Veronica took a deep breath, composed herself, and bowed solemnly to Greg, her bearing dignified and devout.
"Thank you for your help, Lord Greg. Not only have you inherited Lady Seraphina's will, but you have also shown through your actions what true faith means. I will not let your efforts go to waste, so please tell me-where exactly is that creature hiding?"
Greg looked into her eyes, which seemed to blaze with the fire of faith, and wondered whether she was placing a little too much trust in him.
Is she not even going to ask where I got this information?
After a moment's hesitation, Greg shared what he knew. "That creature is currently hiding at the Empire's Crown Prince's side."
Clear surprise appeared on Veronica's face.
"That creature took such an enormous risk just to hide beside the Empire's Crown Prince? Why? Even he should know that the longer he stays in the Imperial Capital, the greater the risk of exposure."
"I suspect it didn't escape blindly. It came out with a purpose."
Greg analyzed the situation calmly.
"If I'm right, it wants to control the entire Empire by controlling the Crown Prince. After all, the Crown Prince is currently the Empire's first publicly recognized heir. Controlling him would mean holding the Empire's future in its hands."
"So that's it!"
Understanding dawned on Veronica's face.
Just as Greg was thinking she had completely taken the bait, Nightmare's voice suddenly sounded in his mind, tinged with teasing amusement.
"Thou art truly wicked-clearly, thou art doing this for thyself, yet thou makest it sound as though thou art solving her problem. Now this foolish Saintess will not merely refrain from obstructing thee, but willingly do everything in her power to help thee."
Greg replied inwardly without betraying a thing. *Are you