I Stole the Heroine's Holy Grail

Living at the Grand Duke’ mansion was more comfortable than I thought.

The servants served me up to the right line.

And there were less contacts with the Grand Duke than expected.

He seemed to be busy dealing with the work of the empire because he was the Grand Duke.

It’s been three days since I arrived at the Capital.

Fortunately, as the Grand Duke said, no one from the Marquis Sorne came to look me.

If I had stayed like this and proved that I have no Divine power. I can go back home.

But there was one thing that caught me.

A strange phenomenon that I experienced in the Marquis mansion last time.

Did time really stop? Or is it similar to a flashing you experience before you die?

If only that’s the case…

But what if I really have divine power, am I a saint and the temple made a correct interpretation this time?

“That can’t be true.”

Yes. It can’t be.

It is Hestine who will save the world from the devil.

She received everyone’s love and even if she does nothing she will be blessed by God.

And if God has bestowed mercy on me, then she should not make me a saint.

Living with them as a saint would be like hell.

“The meal is ready.”

When I finished thinking, I heard a maid’s voice.

I pulled myself up and got up. I followed the maid to the dining room.

Tasty food was laid out on a long, wide table in the dining room.

That’s too much.

I told them several times that this was too much for a person eating alone but the chef pretended to forget and kept preparing various foods.

Of course, the taste itself was very good.

To the extent that I have become accustomed to this taste and can no longer eat ordinary food.

“Then please enjoy yourself.”

“Thank you.”

I grabbed my fork and knife and started eating.

It was when I was eating such a luxurious meal. The tightly closed door of the dining room opened and Ivan Hamilton entered.

“Your Highness?”

“You were eating. Can I join you?”

“Of course. It’s the Grand Duke’s mansion.”

“Thank you.”

The Grand Duke naturally sat opposite me and started eating.

An awkward atmosphere lingered between him and me, but it was manageable.

This reminded me of what he had done in my mansion in the countryside.

Doesn’t he ask for a room in our first meeting, or to eat the breakfast he prepared?

What a weird person.

Yeah. This one word was enough for me to appreciate Grand Duke Hamilton now.

I asked the Grand Duke, dabbing my lips with champagne, which gleamed pale yellow and aged properly.

“When will I be able to go back?”

At my question, the Grand Duke put down his fork and knife and looked at me.

He was silent for a moment, and then opened his mouth.

“Two days later, the bishop dispatched from the temple will come to the imperial palace.”

“Then I can enter the palace in two days.”

The Grand Duke explained and nodded his head lightly.

“As promised, if the oracle is misinterpreted and you do not have divine powers, I will send you right away.”

“That’s good.”

“But if the temple’s interpretation is correct and you are a saint, you must go to the holy land.”

“I see.”

The Grand Duke looked at me for a while even after finishing his speech. Then he asked me in a low voice.

“What would you do if you were really a saint?”

It was a piercing question as if he knew my anxiety.

I had no choice but to seriously think about it.

“I do not know… I’m just trying to always keep myself safe.”

A soft smile settled on the Grand Duke’s lips as if he liked my answer.

I took my gaze away from the Grand Duke and continued to eat.

***

“I’m going out for a while. Is there a doll store nearby?”

The maid panicked for a moment at my words, and she asked me to wait a moment and called the butler.

“Are you going out?”

“Yes.”

“Then you should be accompanied by an escort.”

An escort knight…

I didn’t accept it right away, but as I was hesitating for a while, the butler smiled kindly and added:

“Of course, it’s not compulsory. But for safety reasons, I recommend you to be accompanied by a knight.”

Right. I don’t know when the Sorne’s people will pick me up.

“Okay”

“That’s a great choice. The doll shop is located in the town center, not too far from the mansion. Perhaps the knights will know.”

“Good. Then I’ll go out for a while.”

So, I went out after a long time with Grand Duke knights.

As the butler said, there was a considerable doll store not far from the mansion.

I smiled satisfactorily with the quality of the dolls that looked quite expensive.

I want to give them all to Emily as a gift.

If I give her too much, Emily’s mother will feel burdened.

And as she gets older, dolls become just nice-looking trash.

It’s not like the value goes up as time goes by.

It would be better to buy a suitable one.

Hmm. Should I buy some dolls and clothes?

In the countryside, there were no clothes with colorful designs like in the Capital.

I looked at the doll in a dress full of frills.

How about custom-made?’

I don’t think that would be bad.

“Welcome. Do you have any dolls you are looking for?”

“No. I’ll take a look around first.”

“Please feel free to do so.”

I took a peek around the large store. Then a glass box came into my eyes inside the store.

The glass box was splendidly decorated.

And the doll in it is by far the best doll among all the items in this store.

I pointed to the doll without hesitation.

“I’ll go with that.”

As soon as I chose the doll, the door of the store opened and another customer came in.

“Oh my god. Adelia!”

“…Hestine.”

This must be a joke of fate.

I didn’t expect to encounter Hestine here at the outskirts of the capital.

Hestine came running to me with an unexpectedly welcoming face.

“I really… wanted to see you. There was not a single day that made me feel at ease after you left just like that.”

Hestine, who used to shed tears of fear whenever she sees, showed tears of joy this time.

“Stop crying. Your eyes will just hurt.”

“Yeah… I’m sorry. Brother…”

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

Then I found a man standing behind Hestine.

“Prince Berkian.”

Anyway, did Hestine just call Berkian Valkyr a brother?

“Adelia. I want to share some good news with you. Thankfully, the Duke of Berkian accepted me as an adopted daughter.”

I had no choice but to sigh at the words.

Dearest Hestine.

Finally, you’ve become perfect. You’re now free from the shackles holding your ankle.

I didn’t feel as bad as I thought. This makes it clear that Hestine is blessed by God.

As I was still looking at Hestine, Berkian blocked Hestine as if protecting her from me.

“What are we doing here?”

That’s what I want to ask you.

“Of course, I came to the doll shop to buy dolls.”

Berkian Valkyr’s gaze turned to the doll I had chosen.

Soon a deep valley formed between his eyebrows.

“That’s already reserved.”

“Reserved?”

“That’s what Hestine picked ahead of time.”

Hestine chose this one?

I turned to the store clerk.

Then the clerk came out with a troubled look and looked at the Berkian Valkyr in turn.

“What are you thinking about?”

“That’s…”

“You don’t seem to know that she’s a commoner.”

At Berkian’s words, my forehead naturally frowned.

Of course, it is true that I am now a commoner after abandoning Sorne’s name, but I can’t believe you talk about it so openly.

“Oh, brother…”

“It’s okay, Hestine. So, what are you going to do?”

In response to Berkian’s hurried question, the clerk bowed his head hastily in response.

“Oh, my. Of course, the doll is…”

But the clerk’s words could not continue to the end.

“You’re rude.”

Because one of the knights who accompanied me as my escort pointed out their rudeness.

“Are you a knight?”

At the sudden interruption of the knight, Berkian’s face hardened as if he was uncomfortable.

“You are… Hamilton’s knight. It has nothing to do with you, so get out of here.”

“It does matter. Because I have been commanded by the Grand Duke to keep the saint safe.”

Not only Berkian but also Hestia shivered at the word saint.

If it went like this, I thought this useless argument would be prolonged.

I swallowed a sigh inside and grabbed the knight’s shoulder guarding me.

Then the knight’s gaze turned to me.

“Let’s stop. And Hestine said she pre-ordered the doll, so let’s give it to her.”

I wouldn’t dare to give Emily a present that was entangled with such an unpleasant encounter.

I led the knight and left the store.

“Let’s go back.”

“…Are you okay?”

“It’s just a doll, I can get it anytime later.”

“…All right. Then let’s go.”

Just as I was about to get on the carriage, the shop door opened and Hestine ran outside.

“Miss Adelia!”

“…Hestine. Oh, you don’t have to call me Lady now.”

Even though she didn’t say anything, Hestine’s face was distorted as if she was about to cry.

Yes. This is really annoying.

I didn’t say anything wrong, but why does she always seem to cry whenever I say something.

“I… I think we can be competitors in good faith.”

“What does that mean?”

“Although, we… we are both nominated as saints, so I want us to get along well.!”

I opened my mouth as I stared at the crying Hestine’s face.

“Don’t worry about that. I am not Hestine’s… No, because I am not my lady’s competitor.”

“What? What’s that…”

“The saint’s seat will be yours.”

Hestine pouted his mouth with a dumbfounded face.

It was a pretty cute expression, but it just felt annoying to me now.

I got on the carriage with my back facing Hestine.

“Let’s go.”

Before Hestine catches me again.

(2/3)