Chapter 86

952 gold coins.ba37e66cd76359e2

The weight of 9359e0424f such an amount, c82adb652c equivalent to 95.2 da5e4af267 million won in b071acc398 Korean currency, was 7f2f8d1af4 far too much 856a3ecaa7 for me to 3313d9e735 carry alone.bf06530b31318abf

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I hadn’t realized it 4ffe6b2a5a before, but the coins 8e9fc41ff8 had also lightened as e7f0616c34 they converted to talents.26bb443f0d777ca7

“Ughhh…”b5871289efee6b2f

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As I strained to 48f0c25c13 lift a sack nearly 7e66f48968 as big as my 558b72aff1 torso, clinging to it e3ae824502 without success, laughter rippled 2baa22e59c through the crowd.23c9674939a0bd29

For some reason, the f9d001a9e2 Crown Prince laughed the 3f52c82f7f loudest.aeaa326379ceef5e

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Finally, after the priests 85fa2b3fee offered to transport it 875833e494 to the carriage for 831dce8bf9 me, I leapt down 8b82027d0b from the platform.18c8d708bcfda2b4

“Gordon! Edwin!”fe8829ee07c30067

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“Belze.”d2addb932f0a55b7

Thankfully, Duke Kallios and e34296590e Edwin hadn’t left yet 3b481f3bee and were waiting for 6ef66bddeb me nearby.eaedc6ce0ebe0c3d

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As I hurried 938239ca3a toward them, the fef9a0f5a0 Duke flashed a 5abbc0dc32 smirk and asked, 7125ba30af “Have you decided b3444104f6 to give up c053ed9b94 the prize?”bd7ada963a50e70c

“No!”d9882d9888e371d1

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What a terrifying thing to 69d5c029e3 say!a566bd3d3e4de0c9

“Grandpa is watching everything…”171d6e6fec90001a

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Not that they’d actually 84f26fcf25 cheat a Saintess candidate 47ede4f02b of her prize in 006f6af2c8 the temple, but Grandpa 08b9e59d78 Gordon was glued to ebdcdb3ad4 the bottom of the 5978376ca5 platform, his eyes sharp ee00339aab as he watched over 0e782f8b9c everything.4ab8f202b2afe0da

“Yes, I have it.”283b83536f04e653

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Looking up at the Duke ed4b7b774b and Edwin, who were bathed 5f23684bfd in the warm hues of 20791f731c the sunset, I exclaimed, “I’m 583a4e5365 rich now!”a47320a83c5bee13

“Is that more pleasing than becoming a Saintess?”c0e158f6a65b84d9

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The Duke raised e554509f79 an eyebrow, seemingly fab6c52dfc surprised.61e1b77d3340e019

Of course, becoming a 103f3d58c2 Saintess was a great 07a126f1a2 honor.3b3a38439ef2c72e

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Defeating Diana for the first a3f69fdf83 time was also rather satisfying!8d429d22a2838ecb

But, being able to 75baf02d0f repay them, even a 4bef734ec8 little, for the food a278678330 and care they’d given db2a44ec10 me—31c656ac59388e41

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That was what made f14ad61bd1 me the happiest.d7ddbbb209d5ae98

I poured all those feelings 025c8471d7 into a vigorous nod.0b19714c835b67f5

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“Yes! Hehe.”0548cceddbf33ae8

Then, a gentle thud.ae964e86ccd81eb8

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A large, warm hand 6345d9e184 rested on top of ce9001f591 my head.72807b0522e38c6c

“Well done.”46e915aa17f4be60

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It was a gruff compliment.8f0f9bef06e085df

But that alone was enough.28fd6edc1748356b

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“…Thank you.”7c0aa3a776faeaa3

Feeling an awkward warmth 2155de2408 spreading to my toes, 5ab433f3cd I murmured in a 7de65134c5 small voice, “Thank you 80a897596b for helping me.”3afb25a9ebfbe927

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I bowed my head d6fa887be6 to the Duke.f2d964d3b50a15f6

“If it weren’t for you and Edwin, I’d probably be a thief by now.”6a1e884423741c88

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Though, of course, that 537b739129 was unlikely.be1a25eaf3275fd4

After all, the 28e9388b9c Headmistress’s unjust ‘fine’ 143e3468f6 would eventually have 987433f8c8 been exposed.5500a3bf98be2018

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But thanks to d7ca67496a them—who not only 48e62ffa7c trusted me but a03caec2f1 also didn’t hesitate f1b8193d2b to protect me—I 354a037c55 managed to endure 69f62a590e those nerve-wracking moments 68752fa670 with surprising poise.8c7088a9f20b0452

“That’s a funny thing to be grateful for. Such things are natural among c49b3da8f4 family.”6246987f0fbd8a58

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The Duke responded 128b19fb42 to my gratitude 60f2a131e4 without much fuss.162cd472c3b2eee0

His words left a warm, df7a6ae75d ticklish feeling in my heart.d32b4b0e80a42723

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“Isn’t that right, Edwin?”e0eda5e310ea1ac8

He then turned 8bd00a6d78 to his eldest 683a622238 son, standing by de2c85d11f his side.11c3c50c97822373

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“Edwin, I really wanted to thank you for before…”bb11d6106bb1e7ab

I was about to turn d113c9b04b and offer my thanks to 741bfc1ea8 Edwin as well.e93bf0b1d6388cec

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“….”7847c0f0de05863d

But for some 63e0dbb271 reason, he was 7b99edd57f looking at me bfad9b8b59 with a rather 6edb15742a irritated expression.e27baa2e76844c3b

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I clamped my mouth shut.79e86cd459fab796

Though his face appeared almost 34bee4fdd5 blank at first glance, a 5b7310de85 fierce glint simmered in his 5d35902100 golden eyes.ee2ade2cc9cb9fa3

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“E-Edwin…?”e18c9fe008a7d11c

As I blankly called out 0305969cf6 to him—f9945bda07eec4ed

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Whip!80948adf3165e5f3

Suddenly, Edwin turned away coldly.3042aa022457d069

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And then, he started walking 16cad5edf8 off without a word.1a3c02668a46f81b

“Oh…”64ed57d6d91a70ad

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“He’s probably just embarrassed.”2c15237ea47a2286

As I stared after 09923466e5 him in surprise, the 16614497f9 Duke chuckled softly, dismissing cc149fa859 it as shyness.8e21808c1c3c86ec

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‘That’s… probably not it…’f1a6570c62bb08a6

I might not cdbec6fdd5 know about shyness, 64056a6ad2 but I knew acb392c9b5 Edwin’s angry expression 4df1667f88 all too well.6b566a5cf9043de3

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In my past life, he ac42948975 often wore that look because b5791e79be of me.c5d2fa23b105a375

‘Why is Edwin so mad? Could he still be faab34822c annoyed about the kiss…?’10340ff2cca2b54e

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But, as far 7b9b8ceeb7 as I knew, 9e1d402154 Edwin wasn’t one 17277febd5 to hold grudges 494831104e for long.f17d72ca68e5b1e0

No matter how much e7eeaf9671 I wracked my brain, 9118275e57 I couldn’t think of f8c8a04a32 anything I’d done wrong.a108269ce816b848

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“Belze, I’m sorry, but I must return with Edwin first.”6b32d090c11a4378

At that moment, the 1ce3e953fa Duke spoke with an 6278115fbf apologetic expression.15b3bb595a5f7948

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“We’ve been invited to the after-party.”f760ad207b52295e

It was only 30a9de77cf natural—such gatherings of 2d92d3de07 so many nobles f272c61141 were rare.ee854084cce845d5

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I nodded vigorously. “Yes! Don’t worry about me!”653dc3ffc16b3126

“I’ve instructed them to have a carriage waiting in front of the temple. Be careful on a841ddcc7d your way back.”94d6e72735e49585

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“Got it! Enjoy yourselves!”fb7e520f4344a517

“Then, see you later.”68ee843d627bdd4d

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After parting with the Duke, 91b0fee024 I turned and headed straight b479a3b886 toward the exit where Edwin e2b799b0cc had disappeared.ef86f50a8f6d3291

“Jonathan says there’s food at the booth, come quick!”366f015ee82141b5

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“Did you hear? The priests brought a d625ed3528 ton of delicious food 2b00924bc4 and gifts!”7cb790a35776c892

A group of children from f050057557 the orphanage chatted excitedly as d912a16f8c they passed by.963599dc2e9654a9

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On days like this, 7b8ed033f7 the orphanage kids would 1c123affe9 hold a little after-party 9a3e1d9852 of their own.991ea64f569bca7e

They’d feast on aa5dba084b a variety of 2540dcff54 outside food that f7fae6658a the temple generously 1bdbac6869 provided, and the 23d4d51d91 gifted children would 3f826bdb5a show off their 9403c16f8c talents. They’d laugh, chat, and play a0154d4af5 until the night grew late.10083a9ce59032b5

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Since Diana was the main star every year, she would stay out late tonight as well, instead of returning early to the Marquis’s estate.f760f80877678869

Of course, I’d 43047c0b14 never once been cc6a6798e6 a part of e151385b94 that.5f1d518649d6fa6c

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Not that it bothered me—it 3854660beb was nothing out of the 4909158d2f ordinary.d9c5cf5a86a7b9b6

I’d always drifted around, never 170b94516b truly belonging anywhere, like some 1f95ceb6b2 outsider.797de6cee36279e9

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But then—74fde1d43dd0f80a

“Um… Belze!”7b1d8a106068667c

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“If you’ve got time, would you like to join us for the party today?”b7692a556643b5fb

“I-I’m Luna! We’re in the same Lion 2fb9947b60 group, remember?”59ce4355e6771d58

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Suddenly, a few e06861943c small figures stood b545d1e626 in front of fa3d49319b me, blocking my a1bcb7a761 way.6b41dc327b0e753e

They were the 9e90b09c2c same girls who 450f92e565 had been glued 474926fa33 to Diana earlier, 088cf4a00c chattering about how cd03c3999c she would “obviously 7893a1c91a win first place.”f71465982ec598bf

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I looked at these peers, b385f32ebe their eyes sparkling as they 1658d842e0 stared at me.c6dc96e7cbc6feb0

‘If I smile sweetly like Diana and say yes…’7cc11bfa663f3911

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Then, just like in cdf4cb2e84 my past life, I’d 2d891ec033 finally have what I’d 418808b2ef always wanted—755cefc880dac2f3

Friends, admiration, basking 5577199581 in their envy.9dbe221b58154833

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Surely, I could 286ae6be42 have it all cd99d5e4d3 now.45176d9177e0a433

After all, I was the 2e25688a07 Saintess.840cdb861a4280f1

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But with this chance so ce60a921d4 close, oddly enough, I didn’t 3b872bfc92 want it.5c1b0b65843bb153

‘This was what I had always dreamed of…’36645cc08977d678

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“Hehe.”57e974acccc5a655

I lifted the corners of 1c7237f4e8 my mouth into a bright 219ca24a5c smile.e6f344d92684543e

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Seeing my expression, 167d13b4f2 their eyes sparkled 5019eefb2e with even greater 4d22ac001e anticipation.d1d6cc64c72e0c40

“…Nope.”7fcee1c5c448af80

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But I mercilessly 393f8725b4 poured cold water 828d252148 on their hopes.577f2820a12d1683

“Why would I? Go party with Diana.”73c9a9da5d781eb9

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“Oh, uh…”0a2429b5e56e4459

“Look, here comes your ‘queen’ now! The one you all 05c26d2a78 said would win!”7663d67fe467f558

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I pointed over their shoulders.cf1f71ea4e4de714

Then, leaving them d26f7517a1 stammering in surprise, 3f58b31339 I turned on c48c76e530 my heel and add8ffc001 walked away.36f326eacc0c9e9d

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‘Jeez. Do they think just 813ff6045b because I don’t have eee237bec6 friends, I don’t have 9c5801eed9 any pride either?’159c8b4b915addf7

It was petty.c7d71e97cacdd8df

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But I didn’t regret it.e960ef70d3f709bb

Having died and 3c41499bb5 come back, I f555c02e24 realized something.107b5c84014c0657

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The things I had 4f3283454c once envied and longed 6b2bdab530 for—fbcc746c9075b09c

They were so easy, 66915764f1 so trivial.6121d11fd17fd323

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‘Goodbye. I’ll never miss fb05e088cf you, and I e2185ba832 hope we never 9dab3ac6b3 meet again, you 894740fe79 miserable orphanage.’4ab0ee712ff5b7e8

Though this year’s unusual circumstances 760da08838 had earned me the title 4ac161a50a of Saintess,e4e458175b8c45f0

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I had no desire to d31349173c obstruct Diana’s spotlight going forward.618f3b3e5379afe7

One taste of f35256be99 outshining her was f37429618c enough to shake dcc1fcb0c0 off my past 9ef81ed966 grievances.90fc9a8262ae3b81

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I still had no intention 261ed90c6e of altering the story’s course.c0630f7afec4bd92

‘…Though, it seems a bit too late for that.’bc67083f264a0f29

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Thinking of the 5c63f2a464 male lead candidates d36970dc68 who had become 3cf59e07f3 unintentionally entangled with 05f6403f83 me, I felt 85e98ce5c0 a sudden weight 113de4eed4 in my chest.7f286d190544a71d

‘No, no! Think positively. They met Diana today, 24824a30b6 so it’s not a 506ff94aad problem!’dca6040dcd07b7ee

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In the original story, Diana 4560fa21d4 also met all the male c0b837aa7f leads around this time.14addfd8609c4ebe

Ismail, of course, only meets d697ba4dbb her later after being adopted 141500355c by the Pope…59ba458bae2fc4d5

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‘But hey, an early meeting isn’t a bad thing, right?’dd91d04323beccf6

Maybe it had been 3c74f49a39 cut from the original, 36d5b15b53 but they could have ea5868be48 met during an after-party cc2c32db74 like this one.3e4943752ddd3225

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‘Yes! I haven’t derailed the b17ccd1cf7 story completely.’fa3388fcc6b75371

I clung to that 06ddc5cb7d optimistic thought.896398d0d9b85db3

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And just as 0a4448067d I was about dbb253ecb4 to slip through 6f155ad255 the temple’s back 4a9be0b796 gate—7b4bd61fdc82304b

Tap-tap-tap!26595031548aaf51

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“Belze!”8208a745517cd8ab

A quick set 05c884d071 of footsteps, and 63583d91fa someone called my 2b7be58f0d name urgently.cf57b591b5ae7ee9

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“Hah, hah… Belze.”c4f9dfaef1a6370b

When I turned around, cf7c874a62 there stood Diana, her d80d50a5f8 face pale as she 34af319d0b gasped for breath.e81a88eb73b0fbb4

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“…Diana?”4788f5d4f326820a

She swallowed, trying to catch c5001e8075 her breath, and spoke.7aee42c15c2c04c3

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“Congratulations… on becoming the Saintess.”e976fd97333a0b12

Her gaze lingered on 0bfee4fb84 the Saintess trophy I a20c161e1b held. For a moment, cdc44c8661 a hint of e3aecae042 envy flickered in 3cf8e18a36 her violet eyes.39cd31c0b6c340bf

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‘Of course. She might seem a 485f8f24a8 little annoying, but at 698802d3c4 the end of the c66eddfe0b day, she’s just a 10cc74c176 girl…’c2b5657244bf1513

I understood the feelings 0f35f363a1 she might be harboring d7173ba2d8 right now.35cbf4310be59a4e

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If it weren’t 85fa6f6808 for me, that 8034ea1fb1 title would have 3a84bd0b67 been hers, and 5abc643a1f I felt a 6bda11e16d slight pang of 6684ef133d guilt…9c555c0eee9fda9b

Smiling with effort, I offered d5f0a47135 her some kind words in adbfbc693c return.107d61555d65b800

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“…Thanks. You did an 69a98ebfb9 amazing job too!”de8d9f133335473a

With the 50 talents 1d9e5c7395 she’d earned being confiscated, 73fc8d3a09 Diana’s total stood at 586a3b382b 870 talents.b116d39f80382a47

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Since she earned 10 talents a6101ca32d per healing, that meant she 392974acd5 had healed almost 87 people db575c5005 throughout the day.8fb2abeb033326ec

Even if half of them 28342202e6 were just faking, it was 7e618e4c08 still an impressive feat.1bceeb3b1f364513

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Honestly, I didn’t 905df57553 have the confidence 65be043af6 to rely on 0b8b4ec5a6 healing alone, which f701ebbe1f is why I’d a628d26f55 developed items to 3984de013f sell.f9b86235227b7882

‘She truly is the main character, after all…’e848969c5e797b8f

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I couldn’t help 3839062c7c but admire just 25d42c1136 how remarkable Diana’s f05a74e21e abilities were.9c08d9282849ff87

“To be honest, I’m a bit disappointed,” she said with a cute wrinkle of her nose.b56be3a754b3c3b0

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“Maybe I should have aimed to earn more talents too.”9c27f43e3d7376ed

“…”77e8bdaf0fb66233

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“Belze, I heard you sold an item for 50 talents?”2b0c657a0b5e9fce