The Saintess Became the Northern Grand Duke’s Daughter - Chapter 17

Tears formed under Liriette’s large eyes.

 

But there was one other thing. Unlike her previous life, there was room for negotiation with the High Priest.

 

“Of course, there is a way for the Duke to take Liriette without taking this risk. I’m not a very tight-fisted person.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“If the Duke shows sincerity, I’ll think about sending Liriette. Of course, since she’s a child with very special abilities, you will have to pay the same value for it.”

 

Value.

 

At that moment, an eyebrow of the Duke, who had been expressionless the whole time, went up.

 

The Duke knew that the High Priest was a man obsessed with money. That if he spent money, he would be able to get Liriette from him.

 

However, the Duke never talked about money to the High Priest.

 

Obviously, it wasn’t because money would be a waste.

 

“I don’t give and take money over Liriette. This child isn’t an object.”

 

The High Priest’s face, which was full of confidence in the Duke’s terrifying eyes, turned pale in an instant.

 

He gritted his teeth and embraced the Emperor’s letter.

 

‘I-I can’t back down from here.’

 

Behind the High Priest, there were people who would be on his side.

 

Above all, the Emperor was on his side.

 

If the Duke of Windsorais touches the High Priest even a little bit on this spot, and he doesn’t return Liriette to the end, the Emperor will catch and attack him.

 

‘Even if the Duke of Windsorais coveted Liriette, he wouldn’t go to war with the Emperor. Looking at me with such stern eyes is only to intimidate me after all.’

 

The High Priest gave strength to his eyes as if he wouldn’t lose.

 

“Then what are you going to do? Are you willing to receive the wrath of the Emperor and the condemnation of many people for having that child? Your Grace the Duke of Windsorais, who guards the north?”

 

It was as the High Priest said.

 

No matter how powerful the Duke may have been, he wasn’t so irresponsible as to throw the entire north into a war for the sake of a single child.

 

Above all, if such a situation were to arise, Liriette would return to the High Priest on her own feet.

 

‘Because she’s a good kid.’

 

So, instead of cutting off the High Priest’s thick neck with a sword to end his life or cutting off each of his fingers with gold rings on them, the Duke chose another method.

 

“No one can blame me for taking Liriette in.”

 

“What nonsense is that…”

 

The High Priest’s words were cut off mercilessly and the Duke continued.

 

“Because Liriette is my real daughter that I lost a long time ago.”

 

“…!”

 

The High Priest stopped breathing for a moment at the shocking words as if lightning had struck. His brain also went blank.

 

After a while, he finally brought out his words.

 

“Ah, no matter how much you covet Liriette, you’re saying such absurd things.”

 

“What is absurd?”

 

It’s from one to ten.

 

The High Priest opened his mouth with a puzzled face.

 

“When Liriette was just born, she was abandoned in front of the temple. If she were the daughter of the Duke, there’s no way she would be abandoned in a place like that.”

 

“Didn’t he just tell you? It’s her lost daughter.”

 

“…!”

 

At that time, Simon, who had been standing quietly on the other side, stepped out.

 

Simon lowered his eyes and brought up a story from long ago.

 

“Ten years ago, when His Grace hadn’t yet inherited the title, he had a woman he loved. She was a girl from a small rural village in the north. His Grace and the Lady shared a truly heartfelt and passionate love.”

 

Simon continued with a sad face.

 

“One day she had a realization. She had a baby in her belly. Lady Hana couldn’t tell anyone about it.”

 

Accusations of a woman who wasn’t even married having a baby.

 

Above all, if the Duke of Windsorais were informed of this, she might not be able to deliver the baby properly.

 

As she was a commoner woman with a child from a noble family.

 

“The Lady immediately packed her things and left the north. Anywhere she could safely give birth to the baby was fine for her.”

 

The woman came to the capital as if she were running away and gave birth to the baby alone.

 

However, the joy that she gave birth safely was short-lived, and soon after, she realized that it was impossible for her to properly raise her baby in this strange city alone on her own.

 

That woman made up her mind.

 

“The Lady fled, leaving her baby in front of the temple to the goddess. She hopes that the priests who love and care for everyone will raise her baby well.”

 

The Duke of Windsorais, completely unaware of the fact, searched for the Lady. Then time passed and he forgot about her.

 

“Yet a letter arrived to His Grace the Duke not too long ago.”

 

The letter read:

 

“Your Grace the Duke of Windsorice. A child of your blood is growing up in the temple. The child’s name is Liriette.”

 

The High Priest screamed loudly.

 

“Nonsense!”

 

Simon covered his mouth in shock.

 

“How can you react so rudely to such a pitiful and heartbreaking story, High Priest?”

 

He distorted his face toward Simon, who was driving him to be the world’s worst guy.

 

“Isn’t this an unbelievable story? If you brought the woman who gave birth to Liriette at least…”

 

Simon said with an expression, how could you say such a thing.

 

“The Lady passed away from an illness.”

 

“…!”

 

“That’s why, just before she died, she sent a letter to His Grace the Duke. She made up her mind to let the people know that His Grace’s daughter exists in this land.”

 

The Duke called Liriette to the castle to confirm the woman’s words.

 

Until then, he had a ray of doubt that she was really his daughter. However, the moment he saw Liriette, all his doubts disappeared.

 

The Duke looked down at Liriette and said.

 

“She has silver hair and blue eyes just like me.”

 

The lightly pigmented silver hair and blue eyes were the colors that had been passed down from generation to generation in the Duke of Windsorais.

 

However, the High Priest could not understand it.

 

‘Is there only one or two people with silver hair and blue eyes?!’

 

It wasn’t a common color, but it wasn’t a miraculously rare color either.

 

Most of all, the Duke had a large bear-like body with distinct features, but Liriette had a vague impression, and everything about her was small.

 

‘Look alike my ass!’

 

The High Priest was convinced.

 

All of this was an ugly lie made up by the Duke.

 

And, that thought was right.

 

The Duke didn’t have a fond first love. Obviously, no letter came.

 

It was all a lie from the Duke.

 

Contrary to the popular opinion that all problems can be solved by swinging a sword, the Duke of Windsorais was a person who could devise a wicked plan if necessary.

 

Seeing such Duke, Liriette’s heart skipped a beat.

 

‘To think that he really calls me his daughter.’

 

A few days ago, the Duke said to Liriette.

 

If he couldn’t persuade or intimidate the High Priest, he would tell him that Liriette was his daughter.

 

Although Liriette shook her head, saying it was nonsense, the Duke was adamant.

 

[That’s the easiest way to bring a child.]

 

She didn’t think he really was going to put those words in his mouth.

 

Moreover, while saying that it was a last resort, he immediately brought out the word ‘his daughter’ without any persuasion or threats.

 

‘The Duke hasn’t even married yet, and he’s a prestigious nobleman. He’d get in trouble if he said something like that…’

 

His large hand went up on Liriette’s restless little head.

 

The Duke said while stroking her hair.

 

“Don’t worry, Liriette. I will never send you to another person again.”

 

So, it’s not like he made that expression for that reason!

 

Liriette gripped the hem of the Duke’s shirt to hide her bewildered feelings.

 

It was so cute that the corner of the Duke’’s eyes softened.

 

However, the warm atmosphere between the two was shattered by the High Priest’s cracked voice.

 

“I absolutely cannot believe this absurd and unbelievable story.”

 

The Duke’s eyes fell coldly.

 

“It doesn’t matter if you believe it or not.”

 

“Why doesn’t it matter? I’ve raised Liriette until now. I’m Liriette’s guardian!”

 

The Duke hid Liriette behind him. And he took a step closer to the High Priest.

 

He said, lowering his eyes.

 

“So, are you saying you won’t give up on Liriette?”

 

“…!”

 

At that moment, the High Priest realized.

 

The reason why he has been elated the whole time to the Duke, who is rumored to be scarier than a dragon.

 

For the Duke hid his real power.

 

An eerie madness shone in the Duke’s blue eyes. His armour-hard muscles swelled like a beast on the hunt.

 

A cold energy flowed from him to the extent he couldn’t feel the coldness of the room.

 

As if he would freeze anyone.

 

‘S-Scary.’

 

The High Priest, who had no hesitation in speaking in front of the Emperor, felt an indescribable fear.

 

His teeth chattered and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

 

The High Priest instinctively noticed.

 

‘Now, the moment I confront the Duke, I will die.’