In the cold snow, Seniert rescued the young mastermind as planned. The young mastermind, now inside the Papal Palace, remains unconscious. Her goal is simple: raise him well and die by his hand. While nursing the unconscious boy, Pope Orenst returns to the Palace. Orenst asks a question to test Seniert's heart for bringing a 'lowly thing' into the Palace without permission.

He gently stroked my hair before turning his gaze toward the mastermind.

“So, what is that brat? A new toy you picked up?”

The Pope stared intently at the mastermind, then lowered his gaze to the blanket stained with the boy's tears.

He touched the tear marks branded clearly on the blanket with a look of displeasure.

“Something filthy has touched it. Don't worry, I'll buy you a new one.”

“You don't have to do that. Tears dry quickly anyway.”

The Pope did not respond to my words.

He strode to the head of the bed and grabbed the mastermind's snow-white hair.

Grip. The mastermind's hair filled the Pope's large fist.

I froze at the sight. Tears began to fall from the mastermind's eyes again.

“Sai... Saintess…”

He called out to me, knowing nothing. The Pope's lips curled into a crooked smirk.

“Look at this, Seniel. This thing dares to utter your name.”

“…Your Holiness, I only brought this child because I felt pity for him.”

A flash of raw emotion flickered in the Pope's bronze eyes.

“Is that so? You're always too soft-hearted, that's your problem.”

Before I knew it, the Pope lowered his hand from the hair and gripped the mastermind's slender neck.

No, don't do that.

The child's neck was easily engulfed by the Pope's single hand.

“Things like this that stimulate your soft heart... it would be better if they disappeared.”

The mastermind's face looked pained as the Pope tightened his grip.

The Pope whispered as if testing whether I was still inside his birdcage.

“Don't you agree?”