favor, no matter the situation. But she casually adds that the priests of Mount Fidelio are the sole exception to that rule. Without Missing a beat, she whips out a massive, glowing stack of hotel receipts like a Yu-Gi-Oh! card. She explains that her luxury hotels never accept unreserved guests, showing him the massive pile of unpaid tabs from just last month alone. She brightly claps her hands, happily noting that her doors have always been wide open for his priests. Samuel physically shrinks back, absolutely sweating bullets as he realizes what's happening. She sweetly points

out that Hosting all these freeloading priests has caused her business a pretty hefty financial loss. But she immediately plays the saint card, claiming she just loves following the holy teachings of welcoming guests like family. Adelaide flashes a chilling grin. Did the temple really think she was just going to turn a blind eye to countless priests sleeping at her luxury hotels for free? She reminds Samuel that even her cheapest rooms cost hundreds of rubles a Night. Letting the priests stay for absolutely zero cost was an incredibly generous business move. Casually lifting her teacup, she quotes an

old proverb, "The more seeds you plant, the more you reap." And right now it is officially harvest season. She tells him she doesn't intend to stay long. She just needs a quick chat with the archbishop. Samuel stutters, completely completely cornered. He awkwardly tries to change the subject, complimenting the fabric of Her dress. He staggers back slightly, rambling about how it's the greatest honor for a believer to worship at the temple. But Adelaide is relentless. She points out that the grand pillar he's currently leaning against was actually fully funded by her mercantile group 2 years ago.

She then points to a glowing majestic statue in the courtyard, noting that her money paid for that, too. Samuel wipes the sweat from his face and desperately lies, claiming the Archbishop isn't even here right now, so he can't let her in. Adelaide completely ignores his stalling. She points to a beautifully engraved verse beneath the golden statue, casually mentioning she personally hired a southern master craftsman to carve it. She adds that melting down 100 kilos of solid gold on a holiday completely paralyzed her guild workers. But despite all that, she says she was deeply moved by

the engraved words. The verse reads, "See with with Own eyes, only then will you find the answer. A quick flashback shows Adelaide staring out a window with her father. He taught her that absolutely nothing in this world comes for free. He explained that out of the hundreds of priests they fund, only a select five will rise to power and eventually control the entire empire. Young Adelaide noted his logic made sense, but called him out asking didn't he say the exact same thing about a totally different temple last month. She realized he was just tossing massive

piles of gold at every single major temple in the empire. Basically casting a giant expensive net to guarantee he caught the big fish. Her father chuckled explaining that true businessmen don't bother saving small change when they are playing the long game. Back in the present, Adelaide smiles. Her father's massive expensive net has finally caught exactly what she needs. Samuel clears his throat awkwardly interrupting her Flex. He desperately repeats that the archbishop is currently away trying one last time to turn her away. Adelaide just beams looking at him with literal stars in her eyes. She asks

if that means there's someone highly ranked she can talk to instead. Defeated, Samuel finally cracks. He agrees to let her inside to meet a special guest, but strictly warns her that everything she sees must remain an absolute secret. Adelaide smirks reassuring him that Keeping deadly secrets is the Yuden Mercantile Group's absolute specialty. She jokes that it's not like they have a dragon hidden inside. As they walk towards the massive doors, Jackie nervously asks if she can bring up a few concerns. Adelaide thinks about how having a temple approved husband will make her business incredibly convenient.

She figures sitting through a boring holy sermon or two is a tiny price to pay. Samuel coughs ready to list 50 Strict rules, but Adelaide cuts him off smoothly throwing Jackie under the bus by claiming her maid actually wanted to hear his sacred teachings. She mentally decides she absolutely refuses to suffer through a boring religious lecture alone. Jackie glares at her like she just got stabbed in the back. Adelaide quickly turns toward the giant doors, totally ignoring Jackie's silent rage, completely hyped to finally meet her potential husband. She steps inside, Amazed that the massive doors

seemingly open themselves with sheer holy power. But the second she crosses the threshold, she's completely swallowed by pitch-black darkness. She takes a deep breath, trying to stay calm and reciting a basic holy greeting just in case someone is testing her. Then she formally introduces herself to the shadows, stating it's an honor to meet God's proxy. A deep, incredibly heavy voice suddenly echoes through the dark Room. Adelaide is slightly taken aback. The voice commands immense respect, but it sounds way younger than she expected for a top-tier temple leader. The mysterious figure simply states they heard she

made quite the long journey. Adelaide smoothly apologizes for showing up unannounced, acknowledging how disrespectful it is to just barge into San Fidelio's secret quarters. The figure replies that she must be here for an incredibly urgent matter. Adelaide Figures they're testing her to see if she'll back down. She clutches her dress. The sheer, terrifying aura coming from the darkness is actually overwhelming her. The only other person to ever make her feel this much pressure was her own father. She realizes there is absolutely no way this guy is the archbishop. She's seen the old man from a

distance, and he definitely didn't have this kind of intense, boss-level aura. She bites her lip, internally Regretting her impulsive groom hunt. The voice cuts through the tension, mentioning that Vice Bishop Samuel claimed her family has greatly helped the temple. Adelaide quickly plays humble, saying they don't deserve praise for simple charity. The figure bluntly cuts to the chase, demanding to know exactly what she wants. Adelaide is shocked by how incredibly impatient he is. But since he asked so directly, she realizes she can't exactly just say, "I'm shopping for a fake husband" to a holy proxy. She

stands tall, knowing that most nobles who visit the temple only ever want two things. The voice assumes she's power-hungry, asking if she came to ask for permission to rule the world. Adelaide frantically waves her hands, yelling absolutely not. The figure guesses again, asking if she wants infinite money. She confidently states that she already has so much gold it's literally rotting in her vaults. She feels like she's stuck in a weird fairy tale test where the god keeps offering her a golden or silver axe. She realizes he's subtly threatening her to speak quickly and get out.

She smiles sweetly, reminding him exactly who she is. The voice grows colder. If she doesn't want money, power, or to control the magic tower, he concludes she must be here to ask for someone to be killed. Adelaide mentally pictures Caden, noting she already has her own personal hitman, So wasting a holy favor on murder would be totally redundant. Plus, she has absolutely no desire to start killing people just because her little sister is going to start drama later. Adelaide puts a hand on her chest, smoothly playing the saint by claiming that life is precious. She

rattles off a list of things she absolutely doesn't want, eternal youth, high noble status, or peace after death. She keeps her eyes lowered, acting incredibly humble. She Even throws in that she definitely doesn't need any more beauty than she already has. After all, earthly vanity is completely meaningless in front of god. Suddenly, heavy footsteps approach. Adelaide shields her eyes, completely blinded by a sudden intense flash of light. Standing before her is an absolute god-tier silver-haired man. She internally screams that if her father were here, he would literally cling to this guy's sleeves just to ask

one Question. How did no one tell her an actual deity was living inside the temple? The stunning man tilts his head, calmly asking if something is wrong. He wonders if the room is too bright, but she thinks he's the one blinding her like a walking flash bang. She quickly regains her composure. If he's this insanely gorgeous, there's no way her father hasn't seen him. The count knows every major player in the south, meaning a guy with these looks couldn't possibly Stay a secret. Adelaide tells herself to to out of it and stop drooling over his

face. She needs to figure out his real identity first. She squints, carefully scanning his outfit for any hidden clues. She spots the San Fidelio emblem on his sleeve, but quickly notices he isn't wearing a standard priest's collar. She calculates the odds. Can a non-priest even be the archbishop's proxy? Plus, he looks way too young for a senior role. Then her eyes lock onto His waist, right where a weapon should be hanging. The puzzle pieces click together perfectly. He isn't a priest at all, he's a holy knight. The guy catches her staring and dryly notes that

she's had her fill of looking. He apologizes for the delay, mentioning she already introduced herself at the door. Adelaide elegantly curtsies, taking the chance to formally greet him again. She remembers that while knights hold massive holy power, the priests usually run the Temple's daily operations. But standing right in front of her is the ultimate exception, the knight captain of San Fidelio. He shoots her an incredibly cold glare, surprised since he never actually told her his rank. Adelaide just smirks, claiming an educated guess. He points out he's not even wearing a knight's uniform, but she notes

that old combat habits are hard to break. She breaks down her Sherlock-level deduction. His perfectly fitted clothes Have a suspiciously loose belt meant for a heavy scabbard. Add in the sword calluses on his index finger and the vice bishop's earlier panic, and it's totally obvious. She humbly apologizes just in case she's wrong, but he calmly admits she's spot on. Adelaide smiles, completely thrilled with her own genius. She realizes she just stumbled upon a guy who literally just finished the most brutal legendary training in the icy mountains. The captain looks genuinely Baffled that she read him

like an open book. She internally laughs at how incredibly innocent he is. Did he really think a guy of his standing could stay completely off the radar? Then again, there have been tons of high society events at the temple this year. Yet not a single noble lady has ever gossiped about the mysterious, drop-dead gorgeous knight captain. She realizes that's because he was exiled to the frozen wastelands this whole time. She asks if He's familiar with Callow Hands ice caves, which he confirms. The captain position isn't just handed out. Candidates have to survive the most rugged

frozen gorges imaginable, explaining exactly why he's been totally off the map. Shifting back to business, he asks what urgent matter she came to discuss. Adelaide goes dead serious. For her, this issue is a matter of absolute life and death. Her entire future running the mercantile group literally Depends on securing a quick marriage. She originally came to the archbishop just to beg for a high-tier husband recommendation without sparking weird rumors. But as she intensely stares at the silver-haired captain, a massive light bulb goes off in her head. Why ask for a recommendation when the absolute perfect

specimen is standing right here? As the captain, his future is 100% secure, his capabilities are maxed out, and his stats are flawless. Plus, his Looks are so incredibly top-tier they could literally serve as the symbol for worldwide peace. She takes a deep breath, telling herself to calm down before she fumbles the bag. He politely asks what she needs. She flashes her most charming, calculating smile and simply asks for his name. He looks down and finally introduces himself, Killian Session. Adelaide smiles to herself, relieved that the name Session isn't attached to any major noble family she

Knows of. This makes him the absolute perfect target. A man who is insanely capable but has zero family backing is exactly what she needs. Now, she just needs to confirm his age. She plays the polite card, enthusiastically complimenting him on becoming the knight captain at such a young age. She coyly adds that since she just turned 21, she assumed he must be right around her age. Killian bluntly corrects her, stating he is actually 27. Adelaide quickly Apologizes for the assumption. She elegantly touches her cheek, apologizing for being so incredibly forward today. She playfully adds that

she hopes to formally apologize to his wife one day. Boom, he firmly states he isn't married. Adelaide tightly grips her dress, mentally praising the archbishop for keeping this absolute gem hidden away. She suddenly feels like a true believer, thinking it was actual divine intervention that the archbishop wasn't Here today. She tells herself not to get overly excited just yet. She still needs to clear one final massive hurdle. She leans forward, playfully swaying her dark hair, and asks him a very specific question. Does the captain happen to fancy blondes? He stares at her blankly, genuinely confused

as to why he would. He states he has absolutely no reason to answer that, but if she must know, he doesn't have any specific preference. Adelaide internally cheers. Since he Doesn't care for blondes with angel faces, that means he's completely immune to Nola's plot armor. Killian looks concerned, asking if she's all right since she's just standing there beaming. She quickly reassures him she is more than well. Assuming she's just tired from her long trip, he suggests she go home and speak directly with the archbishop when he returns. He notes the archbishop will be back in

exactly 2 weeks. Adelaide completely panics, Shouting that 2 weeks is way too late. Killian calmly tells her that if her problem is truly a life or death emergency, only the archbishop can help her. Adelaide sharply disagrees. She stares directly into his icy blue eyes, stating that no matter who else she meets, absolutely no one can help her out the exact way he can. He finally speaks up, asking what she means. Adelaide is thrilled she finally got his attention. He coldly tells her that Everyone has major checkpoints in their life they must overcome, but orders her

to keep it short and straight to the point. She leans in and drops the bomb, "Marry me." Killian completely freezes, staring at her like she just grew a second head. He politely asks if she's feeling all right. She repeats her proposal without missing a single beat. He asks if she's seriously proposing to him when they literally just met 5 minutes ago. He sighs, pointing out that She knows absolutely nothing about him. Adelaide completely disagrees. She rattles off everything she deduced. He's an unmarried man at the prime age for marriage. The legendary knight captain of San

Fidelio possesses massive holy power, and based on his accent and uniquely tied bootlaces, he grew up in the capital. She finishes her intense Sherlock scan by noting he hates public attention and is incredibly honest. Plus, he patiently listened to her Ramble without getting angry, proving he is solid manners. She gives him a bright winning smile. She argues that if there's anything else she needs to know, they can easily figure it out after they sign the papers. After all, most political marriages are between total strangers anyway. Killian looks down at her, admitting that he did learn

one major thing about her during this crazy exchange. He states she is way too clever to be actually crazy, meaning she Isn't being entirely sincere with him. He sits down at a table, accurately deducing that she's the type of person who will absolutely never let a subject drop until she gets her way. He cuts right to the chase, asking if her desperate proposal is just a scheme to officially become the heir of the Mercantile Group. Adelaide takes a seat across from him, firmly stating that the position was always rightfully hers, and she's just making sure

it stays that Way. She sighs heavily, explaining her massive dilemma. Her father assumed she would naturally marry her childhood friend. Killian asks if she was also under that same impression. She admits she was, but unfortunately, her so-called friend had completely different plans. She explains that she let him go because he suited her younger sister much better. And she casually drops the crucial detail, her younger sister just happens to be a blonde. Killian connects the dots immediately. Adelaide smiles awkwardly, confirming that her sudden question about blondes wasn't entirely random. He accurately points out that if she

just let her fiance go that easily, she clearly wasn't very sincere about him either. Adelaide doesn't deny it. She explains that running the massive merchant group is already incredibly exhausting. The business world doesn't just pause and wait while she wastes time trying to Find true love. Killian stares at her, genuinely surprised. He asks if a cold, contractual business deal is really the kind of marriage she has her heart set on, noting most ladies wouldn't settle for that. Adelaide laughs. She says if people want love, they can go find love, but she is built completely different.

Killian leans forward, locking eyes with her. He asks the ultimate question, then why me? Adelaide thinks to herself, is this icy knight captain secretly a Romantic looking for love? She quickly rejects the idea. She absolutely cannot picture those cold, dead eyes looking affectionately at anyone. She plays her strongest card. She tells him that to her, absolutely everything is a trade. If he pretends to be her perfect, loving husband in front of her father, she will give him anything he desires. She flashes a wicked grin, reminding him that the Yuden Group deals in literally every business

imaginable. She can place The entire world directly into the palm of his hands. She promises him the rarest gems within a week, but he completely rejects them. Unfazed, she immediately counters with ancient magic swords and legendary tactician books. She's throwing absolutely everything on the table. Killian looks at her, totally unbothered. He points out that with an offer that insanely good, she could easily find a massive swarm of other men willing to marry her. Adelaide realizes He is incredibly haughty. To a normal knight, those legendary items are worth dying for, but he literally didn't even flinch.

She leans in and whispers that at some point, he'll have to consider his standing at the Imperial Palace. She smirks, betting that a man of his ridiculous caliber surely isn't satisfied just playing night captain forever. He calmly asks what makes her assume that. She immediately points out that the temple is small, cold, and Hungry for actual power. After all, no matter how holy it claims to be, Mount Fidelio is still just an isolated block of ice at the top of a frozen mountain. She states that every single talented man in the south eventually dreams of

conquering the capital. There is no way he intends to stay stuck here. She confidently declares that if this were a bet, she'd gamble her entire fortune on it. Entering the Imperial Palace is the ultimate goal for any knight, but the Existing knights are incredibly territorial, meaning breaking into their ranks is a massive uphill battle. She looks him dead in the eye and promises that when the time comes, she will use the full weight of the Sergio family to support him. By any means necessary, she will personally pave a solid gold road straight to his final

destination. Killian stays completely silent. Adelaide grits her teeth. She knew convincing him wouldn't be easy, but she At least expected him to pretend to consider it. Finally, he pulls out a chair, stating that since he listened to her story, he's fulfilled his basic duty as a host. He stands up tall and completely rejects her, coldly telling her to return home and think about it more. He stares her down with absolute zero emotion, stating he has never ever changed his mind about a decision. Adelaide abruptly stands up. She tells him she perfectly understands his Stance, even

if it means he's choosing the hard route instead of her easy money. She turns her back to him, quietly confirming that this is his final answer. As she heads for the door, she dramatically pauses. She looks back over her shoulder, completely dropping her polite act. She bluntly tells him that their relationship isn't a game of cat and mouse. She tightly clenches her fist. Since he rejected her perfect logic, she honestly has no idea what to Expect from him now. Killian looks slightly confused, saying her name as she storms off. But before she leaves, Adelaide makes

one final crazy threat. She vows that from the door she's standing at, she will personally embellish the entire path to his temple with solid gold. She flashes a wicked, slightly unhinged grin, joking that laying down a path of flowers is way too cliché for her taste. Suddenly, the scene cuts outside to a chaotic Struggle. Adelaide is screaming at the temple guards to let her go so she can explain. Two priests are literally dragging her out of the temple by her arms. Jackie runs up, completely panicked, asking what on earth is happening. Adelaide furiously rips her

arm out of the priest's grip, snapping at Jackie that it's painfully obvious she's being kicked out. Jackie rushes over to check on her, and Adelaide just lets out an exhausted sigh. She can't Believe she actually got physically tossed out. One of the priests politely but firmly points to the exit, ensuring she actually leaves. He dryly apologizes for not providing the path of flowers she requested, but assures her they will accurately guide her to the door. Adelaide looks back like she just got slapped in the face. She staggers away, feeling completely dumbfounded that her master plan

failed so miserably. Jackie nervously asks if the negotiation inside Went bad. Adelaide stops, asking for a moment to think. She furiously wonders what part of her pitch made him reject a literal golden ticket. Suddenly, Jackie loudly gasps, aggressively grabbing Adelaide's arm and pointing toward the entrance. Standing there in the sunlight is Killian, looking so incredibly majestic that Jackie genuinely mistakes him for a divine revelation. Adelaide deadpans that he's just a regular person, internally cringing because she Probably looked exactly that dumb when she first saw him, too. Killian casually brushes past the priests, walking straight up

to them. Adelaide sarcastically notes that he didn't need to personally escort her out just to make sure she was gone. She glares at him, asking why he even bothered doing the whole godly test act inside if he was just going to reject her anyway. Killian holds his hands up trying to speak, but Adelaide immediately cuts him Off. She crosses her arms and yells that she absolutely refuses to give him any of her gold now. He firmly clarifies that he's genuinely curious. What would she have actually done if he did demand power and money during their

chat? Adelaide scoffs. If he was just another greedy noble, she would have kicked him out of her potential husband roster instantly. Killian casually mentions that the path down the mountain is dangerous, so he will personally have His knights escort her. He claims it's the least he can do for a lady who showed such utmost sincerity. He offers to show her the way, but she coldly rejects him. He politely warns her that wild beasts are incredibly active during tonight's crescent moon. Adelaide tells him to stop being considerate, otherwise she might misunderstand his intentions. She gives him

a stiff, formal bow, preparing to leave with her pride somewhat intact. But as they walk away, Jackie aggressively tugs on Adelaide's dress, desperately whining that she didn't get to finish making her holy wish. As they head down the massive stone steps, the silence is deafening. Jackie checks on Adelaide, who is completely zoning out, still processing the sheer humiliation of getting rejected by a guy she basically offered to buy. Jackie nervously asks if Adelaide actually just walked up to a literal statue of a god and casually Asked him to marry her. Adelaide shoots her a terrifying

glare. She defensively claims it wasn't love at first sight. He just happened to perfectly fit all her strict conditions for a political husband. Jackie dryly points out that insanely hot was definitely one of those conditions. Adelaide whips her head away, completely flustered, while Jackie awkwardly laughs, nervously agreeing that her lady definitely wouldn't just fall for a pretty face. Outside the Temple, Jackie tries to comfort her devastated lady, telling Adelaide to just pretend she confessed to a literal statue. But Adelaide refuses to back down. Since literally nothing is going her way, she realizes returning home empty-handed

isn't an option. She fiercely glares back at the temple, her aura flaring up like a final boss. Jackie nervously asks what happens if the captain already has a lover. Adelaide confidently brushes that off. There is no way a man would send a secret lover to a dangerous, isolated temple like this. Jackie assumes they're heading home to make a new plan, especially since the captain mentioned wild beasts roaming around. But Adelaide suddenly turns right back around. She stares up at the temple, fully determined to stir up some serious trouble. Meanwhile, inside the office, Vice Bishop Samuel

nervously apologizes to the captain for letting Adelaide Barge in. Killian doesn't even look up from his paperwork, calmly noting that blocking her wouldn't have stopped her anyway. He completely ignores the drama, entirely focused on finishing his report. He casually asks when the archbishop is scheduled to return. Samuel reveals it will be at least two more weeks, explaining that the emperor's illness is far worse than anyone thought. The Vice Bishop looks at Killian in absolute awe. Adelaide's Sudden visit practically turned the temple upside down, yet this guy just coldly chased her out and went straight back

to doing paperwork like an absolute machine. Suddenly, an apprentice knight named Michael bursts into the room to deliver a report. Michael confirms that the chief of staff checked the boundaries and found absolutely nothing wrong. A rowdy red-haired knight pops up behind him, grinning wildly and dying to ask the captain about the juicy gossip. He excitedly notes that no one just casually trespasses into San Fidelio. He asks Samuel if the rumors are true. Did the famous Sergio Eres actually visit them this morning? Samuel confirms it. The red-haired knight's eyes light up, bragging that he heard she

had the Sergio family's signature pink eyes. He points out that her eyes are the exact same color as the flashy pink jewel on Killian's pen. The rowdy knight leans in, bluntly asking why Killian was so Incredibly rude to her. Michael panics, shocked by his friend's absolute lack of manners. Killian slowly looks up, his icy blue eyes practically freezing the room as he warns the knight to watch his mouth. The red-haired knight instantly flinches, realizing he just crossed a massive line. Michael nervously tries to cover for his friend, but the red-haired guy quickly forces a laugh,

trying to play it cool. Stepping outside, the red-haired knight tells Michael that the Other apprentices are completely losing their minds over how beautiful Adelaide was. He casually asks if the Sergio family is really that big of a deal. Michael looks at him like he's crazy, stating literally everyone knows them. The Sergios have been loaded for generations, and the current count is basically sitting on a throne of infinite wealth. Michael nervously shushes him, but the red-haired knight just shrugs, wondering why Killian Didn't instantly accept her. He bets his right arm that every single apprentice knight in

the temple would drop to their knees for a chance with her. He jokes that marrying an heiress like that is basically a cheat code for life. Suddenly, the red-haired knight stops laughing, frantically looking around the empty hallway. He completely panics, shouting that he has to leave right now and sprints away. Michael awkwardly calls after him, asking if he's acting This jumpy because he just exterminated the magical beasts outside the barrier. Back in the office, Killian's pen abruptly stops moving. He turns to Michael, his eyes narrowed, asking him to repeat what he just said about the

magical beasts. Sensing the sudden danger, Samuel quickly orders everyone to clear out of the office. Once the door clicks shut, Michael nervously tries to defend the red-haired knight. He explains that the guy grew up Completely isolated in the temple, making him extremely rough around the edges. But Killian isn't listening. He springs up from his desk like a coiled spring. He grabs his sword and coat, ignoring Michael's offer to run whatever errand he needs. Killian practically sprints toward the door, leaving Michael deeply confused by this sudden burst of urgency. Michael watches him go, noting he has

never seen the usually stone-faced captain look so completely Grim. Killian towers over Michael at the door, completely ignoring him as he steps outside. Stepping into the courtyard, he suddenly freezes in his tracks. He spots the high priestess walking through the garden, followed by a group of cloaked volunteers. She notices him staring and explains that these people volunteered to serve the temple. Killian nods, already knowing the protocol. As he steps down the stairs to greet her, she smiles, happy To see him out of his office. He glances at the group, his eyes locking onto one specific

volunteer hiding under a hood. The high priestess expresses her deep gratitude for the young ladies, noting that their volunteers are usually elderly people who struggle with the heavy labor. She then turns to one of the volunteers and kindly invites her to step forward and greet the legendary knight captain. As Adelaide stands there completely stunned, the hooded figure Answers to the high priestess. Killian squints his icy eyes zeroing in on her. He bluntly asks what she is doing here. The volunteer pulls back her hood revealing Adelaide. She smoothly introduces herself as Agnes, a humble servant of

God. The scene shifts to a majestic shot of the temple courtyard. Adelaide smiles like an absolute angel, dramatically blessing the noble captain in the name of God Uns. A flashback reveals exactly how she pulled this off. Jackie nervously asks if they really need to be in the temple library. Adelaide has completely ditched her fancy noble dress, now wearing a simple white robe. She scolds Jackie, telling her to use her holy name, Sister Jacqueline, and to lower her voice while inside the temple. Adelaide forces Jackie to straighten her posture, explaining that even the basic servants here

are considered official members of San Fidelio. Jackie nervously asks if This disguise is really necessary. Adelaide smiles. Since she was forcefully kicked out of the main hall, joining the female volunteer ranks was literally her only way back inside. She refuses to return empty-handed. Her deadline to find a husband is way too tight and there's no way she's leaving a temple completely swarming with perfect groom material. She firmly states she's going to see her crazy plan through. Jackie worries about the merchant group, Pointing out that everyone is waiting for Adelaide's return. Adelaide brightly smiles, noting that

if this entire marriage plot completely blows up in her face, she'll have absolutely nothing to go back to anyway. Luckily, she already sorted out all the major business for this quarter, so she has a small window of free time until the massive trading ships arrive. She admits she's a little anxious since this is the first time she's ever completely taken her hands Off the steering wheel of the company. But since she's here, she decides she should just focus on wrapping up this marriage deal instead of uselessly stressing over the business. The flashback ends cutting back

to the high priestess who calmly notes that Adelaide is still hanging around the temple. Adelaide elegantly curtsies respectfully greeting the high priestess. The older woman smiles warmly gently lifting Adelaide up and telling her there's no Need for such deep formalities. Adelaide plays her role perfectly clasping her hands and claiming just incredibly thankful to finally have the opportunity to serve God. The high priestess smiles noting she had absolutely no idea the famous house of Sergio had such a pious devoted lady. Adelaide effortlessly lies claiming her heart has always belonged to God even though she was constantly

trapped managing her family's massive business. The high priestess smiles Noting that Adelaide even received her baptismal name in advance. Adelaide nods claiming her father personally brought her here to receive the holy name Agnes. In reality, her father only brought her to San Fidelio because it was the most powerful influential temple at the time making it the perfect business move. The high priestess looks slightly worried noting that a high-class lady who has never even touched holy water shouldn't be doing hard manual labor. Adelaide Humbly calls it a teaching from God. Internally, Adelaide completely disagrees. Running the

massive merchant group isn't just casually counting money. She constantly signs brutal contracts, fires people, and screams at incompetent workers like an absolute dragon. She figures sweeping a few floors is basically a vacation compared to that. Plus, she's absolutely not in a position to be picky right now. Her internal monologue reveals her true Desperation. If Nola becomes the head of the group, even if she's fated to die young, Adelaide will be permanently downgraded to a mere accessory. She refuses to just toss her precious company to an ambitious enemy. The higher a position is, the easier it

is for someone to completely taint it. She vows that the empire she built with her father will remain hers from beginning to end. And to secure that power, she slowly steps closer to Killian. She Stares up at the icy night captain, thinking it's incredibly satisfying to see his normally cold, dead gaze actually shaken by her sudden appearance. A younger priestess interrupts, harshly scolding Adelaide for smiling to herself while the high priestess is speaking. The high priestess gently defends Adelaide, assuming she was just smiling because of a pure, happy, holy thought. Adelaide quickly agrees, playing the

innocent Card. The high priestess kindly tells Adelaide to go rest for the day, promising to assign her specific service duties tomorrow morning. She hands Adelaide a small holy item, and Adelaide respectfully accepts it, thanking her. The high priestess warmly blesses her, wishing that the light of Uns forever brightens the empire. As Adelaide walks away, the high priestess smiles, noting how surprisingly adaptable the noble lady is. The younger priestess is Absolutely fuming. She demands to know if the high priestess seriously thinks Adelaide is fit for the great temple. She violently flinches when the high priestess gently

calls her name. The high priestess reminds her that true followers of Uns must completely throw away their earthly prejudices. But the younger priestess argues it isn't prejudice. She points out that Adelaide was literally just caught having a secret meeting with the night captain Before magically volunteering. She insists that plenty of noble ladies try to volunteer just to get closer to the handsome knights. Plus, everyone knows how absolutely ruthless the count of Sergio is. The younger priestess glares into the shadows, convinced that no matter how hard Adelaide tries to act naive, those incredibly ambitious eyes completely

give her away. She claims Adelaide absolutely has an ulterior, shady motive for being here. She asks The high priestess if she's disappointed in her for speaking out. The high priestess gently clenches her holy symbol, apologizing. She explains she isn't disappointed. She actually agrees that Adelaide needed to be accepted specifically because she's from the powerful Sergio family. The younger priestess is completely confused asking what she means. The high priestess turns away with a serene smile. She calmly asks the younger girl to imagine how Incredibly grateful God owns would be if they successfully converted the most secular

money hungry being in the entire world. Meanwhile, Adelaide is standing alone in the peaceful sunlit courtyard completely unaware that she's currently the target of a massive holy conversion plot. She just smiles thinking this peaceful life isn't too bad either. Back in her disguise, Adelaide reassures Jackie claiming that the high priestess has already been incredibly generous. She jokes that if some random person barged into her business, she'd tie them up and feed them to the eagles. At least here she gets free room and board, but she quickly gets serious reminding Jackie they need to fulfill their

volunteer duties perfectly and quickly. She aggressively taps a sheet of sheet music. She analyzes the music like a true professional noting two sharps in the key signature meaning she has to adjust her pitch by a semitone. Suddenly, Jackie taps her arm pointing nervously across the courtyard. Adelaide casually replies that she's already looking. A group of incredibly handsome holy knights is doing combat drills right in front of them. Adelaide's eyes sparkle as she admires the view. She happily tells Jackie that this kind of scenery is giving her a massive morale boost. Heavy footsteps approach from behind

and Jackie quickly warns Adelaide that someone is coming. A knight walks Up immediately recognizing Adelaide as the famous Sergio heiress. Adelaide flashes a sweet innocent smile and politely corrects him. She claims she is simply Agnes, a humble servant of God. The rowdy red-haired knight from earlier introduces himself as Commander Reginald grinning widely. He says it's a huge honor to meet her while his friends awkwardly peek out from the bushes behind him. Reginald flirts heavily saying the rumors about her legendary Beauty weren't exaggerating at all. Adelaide gracefully plays along, acting incredibly flattered. He immediately starts trying

to flex his authority, telling her that if she ever faces any difficulties while volunteering at the administration center, she should come straight to him. Adelaide internally laughs. Reynald is acting way too cheerful and rowdy for a strict holy temple, meaning his family must have serious money or power to keep him in a Commander position. She smirks behind her hand. Since she has to survive here for an entire week, she figures it won't hurt to build a useful network. She turns up the charm to max capacity, flashing him a brilliant smile and praising him for being

so incredibly friendly. Reynald totally blushes, completely falling for it, while his friends in the bushes cringe in absolute second-hand embarrassment. He enthusiastically suggests that since her Official volunteer assignment hasn't been chosen yet, she should request to be transferred to his unit. Adelaide plays completely clueless, asking what a volunteer would even do for the nights. Reynald tries to play it cool, vaguely mentioning the temple has tons of affiliated places she could be assigned to. He points out the different areas, the lodgings for the educational staff and the training nights down below. Adelaide nods, mentally downloading Every

single piece of intel. She knows she needs to get assigned directly to the nights if her plan is going to work. Reynald quickly reassures her, saying noble ladies are usually given easy jobs like managing the library or the armory. He laughs, trying to sound cool, explaining that armory duty just means checking weapons in and out, so she won't even break a sweat. Adelaide immediately starts daydreaming about the absolute peak romance tropes that happen In armories. She pictures a tall, handsome knight reaching over her to grab a high book, or gently grabbing her hand to help

her write down a complicated weapon name. But as she's zones out, heavy footsteps completely shatter her fantasy. Her inner thoughts completely shift. Knowing the icy Captain Killian, he would absolutely despise any kind of romantic workplace nonsense and would probably aggressively separate them. Her daydream crashes back To reality as Killian approaches, coldly staring down Renald. Adelaide turns around, happily greeting the captain as if she hadn't just gotten physically tossed out by his orders. Killian stops, looking at her with his usual deadpan expression. He narrows his eyes, clearly annoyed. The narrator perfectly describes his look. He's staring

at her like a stubborn black cat that's completely blocking his carriage path. He can't gently move her, but he also Can't just draw his sword and slash her out of the way. Renald completely panics, immediately noticing the thick tension and realizing the captain and the heiress definitely have history. Killian coldly snaps at Renald, demanding to know when his training is supposed to end and ordering him to head back instantly. As Renald scrambles away, Killian looks down at Adelaide, pointing out that she's smiling. Adelaide flashes a massive, totally fake Grin, claiming there's absolutely no reason not

to smile when she's resting in God's holy embrace. Killian isn't buying it for a single second. He sighs, saying she acted like this yesterday, too, clearly believing that doing basic temple labor is way too easy for her. Adelaide quickly pivots, dropping the innocent act and firmly asking what he means by easy. She steps closer, glaring up at him. She tells him she completely respects his decision to reject her Proposal, but she absolutely will not tolerate him looking down on her willpower. Killian stays quiet, his cold blue eyes locked on hers. She fiercely defends herself, swearing

that she has never ever been insincere about a proposal in her entire life. And that's because, as the head of a massive merchant empire, a single word from her moves thousands of people and millions of gold pieces. She doesn't have the luxury of joking around with something This serious. She reminds him of his own words. He told her to wait for the archbishop if her problem was truly a life-or-death emergency. She states her problem is exactly that important. Killian coldly retorts, asking if her idea of an emergency is magically transforming into a fake servant named

Agnes within a single morning. Adelaide completely loses her temper. She internally screams that this icy statue is actually talking back to her. Killian Looks away, seriously lecturing her that the Great Temple's sacred duties shouldn't be treated like some noble lady's mischief or a quick vacation. He firmly tells her that no matter how hard she tries to prove her dedication through this manual labor stunt, his final answer to her proposal will never change. But Adelaide just smirks, staring right through him. She boldly asks, "Who said I wanted to change the captain's mind?" The white-haired Knight's captain

firmly shuts down the black-haired girl, strictly referring to her as Agnes. He coldly reminds her that since she proposed to him yesterday and got totally rejected, the discussion is officially over. Agnes blinks, playing innocent as she asks if that conversation didn't already end yesterday. She casually brushes it off, claiming she's way too busy to dwell on the past and has completely erased the memory of him dragging her out. The Captain narrows his eyes, genuinely confused, and asks why she's still hanging around then. Without missing a beat, she strolls right past him, smoothly stating she just

really needs a husband candidate. She figures with all the countless knights stationed at San Fidelio, at least one of them will follow her orders. The captain stares coldly as Agnes adds that she hopes he didn't misunderstand and think she was trying to impress him again. Looking Absolutely unbothered, the captain sharply replies that he didn't misunderstand anything. Agnes flashes a cheeky smile, noting that it's a huge relief. Suddenly, a brown-haired knight awkwardly interrupts the tense moment, calling out for the captain. The morning bells start ringing across the courtyard, signaling that it's officially time for prayer. Agnes

completely switches gears, suddenly playing the part of a devoted believer Asking for blessings for a sinner like herself. She dramatically turns on her heel and walks away, acting like she's purely following the voice of God. The brown-haired knight watches her leave, casually noting that her little stunt completely failed. He awkwardly checks in, asking if the captain is doing all right. He then mentions a wild rumor spreading among the ranks that the high priestess actually brought the girl in herself. The captain exhales sharply, Asking if the church brought up House Sergio's financial patronage again. As Agnes

glows in the morning light, the captain notes that a VIP like her would definitely be treated like royalty. But the brown knight shakes his head, revealing that after meeting the high priestess, the girl immediately sent her carriage away. The captain is genuinely surprised that she gave up her ride, and the knight confirms she seemed totally resolved to stay. The knight wonders if The high priestess gave her some life-changing advice, but the captain instantly shuts that down. He firmly states that Lady Adele, revealing Agnes's true noble identity, just isn't that kind of person. The brown-haired knight

is totally confused, positive he didn't miss any secret details when he met her. The captain actually laughs, predicting that this spoiled noble will probably only last a day or two before giving up and going home. Meanwhile, Back with the priestesses, someone reads a notice confirming that Lady Adele has been assigned a new post. A blue-haired priestess claps her hands, wrapping up the morning's hymn practice. She tells the new arrivals to wait for Priestess Rebecca, and Adele politely agrees like a perfect angel. The second the instructor looks away, a brown-haired recruit whispers to Adele, asking if

her terrible singing was actually real. The girl then asks if Adele was seriously Going to hit on the other knights after being rejected by the captain. Adele admits there's no way. She knows that once you've set your sights on a top-tier guy like the captain, everyone else just looks like NPCs. She adds that her strict father would totally lose it if she fumbled a catch like him, prompting the recruit to ask if the whole husband hunting thing was just a cheap jealousy tactic. Adele smoothly points out that jealousy only works if The guy actually likes

women, which she highly doubts. She explains her real 200 IQ strategy. If she acts like she's still obsessed with him, her goal is way too obvious and he'll just keep ignoring her. Suddenly, a menacing dark aura completely surrounds her. She smirks, realizing that if she threatens to mess with his precious knights, the recruit connects the dots. The captain won't be able to take his eyes off her. Adele happily agrees that's exactly the master Plan. She completely locks in, confident that their previous interaction wasn't a total disaster. She remembers that even when he was acting cold,

he was literally stifling a laugh. But things got awkward the second she mentioned potentially going to the royal palace. She face palms in pure frustration, admitting she tends to totally run her mouth and ruin the vibe. Just then, the blue-haired priestess strolls up, interrupting their private chat. The Priestess leans in uncomfortably close, asking if Adele struggled with the sinner's hymn. Adele is instantly suspicious, wondering why this lady is suddenly acting so friendly when she knows she's flawless. Knowing the priestess is secretly testing her, Adele decides to sprinkle some seasoning to force her to drop the

fake act. Flashing an absolutely blinding smile, Adele claims she feels totally at peace because it's her favorite song. The Priestess is completely shocked, sweating nervously as Adele claims the hymn makes her feel closer to God ons. Trying to recover, the priestess notes it's surprising for the Sergio family to be so devoted. Adele casually drops that her father sang it to her as a lullaby. We flash back to a young Adele tucked in bed, asking her father if singing the hymn actually brings divine blessings. Her father sits in the dark, softly noting that there are way

too many People in the world for the gods to care. He flashes a gentle smile, telling his daughter that's exactly why she needs to hedge her bets and pray to all the various gods just to be safe. Little Adele looks up from her bed, innocently asking her dad if praying to all the different gods means at least one of them will bless her. We learn she spent her childhood singing a wild mix of hymns from completely different temples before going to sleep. Back in the Present, priestess Rebecca tests Adele, asking if she knows the evening

prayer song for San Fidelio. Adele confidently says yes, but when Adele starts singing about a crimson sun setting on a mountain top, Rebecca quickly points out that's actually the Meduna Temple's hymn. Adele just laughs it off, claiming the melodies are super similar and joking that it's just a side effect of praying to way too many gods. Rebecca awkwardly chuckles along, totally Masking her true petty intentions. Adele plays the humble card perfectly, thanking the priestess for listening to her inexperienced self. Rebecca claps her hands, putting on a fake supportive smile as she praises Adele's passion. She

smoothly suggests she knows the absolute perfect place for Adele to fully demonstrate that devotion. Cut to the kitchen, Jackie, the brown-haired recruit, is literally on the verge of tears, realizing they're being set up to Fail. Rebecca smiles innocently, asking if the massive towers of dirty plates are a bit too much for them. Staring at the absolute mountain of unwashed food and dishes, Adele realizes this was Rebecca's revenge for the hymn mistake. But Adele keeps a flawless poker face, calmly brushing it off and acting totally unfazed. Rebecca plays dumb, noting that the knights eat a lot

while the two girls stare down the impossible task. Internally, Rebecca watches Adele Closely, assuming the spoiled rich noble is just in total shock. The priestess justifies her toxic behavior, deciding she can't let a snob take the great temple lightly. We get a quick lore drop. Adele's family, the Sergios, are notorious for being completely dysfunctional with super obscure religious views. With all three siblings having different mothers, Rebecca decides she's going to be the one to finally put this arrogant noble in her Place. Rebecca smugly suggests that they won't even finish today, and Adele innocently asks about

dinner. Rebecca totally traps them, saying they can only eat when the work is done or they can just give up right now and take a carriage home. We learn that Sir Kilian, the knight's captain, is an absolute legend who spent three years training in the freezing ice caves. He's on a strict mission to eradicate any filthy secular corruption from the holy grounds. Rebecca's master plan is to make Adele wave the white flag and run home crying. She figures if a high-ranking noble like Adele gets packed up, no other women will ever dare approach the captain

again. Rebecca tells Adele this is the perfect opportunity to aid the knights, and Adele politely agrees to follow orders. But before Rebecca can leave, Adele calmly asks her one simple question. Rebecca smirks condescendingly asking if the rich girl doesn't even Know how to wash dishes. Adele tilts her head smiling as she wonders if this massive workload is really meant for just two people. She totally 200 IQs the priestess, precisely listing that there are exactly 467 plates, 440 knives, and 270 cups. Rebecca starts sweating bullets, completely shocked that Adele was literally counting the dishes while she

was yapping. Adele flashes a sweet smile claiming that anywhere else she'd assume this was intentional harassment, But surely not at the great temple. Caught completely off guard, Rebecca nervously clears her throat and denies it. Adele clasps her hands together, perfectly playing the part of a naive trusting believer. She absolutely glows with fake innocence, loudly declaring she would never dare suspect someone who follows God's will. Rebecca completely snaps, yelling at them to hurry up and warning that they have to take full responsibility if the kitchen falls Behind. Adele bows respectfully, promising to tell God exactly how

kind priestess Rebecca has been to them. She turns to a terrified Jackie asking if she'll do the same, and Jackie awkwardly agrees. Defeated by Adele's psychological warfare, Rebecca storms out the door. The second she's gone, Jackie frantically drags Adele aside asking why she's playing along with this obvious torture. Jackie points at the towers of plates, estimating it'll take Them at least four straight days of manual labor. She demands to know how Adele can stand there so nonchalantly when they're obviously trying to work them to the bone and kick them out. Jackie argues they should have

just thrown a tantrum and stormed out of the kitchen right away. She completely calls Adele out, noting that acting like a forgiving saint is totally out of character for her. Adele calmly explains she isn't acting like a saint, she just Genuinely doesn't care about Rebecca's petty drama. Being born incredibly wealthy, Adele figures she already has everything. So, why waste energy hating a minor inconvenience? Jackie stresses out, wishing they had at least packed some money to bribe some extra helpers before sending their ride away. She desperately asks if Adele packed anything useful as Adele quietly reaches

up to her hair. Without a single word of complaint, Adele starts tying her long Black hair back, getting ready to actually put in the work. Jackie completely panics, screaming that her noble lady has literally never done manual labor in her entire life. But, Adele flashes a fiercely confident smirk, looking back and asking, "Who told you that?" The dining hall is absolutely packed and a red-haired knight notes he's never seen it this crowded before. His buddy complains about the noise, but the red-haired guy Enjoys the lively vibe, earning him a quick roast. The brown-haired knight sighs,

totally baffled by how everyone is losing their minds over a single woman. He scans the room, pointing out that the knights are completely blinded by greed, desperate for a chance to talk to her. Suddenly, Captain Killian materializes out of nowhere. The knight literally flinches, terrified by the boss's sudden appearance. Sweating bullets, he awkwardly asks what brings The captain here. Killian coldly asks if he isn't allowed in the dining hall. The knight instantly backpedals and Killian walks past him with a sharp glare, telling him to remember his place. The two knights stand there totally stunned, wondering

what they just witnessed. Cut to priestess Rebecca, who nervously greets the captain, surprised since he usually eats his meals completely alone. The red-haired knight whispers to his buddy, wondering if the stoic captain is Actually interested in Adele, too. He grins, figuring it's only natural for any man's heart to follow a beauty who traveled all the way to the temple. He points out that Killian is literally radiating a terrifying aura just to scare the other knights away from her. Sitting next to Rebecca, Killian is genuinely leaking a dark rumbling pressure. But, the brown-haired knight sweats, realizing

that warning aura isn't directed at the knights, it's Directed at Rebecca. Oblivious to the danger, Rebecca casually mentions she still hasn't seen Sister Agnes. She plays the concerned act, noting Adele needs to eat, but must be falling behind on her chores. She steals a sneaky glance at the captain to gauge his reaction. Killian silently drinks his water as Rebecca twists the knife, claiming the work isn't hard, but Adele is just too spoiled to handle it quickly. When Killian doesn't respond, Rebecca inwardly smirks, convinced he has zero interest in the noble girl. She happily eats her

meal, smugly satisfied that her manual labor trap completely broke Adele. Meanwhile, the red-haired knight looks super disappointed, wishing he could have seen Adele's face during dinner. He asks if he should go help her out, but Rebecca instantly shuts it down, insisting Lady Adelaide is busy volunteering. The knight coughs awkwardly, wondering if Adele is Purposefully avoiding them and taking his help for granted. Rebecca claims their basic temple food wouldn't suit her anyway, imagining Adele only eats massive lavish feasts. The knight adds to the rumor mill, noting the Sergios supposedly make party fountains entirely out of wine

and champagne. He gossips that they stack dozens of cakes as tall as a literal person, and they supposedly import entire foreign trees just for the fresh fruit. Rebecca smiles smugly, Agreeing that someone raised in such absurd luxury has no business volunteering here. She smoothly shifts the blame, claiming she only gave Adele the chores because the girl begged for them. Out of nowhere, [clears throat] a voice interrupts, asking if the captain is finished with his meal. It's Adele, looking completely flawless. She strolls up to the table carrying a massive tray of plain boiled potatoes. Killian actually

flinches, his stoic expression Cracking for just a second. Rebecca glances over in absolute shock, rudely asking if she's carrying leftover food. Adele slams the mountain of potatoes down, playfully joking about the rumors of her family's wild extravagance. Rebecca totally rejects her, telling Adele to pass and serve the other knights first. But Killian absolutely shuts the priestess down, coldly stating, "Well, I'm not passing." Adele spins around and pulls up a chair right Next to him, telling Rebecca, "Sorry, but this is her dinner." Flashing a gorgeous, confident smile, she asks the captain if she can take a

seat. Rebecca panics, trying to remind the captain he was just about to leave. But Killian immediately plops right back down into his chair like a total simp, quietly muttering that he still has some food left. Adele smiles, telling him to enjoy himself as she casually picks up a potato. She mentally notes that the Whole room probably expected her to burst in and butcher the knights after being overworked. Taking a bite, she hums in pure delight. It's the ultimate taste of her very first meal after intense manual labor. The two knights stare at her in complete

shock as she internally jokes she's so hungry she could eat it skin and all. She flashes a warm smile, totally hyping up the alpine potatoes for their perfect size and taste. But internally, she's struggling. She admits all potatoes taste the same, and she's just filling her stomach because her arms are literally too weak and shaky to chat normally. She knows Rebecca ordered her to wash dishes for hundreds of people with zero intention of feeding her, all to prevent her from seeing the captain. But Adele refuses to lose. The red-haired knight laughs out loud, totally charmed,

saying she makes their everyday potatoes feel like a brand new meal. Adele smiles elegantly, Praising the grace of the gods for letting them enjoy such a meal every day. The knight grins, teasingly asking if she actually eats simple meals like this every day at her massive manor, and Adele just smirks right back. Priestess Rebecca interrupts, telling Adele she really doesn't have to force herself. Putting on a fake sympathetic face, she mentions that everyone knows about Adele's wealthy background, so she shouldn't choke down food that doesn't Match her sensitive palate. But, Adele just holds up her

potato, coolly telling the priestess she's taking the food way too lightly. She drops some unexpected farming knowledge, explaining the grueling 90-day process of selecting seeds, matching temperatures, and harvesting. Rebecca blinks, genuinely surprised, and asks if Lady Adelaide actually enjoys potatoes. Swirling a glass of wine, Adele smoothly replies that there's a wide variety of potato Dishes out there. She lists off everything from soup to mashed potatoes, salads, and bread, looking perfectly in her element. Watching her swish the wine, Rebecca nervously sweats, internally wondering if the noble girl is about to just whack her with the glass.

Adele then brings up the rumors Rebecca was spreading earlier, specifically the one about her family making a fountain out of wine. Rebecca defensively claims she heard it directly From someone at the party, basically accusing Adele of lying. But, Adele flashes a dazzling smile and completely flexes on her, revealing it wasn't a fountain. Her father literally dug a waterway to make a massive wine waterfall. Rebecca scoffs, assuming the girl is just making things up to brag. Adele ignores the hate, explaining the 200 IQ marketing strategy behind the waterfall to manipulate the wine market prices. She smoothly

shuts down the Fruit tree rumor, too, clarifying that they just use their own greenhouse to distribute fruit at cheaper prices. Thoroughly annoyed by the massive flex, Rebecca resorts to quoting an old proverb, claiming it's harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to pass through the Adele doesn't miss a beat, casually stating she could easily forge a golden needle bigger than the entire dining hall right now if she wanted to. She stands up, making it Clear she only refrains from doing so because crashing the gold market would absolutely wreck the southern

economy. Plus, she adds, it would go against the will of their noble god. Suddenly, the red-haired knight leans in, noting she's done eating and offering her some bread. Instantly, the other knights completely simp for her, aggressively shoving their own bread forward to offer it up. Adele politely declines, promising to just come to the dining hall faster next Time. The knights promise to help her with anything she needs, while Rebecca sits there clutching her head in pure defeat. Flashing a sickeningly sweet smile, Adele tells the knights not to waste any food, since she's the one stuck

doing all their dirty dishes later. Walking away, Adele smirks knowing Rebecca is waiting for her to snap, but she's the one actually pulling the strings. She gives a polite little bow and gracefully takes her leave. The Knights watch her go, whispering about how she's on a completely different level compared to sister Rebecca. The captain silently watches the door, mentally praying for Rebecca's skyrocketing blood pressure. Trying to save face, Rebecca turns to Killian and asks what's wrong. She notes that only one person left the hall, but it already feels completely empty. She tries to sound poetic,

dramatically wondering how to express this lonely feeling. But Killian brutally shuts her down, bluntly stating that it's just too noisy. Rebecca sweats, asking what's wrong with everyone having a little fun. She tries to call the captain out, claiming he's just finding it hard to be honest about his feelings. Killian completely ignores her bait, stating he's only speaking as the man responsible for the temple's peace, before pointing directly at a loaf of bread. He locks eyes with her and asks who exactly she was planning on Giving it to. Killian casually picks up the bread, making Rebecca

sweat even more. In a total troll move, he slides the bread right in front of her, telling her to enjoy it just like the other knights. He coldly tells her she should eat more, while Rebecca internally fumes that he hasn't even poured her a glass of water. Killian delivers the ultimate disrespect, bluntly telling her that the more she ages, the more nutrients she needs. Cut back to the kitchen, where a Massive tower of freshly washed plates is literally sparkling. Rebecca stomps in, veins popping on her forehead, warning Adele not to think she can get away

with a sloppy job. But Adele just holds up a spotless plate, happily announcing she paid extra attention to the parts you can't even see. Refusing to believe it, Rebecca desperately digs through the giant stack of plates looking for a single speck of dirt. She violently clatters the dishes around Internally debating if she should just invent a reason to nitpick. Adele watches calmly knowing Rebecca's entire job right now is just to chase her out of the temple. Adele sighs realizing her absolute perfectionism is just a toxic workers occupational disease from her intense past training. Instead of

complaining Adele casually mentions she gave the kitchen layout some thought. She starts totally redesigning the place suggesting they build some shelves under The window for better flow. She even critiques the worn down dish sponge explaining how it drops washing efficiency causing Rebecca to absolutely lose her mind and scream did I ask you? Adele just smirks like an absolute menace totally satisfied that she finally made the holy priestess break character and raise her voice. Adele smiles realizing that if she pulled a stunt like Rebecca's she'd be kicked out of the temple on the spot. She pieces

it Together the high priestess just stood back and watched their whole argument unfold. This means the high priestess deliberately left Adele with her biggest hater to test her while simultaneously keeping Rebecca's complaints in check. Adele respects the 200 IQ play knowing the priestess did what she could leaving Adele to handle the rest of this mess herself. Since the dishes are finally spotless Adele cheerfully asks if they can clock out and head back to the Nights. But Rebecca steps right in her way noting that while the current chores are done the dinner dishes won't arrive until

much later. She coldly denies Adele's request to leave leaving the noble girl completely confused. Rebecca flashes a genuinely smug smile absolutely thrilled to finally have the upper hand. She reminds Adele that she literally just suggested an improvement for the kitchen so they have to implement it right now. Rebecca totally Weaponizes Adele's own words demanding they go swap out the worn down dish sponges. Adele's face drops she realizes she completely played herself and should have just kept her mouth shut. Rebecca smugly asks why she's making that face, daring her to just leave if she can't handle

the heat. She challenges Adele to go find the replacement materials. Dropping the polite act entirely, Adele tells Rebecca to drop the formalities since they're both busy, leaving the Priestess totally shook. Standing out in the freezing snow, Adele looks fierce as she demands to know exactly where to go and how many roots she needs to fetch. The story flashes back briefly to Adele's dazzling smile as she bragged about her father's wine waterfall. Cut to the dark, snowy forest. Captain Killian rubs his face, genuinely wondering if he's losing his mind. He admits he's never had these kinds

of absurd, uncontrollable thoughts before. He thinks about Adele, completely convinced she's the most secular, inappropriate, and extravagant woman he's ever met. He remembers her confident smile, adding that she's incredibly brazen, too. Looking out over the cold landscape, he wonders if she's just totally fearless or just way too honest. He tries to ground himself, repeating a mantra to keep his mind and body under strict control. He tightly grips his shirt, counting down the days. He just needs to survive 13 more days until the archbishop finally returns to the temple to handle this. He completely locks in,

reminding himself that he survived three grueling years in the ice caves, so 13 days should be an absolute breeze. He resolves to ignore whatever nonsense she tries to spin, refusing to fall for her tricks. He vows not to be swayed by her pink eyes or her sneaky scheming smiles. But the universe has other plans. He takes a step and Literally runs right into Adele in the middle of nowhere, who is groaning about her back hurting. Killian internally panics, desperately asking the heavens what he did to deserve this exact scenario. Adele is totally exhausted, whining about

the endless labor, and debating if she should just straight-up rebel. Suddenly, she notices him and lets out a massive scream. Killian awkwardly warns her not to trip. Catching her breath, she demands to know Why the captain is out here at this hour. He deadpans that he should be asking her that. Adele blankly explains she was forced out here to rip up tree roots to make new brushes. Killian's icy demeanor melts just a little. He thinks that despite her spoiled attitude, she's actually out here doing unexpectedly good deeds for the temple. Suddenly, Adele starts aggressively over

explaining. She frankly lists off that she didn't follow him, didn't plan this, And definitely wasn't peeping. Killian looks at her sweating defensive face. He expected her to be completely shameless, but realizes she's actually genuinely flustered because she thinks he might actually misunderstand their accidental meetup.