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Gaia was wearing a meaningful smile.

Viola asked, “Is what you want money or information?”

“You are remarkably quick to understand.”

There are two means to buy information: money or information itself.

“If I may tell you one thing, the butterfly is in critical condition.”

“I know that.”

“The level of magical help needed has already surpassed what can be managed, and we require the assistance of a cleric.

However, this creates a dilemma.” Viola slightly frowned. No matter how frozen it was, it wasn’t a panacea.

Viola interrupted, “To heal a butterfly with such deep wounds, a high-ranking cleric with tremendous divine power is necessary. But those with such abilities won’t have enough divine power to treat a person, and furthermore, they don’t operate for money.”

They expend all their power to save dangerous individuals whenever their divine powers are restored. Using that power to save a cat? That seemed incomprehensible to someone.

If they have divine power to be spent saving a cat, it should be directed towards saving a person.

Many in the Empire think this way, and the temple’s policies reflect this.

“Yet, aren’t you trying to say that less skilled clerics who can work for money can’t save the current butterfly?”

“Hmmm.”

Gaia nodded. ‘Indeed, it’s understandable that Lady Medea would recognize her value, and Lady Selina would covet it so much.’

At this point, one might doubt whether Viola was truly thirteen years old. “You are indeed clever.”

“I came to you to solve that dilemma.”

“But the smart White Bellatu also has no idea how, so how could I possibly know?”

“You should know.”

Viola’s words naturally turned into a challenge. Gaia’s eyebrow twitched.

However, she didn’t let on her displeasure. “Does that sound like a threat, or is it my misunderstanding?”

“How was the Unknown Knight Order created in the palace?”

Information must be fought with information. That was the way to deal with Gaia. Initially, she didn’t know this place was ‘Night Cat.’

The initial scent of death. “Night Cat” always had the scent of death surrounding it. To draw out Gaia, the Night Cat’s leader, a considerable amount of blood was required.

“A tavern located right in the center of Chenta Street.”

The headquarters of the Night Cat’s monarch was situated right in the center of Chenta Street.

“A Black Cat sauntering across the table.”

“The mascot of the Night Cat was literally a cat with black fur. Its name was Nero, and it was also Gaia’s companion cat.”

Gaia maintained her expression without changing, playing dumb. “What is the Unknown Knight Order?”

“There exists an Unknown Knight Order in the palace.

A ghostly group that doesn’t have a name or existence. You must know about it.”

“Do you really believe such ridiculous rumors?”

“You know better than anyone that it’s not ridiculous.”

Gaia smiled sweetly. “What’s your basis for that?”

“Your name is Gaia.”

Only then did Gaia’s expression change. She had never revealed her name.

“You’re the leader of the Night Cat, and the ‘mother’ of the Unknown Knight Order.”

The reason Lady Selina turns a blind eye to the Night Cat is that Gaia is the ‘mother’ of the Unknown Knight Order. The Unknown Knight Order is a secret group strictly managed by the Empire.

Members of the Unknown Knight Order are recruited from all over the continent, and they are mostly talented orphans.

The one who secretively nurtures them to a certain level is none other than Gaia. “Lady Selina’s overlooking of the Night Cat would be for that reason.”

Gaia momentarily lost her words. She hadn’t expected this. ‘Did I just fall into Princess Viola’s pace?’

Where on earth did she obtain such information? While it was clear Viola was impressive, this content was known by a very select few even within the palace.

Even Lady Medea or Duke Heron wouldn’t know this.

“Lady Viola, what is your true identity?”

Viola hid her urgency and lightly laughed. “Isn’t it your job to find that out?”

“…….”

Gaia again became ensnared in Viola’s pace. Viola shared the information she knew, paying her dues in full.

She even planted a new assignment.

The situation continued just as Viola intended.

‘Her head must be quite tangled.’

Gaia is a clever character, which meant she had to consider and think about much more. She wouldn’t even entertain thoughts of ‘possession’; her mind would undoubtedly be in a great tangle. ‘The answer is probably not forthcoming, and eventually, I’ll have no choice but to accept my offer.’

She shrugged her shoulders and stood up. “I never expected to be swung around by a thirteen-year-old young noblewoman. You present me with a new challenge.”

“I’ll allow you to comprehend me. So, fill my needs.”

Viola looked at Gaia. Gaia’s gaze felt incredibly arrogant, yet it did not annoy her.

Indeed, she was a child destined to be a ruler.

She was not simply pretending to be a ruler. Viola was born to be one.

Gaia concluded this in her mind.

“Understood. Please leave the butterfly to me. Within three days, I’ll at least ensure its minimal health is restored.”

“Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

Gaia carefully took the butterfly into her arms. In truth, she had intended to act for Viola from the start. ‘What kind of bastard has done this to the child?’

Just as Gaia, who raises companion cats, wanted to save the butterfly too. ‘Oh, it’s severely injured.’

As she took in the butterfly, she could tell immediately. ‘This is the power of Quilton.’

It was an exceptionally refined and sensitive power. Only someone like Quesa, the head of the Quilton family, or Isabella, the lady of Winter Castle, could handle such bizarre power.

‘It’s not Quesa.’

Quesa would never do such a thing. Ultimately, it was Lady Isabella.

‘Why is Lady Isabella…?’

Moreover, she behaved so blatantly without hiding her traces. ‘There’s something going on!’

Gaia instinctively sensed it. It felt wrong to dismiss it as simply a prank by Isabella.

“The butterfly is almost like Sir Hixson’s companion cat, isn’t it?”

“Correct.”

“So Lady Isabella has turned even Sir Hixson into an enemy?”

“That’s likely.”

“That’s rather odd. It’s not like Lady Isabella to act this way.

It’s too extreme. She wouldn’t make an enemy out of Sir Hixson just because Lady Viola disliked him. Plus, lately, hasn’t she not wanted to have Lady Viola as part of the Quilton family’s forces?”

Gaia was seeing through many things from this faraway Imperial capital. It truly suited the leader of the Night Cat.

She was already aware that Quesa Quilton had wanted to take Viola as his daughter-in-law.

“I feel very uneasy.”

Viola also thought deeply, but no answers came. ‘What are they plotting?’

*

Returning to her lodgings, Viola couldn’t hide her complicated feelings.

She worked hard to save the butterfly, and the outcome was good.

This was the best action that Viola could take.

If it’s a cleric with that level of skill… there must be many waiting. Someone who lost their chance due to her might perish. In this world, it wasn’t like modern society where everyone could just go to a hospital.

There are few clerics, but many people in need of healing.

That weighed on her mind as well.

‘What is the purpose of the Unknown Knight Order?’

They are mainly exceptionally talented orphans. They are raised as an inhumane secret weapon for the royal family. Human emotions are mostly suppressed, and they become machines carrying out the royal family’s orders.

‘Many people are hungry and in pain.’

It was incomparably different from modern society. This place has brilliant magical and mystical civilization, yet only a few enjoy that civilization.

This is a world where social classes exist, clearly divided between nobles and commoners.

Even now, the majority of people live in dangerous places swarming with monsters.

‘Is it okay for someone born with power and a family like me to dream of just a modest independence?’

Viola was born with every talent imaginable. She possessed vast knowledge of this world and even knew what would happen in the future. ‘Is it enough for just me to live well?’

Though the surrounding characters were changing, causing everything to feel like chaos, this was still a world where people lived and warm families breathed. ‘Is that really right?’

“I don’t know what’s right.”

At the table sat Tundra. Tundra listened silently to Viola before uttering a word.

“What’s important is…”

Now Tundra no longer referred to Viola as ‘my lord’ or ‘my lady.’ Viola did not truly desire such titles.

“Viola has her own way of living.”

Tundra looked at Viola with strong belief and trust. Tundra was also aware of why Viola was so troubled.

She might be worried that someone whose turn was snatched away because of her would suffer unnecessarily.

She was likely thinking such warm thoughts. “There’s no right answer. Just live your life, Viola. I’ll be by your side.”

It was just like before. ‘I will be here for you.’

Those seemingly insignificant words approached Viola like magic. Viola quietly sipped her warm cocoa, wondering why Medea had suddenly appeared. But that wasn’t the end.

Behind Medea stood someone unexpected.

‘Why is Gaia here again?’