Chapter 8: Chapter 10

Hestine left the doll store with a cute and colorful doll in her arms.For a woman who just had her coming of age ceremony, carrying it around seemed to be burdensome.However, Hestine’s lovely appearance erased even that heterogeneity.“Hestine. Let’s go back home.”“Oh… Yes…”Hestine, who was staring blankly at her doll, raised her head at the voice of Berkian, and hurriedly moved her steps.She borrowed her brother’s hand and got into the carriage.Then, as Berkian got on the carriage, the carriage began to move smoothly.Berkian sneakily checked Hestine’s face.It was still a lovely face, but the melancholy that dimly rose on her face bothered him.“Hestine. What did you talk about with her earlier that made you cry?”At Berkian’s question, Hestine shook her hands and head together in surprise.“No! Adelia didn’t do anything to me!”Due to Hestine’s intense denial, the frown in Berkian’s forehead deepened.He thought that the good Hestine was taking care of the vicious woman and not letting him know of her evil deeds.“Ha… Hestine. You’re so nice. Of course, that’s lovely, but that kindness will eventually hurt you.”Hestine smiled as white as a blank sheet of paper at his vague words whether it was a compliment or advice.“But now I have a father and an older brother.”“Hestine….”The mixed emotions of worry and emotion were clearly visible in Berkian’s eyes.Hestine looked at Berkian like that, then bowed her head again and made a tearful face.“I’m still worried…. I want to be friends with Adelia, but she still….”The bright smile from earlier disappeared, leaving only a faint smile on Hestine’s lips.“Hestine. Don’t worry. There’s no reason for you to keep a low profile in front of her.”“But…”“She’s no longer a noble.”As Berkian said, Adelia was no longer Sorne’s daughter.Although she was expelled from her family, she was still treated like a semi-baron under imperial law.But in the present empire, a baron is considered merely an ordinary middle-class.Hestine knew this too. She did not expect to see her again.“What if, Lady Adelia… is the true owner of the oracle?”“An oracle is just an oracle. You don’t have to worry about what the white men say. She will never hold the Holy Grail.”A meaningful smile appeared on Berkian’s lips as he spoke those words.It was Berkian, who usually showed only a good smile in front of Hestine.Hestine pretended not to see Berkian’s smile and bowed her head.She soon stopped crying and smiled like a silver bell flower that he liked.Berkian smiled satisfactorily at Hestine, who looked at him with a beautiful smile.***Servants welcomed Hestine and Berkian’s who returned to the Valkyr’s residence. After that, Berkian has plans to go out again and leave Hestine. Hestine, who was left alone, felt bored and headed to her bedroom.She was followed by her exclusive maid, Lizzy.Click.“Ugh. I feel tired.”“Are you very tired? Then I will bring you some medicinal herbs.”Hestine gently raised the corners of her mouth as she looked at her exclusive maid.“Please, Lizzy.”Hestine’s gentle voice brought a smile to her maid Lizzy’s face.She was so kind to her servants that she couldn’t even compare to other nobles.Of course, her dignity could not surpass the other nobles, but for the servants, she is someone who was comfortable to serve.Lizzy left Hestine’s room with a light step.Hestine’s shoulder, which was looking at Lizzy’s back still, drooped downward.“You still seem to hate me….”It would be nice if you could be gentle at times like this.Hestine couldn’t understand Adelia, who was always setting her thorns.She was born with everything, but she threw herself to the ground.She doesn’t know what it feels to have nothing.Suddenly, Hestine’s chest was nauseated.Living a life full of deficiency is something she can’t imagine.Hestine quietly looked into the mirror of the fancy dressing table.She had a very beautiful face even to herself. Just by looking at her, your protective instincts arise.There was once a time when she hated her beautiful appearance that resembled her mother.For the powerless commoner, beauty was like a poison blessing.Hestine was on the lucky side.Her mother, who was quite clever, completely hid her daughter. In order to give her as a concubine of a nobleman in a pure state.If others saw it, they could have said it was heartless, but Hestine’s mother thought it was the best.But it was impossible for her to hide the beautiful and poor girl from the public eye forever.Eventually, Hestine caught the eyes of an unnamed nobleman. Her mother died guarding Hestine.Thanks to his mother’s death, Hestine was able to safely escape from the greedy nobility and grow under the protection of a temple nursery.Of course, since the nursery was not such a rich nursery, a rich life was impossible.Still, she was able to eat better than when she and her mother lived alone in a shabby barn.Then God gave her a blessing.She found out that she possessed a considerable amount of divine powers when she accidentally visited a shrine when she was 10 years old.Since then, Hestine has been able to receive education with the help of the temple.It was the moment when Hestine was able to escape from terrible poverty.‘I can’t miss it.’Hestine looked around her own room, full of extravagance. This was now entirely hers.She herself will be the perfect saint. Because that was her existence and her destiny.‘It’s not good for Adelia, but this is what it’s supposed to be.’She will not be able to defy her fate by her personal strength.That’s the way it should be.“Lady, the medicinal herbs are ready.”Hestine, immersed in her thoughts, answered with a sly smile at her face. “Yes! I’ll be there!”***I looked up at the large black carriage and admired it.As expected, the carriage that the imperial family rides on is different. The sight of a horse tied to the carriage was so huge that it could not even be compared to a war horse. I managed to get on the carriage by borrowing the hand of the Grand Duke.Eventually, the carriage began to move toward the destination, the Imperial Palace. As I looked out the window that was getting closer to the Imperial Palace, I calmed my troubled heart.As I was looking out the fast-moving window, the Grand Duke suddenly asked a question.“Are you nervous?”I’m nervous….I would be lying if I said I wasn’t. I smiled and nodded toward the Grand Duke. “Of course. It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”“Then I should tell you in advance. There will be a lot of spectators.”At that, I couldn’t help but frown.What do you mean spectators? Wasn’t it going to be private?The Grand Duke added an explanation as if he was aware of my thoughts.“The Duke of Valkyr’s pride seems to have been damaged considerably. It is said that the woman he put in as a foster daughter who he sincerely supported is not a saint. I’m sure he wanted to take this opportunity to prove she is a saint.”I pondered over Ivan Hamilton’s words. So, he wants to show that Hestine is a saint in front of the nobility?But the Duke is not capable of doing it on his own.Perhaps other nobles want to see the birth of a saint with their own eyes.I asked the Grand Duke with a smirk.“It seems that the temple didn’t say anything.”“They also lost the trust of the people, so they want to get it back.”It’s no wonder. Their interpretation of the oracle, which claimed to be a mediator between God and man, was misinterpreted once.They, too, want to ensure their authority.But why did the Temple suddenly reinterpret his oracle?Is it because Hestine’s divine power did not show?No, Hestine already manifested an unprecedented vast amount of divine power.Then there is no reason for them to reinterpret the oracle.There may be forces in the temple who do not want Hestine to become a saint.Because there are factions everywhere.I had a lot of thoughts. I hope I’m not caught up in a power fight.Still, I have the Grand Duke’s oath, so I’m a little relieved. When it is proven that I am not a saint, I could return to Rohen, a peaceful countryside.Of course, before that, I have to go through a test in front of the nobles.I let out a small sigh and looked out the window again.Before I knew it, the sharp roof of the imperial palace was close.Shortly thereafter, the Grand Duke’s carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace. I borrowed the Grand Duke’s hand again, got off the carriage, and, guided by the chieftain, entered the audience room.Numerous nobles were already seated in the audience room.I greeted the person with the highest position in the audience.“I’m seeing your Majesty.”“It’s been a while since I saw you. Lady Sorne.”The emperor greeted me with a light smile.It was nothing special, but if I just receive the emperor’s greeting here, there will be a problem for me in the future. This problem is already difficult, but if I accept the emperor’s words and greet him as the young lady of Sorne, it will be even more burdensome.“Your Majesty, I’m sorry, but can I say something?”“Say it.”“I dare tell you, there is a mistake in what Your Majesty has just said.”“Ho. What kind of mistake are you talking about?”The emperor shook his head.Once again, I bowed my head deeply and spoke in a steady voice.“I am not Adelia Sorne, I am just Adelia.”