Chapter 107
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 107
The main gate of Count Kiris Estate was adorned with beautiful dahlias that symbolized the family's legacy.
Beyond it, the mansion boasted an elegant and antiquated appearance in beige tones.
Last time I was driven out in such chaos that I hadn't noticed, but how could such a refined estate belong to someone with such a disposition?
The mansion truly deserved better.
"Hmm."
The moment the carriage passed through the main gate.
An unpleasant sensation enveloped my entire body.
It wasn't unbearable, but a faint nausea began to rise within me.
I was grateful it wasn't as severe as I'd feared, though this discomfort would likely persist throughout my stay at the estate.
"Your Holiness? What's wrong?"
"I think I'm experiencing some motion sickness... My stomach feels slightly unsettled."
"Oh no. You should rest immediately upon arrival. Fortunately, we arrived before it worsened."
No, it would only get worse once I entered the estate.
The source of this unpleasantness was undoubtedly the aura of Evil permeating throughout the mansion.
Still, I was grateful it wasn't as severe as Jeremy's reaction—he could barely set foot inside the estate.
"Welcome, Duke Aria."
As the carriage stopped and Lute Sheary descended first, Count Kiris greeted her with a displeased expression.
To be more blunt, he looked as if he'd bitten into excrement.
"I was truly startled by such an abrupt notification of your visit."
A sarcastic remark questioning the impropriety of the sudden arrival.
"Is there anywhere in the Western Region I cannot go?"
Ah, truly Lute Sheary. The way she reminded him once more that she was the master of the Western Region was absolutely magnificent.
"However, I came today because there is a matter to attend to."
At Lute's gesture, I took her hand and descended from the carriage.
Only then did Count Kiris notice me, his eyes widening.
"Since the High Priestess mentioned she had business at the estate, I brought her here."
"Good day, Count Kiris."
I smiled brightly at the Count, and he began trembling visibly.
"H-how could the Duke personally... Why would you go to such lengths...?"
"Going to such lengths to escort someone as esteemed as the High Priestess...?"
At Lute's frigid tone, Count Kiris flinched.
The High Priestess, called the Daughter of God, held a position equivalent to that of a great noble in the Empire.
Count Kiris, who didn't even rank among such circles, must never dare treat her casually.
Regardless of being her parent.
When we were alone, perhaps it might be different, but whenever there were witnesses, the Count absolutely had to show deference to me.
"I-I misspoke. My apologies."
"Your apology is not owed to me."
"...I'm sorry."
My goodness, truly Lute Sheary. To make the Count apologize to me in one fell swoop.
I had to bite my lips hard to suppress the broad grin threatening to break across my face.
Lute Sheary is simply the best.
"I've thought about it before, but why does the Count speak so curtly to the High Priestess?"
Yet it seemed Lute Sheary had no intention of stopping there.
"Duke Aria speaks with proper respect even to his own children, the Saint and the High Priestess...."
"...Pardon?"
"It appears the Count never learned how to show proper courtesy to the children of the divine."
Oh, is he really bringing up the House of Aria now?
The High Priestess and the Saint of the Sun God.
Both were direct descendants of the House of Aria, which ruled the Northern Region.
Since it was the first time in history that siblings had been chosen by the divine together, the ducal house treated them with the utmost reverence.
Both the previous Duke, their grandfather, and the current Duke, their father, spoke to these two young people with formal respect—one could only imagine how much they were cherished.
Yet a mere Count not only spoke down to me but treated me with contempt, so it was no wonder Lute Sheary found it infuriating.
Of course, it was because I was a fake, but Lute Sheary didn't know the truth.
"Why are you still standing there without showing proper respect?"
"C-Count...."
"Surely you're not suggesting you'll ignore the laws set by the Empire?"
Having Lute Sheary on my side was truly reassuring.
Indeed, bringing him to my side was the best decision of my possessed life.
"...."
Then the Count began sending signals with his eyes toward me.
His gaze clearly pleaded for me to somehow stop Lute Sheary....
Oh my, why should I?
I watched Lute Sheary with an expression of utmost distress.
My entire body conveyed that I didn't wish to displease him.
"...I a-apologize. I, have c-committed a grave discourtesy to the High Priestess.... Please f-forgive me...."
In the end, the Count couldn't withstand Lute Sheary's overwhelming gaze and bowed his head to apologize to me.
As I gazed contentedly at his crown, I secretly gave Lute Sheary a thumbs up.
"Yes, of course."
I had tried to sound reluctant about accepting the apology, but as I suppressed my laughter, my voice trembled naturally and came out quite convincingly.
Seeing his scalp turn bright red made me a bit concerned.
Count, at this rate you'll go bald. With such a temperament already, if you lose your hair too, what will you do? Please calm yourself.
"Then let's head inside. The High Priestess seems quite exhausted."
As if he were the master of the house himself, Lute Sheary took my hand and swept past the Count.
Ah, this is not the time to laugh. The mansion must be far more saturated with the aura of Evil than the garden.
I took a deep breath and slowly entered the mansion.
"Ugh."
As expected, the nausea surged up far more intensely than before. My stomach felt as unsettled as it would after acute indigestion.
If it's this severe, why didn't I feel it when I first possessed this body?
Was it because my divine power had surpassed 30% now, compared to the mere 2% I possessed back then?
Since this was the only thing that had changed, it certainly seemed promising.
"My, your complexion looks far too pale."
As I hesitated, unable to proceed further, Lute Sheary's large hand cradled my cheek.
Her hand was surprisingly warm despite its size, though today it felt refreshingly cool.
Thanks to that, the discomfort in my chest seemed to ease somewhat, so I leaned into her touch a bit more.
"...You really do look exhausted. Perhaps we should have gone to the Temple of the Sun God instead."
At her steadying grip, I let out a small laugh.
I came here to obtain a holy stone—I absolutely cannot back down now. It's not that severe, so I can endure it.
"D-Duke!"
It was the moment I was about to tell her I was fine.
A loud exclamation rang out, followed by the sound of multiple footsteps.
Ah, I know that voice. I've heard it before.
With my eyes closed and my cheek resting against Lute Sheary's hand, I turned my head.
A familiar middle-aged woman and two young people with flushed faces stood side by side.
How could I forget their faces?
The Countess Kiris and her children, whom I saw when I first possessed this body, looking down at me with mockery.
Given their somewhat elaborate attire for being at home, they must have rushed here in a panic upon hearing that the Duke had arrived.
"Welcome to the House of Count Kiris. Had you notified us sooner, we would have prepared a proper welcome. We apologize for our inadequate preparations."
Unlike Count Kiris, who had made his dislike of Lute Sheary quite apparent, the Countess Kiris's demeanor was remarkably courteous.
Her smile was so genuine that her lips could not conceal her delight—she was truly welcoming Lute Sheary.
Her two children were no different.
"These are my children. They had the honor of greeting you once before, though I'm uncertain if you remember."
"I am Lloyd Kiris! It is an honor to meet you, Duke!"
At this rate, he'd bury his head in the ground.
But the daughter was even worse.
"I-I am Yoanna Kiris. Thank you for visiting our house. It is truly an honor to serve you, Duke."
The way her entire body writhed with deference made it abundantly clear—she was deeply interested in the unmarried Lute Sheary.
That made sense. A Lute Sheary who hadn't fallen into villainy was the perfect match after the Crown Prince himself.
Though in my opinion, Lute Sheary was far superior.
"Would you care for some tea? I would be delighted to serve you."
It was the moment Yoanna Kiris stepped forward.
"How curious. Not a single person here greets the High Priestess, whom we haven't seen in so long?"
At Lute Sheary's frigid tone, all three of them froze.
"...Pardon?"
"I'm beginning to grow irritated...."
Lute Sheary glanced at me. For some reason, her eyes seemed angry—or was that just my imagination?
"Forget the tea and all that nonsense. First, guide the High Priestess to rest in her bedroom."
"...Yes?"
"Take her to the bedroom she used to occupy. Do the people of this place not understand a single word when spoken?"
Lute Sheary scrunched her face in exasperation.
Though perhaps she simply didn't understand what I meant?
My bedroom at Count Kiris Estate was nothing more than a neglected corner—an attic room that no one bothered to clean.
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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