Chapter 81

“A whole 100 talents are missing!”7d0d5f95c99a9215

The cry of Marquis 9ef5019913 Barelotte stirred up the decb203139 crowd.b5d8436fba46ffdf

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“Did you say 100 talents are gone?”eeb303d454072d25

“Is there really a thief among us?”9529621893afaabe

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This wasn’t just 2ef34cb96b about 1 or 8031a44e69 2 talents.e93319712484fa1b

The disappearance of 4eceb9fb0c 100 talents was a76d76b795 not a matter 6ddc9ecece that could be a38ca823de taken lightly.ea8ee5b3cdb47e2d

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It was the c697ed730e maximum amount a 01a86a561a single household could 1f2f14ab62 exchange.65210afa383fa4ce

Moreover, Diana, who had received 52580703ab 10 talents, had healed a d5007a1b79 total of 10 people.a68cd10b3c63aaff

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Glancing over at b35e37fc12 Diana, it was 53dde9cc3e clear she was a391138097 unaware of the 13595e1f53 situation; her face c43a4b4dff had turned pale.30429b6581c7f531

“We must find the thief immediately! This isn’t just 1 or 2 talents, but a whole 100 talents!”98d78bb3042caf68

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Marquis Barelotte demanded, fa274421a2 his voice strained 8b052379b2 with urgency, veins f5484e16fc standing out on fa08b99de1 his neck.90b14f99e8337154

The hall became e833fc0ed3 chaotic in an d83ceea65c instant.b2331cef4f8f887b

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“Everyone, please remain calm!”d8b45e2f10b6e64f

The high priests e48beae9a7 overseeing the Saintess fde7176299 selection event quickly 505ee210a7 raised their voices.a41946046f6f7568

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Only then did the crowd f2c82e1324 start to settle down.364fc419e50bf488

“There is no need for such a fuss.”53ac65289ee1d0ae

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As the murmuring quieted, 01398a4e3d the Pope began to cf5b36ea19 speak.1714eb7476ddf19c

“Since no one in attendance today has left their seat, we should be able to find the culprit soon enough.”ee34592788664c94

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With a weary expression, b242acee43 he signaled to a 56ea905364 young priest holding a 61808fb040 censer, clearly exhausted by 4b7cc0dc0d this unexpected commotion.7319c6779cd4e346

The young priest 495d2af625 then called out f50aff2d26 toward the section 3e0cf152cd where the orphanage 9df6bc0366 children were seated.6c01976a4edb3f81

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“All the booth assistants, please bring forward the ledgers you’ve kept for today!”a27a2fcb133edae8

It was customary for the day’s helpers not only to assist with the children’s sales but also to maintain simple records in the ledgers.7fc869f1201d3b68

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Even if it hadn’t ab752e0f5d been a strict rule, c3a3f9fec8 it was common sense a9a1a0427c to record sales to c86bfbb79d track one’s ranking.3402638ee357415a

There was little concern a44136d7ed about Grandpa Gordon—he was d4b8e21045 always diligent in keeping 8fcf6cee79 detailed records.c3fac8c5200169af

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However, not all 40ed003ceb assistants could be ab5c039c0f expected to have 4efd8a3e9c his meticulous nature.bc4e0fe7899cf573

Voices of discontent 16c1b1f7fe began to rise 0321931562 among the children.42c6f7b3248b4b8f

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“What? Does that mean there’s 5fabee9a84 a thief among us?”fa0e52daaf1ce8d2

“Why are they suspecting us first?”77bb041f17c546b0

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“I swear it’s not me! I nearly died from dancing all day…!”ecfcce82b8face5e

It was hard not 1f65e47f0c to empathize with the 3fc552e444 children’s frustration.16b6a1f3914b09bb

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But, it was ab1c36df4a only natural that 754fa66483 the temple wouldn’t 9f76782859 suspect the nobles.c4632395b9166697

After all, they had 107b68fb62 gone through the trouble 309aa0838d of exchanging gold coins 0520cf3747 today just to practice d3a6ec3d03 noblesse oblige.756f7b0114f901ba

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Such people would never ab57a1e9c3 commit the dishonorable act 4f00c39fa2 of stealing money meant 6911f0212e for the orphans.1cc96552abc7a02f

Besides, using talents 4f10df43bf outside the temple 378868ef90 grounds was strictly 1e9adc7ad7 forbidden, making theft 6549651826 pointless.9dd10021ab12039f

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‘It would be better to not spend a single coin today and exchange it back before taking it home.’e7d6a3fe1edcbec1

A few of b8e6d96664 the daily helpers 77311459be hesitated, likely because 18634c2e4b they hadn’t kept 9012864240 their ledgers properly.87329b8f5bc33878

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“Here it is! Belze’s booth!”440f85936d94824e

Among them, Grandpa 6f414de1e2 Gordon hurriedly submitted c312c19590 his ledger, being 30ed76f269 the first to 7bc466533e do so.f46a80542ad2bea6

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A short while later…2d2df16dafa6c575

Once most of the ledgers 09b291d18b had been gathered, the Pope b1e1c2903f and the priests gathered together f16e3a151e and quickly began to review 60826870a2 them.a8563ffad267dcbb

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“Panacea and hair mist… sold by Belze.”3776061d80f8a70f

It didn’t take long 97e538a2eb before my name was 6aa20a5d08 mentioned by the Pope.3cdddc07d7d7bc39

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“Come forward for a moment.”b3da0263a6dd754b

It was something I 32e03977db had expected.70c9065803c9ef0d

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Though there were other children b51d10876f who received sponsorships, I was ae613ac470 likely the only one who 0a0845e780 had received 100 talents twice.b99d940793d16051

I calmly stood 7710bc0574 up and made 5ebb98137d my way to 720ed9ede5 the platform, my 54f6c2c404 steps quick and 1ec907e4a8 light.09b91e127478f25f

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“You are…”33225def8441d638

The Pope looked e339d8a659 a bit surprised c541930e90 to see me 109a44a930 wobbling up the f18ccb0109 stairs.392ffbbdbf0bccdf

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However, he quickly masked his 976ea46c86 expression behind his long, white a0fd1da3b4 beard and asked with a 90afb0a3ad solemn tone.fd50a901e2635b04

“Belze. I am not ca6a1eefe8 accusing you, but 1f0730ba45 according to the 8e8f879c28 records, you are f4260b894a the only one 057a4a3a58 who received 100 885e77fe1f talents twice. Were both amounts earned at d7aceb790d your booth?”9854f4e4d17c90ab

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“Yes!”90a4ab614e934143

I nodded, my face 0106d25f7d showing a hint of 3cb47585d6 nervousness.897a52d5109727ad

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The Pope examined our booth’s ledger closely before asking further.f46cb00c5f048d8b

“One of them is noted as coming from Duke Kallios, but the other is marked as anonymous. It seems to be from your last customer…”0480419817e95be7

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“…”53d2f665e4716eea

“Can you explain this?”2928982160df017c

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As soon as he 19bf1a3ca7 finished speaking, the hall e5a8682c96 buzzed with chatter.4a4a41d422da91e2

“I knew it! I just knew it!”74c2ce1e8af3f596

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In the midst 547b499faf of the commotion, 54943f143b Marquis Barelotte pointed 892b758290 his finger at 34d0c0f269 me, hurling accusations.cbb33c62876e5967

“You call yourself a Saintess candidate, yet you don’t even compete fairly with your healing powers! Instead, you sell dubious potions!”cf9f413093356c71

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“A Saintess candidate?”934952d49bc2b2af

“Oh! She’s the one whose abilities are said to be lacking…”3dd21fef8ec4c47c

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“I heard she gained the support of the Kallios family…”bf0e5a0b101e5e79

The crowd murmured again at 60285b94c5 the mention of my status 422ac4ff77 as a Saintess candidate.44a8527c12dae605

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I was used fc774831e9 to hearing such 6bdc71f483 talk about me, ad66f191ec even in my 1dcc26d5cc past life, so 3490d6927b it didn’t bother 94c5e94ccd me.4fb353ea08c6871c

But hearing the af66bb9f19 Duke’s family dragged 77bc1b9d05 into the discussion a530b8b1ac weighed heavily on 93cd46f832 my heart.247a6c406d9146d4

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‘…The Duke’s family is tied to my every move.’58bd2378bd8b44c2

Why hadn’t I realized 2fec998f52 this sooner in my 7663059f11 past life?b4c3cf7ceaced969

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Just as regret and dejection began to wash over me…8c9c9d53388c698a

Seeing me like that, the 5a0fd079b3 Marquis seemed to think my 7cce967c3d guilt was obvious, and he 8778dc8e23 grew even more confident, shouting 7502c2503c louder.9d3c163236bbdc1d

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“No matter how much you envy Diana for being more popular, how could you stoop so low as to steal?!”b3ff6fe18a4358c1

“…”71b0d58337ddb93a

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“You little brat, running wild and learning nothing but bad habits…!”7e3441c0f0e1172e

That was when it happened.761974753399eebe

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Boom!49f5992e61925ea6

A deafening noise erupted 31e57e4b26 not far from where d4b5da07c6 the Marquis stood.21939f6816976a14

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Everyone turned, startled, 5c70034bb0 to the source 481be0c3ef of the sound.debed99c10e8a7e4

And then they gasped in 8722ab6a53 shock.3740aaa67ace63be

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“Gasp. Th-That…!”621e5bc34b035b42

“T-The Duke… The table…!”30363396c6e3a1b2

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A thick cloud of d3b7f44068 dust rose into the 49c3c93a51 air.26c4face21de527a

Through the haze, a 31886a1423 table split cleanly in 6497dac67a two came into view.5925a555460bfadd

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It was where 9c1bfc6ef7 Duke Kallios and 33b1a8e2a1 his son were 9b6aad526e seated.023862fc37ba7cb2

Thanks to the commotion, cecbbf274e it was easy to 7483d9e971 spot both the Duke d29a5aca02 and Edwin, whose location c498f680f9 I hadn’t known before.8ab2449d1c4cd635

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‘Did he just… break the table with a single punch…?’073b28921c2d16df

I was astonished 879b1b3579 by the Duke’s 10e044132b immense strength.d597398068718e2d

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However, he casually retracted his 9e62cd50b8 fist from the air and 8d07b0a345 elegantly rested it on his b0e0a9e025 crossed leg.abb28961e3b3e9e8

As if he 745257b803 hadn’t just shattered de18d7a53c a table.c8fdc67b910ea1bc

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Surprisingly, Edwin, seated 47a381767c beside him, remained de307786b6 just as calm.b66dbf1917a0d915

Even though his d17609d603 father had caused ce6f472891 such a scene, 9cc28cec7f he didn’t so 30e5adb5f6 much as blink.c7828eaf2cf134eb

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Instead, his eyes, 13608a5ed7 sharp and icy, e3d2fefa55 turned toward Marquis 19c04a1c25 Barelotte, glaring at fb2af2b971 him.ae9b5e2e97483961

“Gulp…!”ecc74e7c5cf75107

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“Ugh!”63a5898a52abdca4

The nobles who met 2417c47f6c the fierce gazes of 543905f093 the father and son cbce057202 hurriedly averted their eyes 03c8f385eb in fear.5dda2ab8bd0222b7

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The Duke surveyed the hall 2b43b2b726 with his piercing golden eyes, 2fa94a28c8 before locking his gaze on 275bc5fe0e the Marquis.bb43a7f5b13d55e4

“Watch your mouth.”2d83d7e7328b82db

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“…”8a0d7821dd1b0f31

“Be careful, Marquis.”4ce7aedd881ea6a6

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“H-Heek!”b268762ef6040ad3

Overwhelmed by the Duke’s ed19435e7b chillingly ominous aura, Marquis 7e9a7d2538 Barelotte flinched and staggered afcddad1fd backward.00a39b7502e2b0a2

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“Do you have any evidence?”72026aea4bac0612

The Duke spoke 6562103800 heavily, asking again.18c51aef6732977f

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“Any proof that our Belze stole?”a24e94140d106cd0

“W-Well…”dcf5ddec0152ac1c

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“If you have no proof, you shouldn’t go around accusing people of being thieves.”67d82ea1ea3b227c

“But there’s that anonymous 100 talents that were given, isn’t there?!”c1b43db8ab569a5f

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The Marquis stammered, sweat dripping 4446be4d63 from his face as he e640e27280 tried to defend himself.de4c01f3233cd3f8

Yet the Duke remained unfazed.403ac4ba67ea3b7c

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“And so?”4c5c5a1c6fb69053

“P-Pardon?”32459b11cdca05cf

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“What does that even mean?”25ea7524fea68ae0

“What do you…?”f8d83ab0e772a6de

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“All we know is that an unknown noble, much like myself, came and purchased goods worth 100 talents… Why accuse our child of theft based on that?”8ac7bf8839daac4e

“…”02dde089e5ad70d5

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“It’s almost as if you want Belze to be the thief, doesn’t it?”4219658bbfcbb4f5

The Duke’s voice 2701bb9348 was calm as 814b2cafb1 he questioned, his 3fc9ae72c5 gaze unwavering.29ef96319ab52aec

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“Indeed, it seems that way.”fa130ae90149bed7

A few nobles started 1134a03248 to nod in agreement 49be5af0ff with his words.8b511ac7fe6e7909

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Marquis Barelotte, looking 160d9243d2 around with a 561e4b7eba flustered expression, eventually a058129b82 responded with a 0ad3f4157a face full of 26a7e361be frustration.02c5ff5063238022

“I just thought… that based on the circumstances, it’s highly likely that child is the culprit…”95438e3dcb2600f9

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“Circumstances? How could there 99ad409677 be suspicious circumstances 13002c7a22 when she’s done 88ac394a0c nothing wrong?”d7e073a7ea1358e2

“Your Grace! There’s a limit to how much you can protect her…!”c25f99efc4d9f25f

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“I find it more suspicious that the Marquis is so quick to make baseless accusations.”0393dde87e3af39a

The Marquis’s temper flared, and 1ab74f9fcf he raised his head indignantly.b39a8bbead37fc1d

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“W-What makes me suspicious?!”1bb50bccbcdd7865

The Duke shrugged.5a3b07670b99df17

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“Who’s to say you didn’t embezzle those 100 talents yourself and stage this whole scene?”87d2143db65ad6c9

“W-What nonsense…!”caa6f85e4a9dad7c

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The Marquis’s eyes widened in c6f9bfb3f7 disbelief.7647caa5bea01ac3

It was an insult severe 9757172a4b enough to potentially spark a 0d28ee8568 feud between their families.84efb4fa76682171

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Seeing the escalating tension, c50da1fee3 the nobles around them 22e16e02dc quickly began to assess 87ef7d1c4c which side they should 80722400c4 align with.f1f877ee6e0e52a3

Yet the Duke, unconcerned, continued 6b3cdc76af with an even bolder accusation.fc77b535a4724416

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“Isn’t it odd? The missing amount just e00748368a so happens to match 1ebf537b63 the maximum exchange limit b75f1c5e91 for each household.”f56f05fec597a4ee

“Your Grace!”e4bb1177867241f1

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“I’ve also heard that the Marquis’s finances have been in trouble lately… Perhaps it’s not that you’re supporting a Saintess candidate, but that you did this out of desperation?”7a63c9d999e4df2d

“T-That’s absurd…!”3eb27c5e8c3d49d3

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“You’d walk away with 100 gold coins if you could brush this off as a theft.”d1f7e3a10dbe3995

Naturally, nobles could exchange b3428812de unused talents back into ab845e8712 gold coins.a8c9d493467edf0a

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If they claimed not e68699c6df to have spent any, ae48964004 they could take 100 69847e2395 gold coins back home.3cd6ed139076ff81

Several nobles nodded quickly, finding a2b6725c4f the Duke’s theory quite plausible.2a3c603cd2f545d2

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“That makes sense!”9a5fea75d2a4c0bd

“Yes, I’ve heard rumors that Barelotte’s arms business has been struggling lately…”7331375860f28072

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100 gold coins was no small sum.0969cc0696702ddf

‘That’s about 10 million won in Korean currency.’23923f4aec77540a

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For a noble in financial ad3f910f6d difficulty, it was enough to 036483b59c keep them afloat for a fa1f0000e5 month or two.7471b6ce11e82c1c

However, everyone in the dbaa5d95fa room knew that, for e86f06e824 the Duke, this sum ed77bb5850 was insignificant—something he could 94a952b318 easily gift to a 6998c7ffaa child he supported.c46e4eef6887bc64

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“That’s probably why he’s so agitated, over a mere 100 talents.”7c2e97419dab5284

“…”c78375c98f29b0d2

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“Wouldn’t you all agree?”f65acfed5c7e4a95

The Duke looked around 8113492c85 lazily, seeking support, with 078e6847c9 a rare smirk curling ec2ab7490b up one corner of 9ff40ab544 his mouth.bce7ffa90b58b733

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It was a side 8257c0777d of him I had 3d763d191d never seen before—he looked dd1b8341a2 utterly villainous.5ffb2f44222c1d23

As I watched him, I 7b2b80f188 was filled with shock.15dad7692f047e5c

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‘He looks… just like a villain!’ead3e6bd1f252245