* * *
I lowered the blanket a little more and met Duke Kalinos’s gaze. He was staring at me intently. His expression was terrifyingly stiff.
“Um… Are you angry because of me?”
“Of course not. I got angry when I heard the news that you were with that woman, Hwairi.” Even as he said that, the muscles in his face remained rigid. If anyone else were here, they might have run away in terror.
But why do I feel relieved when I see that expression?
Duke Kalinos looked at me with that indifferent face, then called a maid over and handed me a glass. I think he meant for me to calm down…
“According to research, this is the most effective for calming nerves, and it’s the substance farthest removed from ‘that.’”
“Yes, it’s definitely the least related to ginger.”
What he handed me was water. Even in this situation, the way he brought up research made me laugh.
I’d been tense, but my mood has definitely lightened up.
I looked at him and gave him a brighter smile. “Thanks to you, Your Grace, I feel much better. Thank you.”
“…I think that’s the first time anyone’s ever told me I made them feel better.”
“Then I’ll keep saying it. Honestly, I’ve been able to laugh a lot more because of you, and I like that.”
All I did was make a light joke after finishing the water, but his face started to turn red.
“Often, you say? You liked it. Because of me.”
“Huh? Well… yes.”
The corners of his mouth twitched upward, and the tip of his nose was tinged pink. I’d seen him get a little flustered before, or the tips of his ears turn red, but this was new. Watching him freeze up like a machine, his face turning bright red…
I’ve never seen him like this before. He seemed unsure how to act.
Duke Kalinos reached out, took the glass, and muttered, “The emotions you’ve stirred in me for the first time… They’re truly fascinating.”
He still seemed stiff, so I gave a small laugh and nodded. “I find you fascinating too, Your Grace.”
After a brief pause, I sat down beside him. Now was the time to use my head, not my heart.
Hwairi… I needed to deal with Hwairi, who dared to mess with me using that ginger pie. And right by my side, I had the most reliable ally of all.
“You don’t have any thoughts of marrying Hwairi, do you?”
The redness in his face slowly faded, replaced by a chill in his expression. “Even if it kills me, that will never happen.”
“Good, then.”
Since she tried to get at me with that ginger pie, Hwairi’s next move would probably be to win over the family. She’d play the pitiful saint, trying to capture everyone’s sympathy and attention.
“I’m going to make Hwairi pay for what she did.”
“Is there any need for you to dirty your hands, Giselle? We could just have her permanently exiled.”
No, that wouldn’t do. There was definitely someone backing Hwairi from the shadows. I have a pretty good idea who, but I need to make sure she never tries anything this filthy again. How dare she shove something like ginger pie in my face. This wasn’t something I could just let slide.
Grinding my teeth, I stared at the duke. “All you have to do is help me. Could you get me a small ring?”
“A ring?”
“Yes. Please prepare ten of them. Enough to wear on all ten fingers.”
* * *
Just as Giselle predicted, Hwairi was busy trying to win over the people in the mansion. She’d already managed to get their sympathy, so now it was time to earn their genuine favor. And she had the perfect story for it. She’d saved Garno, who was dying of a fever on the eastern continent. Surely, in the Kalinos family, that made her someone worthy of being treated as a savior.
But this family was truly strange. Even when she walked around pretending to be friendly and tried to strike up conversations, she barely got any response. Even when she managed to arrange a tea time with a few of the servants…
“Oh, what’s your name?”
“It’s Mortin.”
“I’m Hwairi! You know, I’m here because I saved Lord Garno’s life, right?”
“Ah, I see.”
They answered her, but their lukewarm reactions made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
I know why. It’s because of Giselle. The maids and servants of the mansion had long since pledged their loyalty to Giselle. They practically worshipped her like a goddess.
So Hwairi decided to change her target audience. She made her way to the annex, where the family’s doctors, pharmacists, and researchers stayed. There, too, she tried to spread her reputation…
“Ah, so you’re the one who saved Lord Garno’s life. By the way, what’s for lunch today?”
“Grilled chicken skewers.”
“Wow, that’s awesome. I’d better work hard in the lab.”
Hwairi’s lips twisted in frustration as she stood outside the research lab, looking lost and frustrated. I get that they’re shunning me because of Giselle, but isn’t this reaction way too indifferent? Flustered, Hwairi kept trying to emphasize her abilities.
“W-Why? Aren’t you surprised that I saved Lord Garno’s life?”
“Well, not really. It’s impressive, but we’ve already seen some pretty incredible feats around here.”
“Incredible feats…?”
The researchers, who had seemed uninterested, suddenly grew animated. “Yes! I saw it with my own two eyes! Wot just went bam, right to Lord Neslan’s heart, and then Lord Neslan just woke up like that!”
“Ha, I wonder where Wot is these days.”
Their excitement slowly faded, and one of the researchers spoke solemnly.
“Ever since I witnessed that scene, I’ve revered Wot as a god of medicine.”
Having already witnessed such amazing performances, these people were unshakable.
Just who is this Wot, anyway?
It was one hurdle after another. But she had to pull through. She absolutely had to become Duchess Kalinos.
If I want to make an impression, there’s only one way. Hwairi clenched her fist. Even if it took a bit more effort, she needed to deliver a real showstopper.
* * *
“What’s that white, round thing in the sky?”
“Lady Hwairi is out there under the sacred sphere, healing a mercenary who’s bleeding out!”
Sure enough, beneath a cascade of pure white light, Hwairi’s pink hair fluttered softly.
Where on earth had he gotten hurt? And why was he out in the field in the first place? There was no time to dwell on how strange it all was. The mercenary, blood gushing from his wound like a fountain, was trembling uncontrollably.
Hwairi lifted the shimmering divine power at her fingertips, creating a cluster of pure white light. Would a saintess from a religious painting look like that? They’d seen mercenaries bleed countless times, but seeing someone healed by light itself was like witnessing a miracle.
“Cough… cough!”
“You’re all right now. Hwairi’s divine power took care of it!”
A ripple of emotion ran through the crowd, usually so stoic and unshakable. It was the first time they’d seen a lady on the verge of tears like a gentle herbivore, or one who would use her divine power just because someone was bleeding.
Hwairi, dressed in a pristine white dress, gently tended to the wounded man. Even as blood stained the hem of her skirt, she didn’t look the least bit bothered.
“Doesn’t she look like a saint?”
“But… isn’t she a threat to our madam’s position?”
“Well, it’s not like she ever said she wanted to become the madam, right? Maybe… maybe we were just being prejudiced…”
Some people still placed their faith in Giselle, but naturally, there were others who began to warm up to Hwairi. Especially among the collateral relatives of the family who weren’t particularly close to Giselle, they looked at Hwairi with clear approval.
“So she really does have divine power…”
“She will certainly be a great help to our family.”
Hwairi, having overheard all their whispers, smiled confidently. Just as planned. In that case, it should be fine to move on to the next plan.
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