After finishing the situation analysis with Gabriel and Jeremiah, deciding what to do next, I returned to the prison.
Fortunately, the shift hadn't changed yet, and Sir Ante was wearing my dress, lying on the bed with his face covered.
Perhaps because Pudding had overused wide-range magic while dealing with Azazel, he had returned to his cat form and was nestled in my arms, but upon seeing Sir Ante occupying the bed, he frowned and tried to scratch, so I tried my best to stop him.
"Pudding. Be a good boy, okay?"
Our Pudding, please let it slide. Sir Ante even wore a dress to create an alibi for me, so let it go just this once. As I gently stroked him, Pudding seemed satisfied and retracted his claws.
"Sir Ante."
"Lady Rohanson! You've returned!"
Sir Ante looked up, his face bright red. He seemed embarrassed to have been caught lying on the bed wearing another woman's dress. I pointed at the dress and asked.
"Did anyone come by in the meantime?"
"Yes. Some surveillance personnel... Ah, I apologize for wearing the dress without permission. I heard footsteps coming down to the basement, so I quickly put it on."
I was about to compliment him that it suited him well, but I held back since that would only make him more ashamed, and I changed the subject.
"You weren't caught?"
"No, no. Other knights stopped by briefly to check, but they seemed to think I was just sleeping and left right away."
Whew. Thank goodness. Sir Ante and I have similar builds, so they apparently didn't notice it was a body double.
"Is that one doing okay?"
The violent thug knight who had been tormenting Sir Ante was standing outside the prison. Worried he might seek revenge while I was gone, I asked, and Sir Ante nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes! He seemed completely like a proper person now."
He was a thug who had thrown away his humanity, but it seems he's become fully human now. Since he's become a person anyway, shall we launch an anti-male violence campaign? It seems like it would end in complete success.
"So, Lady Rohanson. How did things go... did you find Lord Tenebrei?"
"Yes. I found him."
Ah. Sir Ante and the others don't know that Tenebrei and Jeremiah were switched. I debated how to explain it, but since I couldn't yet judge whether Sir Ante could be fully trusted, I just nodded. There was no need to tell him and risk this information leaking to Bishop Malik, which could make things dangerous.
"...How did your hand get hurt?"
Sir Ante was shocked as if seeing a ghost upon seeing my hand wrapped in bandages. I went out and came back injured, so he must be worried something happened. In my emotion, I almost told him the whole story. I need to keep my mouth shut.
"I made a mistake while handling a sword."
I omitted the story about blocking Azazel when he tried to attack Pudding. The key point is that I got hit by a sword, so it's not a lie.
"Ah, and soon news of Lord Tenebrei's death will spread."
When I hinted at this so he would know in advance, Sir Ante's face went pale.
"So the sword... D-didn't you say you wouldn't participate in killing Lord Tenebrei...?"
Surely he doesn't think I went and killed Tenebrei?
Give me back my emotion. Do I look like that kind of person? Sir Ante must have picked up quite a few rumors about me circulating among the public.
According to Gabriel, security became much tighter while I was imprisoned. In reality, the mastermind is Bishop Malik, but if you only heard the rumors, they were saying I was manipulating the princess, spreading curse documents, inciting heresy, and controlling demons.
There's literally nothing correct in there. It seemed Bishop Malik was deliberately spreading rumors to paint me as the ultimate evil.
"Of course, I didn't do it."
I explained with a benevolent smile. Trust is still lacking between Sir Ante and me. The others who are closely tied to me usually received my help, but with Sir Ante, it's purely a give-and-take relationship.
Ah, I just remembered I forgot to tell Gabriel about Sir Ante. But with Bishop Malik keeping a close watch with eyes blazing right now, it seemed fine to tell him after things were wrapped up.
I feel a bit uneasy, like I just used Sir Ante. Next time I'll definitely tell Gabriel there's a talented person here. Sir Ante should also ride the connection train and get promoted to Holy Knight! In this damn caste-based society, you have to ride the right lines and enjoy life.
"Since you weren't caught, please rest assured."
Remembering how Sir Ante had been trembling with worry about being caught by the knights when I went out for a bit, I added a word.
"Quite a relief, right?"
"Yes, yes. It is."
Sir Ante seemed relieved too.
"Sir Ante. Take this."
"...Holy water?"
Although Evangelin's body is cursed and can't receive holy water, I thought it would be good to have some for emergencies, so I brought a few bottles when I went to the Rohanson mansion. For when Gabriel or my kids get hurt. While I was at it, remembering how Sir Ante was beaten by the thug knight and was limping, I thought to give him some.
"Leaving your leg in that state for long wouldn't be good."
"Thank you, thank you so much. Lady Rohanson."
Sir Ante received the holy water bottle with overwhelming gratitude. You look too apologetic, but you know this is give and take, right Sir Ante? It's not charity. It's payment for staying in prison in my place.
Sir Ante drank the holy water right away. The effect was amazing. With just that one small bottle, Sir Ante's damaged leg was instantly healed.
"It would be better to keep limping in front of others for a while."
Even without that, he seemed to be getting criticized for colluding with me, and if his injury suddenly healed, it would only drive a wedge further. Sir Ante seemed to understand and nodded.
Before long, it was shift change time, and other knights came down to the basement. Sir Ante took off the dress, stood outside pretending not to know me, and gave me a slight bow with his eyes as he left.
After Sir Ante left, I told Pudding to return to the mansion since he shouldn't be seen in front of others either. Seeing Pudding acting cute saying he didn't want to go almost weakened my heart, but I barely maintained a stern attitude and told him to go again. Pudding haughtily bit my hand without hurting it, then vanished in a flash. Now I'm alone. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the bed.
Searching for Jeremiah, fighting Azazel, learning the truth about the curse array, and planning the future with Gabriel—today was far too busy.
Fatigue made my eyelids keep closing. When I wake up, the fact that Tenebrei was killed will probably spread throughout the imperial capital....