Chapter 50

"Yes, they look very much alike."

Grace said in a bright voice, maintaining her kind demeanor.

"That child also has beautiful green eyes like the priestess."

"Oh, I've never heard that my eyes are beautiful."

"Ah... I apologize if it was inappropriate. I have many younger siblings, so such words come out unconsciously."

"Improper? Not at all."

The priestess shook her head.

"I'll take it as a compliment. Don't worry about it."

"Oblie, Lady."

At that moment, another priestess approached her.

She shook her head slightly, indicating she needed a moment, and soon they were left alone.

"You must be very close to be reminded of a friend so easily."

"Yes, they helped me when I was in a dangerous situation before."

"What a wonderful person. It must be reassuring to be with them."

The priestess smiled gently.

Grace, feeling a bit embarrassed, scratched the back of her neck.

"It's a bit difficult because of the significant difference in status. That child is a noble."

At that moment, the priestess's smile froze. A fleeting shadow crossed her face, but it quickly disappeared.

"...That's quite strange. I was under the impression that there are no young ladies with green eyes in this manor."

"Um... Is that so?"

"Yes."

Her voice, now more cold, was filled with certainty.

"There isn't a single one. At least not in the northern region."

It's impossible. I confirmed it with my own eyes.

The priestess's eyes flashed.

The hand that was still holding Grace's tightened.

"Pr-priestess?"

Grace trembled and winced in pain. The priestess, as if nothing had happened, released her hand and smiled brightly.

"I'm curious to meet your friend."

"R-really?"

"Would you mind telling me about that time, if it's not too much trouble?"

"Um... I..."

Grace laughed awkwardly.

Strangely, she instinctively felt she shouldn't speak.

Hesitation.

The priestess spoke in a bright voice.

"We have holy water and relief supplies from our temple this time. Among them is a medicine made with divine power to help heal wounds faster."

Grace's expression brightened instantly.

The priestess's lips curved into a smile.

In such a squalid orphanage, nothing was more important than support.

"Would you like to help me distribute them?"

The priestess smiled. She looked like an angel.

Yes, it's not just anyone, but the priestess.

'She can't be suspicious.'

Grace nodded eagerly, her eyes shining.

* * *

As the priestesses prepared to leave, the children clung to their robes with disappointed faces.

"Will you come back again?"

"Of course."

Oblie, the priestess, kissed the child's forehead.

"May the blessings of the sun and the world tree be upon you."

Oblie stood up and looked at Grace, with whom she had just had a long conversation.

"Grace, see you later."

"Thank you, Priestess."

The priestesses, having finished their farewells, got into the carriage.

Oblie, who had been waving to the children, stiffened her expression as soon as their figures disappeared.

'Dirty things.'

She rubbed her lips with the back of her hand.

The act of kissing the forehead as a blessing was something she could never get used to.

She rubbed her lips so hard that her skin was irritated, and she bit her lip.

She needed to calm down. But the unease in her chest wouldn't easily go away.

'A child with green eyes.'

That child had appeared in Schuetz's manor. The implications were clear.

'Why should I have to deal with these beggars...!'

All that effort...

"Aaaah!"

Her hysterical scream was drowned out by the creaking of the carriage.

After venting her frustration several times, she bit her lip.

This wasn't the time to get so agitated.

'I need to think of a plan.'

She nervously tapped her foot.

At that moment, the carriage slowed down. They had arrived at the northern temple.

Oblie got out of the carriage, following the priestesses. She was on the verge of exploding with anger and wanted to return to her room as quickly as possible.

At that moment, a priestess approached her with a welcoming smile.

"Oblie, Sister. You did a great job today."

She stopped and forced a smile.

"Thank you, Brother. You did a great job today too."

"It's thanks to Sister. The children didn't want to leave your side."

That was because of Grace, that woman, and her many younger siblings.

The younger siblings who clung to her were so persistent.

Oblie swallowed the curse that rose to her throat.

How could the angelic and kind girl Oblie use such harsh words?

"May the blessings of God be upon them. I am grateful."

She always replied with the same words and tried to leave, but the priestess hesitated.

"Um... Sister."

Oblie, trying to smooth out her crumpled face, turned her head.

"Yes, Brother."

"Sister's eyes seem particularly orange today."

"…What?"

Oblie's face turned pale.

"Ha ha, it must be the lantern. When it gets dark, the color of the lantern seems more intense, doesn't it? That's why... um, Sister?"

The priestess added playfully, but she didn't listen and immediately returned to her room.

Bang!

She locked the door roughly and staggered to the mirror.

Her eyes, which should have been green, had turned orange.

She touched her face with a dazed expression.

But the hand touching her face wasn't her usual hand.

It was an adult's hand.

'Why so quickly?'

There was still time left...

She began to search the room frantically.

When she pulled out a box, a row of many bottles appeared.

Oblie opened the caps and drank the medicine continuously.

One bottle, two bottles, three bottles... The empty bottles piled up like corpses.

This should be enough. Oblie, who had thrown the bottles carelessly, staggered to the mirror.

There was a young, lovely, and angelic girl with clear green eyes.

Her original appearance.

"Haa... Haa..."

As Oblie was breathing heavily,

The image stone she had hidden in her bosom began to vibrate.

Oblie took a deep breath and took out the image stone.

"...Father."

'You're late.'

The figure of someone faintly glowed beyond the image stone.

It was Oblie's father, Lord Riccal Porger.

She bowed her head to her father in apology.

"Yes, I was a bit late because I was working with the priestesses."

'Are you still doing such things? You don't do the tasks I assign you properly and only do useless things.'

"...But I found one clue. It's about—"

'The son of Cleyder.'

"…What? The son of Cleyder?"

Oblie's eyes widened. She had no idea what he was talking about.

The man in the image stone clicked his tongue in disappointment.

'Then what were you trying to say? You're still as stupid as ever.'

Oblie shut her mouth tightly at the contemptuous gaze.

'Finally, the Duke of Schuetz found the child. They found the child before us!'

"..."

'How much money do you think I spent to get you into the temple, where you have no divine power? The money I spent on the priestesses alone could cover the entire manor and more. And yet!'

"..."

'You didn't achieve anything! At the very least, you should have found the son of Cleyder first!'

"…I'm sorry, Father."

Oblie bowed her head, trembling.

Her trembling shoulders were pitiful.

The man clicked his tongue and said,

'Find a way, Livia. That position was originally yours. If it weren't for Yuria, that woman, the mistress of the Schuetz family would have been you.'

"…Yes, Father. I know."

I won't disappoint you.

After a few scoldings, the figure disappeared.

Alone, Oblie clenched her fists. A stranger in the mirror looked back at her.

It was the familiar appearance of 'Oblie'.

'I can do this.'

This was not only her father's goal but also her own.

If she could have the Duke of Schuetz, she could do anything.

Oblie bit her lip.

Her eyes, glaring at herself, were fierce.

* * *

That night.

A figure in a black robe slipped out of the northern temple.

He quietly left the temple, which was deep in sleep, and began to ride a horse towards a direction.

It was the direction of the abandoned village, filled with discarded slaves and beggars.