Chapter 16

After Hestine was confirmed as a saint, the duke of Valkyr was filled with joy and vitality.

When the Duke of Valkyr stepped forward with a glass of champagne, the nobles raised their glasses.

“A toast cannot be missed at this delightful occasion.”

“You’re right!”

Baron Helsing laughed wildly and responded to Duke Valkyr’s words.

“We are related by blood, but I’ve been taking care of Hestine since she was young. So, she’s no different from a biological daughter.”

Hestine, as if moved by the words of the Duke of Valkyr, covered her mouth and wept.

Prince Valkyr gently hugged Hestine’s shoulder with his arms.

“Don’t cry. You’re like a real sister to me, too.”

“Brother….”

“Let’s toast for Hestine’s flowery path”

At the Duke’s words, the nobles raised their glasses high and shouted a toast.

Hestine couldn’t help but stare blankly at the scene.

It was really like a dream.

Now, there is no Hestine who used to pick up old and worn-out clothes.

She was the beloved princess and saint.

After the toast, the banquet began in earnest.

Hestine drank the alcohol which she normally refuses and enjoyed the banquet.

People naturally flocked around Hestine as she is the star of the party.

“My lady. Can you show me the pattern just once?”

“What? Of course…”

“Oh, my. Look at this person. What do you mean my lady? Wouldn’t it be appropriate to call her saint?”

At the witty man’s words, the lady smiled slightly and handed over an apology.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I must’ve been drunk. ….. Saint. Can you show me the pattern?”

Hestine nodded her head with a smile on her face.

“Oh my god… It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you, madam.”

A friendly atmosphere continued until someone mentioned Adelia.

“How did she become a saint candidate?”

The atmosphere around Hestine subsided in an instant.

Then the lady who brought it up was embarrassed and covered her mouth with a fan.

The lady didn’t expect to ruin the atmosphere since usually in a place like people would normally talk about the eliminated candidate so she thought it was natural.

Hestine tried to raise the corners of her mouth to get her words out.

“Maybe… I think that’s because of her sincerity.”

“The dog passing by must be laughing at her sincerity.”

“That’s right. The saint is so sweet that she is defending the wicked woman.”

Hestine bowed her head with a troubled smile at the subsequent slander against Adelia.

“She must have used some evil tactics to cause trouble to the saint again this time.”

“That’s right. Because she’s always been like that.”

In the end, Hestine fell for the lure of the nobles.

“Really, is that so?”

“Of course!”

“Stop defending her now. That’s the best thing for the saint and for her.”

Hestine nodded her head timidly at those words.

If…. Lady Sorne really tried to harm me then I can’t let it go this time.

Now that she is the young lady and a saint of the Duke of Valkyr. She’s no longer the homeless and dirty Hestine.

‘It’s my job to rectify her mistake.’

Hestine quietly put the glass of champagne to her mouth, thinking to herself.

Having had some spare time before her departure, Adelia decided to go out for a while to buy a present.

Ivan’s gaze was fixed on her over the window.

He was watching Adelia leaving the mansion in a carriage with an escort he attached.

“I feel somewhat empty.”

Spencer, an assistant to the Grand Duke, said candidly.

Only then did Ivan’s eyes turn to Spencer.

“What?”

“You went a long way to bring her back, but in the end, she wasn’t a saint. That made things even more annoying.”

The Valkyr family has recently gained momentum due to the success of their guild.

In addition, her adopted daughter became a saint.

It was clear where the situation of the empire would lean in the future.

Ivan remained silent, he didn’t deny or affirm Spencer’s words.

The Grand Duke’s lips, which had not moved for a while, slowly opened.

“Well, it’s not that easy to predict what’s ahead.”

“That’s true…but”

“My brother is also preparing countermeasures accordingly, so the game will not change so easily.”

He could only nod his head but his face was still full of unpleasantness.

Spencer sighed secretly at his superior.

“There was definitely a mine near Rohen that the Heidel guild purchased, right?”

The Heidel guild is one of the great guilds owned by the Hamilton’s from generation to generation.

Spencer wondered why Ivan suddenly mentioned the Heidel guild, but he gave a steady answer.

“That’s right. We definitely bought a mine nearby.”

“I’ll go on an inspection.”

“What? Are you talking about the mine? Your highness, there are a lot of issues that need to be dealt with as soon as possible, you don’t have to inspect it yourself….”

Ivan said, calming Spencer’s trembling voice.

“It’s okay.”

It’s not okay!

Of course, contrary to the Grand Duke’s intentions, instead of calming Spencer, he made him even more astonished.

Spencer swallowed his tears inwardly.

Because he couldn’t afford to shout, ‘That’s not going to happen!’ to Ivan, the boss and master of the duchy.

“Why are you going there all of a sudden? No way.”

At that moment, an idea passed through Spencer’s mind.

“Are you planning to go to Rohen with Adelia-nim?”

“Yes.”

“Your Highness, it’s a bad choice. It won’t be beneficial to us even if you get involved with Adelia-nim.”

“Spencer.”

Ivan coldly cut off Spencer’s words.

“Get ready.”

Spencer swallowed a sigh.

“… all right.”

In the end, Spencer had no choice but to step down.

At that moment, the sound of hasty footsteps was heard through the quiet office door.

Soon after, the sound of a knock came into the office.

“Come on in.”

When permission was granted, the butler rushed inside.

Ivan looked at the butler with a calm gaze.

“What’s going on?”

“It seems that the Cardinal has urgent business.”

“Cardinal? Are you talking about Cardinal Eustaf?”

“Yes. He said he needed to meet Adelia-nim right away.”

When the unexpected name came up, Ivan’s eyes widened.

Ivan spoke to the butler in a more subdued voice than before.

“Let him in. I’ll meet him first.”

The city I returned to was still full of life.

I headed to a different doll shop than the one I had been to before. The place I visited this time was not a store that only dealt with dolls.

They don’t have different varieties of dolls like the store I’ve been to before.

However, my pride did not allow me to go back to the place where I was once ignored.

Ringing~

“Welcome. Do you have an Item you’re looking for?”

“I’m looking for a doll.”

“What kind of doll are you looking for?”

I pondered for a moment at the clerk’s question.

What does Emily like?

Emily longed for the splendid and beautiful life of a princess in a fairy tale.

It would be better to present a doll suitable for it.

I soon made a decision and told the clerk.

“I want to buy a bisque doll.”

“I’ll guide you.”

I turned around with a smile and followed the clerk.

As I went up to the second floor following the clerk, I saw a display case on the wall. There were various types of dolls on display.

I skimmed through the whole and chose three of the most eye-catching dolls.

“This and this. Oh, and that, too.”

When I chose an expensive product without hesitation, the clerk welcomed me and quickly took out the things I pointed out.

“Is this enough?”

“Do you also sell clothes for dolls?”

“Of course. If you look here, there’s a dress customized for these dolls.”

I looked at the display case the clerks pointed to and burst out in admiration.

What kind of little doll is wearing such a gorgeous dress? But when I thought about it carefully, it seemed like it would be fun in its own way.

Well, I’m not the one who’s going to play with it.

Maybe Emily will be amazed when she sees this too.

The thought of Emily’s surprised face made me smile.

“Give me everything.”

“Oh, yes… Please wait a moment!”

The clerk covered his mouth and hurriedly took out the items I had chosen and packed them.

“I’ll hold it.”

“Please.”

I left the gift boxes to the knight and left the store. But is it okay to use the knight as a porter like this? It felt like a waste of manpower.

Well, it’s not something I should care about.

As soon as I got out of the store, the knight asked me;

“Where are you planning to go next?”

“Let’s go back.”

“Yes. Then the carriage – Oh no, be careful!”

The knight looked behind me and pulled me hard to his. Without a moment to be surprised, I had no choice but to follow the knight’s lead.

As I managed to balance myself, I turned my head and saw a carriage quickly passed to the place where I was earlier.

I can’t believe you’re speeding up in this shopping district. Are you out of your mind?

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just…”

At that moment, a rag doll that was lying on the sidewalk caught my eye. It was the Pepe doll that Emily gave me as a gift.

I hurriedly picked up the Pepe doll.

“Sigh…”

Naturally, the doll that was run down by the wheel of the heavy carriage was damaged and the cottons that were inside came out.

‘It will bring you good luck!’

I remembered Emily shouting with a bright face.

At the same time, I had an ominous feeling.

“I’m sorry. It was our mistake.”

The Grand Duke’s knights bowed their heads and offered a sincere apology.

I swallowed a sigh inside looking at the knight.

“No, there’s nothing to apologize for. Raise your head. Let’s go back to the mansion.”

“… all right.”

I carefully wrapped around the Pepe doll which is no longer recognizable with my hands and got into the carriage.