Chapter 80

“What does it say? Is it a love letter? You’ve already got someone chasing after you?” Grandpa Gordon asked with a worried look as I stared blankly at the elegant handwriting, far too refined for a child.929dff37de1f6b31

“N-No, that’s not it…”ec3674b64e13a04d

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I stammered, caught off guard.ed1dcd256d98ea1c

Then, suddenly, a crucial detail d57e4af28b from the original story hit 3f9d22e52c me like a lightning bolt.3cb73ed86589702d

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‘The Second Prince… he didn’t show up!’deb11b189051e504

In the original plot, the 1b647e412a female lead and the Second 863e503811 Prince were supposed to meet 53932c7c09 today.5543d7e4be16acbf

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It was the day 25d2a3e542 before the goddess’s birthday, faedc93a16 and the Second Prince 81dad10745 participated in the volunteer 16f85fccf2 event on behalf of 826f26d20a the injured Crown Prince.33a14695d3a65871

But he hadn’t 031f3f2580 shown up today.feb9ce626724802c

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The reason was clear.b55c5d1b0ab2b44b

‘Because I healed him a few days ago…?!’f5de9db06c5438f3

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But I hadn’t even acdd264759 fully healed him, only 464d429aa0 about halfway.2df7b9e964564206

‘It couldn’t have been easy for him to come here in that condition…’4b550e81e17c6a24

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Besides, giving 100 b03567bafa Talents as compensation 9b203974a1 seemed way too aae508aa06 much for the ed7b84563b healing I provided.25a0c3aad249cbb0

Frantically, I looked 78a315091e around, trying to 0ed9a15205 spot whoever had 085a61c192 paid that absurd bed3efab47 amount for the f90692cf5f treatment.89b2015a6a15288a

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But it was futile. There was no one cfd1cbc0d4 in sight who could 32f67eca57 be the mysterious buyer.0e16c1fe53e72c71

‘If I’d known it was going to be like this, I would have just fully healed him…’77f39e417d4f6515

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I sank into regret, my 2a77ff8e17 mind clouded with frustration. As I was 676bdd98d0 wallowing in my 6531cc224c thoughts, Grandpa nudged cab7415bbe me again, his 4cab703266 curiosity not yet 688ce07945 satisfied.6f26b21b264b305d

“So, do you know this kid? Handsome fellow, is he?”9dfd9f32f2666abc

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“Grandpa.”ba238b6b5ee274a4

“Hm?”5b5973b1ec54cf39

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“I think the Crown Prince passed by…”2374c606346d5884

“What? Crown… what?”6cdce58cc41239de

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I sighed deeply, leaving Grandpa’s confusion unanswered.9d3f0f74743be40c

On one hand, e5cf39878c I was relieved 35ea9c000a not to have 9061e05625 encountered the foul-mouthed 4709938278 Second Prince, but 088a6babf9 on the other 2e28f15f4a hand, I couldn’t 7400c956db shake the uncertainty 6d4b7161b0 creeping into my 266df326b6 mind. Too many things were ed351b5cf0 diverging from the original b229498cde plot—the unexpected arrival of d6625915de the Crown Prince, my 14b12916b1 encounter with Ismail… it 7a85a0f2c1 felt like the story f3990a8918 was veering off course ced3563d33 in ways I couldn’t d2306c9b0a predict.533847c32d202797

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At that moment, b8403ef6f8 an announcement from 2e4c6cda02 the stage interrupted d8546963df my thoughts.a6116dda136afbd6

“Attention. The collection of Talents has a4af633785 been completed. We ask all guests and 89ba4bc30f participants to return to their 4c527a9a81 seats.”fae01a3c9391c378

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The voice over e5fd2c6959 the loudspeaker brought c8d420dc19 me back to d062b2b284 the present.d86288f3763beb23

“Let’s hurry back to our seats,” Grandpa said as he quickly packed away the remaining recovery potions.4a9405d2a5c934c0

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“Okay!”b5e4cb16fa5a908f

As I sat down, I 8a8d49e6ad carefully calculated the total Talents b0cce0ada7 we had earned, including the b1a30cb015 ones the headmistress had confiscated. Meanwhile, I glanced e822e63707 toward the noble 7ad95f3d6c families, who were 7aed6f3688 seated at lavishly 35cd7ff391 prepared tables in f680dafe02 front of the 8c84b215fe stage. In contrast, the 1a0ad80429 orphanage children sat 0fecaf6e99 huddled under a f7570596c2 shabby tent to ad0a206b04 the side of ea7fe86552 the stage.09f61d8ab9ad15e7

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Even the adults who had 0daa013f09 volunteered as helpers weren’t allowed 8cb0fb4ef1 to sit—they had to stand e35754e662 at the back of the 7da0f4c07d tent.1bc38fa2de87a475

‘I wonder if Duke Kallios and Edwin are sitting further in…’14bcb95fb7836c24

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From my vantage point, I 6d0d7bf70d couldn’t see them, which made 45f51c408b me feel a little uneasy.660e807cac439df9

As I bit my lip, 881c56a349 my gaze wandered to the e18b7be103 tables of the nobles, adorned 728b7b658f with cool water and decorative 705abb4e8f flowers. Then, I felt f17e37817b a strange sensation, 810a960621 as if someone 285ae4890f was watching me.2d667e8b3fa7e039

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When I glanced around, 83921d23b8 my eyes met hers.3b33948036ef8296

White hair as pure as d3e823b5c8 snow and dreamy violet eyes.cbbb448ee3c4377d

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It was Diana.8b732cc8ff99fc58

She was sitting not far 74bf818ef8 from where I was.e5af223762d10bd3

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‘She looks exhausted.’ab205ea991e7e42f

The front of 95ee6b934f her booth had 19abed45cf been bustling with 83d389a164 activity earlier, and da70ad2c35 now her complexion c2fbd25c44 was as pale 3feff9d7e5 as her hair.550c324e0f246aab

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‘Let’s stay far away from her. I don’t want 89cdd4db04 her fainting and 9d2ff19534 then blaming it 37ecffd1f2 on me!’92f88b6630c487da

I subtly shifted further away 188b3c5cbd from her, imagining how easily d35cc59eea such an incident could happen.b2f20737cd2b2b5f

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Just then, someone edc63ec949 took the stage.0fcd9c6b72e29be7

“Ahem.”3ef2b93dd48fa47b

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A figure in e2acf5f01c white robes stood 025ad07dfc up to speak.e3ca772b5af3a2a8

“May the goddess’s blessing always be with you. I am Pope Montenus.”a1b0db178bb41566

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It had been c2afaef77c several months since 894a0a2aa4 I last saw d03bc4d25a the Pope, back a7764b8cd1 when I stayed 6d27d669cb at the Duke’s 740fe682ee estate.29d6e2ae8bcdf49d

The serene, white 8d2c2be669 aura that surrounded ede2cf299f him was still 157b580050 the same.fc79944e1153e0c0

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After my recent 353d8b7637 encounter with Ismail, d06e661e8d who would become 2bd4786be4 the next Pope, b99847a3c5 seeing the current 16c6b3e634 Pope, whose life 576a7bdede was nearing its cf2467e609 end, felt oddly d4e8fb8498 unsettling.e719f530ea235d71

‘How did Ismail even become the Pope’s adopted son?’33bebec0965df9f3

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As I pondered this, 884e6f4588 I watched the Pope’s e563fc1a8a deeply wrinkled face. But before I 15631324d4 could linger on 7922951e61 the thought, the bdf6ac28f2 Pope began his 90db21cbbe speech.ec5f64966f4f8ac2

“First, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the noble families who took the time to participate in today’s volunteer activities. It is all in accordance 3a52c27473 with the will of the e278f6b23c goddess that we are gathered 55d06d4fd4 here today, to share, to f18df8c26f give, and to learn the 12376e7610 lessons of kindness…”8f6fa262423d5a43

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I stifled a yawn and 9fba923dc3 tried to endure the Pope’s 7f0e1f22f3 long-winded speech.de6b8a399ca2b59e

“Ah, Ereia be praised!”89e31cf1dc346079

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Finally, with a ad310d8a36 chorus of devout 1c460195f2 exclamations, the speech c0067298a9 came to an cc17f0cc8e end.43fc3f7f62a79872

“Now, we shall begin selecting the child who has received the most of the goddess’s love today.”d2ee9ecf5afc3669

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At last, the time had a74485c967 come to choose the Saintess 2085f09826 candidate.3eed4c6d88a7f3cc

“Magnus, High Priest.”2dea58a5b479a50e

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The Pope gestured toward a7cc134737 the side of the ae5481f267 stage.c31f2e51614601e3

A relatively young priest b79202e9cc appeared, carrying something as 4da234b8ac he ascended the steps.c9ed7a63392e1b9e

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It was a 3fa54ed40d large golden censer, 5174c2f215 ornately embossed, glimmering 0889fd41a6 in the light.fa23e7e8a0d1183f

This was the sacred b17cc9c7ab relic used to convert ed05c276cf gold coins into Talents.2e6e14732d57f6bd

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The relic had two 73ab84e3b3 primary functions:778a2d3e9b63d985

1. When Talents or gold coins d0394521b5 were placed into the censer c4b12ea185 and incense was burned, it f5f808ab01 automatically counted the amount, like 403b307aaf a calculator.2e61e72ab51da1c5

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2. Gold coins could be burned, 7aa6054be2 and after a few minutes, 313f34a65a they would be transformed into 7250d85065 Talents. The reverse could also 62c561c53d be done.10ee13b6d39fd131

It was said 42b4970ac3 that this relic c03c604e45 had been created 0e6d4e61fe long ago by 1660692f96 a saint who 2fc6f83fe4 had studied alchemy. Its purpose was to 7ed7602141 remind those who served ea44a6e19c the goddess not to 3d4efd80c8 be greedy.cdd7cc21a9d78c2e

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Because of this, the temple 30110fd1d9 always converted donations and offerings 88f94032b1 into Talents to prevent misuse.acecc6e60efd82db

Outside the temple, it 168ed5e15e was strictly forbidden to bd79e1398d carry or use Talents.fd044a70c3e43c23

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‘Yeah, right. It’s just a 1322a568bf way for them c445f120d9 to hoard the 0ec633b153 donations and spend e67253bf1a them as they b020016a23 please later,’ I bd9a09e4ee grumbled to myself 2cc28929f4 as the process a79ccfc292 continued.20268031302171dd

“The first booth we will count is Mia’s, who performed the song,” the announcer declared.4e53d67c945e33a4

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Clink—!84febb68e5160a01

The large censer’s cd54b69fdf lid was opened, 980fd1ac79 and the Talents 884e118cfc from the first 0ca54624ec booth were poured 1fa3ddd296 in.903be08a4bacc1ec

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Another priest lit 9b0a8f1fcf a match and 3f72424d47 placed it atop e0cd6d6060 the pile of 45ce7e2dba Talents in the 93f3571959 censer.5d7dbe7da1d1e63c

The lid of 5b0058dff6 the censer closed 4faa7a4eee once again.26f0e1aadcf6922f

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Moments later, thin wisps of c3f71b51bb smoke began to rise from 31bcf9a61d the small holes scattered around 70b99376bb the censer.5453bcb639300fdf

At first, it seemed 0e022aaa52 unremarkable, but then the 899cfe0cd3 smoke began to sway b304671f7c erratically, almost as if 476d29c81e it were alive. The tendrils of smoke 938ba3a057 coiled and merged before 79fee557b8 dispersing again, and finally, 5cdd6151c9 they formed a distinct 29667d7366 number in the air.9472e5d954cfa27f

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154b8b1f2ffa12dc606

“Ooh…!”b4480e4c58b51d4e

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“It never ceases to amaze…!”caf3f54abff52ca4

People who had been watching 15bba4be06 in silence let out gasps 831158eb84 of awe.736f6ec935058bc4

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Even though I had 1d1565c48b witnessed this before in ac043201ab my past life, the 708ad4a4fc spectacle felt fresh, and e825ec4234 I found myself intrigued 03fdc3f2ac once again.bccdfff78da93dcd

“Mia, 154 Talents,” the Pope announced quietly, and a priest standing behind him quickly jotted down the result on a large board.9a3bd6381cd4cfc0

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The counting continued swiftly from 3387eafc01 there.94d29f2f22466e28

“Vincent, 368 Talents.”2402122dd2d022ad

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“Sara, 212 Talents.”cde180d3e939f210

One after another, f92c7a35f0 the talents of cd7589d425 children who had 62866c11be played instruments, danced, d9de7398ec or painted were 85771dc318 measured and recorded.450c40274210df6e

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Finally, it was time.4e90115d7f4e8ffc

“Diana, who used her healing powers to cure the sick.”0021bcab8eca06ed

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I watched the stage intently, db4aa195b4 tension gripping me.cd804c71173b7371

Out of the corner of 1a81057e41 my eye, I glanced at c37a1ea3b2 Diana. She, too, looked nervous.c40612f0bbdcfdc9

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‘Please…’5801bb69c22d4fdc

I had already healed the d07a093517 Crown Prince, which should have 013f2b7f5d secured my position safely.e493b439689d7fe6

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But Diana was the heroine. You never knew what kind 51f43dbc5f of plot armor she might 197666116b have in a critical moment.e27a5daff1b2c6b5

Clink, clink, clink, clink—!18cf13444634cd7b

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The amount of Talents pouring 5277372168 into the censer from Diana’s e6958fdbb6 booth was greater than any d6433c1ea6 other booth before hers.4606c1a306932ced

“Wow, how much did she collect?”a6e003f80c233a31

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“No kidding. I couldn’t even think about fbb2016c7c standing in line for her.”8686b6abb5a16377

“Well, of course, a Saintess candidate is different…”b9791f73d42fccb8

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The murmurs of f7c6451abb astonishment rippled through e845fa42ab the nobles who 85e3a2a6ef were watching.e2de4677d6668a08

“Wow…”8d0c03e38433b407

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“Diana is amazing.”036ca83547f00f97

“Does that mean she’s going to be the next Saintess?”f31fdde5b1ca12e0

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Even the orphanage children 2ed7b87553 sitting beside me were c9356c042a whispering in awe.aa0e405afe2bf21b

Hearing their remarks only made 564e196c2a my anxiety creep up further.669b1e5147909349

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Click.cfdfaf06c6633d34

Finally, the Talents 62fd65f331 and the incense 862bb8fdab were poured into 89c23f8499 the censer, and 59420e7f88 the lid closed.232a47e287f00ad0

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Moments later, a e380c3a072 faint stream of 451a7af87c smoke began to 23c18d1ce7 rise, swirling together aa4b526501 before solidifying into 727e80df0f a number.ea4515940543a9ae

770140fdf4956945616

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“Diana, 770 Talents.”d1f52f4700721d7e

Applause erupted among the nobles 2bd6b7010f as soon as the Pope b3728cb258 announced the result.d1d93ead068d400d

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It was a record-breaking number.62fb0519e0ee0612

‘She healed that many people?!’83f75708a73e6fef

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I was stunned by the 89dff7cb52 unexpected number. I had anticipated no more fa65778650 than 500 or 600 Talents ffee68f6a3 at best.08b01ed573ff82a6

And yet, there it was—770.00a23c66679e1b0d

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‘How is that even possible?’83672365c71c1ee4

Frowning, I stared 1fc5347929 at the count 9edddbe1f2 Diana had earned, ca4507147e then let out 1b9ecc4667 a small sigh f20a7ae90d of relief.c61d094b9d9b399d

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“Haa…”375b17ebc3819112

In the end, da855ff924 it didn’t matter.e962204975d2d892

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Even though the heroine’s plot d62dcfe2a5 armor had boosted her total 2428621818 far beyond what I had 5e522e5d87 expected…6d68ee94dc280ce9

‘I still won.’ddd005000feac1a4

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I could be certain now.16c0e4ab0ee020d0

Just as the Pope, 911422da95 who had maintained an eec344eb33 impassive expression throughout, was 069b88beb5 about to call the 596b1fbd10 next contestant—1dc422b2112be1f3

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“Wait! Stop! This is outrageous!”ab63883e65a1eb95

A thunderous voice suddenly 2b484987ad echoed through the hall.37fe314739a3af23

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All eyes, including mine, 6771fce847 snapped toward the source ca723a5a43 of the commotion.68f8852d639c4c29

It was a middle-aged man 80211785ad who had jumped to his 761e61dc16 feet, his face pale as a81600675d he shouted.d6678f5869d813bb

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“Your Holiness! There’s been a mistake! The numbers are wrong! According to the 1c5faa08a6 records, this can’t d20421c74e be right…!”aa70baf78086aaeb

The Pope’s expression darkened as b91898f6bc he warned the man.0b618bf70848b70c

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“Marquis Barelotte, objections to the Talent count must be addressed after the event has concluded…”ea8c8acce5385277

“But there’s been a theft at Diana’s booth!”105abb718bea1ae9

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Marquis Barelotte completely disregarded the e914259ec9 Pope’s words, shouting at the f0aeee583c top of his lungs.9b058424be0b3069

“One hundred Talents are missing!”1f9569908280b186

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