Riel, whose sweet and cute face still held a touch of baby fat, was tied to the bed, unable to move her hands or feet. She could only barely lift her head.
At the doorway, Romayada's expression grew increasingly odd as he listened to Riel's screams.
The butler, Lu'an Schroeder, was also straining to listen.
The look in his eyes also grew strange.
The two older men exchanged a look, then quickly looked away. They had no desire to discuss the matter.
But it was no use with the gossiping women standing nearby.
Madam Yada was the first to stamp her foot.
Romayada's proud eldest daughter, Suri, muttered under her breath. She was clearly very jealous, likely because Lian's appearance had made her fall in love at first sight.
"Sister, don't talk about Riel like that. She's our dear sister. As for the Lord... Father, please go in and stop him. At least let Riel die with some dignity."
Having already pictured a scene of Riel being violated, Bella said, her body trembling.
"Yes, Father. If word of this gets out, our family's reputation will be ruined,"
said Bai Muyada, the eldest son.
The second son chimed in, "Yes, and it's not just about our reputation being ruined. If the Lord gets sick and dies from this, we'll have to take responsibility for his death, becoming the villains of Green Shade Territory."
Romayada looked toward his most favored mistress, Lady Vanessa.
"Vanessa, what should I do now?"
"Oh, darling, I think we should go to the church and be cleansed by Holy Water. We shouldn't stay here and eavesdrop on the Lord's treatment. That would be showing a lack of faith in him."
Lady Vanessa only wanted to survive. She couldn't care less what was happening to Riel.
Her reminder made Madam Yada and the others realize the crucial point.
'Yes, isn't surviving more important than the family's reputation?'
'Besides, as long as they don't say anything, who would ever know?'
"Yes, my dear Vanessa, you're right. We should trust the Lord."
With that, Romayada had his butler, Lu'an Schroeder, arrange for a carriage.
His entire family was going to the nearby Holy Court to be cleansed by Holy Water.
Soon, only Anna and Annie were left guarding Riel's door. The servants of Romayada's estate didn't want to die either, so when they saw their masters leaving by carriage, they all rushed after them to the church, hoping to get a bit of Holy Water for themselves.
This caused the bustling estate to fall instantly silent, as if it had been swallowed by the deep night.
Only the intense sounds from Miss Riel's room declared that the estate was still alive.
"Doesn't her throat get tired?"
Annie asked, her expression blank.
"Her voice is as lovely as a nightingale's song. Perhaps Lord Lian enjoys such singing, which is why he has been in there for so long."
A smile appeared on Anna's face.
"Please don't casually slander your righteous boss. I was by no means indulging myself."
Lian pushed the door open and walked out. "Anna, help Miss Riel get dressed. Annie, prepare the carriage. We need to go somewhere."
Anna walked into Riel's room.
Riel said, embarrassed, "He's going to get infected, too."
"No, Miss Riel. Look at your skin. The red rashes—haven't they all disappeared?"
At Anna's reminder, Riel finally noticed that the terrible red rashes on her body were gone, and her skin was no longer itchy.
"It was... it was Lord Lian. He saved me?"
Riel lifted her little face, looking at Anna in innocent confusion.
Anna nodded and helped her get dressed. "This is Lord Lian's unique treatment method. Please keep it a secret for him."
"Mhm, mhm."
Riel nodded earnestly. Besides, she was too embarrassed to tell anyone about this kind of "treatment."
"Now that Lord Lian has saved you, do you know what you should do?"
Anna coaxed gently.
"I must thank Lord Lian. I'll have Papa prepare lots of gold and jewels to give to Lord Lian,"
Riel said.
"Can gold and jewels buy back your life? Your father and mother had just decided to bury you alive. It was Lord Lian who pleaded for you and risked himself to save you,"
Anna said gently. "Do you really think money can repay the debt you owe Lord Lian?"
"I... I'm sorry."
Riel lowered her head, her face flushed with shame. "Then what should I do?"
"Pledge your Loyalty to Lord Lian,"
Anna said.
"Loyalty?"
Riel looked at Anna, not quite understanding.
Because she was truly too young and naive, she was quickly ensnared by Anna's following words.
"Lord Lian said you are very talented. Whether in Swordsmanship, Medical Skill, or Shooting, as long as you study diligently, you can achieve great things. He has decided to train you personally."
"I... I'm talented?"
Riel's eyes lit up.
In all these years, no one had ever told her she was talented.
She couldn't sing, dance, draw, or arrange flowers. She wasn't good at socializing, and her grammar was poor. In the eyes of her father and mother, she was just a good-for-nothing child. This was the first time she had ever heard someone say she was talented.
"So, are you willing to pledge your loyalty to a man who appreciates your talent and who would risk his own life for you?"
Anna asked.
Riel nodded emphatically. "I am willing! I will pledge my Loyalty to Lord Lian! I want to become his Knight."
It was as if Riel had found a new meaning in life.
At that moment, the man Riel had just sworn to be loyal to was waiting by the door for the carriage.
While waiting for the carriage, he checked the Entry Points he had just received.
[+100 Entry Points]
'Huh? Why are the points getting lower and lower? I just cleansed a carrier of the Plague, and I only got 100 Points!'
'It seems Riel's infection wasn't that deep. I have to find the true source of the Plague in Green Shade Territory to get a high score!'
'The greater the impact, the more Points.'
Annie had the coachman bring the carriage over. Lian, Anna, and Riel all boarded.
Lian was surprised to find a new entry had appeared above Riel's head.
[Heart of Loyalty].
'Just a moment ago when I left the room, she looked like she had been grievously wronged, crying her eyes out.'
'So how did she suddenly become loyal to me?'