Chapter 41

I let out a breath, 3c7edbc515 as if releasing pent-up air, f5840c6322 and asked,39a62b81f3e93b53

“Why, why…?”6ebe496dc5b0cd45

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“Hmm?”de3f84880707ccca

“Why are you doing all this for me…?”77eaec9d117a2a93

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“…”79f4dd61cef01b87

“For me… Just bringing me from the temple is enough!”da8548cd1d2fc311

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I didn’t care if I 8261c1ac1a wasn’t accepted as a member 3e3e14c41d of the Duke’s household.ea38b13ef53ce2da

As long as I could cece4406b8 stay by their side, I e23717b5ca was content.fed881f8c639e60f

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‘But why… I can never become a Saintess anyway.’cdde73fb27b88a7c

Because in this novel, the 33f69fc697 Saintess was Diana.9a4ca7d8226646c7

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That was an unchanging law, cdb335677b even in my past life.947555830eb5aee6

So why did d620b4c65d he keep giving 7b6d55de60 me false hope ea36f1dd39 and ambition?6444811619b5fd8b

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‘I promised myself to live without greed and to be kind in this life.’2fdc62432c337190

I bit my lip d729151d5f and said,ef40c6a847f54cd3

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“Even if you don’t give me such things, I’m fine. You don’t have to support f4b68a70dd me. Everything’s okay!”d3292a89563b181c

“…”01b24dadf0709520

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“I’ll still diligently heal Josh… and do everything I’m told. I’ll try my best not to cause any trouble!”92159f66b4d5075b

“Well… maybe you’re fine with it. But like Edwin said, I’m not.”49ceb9e02d6a4037

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The Duke responded with 6ca67d20b6 a playful smile.55779a725acf4eea

That smile made 1f36bdb11a him look much b611e309ec younger, like a d040d7ceda handsome young man 3352750f3e rather than his 8818f3d83c actual age.1aa15e60c57c054c

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Because of that, I 358512b937 found myself staring at d87da560b0 him in a daze 0a45ccce73 for a moment.afcd34682b6be52a

“If you insist on a reason, it’s because I will continue to support you, and I see potential in you, so our interests align.”bfc77ffa47d57bab

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“…”d31d429e1da90b67

“And giving you such a special guardian now is because I’ve finally understood you.”c2ae5e489ffb1d34

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Understood me?e7893e7f7e2150b3

His words left b69409cb30 me feeling strange.d033e1f22179b80d

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I looked up at 8125d020eb the Duke in a dfa213a2f1 daze, and he erased d759704ae9 his smile.f4ee8dcade9a1f94

But the warmth in his 8dcd1c111e golden eyes remained.0199e530dc4db872

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“Belze, you’re cautious and reserved like Edwin. Sensitive and fearful. Yet, sometimes bold…”d12bfd790e0758c3

“…”b8d2e3ba42fd642f

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“And I’m not very sensitive. I can’t be called 6cc2ae51b2 a good guardian, even 09f3f7451c by flattering words.”f363d4c3099ce66c

He gave a 393347464b wry smile, seemingly db2fa80685 mocking himself.0b9888111861e7f4

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“Edwin is destined to soon acquire the status and power to handle incidents like today. But you, Belze…”7951ae4e0b1f804e

“…”37787dd409149227

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“You’ll remain in an ambiguous position until you’re recognized as a Saintess. This means you’ll a99bcaae54 face many difficult 5a33d7ad79 situations ahead.”5a27748c87efc0cb

I was inwardly 797c11e328 surprised at how 04d06cb6de sharply the Duke e558e36952 understood my situation.ecdab9d8b834c2db

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But that wasn’t all.df05a5a4d261fa7c

He had grasped 9d28049cb5 my personality and 36b32fa854 declared himself as 8598cc8f76 my guardian.cab94422ff8b81ee

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It was all surprising.145f42ee679b1e75

Thus, I had to 05a78185f5 admit it.50197e8ca1170405

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‘The Duke sincerely intends to accept me as part of his household.’331d9eab6e23b79b

He didn’t take me in a7ad201fbe on a whim.665dd2fdfef4a7f0

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Nor did he see 5913e80ae3 me as a substitute 1337d07501 for Diana.dff362b6bed5d23e

‘If I had known this earlier, maybe such a tragic event wouldn’t have happened.’2ec3b51980164bfb

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The realization, too 5bd2f856a7 late, gnawed at e28815d6d2 my heart.2dd622547c5a0fea

While I stood frozen, 118b7f69ba unable to speak, the 680c69043a Duke continued calmly.c684322c6715b018

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“Even if I declare myself as your guardian, I know I can’t prevent everything that happens when I’m not around, like today.”fdd8a5c54acdad32

“…”a40e7577aba252e9

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“There will be countless incidents you won’t be able to confide in me about in the future.”1e1e4b0b489a0058

“I-I’m sorry.”ded922de124b424c

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I barely managed 079839b98d to squeeze out b92703e28a the words.187a51495a0e51a5

I couldn’t promise 29af0fa48f that such things cb67e60296 wouldn’t happen.b4c72b5b9c22362f

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Because I was a hated 8453506ed8 villain.c6223273d3b34764

Even if it was b01ea855ad unfair, that was the df0b93d881 setting of this novel.bd2feb90104ea053

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No matter how good I 0088b76757 tried to be, there was 6ddf380dc9 no guarantee that people like 37345166dc Emma wouldn’t appear, disapproving of 3c2016a574 me.9acdd718f2ee1cb2

‘So, there’s no need for you to treat someone like me so well.’d770b767768cbc1d

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I looked at e005f4ae7a the Duke with f4b748ce7b a gloomy face, 438731ed71 but he shook a1d471fb59 his head firmly.79a12f68a5b2d4f2

“I’m not blaming you. If you don’t want 59e02360f9 to tell me, that’s 83c92c3d31 fine. I’ll respect your decision.”efa5465a99367931

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“But…”5bb9308de73fd7ef

“But, Belze.”f177439022d3fdfd

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The Duke naturally continued 8b5bfc7ea5 as if accepting my 947718ad91 words.efc17a580ccfb0ee

“Never forget that behind you, there is always me, and there is Kallios.”553eeebbb1b54736

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“…”b32f3418429c2386

“This doll is proof of that. Simply put, think of it 5e6edad81a as my substitute.”b84d9d1f152d23c4

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I couldn’t hold back any longer.9eab5fdf7b1a0b4e

At those words, my face 8f28e1b596 crumpled, and my vision blurred e1e57e9a64 with tears.6b8565e77a9e258c

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“Hii…”99875901d2a2154e

On the verge of crying, 931a78507d I pouted, and the Duke 6320c38253 lifted Teddy-Teddy bear’s arm to fb7fb512ee gently tap my left cheek.73b34447b85ba7db

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Avoiding the gauze that Gordon f49c74a838 had applied to the scratch bd88325bcc from yesterday, he softly poked 6a919da852 my cheek with the teddy c8fbc9e1d2 bear’s plush hand before suddenly 1d897e03d4 hiding his face behind the 6fedaf1d2b doll.1eb2479f71d076f8

Teddy-Teddy bear, in the 6e2794e659 Duke’s voice, said,ef4d726d1e2a7b87

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“So please, let no evil enemies easily hurt you, Belze.”314e163eefe9b446

“E-Evil enemies…?”1793bddf678715e3

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“Yes.”d3ad9a975ee41da0

Teddy-Teddy bear nodded.a58459db047fdb2e

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“Anyone who hurts you is an enemy. Be it me, or Edwin.”0c1cb7aaf611fe54

“You are… you’re not my enemy, Duke!”7b952f1aae804702

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I shook my e1b20616a8 head frantically, almost 993dca4fc8 in a fit.3514498f8da8201a

“Neither is Eddie! Nor Josh, Tara, or Grandpa Gordon…!”b13e0255db44b790

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I included Gordon 6aa2acb8c6 at the last 173a35b552 moment, thinking he 874a2c70ec could be a 20592f4a47 future business partner.fcfb51869e5cd551

After listing those precious people, c7ce920612 tears of sorrow I had 8d08481be0 been holding back started to d370ec0f57 fall.ef7270b5599509b0

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No matter what, the people 7222fc8932 of the Duke’s household could 30322e19ae never be my enemies.54e06c35b762fc16

I could still vividly remember 1a313d2ebc Edwin’s face, who had come 24097c07d8 to save me and died 1cc471cf0f in my place.18703a8366ad6e48

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“They’re not evil enemies! So… so please, don’t say that.”ce3f293844ffe579

“…”e308782f765b3a6a

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“I’m scared…”1f91aced3de7546f

Crying miserably, the Duke 6e4ced3847 sighed softly.a58f6fb7c8b8c8d0

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“Oh dear.”0726f8af33f10725

He lowered Teddy-Teddy 097d82e9a3 bear, who had 6859d73fe8 been hiding his 242ac34dca face.93452b0873c4bb17

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Then, to comfort me, 2792d14584 he swayed his arms 7a2738a10a as he walked.76297da23b2a502f

“Alright. We are not enemies. So don’t cry.”6c032a6f131998c5

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“Hii…”44fd66823158925b

“If not enemies, then what should we be, Belze?”688b32305a0bc1ca

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Seeing that my 4796b08950 crying didn’t subside e0f2db19fa easily, the Duke 42b9b547c1 quickly changed the d418f6ae04 subject.6e61e9edd1b2f532

It was a tactic 5821a2e1c7 often used to handle 48a91fdabc crying children.83d6b8bae22767c3

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“Uum…”695eec1ddac0fcd6

Embarrassingly, I fell for it cebb09fe4c and pondered while still sobbing.923c0b42b6407137

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“How about… servants?”b1a71e7d076e04d1

“Hmm. I have no intention of 9d8485b622 making a crybaby young lady 6e3486b963 my servant.”9460b1c4673daeb7

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His words made my face b6e1bc0557 heat up.2d12ac3d30a24600

I rubbed my face 3e017f955a with my sleeve and 2a63595345 hurriedly shouted.4340bcafa92046b9

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“Then… friends!”9c14ba5d9f1a9c14

“Isn’t the age difference between you and Gordon too big for that? Well, 65 is also 18c385c157 5, so maybe it’s e340533942 not a bad idea.”9d5948d3dbc8dc16

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“I don’t want to be friends with Grandpa.”f167ff50376da9fc

“Neither do I.”d74234a58054ae2b

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The Duke agreed promptly.bd4cb8330f160962

Before long, we 56ae97f4d4 reached the passageway, 84242de582 having crossed the d258218d69 entire secret space.013b77097a18d6ff

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If I had 6f039e6ad7 walked on my 87faf3388c own, it would 5d10d62c3c have taken a 0aab4cfab2 long time.aabdbd11ee1a21b9

The Duke’s long stride made eb99ea4cd3 the journey swift.e253373d1a214181

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Because of that, the stairs 8ba7d4bd6e leading up the passageway didn’t fe11425c9d seem so daunting anymore.67aab5692b6d42fd

Just as he stepped 3b382c9a28 onto the stairs, the 348c13fe5b Duke pondered aloud.98ea9463f75bf6a5

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“Then what remains…”9606244ff8d1f4f1

A pet? A servant? Or perhaps a sword 0e7d4b0deb and shield, as the 022ab64e6f Duke had mentioned?1bdcb88b49cd1534

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As I thought about all dfdf9bd2b1 the things I had received cf943ede17 from the Duke’s household and 478812c5cf what I could do in 409c3b0f8a return.712ef99af212a8c7

“…is family.”9694fa5f753bef9e

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The low voice made 3d266adfcc my mind go blank, b81b4476e5 wiping away all the 68163861eb thoughts that had come a411550234 to me.94955fedf62fd11b

‘…Family?’9dcde9b8f781ce5d

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I stiffly looked up at f570c6381f the Duke like a robot.2830301360096e3e

“W-What did you say…?”263da63139b7df44

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The Duke didn’t smile. He didn’t say 57c209ee37 it was a ae5f0836a9 joke.550e0fb34e7479be

Instead, he spoke e0f267b022 to me with b4a65d7155 a very serious 56ac42170e face.50a3b9d8906de5a0

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“Now that you are also part of our family, you need to consider the family members who would be upset if you got hurt.”88172890e70599c6

I didn’t want to misinterpret it, but…434c6dbaada2f473

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His words sounded as 900ed69c6d if he would be 3ccce8d58e upset if I got 944a9d2fd9 hurt.6e882564b0e1bbde

“So, from now on, try to avoid getting hurt as much as possible.”83f0cfc49a061f6e

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“Huu…”33e9f09678c96ec2

The tears I had 0c94c861da barely held back started 187c37aaa2 to flow again.05d96a28f77423d4

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“Duke… Huh, I… I…”5cf5f3ff38e0b055

I wanted to say bb51658dbb that he didn’t need eaa8f60826 to do so much, 23c0650ae5 that I could give b13cf47eeb everything I had in 7325a72e65 return.12c77aa23cb16353

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“Oh dear. No more crying.”b61a72b5bc256f36

But the Duke sternly 7f36527c5b admonished me.1a251f8b76001a79

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However, despite his ebd4a97ff8 harsh tone, he 1d23961472 gently wiped my 54e6cc32f2 tear-streaked eyes.4560bfe160b5c239

It was incredibly soft 15d1c6815b and warm.4d1c4adefc10fd68

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So much so 44606a7d3a that I felt 3f4ff50aaa like I could c599d3bf49 bury my face 48cd73bb08 in his hand 0e76b01f53 and cry forever.a19e7ba50e2b5002

“A member of Kallios should never show their tears easily, even in front of family.”dc7425762ff6a98c

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“…”4dae932a37e783a7

“Understood?”ba3a1dde574f804e

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Unable to speak, I 0849f23c3d just nodded, clutching Teddy-Teddy 555202e794 bear tightly.1765366ebfed090b

The Duke didn’t push me fa94db9261 further.c2549eec08ad3d37

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He simply waited for my c49a66f062 sobbing to subside, silently wiping 7c16a320b4 away my tears.53c30f4ac41f45a2

In this way, e722b24e21 I found a 1feeba3b6a new family.6c443d49d1ca4f05

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* * *b66abd85c85ca4dc

After having a good d8d7738c1e cry in the Duke’s 27a97a64a3 office, the sun had a0abbd7f6a already set by the 122a0f83ee time I stepped out.6030471aebc466e5

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The mansion was 252bd9d785 quiet, likely because 00cc6d9c63 it was dinnertime.999f76769f82ea6e

‘Even so, I shouldn’t have cried like a child in front of the Duke.’b55a4b443e972706

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Once alone, embarrassment flooded in.d51a0e36379585a9

My chest felt strangely warm, c54814405f so I hugged the fluffy a9524200e4 teddy bear I was holding e4414b3bd5 even tighter.d645c7b2324690d9

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Teddy-Teddy bear had 56c29a5d7e become warm from 3d3b1dd8e8 my body heat 191f8937e9 during the crying 38a2c9414d session.a6da28d5319b30f6

Seeing it reminded me 9f36486751 of how the Duke db920d70eb had held me tightly.35f80061d119f59a

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‘…I’m part of the family now.’28c294006e36b47b

Despite having cried so bde5a8ac8c much, a laugh escaped 688173a505 me without warning.9f6674d43e954e2c

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“Heehee! I need to go eat 468139520c dinner quickly!”f9b5fdb40733cac8

With Teddy-Teddy bear in 3d60b36cce my arms, I walked 3ef65781d4 excitedly.4fa600d191141eaf

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I soon reached c80cc56e46 the first-floor lobby.77898067553f4227

Just as I was 2476584863 about to ascend the 18caaf7376 central staircase.518e56f046a35e0d

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“…Huh?”752f4e305e2abf40

Suddenly, I saw a 7d976c3419 familiar back disappearing down ada08b1d5d the hallway used by 3862840165 the servants behind the 2faaac0d13 central staircase.3d286c9b69867804

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There was only one fb31b62955 person in the mansion 3fd99bb745 with a back that 91120d3855 was as dark and 66da4455b7 round as the night d7fae360b8 sky, just like the 75a9e841d3 Duke’s.7a3ee785a52ebe4b

‘…Edwin?’9432339e42c2175a

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