Chapter 61

"It seems you haven't heard. Currently, His Excellency is away from his seat due to issues with the estate. It will probably take a few days."

"That's... news to me."

Oblie forced a smile and looked at Ellie.

"I haven't heard anything about it at all."

Despite her firm words, the little girl tilted her head as if to ask if there was a problem.

Her green eyes, blinking, were clear and innocent. Oblie suppressed her rising anger.

'How much trouble I went through to get the holy water...!'

The temple is a place filled with divine power. It's a place where black magic could be detected. But she used black magic with the single-minded intention of seeing Erhardt.

'And now he's not here!'

Her fist trembled between her sleeves.

'...No, this might be for the best.'

With the duke away, it would be easier to drive the child away.

"Then I'll start the inspection right away."

"Ah, wait a moment."

At that moment, Ellie raised her hand slightly.

"I'm too nervous... Can I go to the bathroom for a moment?"

Her cheeks were red, as if she was both nervous and embarrassed. Oblie smiled broadly, as if encouraging her.

"Ellie, I'll go with you..."

"Um, I'll go by myself."

Ellie declined Damian's offer and slipped out alone.

"Then, let's start here..."

"Where is the reception room?"

"Excuse me?"

Loyna, who was about to guide them, blinked.

"The reception room. Don't you usually receive guests there?"

Her attitude was bold. Loyna's face showed a moment of confusion, but she quickly composed herself.

"Shall we go this way?"

Loyna led Oblie.

Oblie entered the ducal castle with the man.

They arrived at the reception room, where important guests are received.

"Beautiful."

Oblie looked around the reception room leisurely.

It was as if...

"You've taken good care of it."

She looked around as if inspecting a room newly decorated by the hostess.

Loyna's eyes narrowed.

She, too, had a deep distrust of the temple, having spent so many years in the ducal castle.

So she wanted to drive this priest away...

But if Lady Ellie could really find her family, she couldn't bring herself to tell her to leave. Franz seemed to feel the same way.

Sigh... Loyna sighed.

'If only His Excellency were her father...'

She shuddered at the thought.

'What am I thinking?'

It was a disrespectful thought to the late Lady Yuria.

But the unease still lingered.

She fervently wished, in vain, that Lady Ellie wouldn't return.

Meanwhile.

Ellie, who had slipped out alone, entered a small room.

Opening the desk drawer, she found a black cloth and a hidden image stone.

Wearing the cloth, she took out the image stone and a small mana stone.

"Ah."

Adjusting her throat, her childish voice changed to an adult's.

When she entered the recipient, a blurry image of a priest appeared.

"I warned you."

〈What do you mean by that? Identify yourself.〉

The priest on the other side of the image stone frowned at the unexpected threat.

Ellie smiled beneath her mask.

"Didn't you hear about the holy water thief?"

There was a thud, and the murmurs grew louder, causing the image on the other side to shake.

The man who eventually appeared looked paler than the other priests.

'So, it's you.'

The one in charge of the holy water.

"You need to come quickly. We can only hold them for so long. The location is written in the letter I sent you."

〈...Understood. I'll go immediately.〉

〈Wait, Priest! Where are you going? Do you believe this?〉

The image stone, which had been shaking due to the commotion, cut off.

Ellie, having removed her mask, tidied her messy hair and left the room with a lighter heart.

She then entered the reception room where people were waiting.

"I'm here."

* * *

"Then I'll start the inspection right away."

Oblie put her hand in her pocket. She felt two vials.

One contained real holy water, the other a mana potion mixed with Ellie's and the man's blood, which she had prepared in advance.

She had brought the real holy water in case Duke Schuetz needed it, but...

'With him away, there's no need to take it out.'

"Please extend your arm."

The man rolled up his sleeve as if he had been waiting for it.

However, Ellie hesitated for some reason and didn't extend her arm.

Her face was full of tension, as if she was worried that this person might be her father.

'Of course, she wouldn't want that.'

She had been adopted into the ducal family and was supposed to live a comfortable life.

Still, there was no choice.

Fate had already been decided, and she was the one who had made it.

"Oh, Sister."

Oblie hugged Ellie tightly.

"Don't be too afraid. The Lord is watching over you."

She patted her as if comforting a sad friend.

Ellie hesitated for a moment before hugging her tightly, feeling her heart pounding strongly.

"Thank you, Priest. I feel a bit better."

"Shall we start the inspection?"

Ellie nodded.

'With so many people watching, there's no turning back now.'

Oblie took out a small knife.

The sharp edge descended onto the man's arm.

The man's blood dripped onto the mana potion.

The clear liquid faintly turned red before returning to its original color.

If Ellie's blood were to drip now and it turned the same color...

'It means he's the father.'

Since she had collected Ellie's blood from the square in advance, any liquid would turn the same color.

'Of course, no one would know this fact.'

Oblie suppressed her urge to laugh and placed the knife on Ellie's arm.

Just as the blood from her thin arm was about to drip onto the potion...

"Ouch...!"

Clang!

The vial shattered with a loud noise.

Ellie had knocked it away.

"How could this happen...!"

The man looked at Oblie with a startled expression.

The fallen potion splattered on the red velvet carpet. Even if blood were to drip on it, the color wouldn't be visible.

"I'm sorry. It hurt, and I didn't realize it..."

"What are you doing?!"

Oblie couldn't help but snap at Ellie's frightened tone.

It was a perfect opportunity to complete the task with many witnesses.

And she had lost it so pointlessly.

Because of this girl!

"Do you know how much effort I put into getting this?"

"I'm sorry, Priest..."

"Really, I'm sick of dealing with children like you-!"

As Oblie angrily ran her hand through her hair, she suddenly felt a gaze.

Everyone in the reception room was staring at her with shocked eyes.

"...I'm sorry, I seem to have gotten a bit excited."

'This won't work today.'

With the potion dropped, she would have to leave and try again later...

"However, Priest."

At that moment, Ellie whispered calmly.

"There's one more, the holy water."

"Excuse me?"

"Remember the one you promised me?"

"Ah, that one."

"Give me that one."

Ellie smiled.

Oblie's lips moved, but she managed to say:

"That... It was too difficult to bring two. The holy water I have is all that's left."

"But there's one more."

Ellie blinked her large eyes.

"It's in your robe."

"!"

'How did she know?'

She had never taken it out. How...!

Oblie involuntarily touched her chest.

Then she suddenly realized.

"Don't be too afraid. The Lord is watching over you."

"Thank you, Priest. I feel a bit better."

It was then.

She wasn't hugging, but checking what was in her pocket! Oblie's gaze trembled. All this time, Ellie had been smiling.

"You... You...!"

At that moment, Ellie slowly leaned forward towards Oblie.

"Do you know, Angel?"

Then she whispered in her ear.

"I never told you that I was receiving help from Duke Schuetz."