Aelia’s agitation wasn’t surprising at all.

At first, hearing Elise’s words, she instinctively assumed the king was stalling—waiting for public outrage to fade before settling the score. After all, in her past life, that’s how every Weibo trending topic ended: the gossip-hungry crowd’s fervor rarely lasted more than two or three days.

But once she learned The Church had intervened, she instantly realized the king had completely washed his hands of it. With The Church now involved, they’d surely shield the Messiah Kingdom from derailing over this scandal.

In short, her entire plan had utterly collapsed.

And no matter how you sliced it, the blame fell squarely on that damn Hero.

(He probably orchestrated The Church’s involvement from the start… Damn it, damn it! Why is this guy so infuriating!)

While Aelia stood helpless, Luke stepped out of the Marquis’s mansion and let out a deep sigh of relief—the matter had wrapped up perfectly.

To an omniscient observer, Luke’s victory seemed effortless. Every scheming move by that pink-haired scoundrel had been firmly under his control.

But this outcome relied entirely on his mind-reading ability. Without it? He’d have derailed long ago—or been utterly fooled from day one by her feigned innocence.

Even the most patient person has a breaking point. Since arriving in the kingdom, that pink-haired scoundrel had relentlessly schemed against him. Even if he deflected each move and turned the tables to annoy her, it didn’t mean he’d keep swallowing his anger and taking hits passively.

Turnabout is fair play.

Now, Luke would shift the balance—go on the offensive against that pink-haired scoundrel!

Still, the Goddess’s blessing upon the Saintess remained formidable. Coupled with the pink-haired scoundrel’s deep resistance and vigilance toward him, Luke’s mind-reading ability functioned at only one-tenth efficacy against her.

Surface thoughts? Clear. Recent memories? Accessible. Deeper layers? Locked.

But her flawless facade didn’t mean others were equally guarded. Luke decided to start with those around her.

To ruin her reputation, he couldn’t focus on the past three years—the period she rose as a Grand Saintess Candidate to peak renown. Considering the feasibility of discreetly probing the game’s plot… he’d first investigate the original Aelia.

His first stop: Charles, with whom he now shared solid rapport.

“You wish to know about Saintess Aelia’s childhood? Apologies—I only met her five years ago… How was she then? Kind, virtuous, adorable… just like now.”

Luke ignored Charles’s polished account and probed his memories. The man hadn’t lied. But what Aelia truly thought back then—or whether she’d already been replaced—remained utterly opaque.

Next, he sought Elise.

“Saintess Aelia’s past? Lord Luke, are you seeking to understand her more deeply?” Elise’s eyes instantly sparkled. With a magician’s flourish, she produced a thick photo album and several glossy pamphlets.

“Saintess Aelia has always shone brightly! During the Forest Giant assault, her supreme support magic multiplied our strength effortlessly… And in the Dragon Clan invasion, she let us walk the skies as if on solid ground—”

“No,” Luke cut in hastily. “I meant… has Saintess Aelia truly been so self-disciplined and devoted all these years?”

Elise’s brow furrowed slightly. “Lord Luke… have you heard unsavory rumors?”

“No. It’s just… serving everyone so diligently, sacrificing so tirelessly for the nation… isn’t it a bit too much for her?” Luke forced concern into his voice, suppressing the urge to gag at his own insincere flattery.

Elise smiled warmly. “Indeed, she’s endured much. I’ve advised her before, but she says seeing others happy brings her joy. Such holy devotion—I can’t oppose it. But we *can* support her, lighten her burden!”

Luke barely heard the rest. He only needed her guard down and memories flowing. Yet the result disappointed him.

Elise had known Aelia seven years ago—back when she was merely a Novice Saintess in a remote border town of the Messiah Kingdom. Her healing rivaled mid-tier Saintesses; townsfolk praised her endlessly. Over seven years, her influence simply expanded. Three years ago, she outshone a formidable rival in the High Saintess trials to become a Grand Saintess Candidate. Nations offered her lucrative Guardian Saintess posts—but she returned to the Messiah Kingdom, a land weak in Light, to illuminate the entire Southern Realm alone. So noble. So selfless…

(“Can’t bear her homeland suffering”? She just foresaw the plot and knew staying here was safe! This pink-haired scoundrel really is a master of deception.)

Still, the intel confirmed one thing: Aelia had been replaced at least three years ago.

After declining complimentary pamphlets, Luke bid Elise farewell and pressed on. Regrettably, even with mind-reading, he gained little—Aelia arrived at court only three years prior, and Elise had been closest to her.

Just as he nearly gave up, a servant approached.

“Hero-sama, are you investigating matters concerning Saintess-sama?”

“Yes.”

“Speak with Old George at the stables. He’s from her hometown.”

“Thank you.”

Luke read the servant’s mind: just a messenger. An unwitting pawn. He tipped the man lightly and headed to the stables.

Old George hadn’t risen by association with that pink-haired scoundrel—he remained an ordinary stablehand. Learning the Hero wished to see him, he hurried over, trembling with trepidation.

When Luke stated his purpose, George paled, stammering incoherently.

But for Luke, the man merely *thinking* about it was enough.

(That pink-haired scoundrel… eight years ago, she was actually a spoiled, willful girl who wreaked havoc wherever she went?)