The Saintess Became the Northern Grand Duke’s Daughter - Chapter 18

Whether it’s the Emperor’s letter in his hand, or the countless people who respect and follow the High Priest behind him, it doesn’t matter.

 

He endured fainting and finally raised his voice.

 

“It’s not something you can decide on your own. H-His Imperial Majesty the Emperor is also keeping an eye on it, so I will tell him about this situation and give you an answer.”

 

The Duke nodded his head coldly.

 

“Alright.”

 

“…”

 

“Just be sure to convey this to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. If you try to take Windsorais’ daughter away, you won’t be willing to go to war.”

 

***

 

The Duke of Windsorais said that the High Priest could stay in the castle until he gave an answer, and he showed uncharacteristic consideration. However, he refused and left the castle as if running away.

 

It was because if he stayed here any longer, he would suffocate and die just from the intimidating feeling that the Duke exuded.

 

After the High Priest disappeared, Simon smiled brightly and shouted hurray.

 

“The enemy has retreated!”

 

At the same time, the maids quickly activated the magic stone in the castle.

 

Warmth lingered in the space where cold air flowed.

 

The maids served steaming cocoa and freshly baked apple pie in front of the Duke and Liriette.

 

The Duke said to Liriette.

 

“You must have been very nervous, so take a bite.”

 

But Liriette couldn’t comfortably drink the cocoa. She couldn’t let go of the warm doll in her hands.

 

She said in a trembling voice.

 

“Duke. The saying that you’d go to a war for me, you said it to scare the High Priest, right? You really won’t, will you?”

 

She didn’t look good for a while, it must have been because of those words.

 

The Duke pondered for a moment.

 

To put Liriette’s mind at ease, he had better turn his words in moderation.

 

However, the Duke didn’t want to lie to Liriette. That’s why he said honestly.

 

“I don’t speak of war as mere blackmail.”

 

“…!”

 

Realizing the meaning of those words, Liriette’s face turned pale.

 

She knew that it wouldn’t be easy for even the Duke to get her out of the temple.

 

‘But a war because of me!’

 

What a nonsense.

 

‘Let’s tell the Duke right now. If the High Priest doesn’t give up on me, if he mentions the Emperor’s power, I’ll just…’

 

ㅡreturn to the temple.

 

Yet the words never came out of her mouth.

 

If she goes back to the temple, the High Priest will never forgive her for daring to escape from him.

 

Liriette will be subjected to terrible corporal punishment, and will never be able to leave the temple again.

 

No, that wasn’t the only thing she was really afraid of.

 

‘I don’t want to leave this castle.’

 

Simon, who always smiles kindly, and the maids who say I’m cute and don’t know what to do.

 

…And the Duke, who looks at me with his blunt yet warm eyes.

 

She wanted to be by their side.

 

‘I’m such a bad child to want to be here even while putting a lot of pressure on the Duke.’

 

Looking at Liriette who bit her lip, the Duke thought.

 

‘I wanted to regret mentioning the war. I’m afraid this little kid will get scared and go back to the temple right away.’

 

However, the Duke’s prediction was wrong.

 

At least Liriette seemed to be contemplating whether or not to say that.

 

So, the corner of the Duke’s lips went up slightly.

 

“Liriette.”

 

Liriette raised her head at the sound of her name being called. The Duke said to Liriette, whose eyes were red as if she would cry at any moment.

 

“It seems like you keep forgetting. You healed my eyes, and I’m only paying for it.”

 

“…”

 

“Even if a war breaks out because of that, it’s not because of you, but because of my will to repay you properly.”

 

The Duke stretched out his hand and placed it on Liriette’s head. He said while stroking her soft silver hair.

 

“That’s why, don’t worry and just stay by my side.”

 

“…!”

 

Liriet looked at the Duke with trembling eyes.

 

A drop of the tears she had been holding back fell.

 

Drip, drip.

 

Liriette hid her face in bewilderment.

 

“I-I’m sorry.”

 

Now wasn’t the time to cry. She had to calmly talk with the Duke.

 

However, the tears once shed seemed to have no intention of stopping.

 

The Duke wasn’t angry with Liriette, who wiped away the tears with her hands. He wasn’t even annoyed.

 

He only spoke of one thing with an expressionless face.

 

“If you want to cry, cry as much as you want.”

 

Maybe it’s because she grew up in a temple from the time she was born.

 

Liriette seldom thought of things like, ‘What kind of people would my parents be?’ or ‘What if I had parents?’.

 

But at this moment, Liriette had this thought for the first time.

 

‘It would be nice if I was really the Duke’s daughter.’

 

If someone this big, strong, and warm was her father, she would surely be happy.

 

Feeling so sorry and ashamed of the Duke for having such an absurd thought, Liriette covered her apple-like blush with her hands.

 

By the time her tears had subsided, the Duke said.

 

“If the tears stop, I definitely want to hear it.”

 

“…?”

 

“Your answer to being asked to stay by my side.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Liriette felt really bad for him.

 

‘If I’m by his side, the Duke will be in trouble. He will definitely have a hard time. but…’

 

What was bigger than her regret was her desire to be by the Duke’s side.

 

So Liriette answered in a trembling voice.

 

“I will be by the Duke’s side. I have no shame, but I want to.”

 

“…”

 

At those words, a soft smile lingered on the Duke’s cold face. He stroked her little head once more.

 

As if he said, you did a great job.

 

***

 

After leaving Windsorais Castle, the High Priest headed to the nearest temple.

 

‘All the northern nobles have a close relationship with the Duke of Windsorais. I don’t know what kind of disaster I will face if I go there.’

 

On the other hand, the temple will welcome the High Priest. For he’s the highest among the priests who worship the goddess.

 

However, that was the High Priest’s misunderstanding.

 

The priests, who were as big as bears, said with stern faces.

 

“Do you mean you want to stay here for a few days?”

 

“T-That’s right.”

 

The High Priest was taken aback by the cold response.

 

Instead of welcoming him, the priests spoke with an annoyed expression.

 

“I understand. However, our temple rarely has guests staying, so the room condition isn’t that good. Is that fine with you?”

 

“Of course.”

 

It was sincere.

 

No matter how old the temple was, it would be better than the castle while the Duke of Windsorais watching him with cold eyes.

 

However, the face of the High Priest who was ushered into the room was distorted like crumpled paper.

 

It was more like a warehouse than a room.

 

A dark, humid space with no windows. Above all, the wind coming through the cracked walls was too cold.

 

“Achoo!”

 

The High Priest, who had been trembling since he departed from Windsorais Castle, coughed.

 

The priests who served the High Priest moved quickly and lit the stove in the room, yet to no avail.

 

As the wet wood was burned, black smoke filled the room.

 

“Cough, cough.”

 

Smelly and cold room. Chilling body.

 

Everything was the worst.

 

He wanted to call a priest and beat him until the anger was over, but now wasn’t the time for that.

 

There were more urgent matters to be dealt with than that.

 

The High Priest sent the priests out of the room. After that, he took out a jewel with a magic pattern on it from his chest. It was a magic stone.

 

He rubbed the magic stone with his hands shaking from the cold.

 

After a while, the mana stone glowed and a man’s voice full of arrogance leaked out.

 

“Speak.”

 

The High Priest lowered his head while holding the magic stone with both hands.

 

“Greetings to the Sun of the Empire, His Imperial Majesty the noble Emperor. The one who serves the goddess the closest…”

 

The Emperor said while cutting off the High Priest’s greetings.

 

“Have you recovered the child of the goddess who was kidnapped by the Duke of Windsorais?”

 

The moment he heard that, the High Priest exploded with sadness.

 

He spoke to the Emperor as if he was referring to a child who bullied him to his mother.

 

“When I arrived, the inside of the castle was as cold as thin ice. The Duke must have tried to make me suffer…”

 

However, the Emperor had no intention of listening to the High Priest’s long lament.

 

“Enough of useless talk, let’s start with the main point.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

The High Priest reported everything that happened in Windsorais Castle while hiding his displeasure for the Emperor.

 

After his long story, the Emperor’s low voice was heard over the mana stone.

 

“The lost daughter of the Duke of Windsorais?”

 

“Yes. Of course, it must be a lie that His Grace the Duke made up to take away Liriette.”

 

He thought the Emperor would agree with him.

 

‘The Duke wants to have the child of the goddess and makes up such an obscene story. I can’t stand to see this heinous act any longer. I will send Imperial soldiers to the north to punish the Duke who kidnapped the child!’

 

However, the Emperor spat out words that were completely different from the High Priest’s expectations.