CHAPTER 157…………………………………………..
Adele sat at the desk, surrounded by newspaper reporters, and smoothly finished signing.
The scratching of pencils capturing her bright smile grew faster and more frantic.
“So, Miss Adele, are you really all right?”
“Of course. Can’t you tell just by looking?”
“But there’s so much worry because they say the head of Yuden was seriously injured.”
“Worry?”
One should speak plainly.
Adele smiled faintly and straightened her shoulders.
The “worry” coming from their mouths didn’t mean what ordinary people thought.
Even the slightest frown from her would alter the flow of funds in the guild the very next day.
“I suppose we should track down the source of that rumor. My husband, the guild master, simply came to pick me up because I was late returning home, and yet such things are being said…”
“B-but they say that the guild master carried you when you collapsed.”
“Are you certain?”
“…….”
“If anyone knows who’s spreading that, let them speak. Not to me, but to them.”
At Adele’s kindly yet lethal glance, the reporter swallowed hard.
Just from her eyes, one couldn’t help but believe she was perfectly fine. No—one had to believe it.
“Well, I don’t deny that there’s concern and interest in me. So I trust that you’ll portray me in a way that reassures everyone.”
“……O-of course.”
A subtle pressure disguised as a request.
Adele assumed an elegant pose, perfect for being drawn, while hinting at her wish in a polite yet commanding way. Then, as if to break the tense atmosphere, she narrowed her eyes in a teasing manner.
“At this rate, I suppose I’ll have to carry the guild master myself soon enough.”
“Haha.”
If she could joke like that, she really was fine.
The reporters laughed, finished their sketches, and left, and Adele wiped the sweat from her forehead.
From behind, Rebecca, frowning deeply, couldn’t hold back a comment.
“Are you truly all right?”
“……Of course. This is nothing.”
She had refused to leave earlier, too.
Shaking her head in resignation, Adele removed her earrings and accessories. Just that alone felt like a relief.
“It’s my duty as the heir. Since things turned out this way because of my mistake, I must take responsibility.”
There’s only so much one can leave to their father.
As Adele gave a wry smile and stood, Rebecca, who had been staring in shock, stepped closer as if to support her.
“Shouldn’t you be thinking about your health? After everything that happened, what if you overexert yourself?”
“……This child will have no problem. It is the will of the great God, so it cannot be otherwise.”
Adele looked down at her flat stomach and gave a faint smile.
Rebecca, displeased by such confidence, snorted in disdain.
She didn’t know what gave Adele such overflowing confidence, but even from her own perspective, Adele seemed excessively healthy.
“What kind of household is this, really…”
From her husband to her younger sibling, and now herself, even a priestess like Rebecca could not understand their physical resilience.
Even if she wanted to accuse it of being Satanic energy, a golden aura—something she had never felt from Adele before—radiated strongly.
Perhaps it was because of the guild master, her husband.
Good resembles good, evil resembles evil—perhaps the guild master’s sacred aura had transferred to her.
Even so, it was unusually strong…
Rebecca stopped speculating. Her mission was to heal, not to peer into someone’s heart.
“Fine. Assuming your health is intact, why then don’t you inform the Count? You know how worried he must be.”
“Shh, just a moment.”
Adele pressed a finger to her lips. Just then, the door opened and Jacqueline peeked her head in.
“Milady, preparations are complete.”
“……Good.”
Adele rose and followed Jacqueline. Unlike when facing reporters, her frail smile looked fragile, but her nod toward Rebecca was firm.
“What are you doing there?”
…What did she just say, that devil.
Rebecca could only glare and reluctantly pick up her bag.
She disliked carrying unnecessary things, but the journey ahead would be long, and they needed to be well-prepared.
As Adele placed the white veil on her head, Rebecca muttered under her breath.
“What scheme is she up to now…”
There was no one more devoted to the Saint Fidelio household than her.
Yet why did Rebecca feel so unsettled and uneasy?
She thought Adele’s attire was odd for a healing trip, but as soon as they stepped outside the mansion, the thought vanished.
“……Father, you came out.”
“Adele! Your face… like this, I cannot even restrain you.”
The Count, waiting at the front gate, reached out to them.
His sorrowful expression grew more pained seeing his daughter’s face faintly visible beneath the veil.
“Half your face has gone pale.”
Yet whether he was upset or not didn’t matter. Seeing the line of carriages and attendants behind him, Rebecca rubbed her eyes, forgetting her composure.
“C-Count… what is all this…?”
“Ah, I just prepared a few small things in case anything was lacking, as a father.”
“…Hah.”
It wasn’t about scale. Even painted in neutral colors to tone down luxury, not even a royal wedding procession could be grander.
Now that she noticed, it wasn’t that Adele was excessive—every moment of grandeur was apparently the family tradition.
Even so, the Count, dissatisfied, lightly tapped the enormous carriage beside him.
“You should have told me beforehand. It’s rushed and far from perfect.”
“…No, Father.”
“My daughter is going on her first healing trip, and this is all I can do? She’s the heir of the Sergio family, for heaven’s sake!”
She’s not going to camp right now.
Blushing, Adele fidgeted with her veil, avoiding her father’s gaze, then produced a handkerchief and leaned weakly against him.
“Don’t worry. We’ll arrive in two days.”
“Ah, if only Kay were here at a time like this! Always fussing about my sister, but never around when needed!”
The Count stomped in frustration.
Even if mercenaries were called, no one protected Adele like Kay. He wouldn’t tolerate a scratch on his sister, but when needed, he’d be absent, which was infuriating.
“Next time, we’ll have to bind him at the waist or something. What kind of child has such a wandering spirit?”
“Leave him be. He’s always been like that. There’s a limit to restraining him. Last time he returned after a few months, didn’t he?”
Adele calmed her father, holding his arm. Just as she feared he might follow them, he spoke.
“I still cannot be at ease. Why go so far? If you stayed in Yorca, I could join you over the weekend…”
“No. Priestess Rebecca will accompany me.”
“…I see… but still.”
Ahem.
Rebecca, overwhelmed by all eyes on her, cleared her throat.
Even all in white, the pair of pink eyes and the deeper pair of red eyes were excessively striking on their own.
Unable to bear it any longer, Rebecca lifted the luggage and stepped before the Count.
At this point, escaping the devil’s lair was the best plan.
“Yes. I will stay by Lady Agnes’s side, so please rest assured, Count.”
“See, Father? Who else but a savior priestess?”
“…Hah.”
As if she were just a priestess.
Ignoring Rebecca’s glaring eyes, Adele focused on reassuring her father. After pondering briefly, he finally nodded.
“Then I trust only the priestess. I can send Adele off like this only because I trust her fully.”
“Ah… it’s nothing, really.”
“And Adele, you…”
“Ah, I said don’t worry. I’ll behave quietly and return safely.”
“…Just recover fully.”
“……”
“Whether you need to cut or demolish, when you return, be the daughter I know, fully healed. That’s all I ask.”
Listening blankly to her father, Adele finally nodded.
