Chapter 63
｡･:*:･ﾟ★ Translated by Bree ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
“As I said, I want to break off my engagement with Lord Evans.”
“…”
“And… if possible, I would like to start a small business here in Regarta.”
The Duke narrowed his eyes at my words. The first request was understandable, but he seemed to be curious about the latter.
So I began to speak clearly and calmly.
“When I came back from the brink of death, I realized how foolish it is to cling to a love that isn’t reciprocated.”
“…”
“So I decided that strengthening myself first is the priority. That way, even if everything falls apart and I’m left alone, I can still stand back up.”
“…Is that your reason?”
I nodded quietly. The Duke’s gaze deepened.
He seemed to be trying to understand what I was truly thinking.
After a long pause, the Duke spoke again.
“I have one question.”
“…”
“If your business succeeds, you’ll accumulate wealth. Eventually, you might raise your name and ultimately aim for the position of a saintess, isn’t that right?”
His sharp gaze pierced through me.
It was a reasonable suspicion. Daphne had been born without any magical power.
Because of that, she had clung to the position of saintess, driven by the desire to be someone everyone revered.
‘But I have no interest in the position of saintess.’
I preferred being a wealthy villainess who pursued profit over a saintess who gave without receiving.
Even if I got criticized, the sight of money would be a cure-all.
‘After all, the best remedy is financial therapy.’
“No, I have no interest in the position of saintess.”
“…”
“And you don’t have to possess holy power to save people, do you?”
“…”
“Sometimes, someone’s words, expressions, touches, and glances can make someone want to keep living, or at least that’s what I believe.”
“…”
I said this with a bright smile.
However, the Duke’s face remained stern. I realized my mistake.
Saying I had no interest in being a saintess, yet my last statement sounded like ‘So I can be a saintess too!’
‘But that statement was truly my honest belief…’
I waited quietly, watching for his reaction.
“…Peregrine.”
After a long silence, the Duke spoke slowly.
“The Peregrines don’t fall easily.”
“Yes…?”
“It means you won’t end up alone.”
“Oh…”
It seemed my remark about finding a way to survive alone had struck a nerve.
“Well, yes. I also don’t think the Peregrines will easily fall.”
“…Alright, that’s enough.”
The Duke nodded slightly as if to dismiss me.
“Grandfather, what about the business…”
I looked at him, feeling a mix of tension and anticipation.
Finally, the Duke spoke,
“I’ll think about it.”
…It was an unsatisfying answer.
Neither a yes nor a no, it left me feeling deflated.
‘Why can’t you give a clear answer now? Waiting for interview results is nerve-wracking!’
But I couldn’t openly show my disappointment.
I stood up, pretending not to be upset, and bowed respectfully.
“Then I’ll see you at dinner.”
I then headed straight to my room.
To write a detailed business plan that would surely convince the Duke.
＊＊＊
“Business, huh…”
After Daphne left, the Duke tapped his index finger on the armrest of his chair.
Knowing that this was a habit of the Duke whenever he was deep in thought, Harlan quietly observed the silence.
The Duke was inherently suspicious. Asking Daphne about her reasons was a kind of test.
But Daphne had done many things for the Duke. That much felt sincere.
So Harlan wanted to support Daphne a little.
“Your Grace…”
He began to speak cautiously.
“She has matured.”
“…Pardon?”
“Daphne.”
A faint smile appeared on the Duke’s face, which had always been harshly stern.
When he asked Daphne what she wanted, the Duke had expected a monetary demand.
So when Daphne mentioned starting a business, he was somewhat relieved. Funding a business was the most straightforward way he could repay her.
But she said that saving people didn’t always require holy power.
‘Was she always a child capable of saying such things?’
He felt small for thinking he could repay her sincerity with mere money.
More importantly, as she said, she had helped him rise again.
“Yes, a saint indeed.”
The Duke muttered to himself, then signaled Harlan with his eyes.
Harlan, looking a bit confused, bowed slightly, awaiting orders.
The Duke hesitated for a moment, about to tell Harlan to give Daphne adequate funds for her business.
Even with funding, she couldn’t just dive in headfirst without some foundation.
‘In that case…’
“We should give Daphne access to some of the herb fields managed by Count Drave.”
“…Pardon? The herb fields?”
Given that Regarta was renowned for its healing properties, the herb supply was a significant financial resource.
“Don’t give them to her outright. Just let her inspect them. It’s merely a means to develop her business acumen.”
The Duke seemed to draw a line, sensing Harlan’s thoughts.
But after a brief pause, the Duke continued.
“To start a business, she’ll need suitable land as well. Give Daphne the land that was to be assigned to Count Drave.”
“But you said she should first develop her business sense…”
“Harlan.”
The Duke’s gaze met Harlan’s.
“This is the decision of the head of the family.”
“…!”
The Duke’s eyes were unwavering as he spoke of his decision.
It was a look Harlan hadn’t seen in the Duke since they moved to the villa.
Suppressing his emotions, Harlan nodded. Then, a thought struck him, and he looked back at the Duke.
“Then, what about the annulment with Prince Evans…?”
“What?”
The Duke’s face twisted in annoyance.
“Has that not been resolved yet?”
“Well, until we received your approval, of course…”
“Tsk. I thought it had been settled long ago.”
The Duke clicked his tongue in irritation.
Harlan, feeling unjustly blamed, bit back the words, ‘But you haven’t even brought out your seal.’
“Stamp the seal and send it to the Imperial Palace immediately. It’s a good decision, and I must approve it as the head of the family. If Daphne needs my seal for any other matters, grant it to her.”
“Yes, understood.”
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
In the greenhouse of the Imperial Palace.
The flowers of various hues filled the air with their fragrance.
These flowers never withered over time. Magic had been cast to ensure they never lost their beauty.
Eternal beauty. Unfading splendor.
This was what Hela, the Dowager Empress, pursued.
Her appearance attested to this as she was incredibly beautiful, defying her age.
Time’s passage was unavoidable. Yet she was the only one who seemed to evade that truth.
‘That’s why she feels so alien.’
The Empress, Renata, watched Hela meticulously tending to the flowers at the center of the garden.
Defying time was something no ordinary human could do.
But her mother-in-law had managed it. To be precise, she had started to “grow younger” at some point.
That was probably…
‘It started after Luciel, the second prince and son of the deceased Empress, had his rampage.’
However, Renata did not see this as a problem.
For her son, the first prince and crown prince, Eren, to become Emperor, Luciel had to remain an “error.”
“You seem to be in good spirits, Dowager Empress.”
“Oh, Empress.”
Hela looked at Renata with a gentle smile as she greeted her.
“What brings you here? Were you drawn by this beauty?”
Hela turned her gaze back to the flowers she was tending.
Renata spoke in a steady voice as she watched Hela’s smile.
“I have something to report.”
“And what is that?”
“…I heard that Count Drave, the apothecary in Regarta, has been expelled. Along with the caregiver he brought with him.”
“…”
At that moment, Hela’s movements, as she pruned the flowers, halted briefly. But it was just for an instant. Hela smiled softly as she spoke.
“Oh dear. If he was expelled, he must have committed a serious offense. I heard the herbs from Regarta are quite effective. What a shame.”
“…”
“But replacing the producer should solve the issue. There’s no shortage of herbs, so the supply should be fine.”
Hela spoke lightly, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.
However, Renata had noticed. For a brief moment, there was a flicker of anger in Hela’s eyes.
“By the way, Empress, about your mother’s hometown.”
“…!”
“I hear the number of patients is increasing there.”
The moment Hela mentioned her mother’s hometown, Renata found herself at a loss for words.
She was born to a minor noble father and a commoner mother in a modest provincial town. She had no deep connections to the capital.
She had only become Empress because the Emperor fell in love with her at first sight during an inspection tour.
Many nobles opposed her.
But the Emperor’s will remained firm.
To show his resolve, he lavished her family with immense gifts and even intended to grant them a title.
At this point, the nobles could no longer oppose.
Renata initially thought their love had triumphed.
However, she had gained the title of Empress without any real power.
Everyone whispered behind her back about her commoner mother.
‘If the number of patients continues to rise in my mother’s hometown…’
People would undoubtedly blame her and her son, Eren, for the misfortune.
As Renata fell silent, Hela chuckled softly.
“They should hurry and make the cure.”
“…”
“If it spreads any further…”
Snip.
Hela used her scissors to cut a rose.
A rose that was still beautiful but less vibrant than the others fell to the ground.
“It would be quite a problem for the Empress, wouldn’t it?”
“…”
Renata couldn’t respond to Hela’s question.
Seeing Renata’s face grow cold, Hela smiled gently.
“It so happens that a high-ranking priest with strong holy power has business in that area.”
“Then…!”
Hope filled Renata’s face. Hela spoke kindly.
“I intend to ask him to stop by briefly to treat the patients. That should prevent further spread.”
“Oh…”
Renata let out a sigh of relief.
Hela, looking at Renata, spoke.
“So, there’s something I’d like the Empress to do.”
“What is it…?”
“I heard that Lady Peregrine is determined to break off her engagement.”
“…!”
“It seems the unfortunate incident has changed her mind.”
Hela continued, lightly caressing the thorn of a flower.
“The union of the Peregrine and Evans families, both founding noble houses, would be a great strength to the Empire.”
“…”
“You understand what I mean, don’t you, Empress?”
Hela asked in a low voice.
Noble engagements and annulments required imperial approval.
In other words, Hela’s statement meant that if Renata wanted the priest’s assistance, she should not approve the annulment of the two families.
What could the Dowager Empress be thinking to prevent the annulment?
Although these thoughts crossed her mind, Renata did not ask.
Hela smiled very kindly at the Empress.
