TVWRL Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Leona was being introduced by the newspaper’s representative couple as she looked around the items, and I did my best to avoid running into her.

‘It’s not because I’m scared of it; I just avoid it because it’s dirty.’

For four hours, people wandered around the charity items, enjoying drinks and snacks.

Since we had seen the items early, we sat at a table, sipping tea and enjoying sweet desserts while chatting.

The topic of conversation was Cordelia’s first independent life.

Her husband had used all sorts of vile tricks to hide his wealth from her, but in the end, thanks to the strict oversight of the royal family, even his hidden assets were seized.

Cordelia had bought a cozy little house near my home and was starting a new life.

Every time she saw me, she would say,
“I’m happy right now because of you, Adeline.”

“Please stop saying that, Cordelia. I haven’t done much; it makes me feel embarrassed.”

Then Lady Hyacinth pretended to be stern.

“Adeline is always too humble. What do you mean you haven’t done anything? Both Cordelia and I, and many people here owe a lot to you. You’re our benefactor. I can’t even imagine what would have happened if I hadn’t followed your advice back then.”

“Please, both of you, stop it. Can’t you see my hands are cringing?”

I playfully curled my fingers.

“Let’s just be comfortable with each other without any apologies or thanks.”

At that, Lady Hyacinth and Cordelia curled their fingers just like me and laughed.

Their expressions made me smile as well.

Ding!

Then, a bell rang, announcing that the names of the winners for the charity items would be revealed, and we were instructed to take our seats.

Since we had settled in good seats early, we didn’t need to move.

In the center, the prime seats were occupied by Leona, Duke Crothos, Count Waynes, and several other nobles.

The host took to the stage.

Before I knew it, wooden boxes filled with bids had been lined up on a velvet-covered table behind the host.

The host would pull out papers from the wooden boxes, announce the names and amounts, and the highest bidder would win the items.

I had bid on a vase, a painting, a jewelry box, a sapphire set of earrings and necklace, a rare book, a teapot, and a tea set that would match my home beautifully.

“The first item is a vase from the Eastern Continent.”

As the host opened the lid of the wooden box, a stack of bid forms was revealed. He pulled them out one by one to read.

Seven names came before me, all of which had lower amounts than mine.

“Saintess Leona, fifteen gold coins. That’s the highest bid so far. Now, there’s only one bid form left. It’s nerve-wracking to see if this vase will go to Saintess Leona or to the last bidder.”

The host, who had read the last bid form, smiled widely as he announced.

“Adeline Senner, sixteen gold coins! The vase goes to Adeline Senner, who bid sixteen gold coins.”

I stood up, placed my hand on my chest, and bowed in several directions as the crowd applauded. It was a good cause, so people offered their heartfelt congratulations.
Except for one person.

As I greeted the crowd, my eyes met Leona’s, who was biting her lip with an expression of shame.

‘Ah! Why did it have to be Leona that I bumped into? But why does she look so ashamed when she placed a lower bid? Anyone seeing this would think I stole it.’

She was probably upset because she lost to “commoner Adeline.”

I ignored her hostile gaze and turned my head away. At this point, I had no idea that this was the beginning of a war.

After that, every item I bid on exactly matched Leona’s choices.

“Did we have such similar tastes?”

It was unclear whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, but I kept winning.

Eventually, I could see the host becoming increasingly awkward about the situation.

At some point, both Leona and Count Waynes had lost all composure.

Whenever the father and daughter glared at me, it felt like their eyes were shooting curses and lasers, which almost made me uncomfortable.

I understood that it must be infuriating for a couple who harbored such discrimination and hatred to lose to a mere commoner like me, but shouldn’t they reflect on their petty behavior first?

‘If you’re going to bid, then bid generously! Why is the saintess and the daughter of a wealthy family so stingy? If you came here to help others, you should have spent freely and cheerfully.’

It was like experiencing a bed of nails with my own money.

Once all the items found their owners, the newspaper’s representative went up on stage.

“I sincerely thank all the esteemed guests present. Thanks to your support, this year’s event has ended successfully. Your warm hearts will be a shield for the less fortunate this winter. We will carefully package the items and send them to your homes. Now, let the banquet begin. Please enjoy yourselves!”

* * *

Count Waynes called Leona over with a sharp glance.
Under his cold stare, Leona felt her heart tighten.

However, having lived her life as a noble lady, she didn’t let her smile falter as she followed him.

Once she entered the small lounge that was used as a break room, Count Waynes threw a glass filled with liquor.

Leona looked at him with a terrified expression.

“What do you lack compared to that girl? Why do you keep making a fool of yourself in front of someone like her? You are the saintess, not some lowly commoner.”

“I’m sorry, Father.”

“Because of you, I can’t hold my head up in public. You need to act like a saintess. Why are you behaving so inadequately? Did I raise you to be like this?”

He had a violent nature. From a young age, whenever Leona made a mistake, he would bring the servants in and beat them in her stead as a form of ‘education.’

Until now, whenever Leona had done something wrong, others had taken the blame for her, but the issue with Adeline was different.

“Is this how your father taught you?”

“Why should I be punished because of that commoner villain? Adeline keeps getting in my way.”

She was also aware that the atmosphere in the temple had not been good lately.

There were rumors about Adeline’s divine powers, saying she revived dying people, and I knew that priests had been visiting her daily ever since. The saintess was supposed to be me, yet people kept wanting Adeline.

It was my first experience of being so helplessly overshadowed by someone else.

I even missed the times when Adeline would cause a ruckus. Back then, everyone treated me like a saintess and wanted only me.

Leona clenched her teeth in frustration, gripping her skirt tightly.

As Count Waynes opened the door to leave, he spat out,

“Leona, crush everything unnecessary in your path. Then you can walk the way you want. That’s how you’re my daughter and a saintess. No one in the empire ranks higher than you. There’s no one above you.”

As she was left alone in the empty room, her gaze grew colder.

* * *

“Adeline, thank you.”

“It’s nothing. It’s a good cause, and I wanted to be a part of it. I’m earning more than I deserve, so it’s only natural to share.”

“It’s not easy to think that way. You’re giving more than the high-ranking nobles. You’re truly amazing.”

“The one who organized this wonderful event is even more impressive.”

As compliments were flowing smoothly, Leona approached and smiled as she interrupted the conversation between me and the newspaper representative’s wife.

“Could you excuse us for a moment? I have something to discuss with Adeline.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

The wife exchanged a knowing glance with me as she walked away, and the smile faded from Leona’s face.

“Using money made from a power you don’t even understand to support a cause like this tarnishes its good intentions, you know? Or are you trying to relieve your own dirty sins even a little? Or are you laundering money?”

“You keep calling it a corrupted power, but it’s not!”

“Are you daring to speak informally to a saintess right now? Do you still see me as your competitor?”

Leona whispered softly into my ear.

“You talk about that divine power of saving people. Isn’t that also a corrupted power? Adeline, what exactly are you up to? Are you still coveting my position? Just because the priests are visiting you, do you think you’re special now? But no matter what you do, I am the saintess.”

As I listened to her irritating words, I was mentally reciting “patience” a thousand times.
However, she had a serious misunderstanding that needed to be corrected.

“You’re right, you are the saintess. Why do you keep trying to compete with a mere commoner like me? I absolutely do not want to return to the church. My dream is to earn money while having fun living like this. So please, just don’t pay attention to me.”

“Then don’t make me notice you. Stay out of my sight. That’s the way for you to survive.”

Leona’s threat sent a chill down my spine.

Adeline was originally fated to die because of Leona.
Having struggled to leave the temple and doing my best to distance myself from her, I was afraid that the same situation as in the original story was unfolding again.

‘Am I really heading down the path of my predetermined fate? No, it can’t be.’

I glanced around the banquet hall and spotted Cordelia and Lady Hyacinth, who were smiling brightly.
Then what about their fate?

‘I won’t let it end like that. I will show that my fate is different.’

I looked Leona in the eye confidently.

“Instead of worrying about me, focus on your duties as a saintess. If you showcase your exceptional abilities as one, the church and everyone else will look up to you; they won’t be looking at me. Don’t blame or resent me for things not going your way while doing nothing. It looks pathetic. It seems you’ve forgotten that I’ve been keeping my temper in check and living kindly lately. Don’t mess with me. You don’t want to be beaten into dust again like last time.”

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