Chapter 86

952 gold coins.af3e906012164fd6

The weight of such f70c76b051 an amount, equivalent to 4939122598 95.2 million won in c4b2744f08 Korean currency, was far 12406aeab3 too much for me 7fbfd1dd6b to carry alone.1a88508bbb265144

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I hadn’t realized it before, 0b03aca0b2 but the coins had also 9f28e886e5 lightened as they converted to d729287d1f talents.96d1ff3a1058882a

“Ughhh…”0eccec6dfb68586c

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As I strained bd7c7d3f43 to lift a 6069f91e83 sack nearly as 21983fe094 big as my 2598709cbf torso, clinging to 0410c16a74 it without success, c05346f145 laughter rippled through 1d96db2b2a the crowd.9e2cb48a274fe58b

For some reason, b291ef990f the Crown Prince 0e1a159524 laughed the loudest.52df00dc97866592

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Finally, after the 718baa47ce priests offered to 677a9623d4 transport it to 2a992a01ae the carriage for b3153190f6 me, I leapt 001b4b8245 down from the eb0d555cc9 platform.7b8c1dd57538f0a3

“Gordon! Edwin!”212aeba5468399d0

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“Belze.”3cea9dddc5d61905

Thankfully, Duke Kallios and d71c14b252 Edwin hadn’t left yet 444ef7f667 and were waiting for e8b73ce809 me nearby.5798469af4515f9d

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As I hurried 1fb28bad99 toward them, the 2a7edfd24b Duke flashed a e091c34b5f smirk and asked, 4a961b3846 “Have you decided 1474f2e154 to give up b0ed153fc3 the prize?”82b98de208911c3a

“No!”c3fd8b516d8103b9

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What a terrifying thing b33b4349a8 to say!254da968c9054454

“Grandpa is watching everything…”cf85318d1579ed54

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Not that they’d actually cheat 0a8e9d640b a Saintess candidate of her 99f357cbcf prize in the temple, but 8cf251cfbe Grandpa Gordon was glued to 9d0b7a03a0 the bottom of the platform, a9e14b6ee1 his eyes sharp as he 402b0e5d73 watched over everything.a06b6e8622a7b92b

“Yes, I have it.”dfbce3fbcf52b966

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Looking up at the Duke bc2c7ee2d4 and Edwin, who were bathed 85ff29dbab in the warm hues of bc76761a5d the sunset, I exclaimed, “I’m 0761d6fb18 rich now!”ef25ee9cf784271c

“Is that more pleasing than becoming a Saintess?”fe742c689abda96a

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The Duke raised 5aadf40e33 an eyebrow, seemingly 0783e64eee surprised.b7642f6d4c8fbba2

Of course, becoming a de6f6b5291 Saintess was a great fc6a50f51e honor.02b24ea628c8afde

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Defeating Diana for the first e26c57a7ac time was also rather satisfying!e1621dff955db83d

But, being able to repay f7264ddcad them, even a little, for 3d54da24a4 the food and care they’d 8d89ffa495 given me—d256790c7be131b6

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That was what made me 313f157193 the happiest.c582cae478fde4c3

I poured all those e4cb703e7d feelings into a vigorous 8dfb4dcb0a nod.2d0d67ad817d896d

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“Yes! Hehe.”4d638e05acc38e3b

Then, a gentle thud.88e556a2a82c07ac

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A large, warm 4dae1ca94c hand rested on 3485dd058c top of my 893ada8b88 head.3d3c4a16a31b4769

“Well done.”489fa4be69f7f2e6

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It was a gruff compliment.f62820908b459539

But that alone was enough.0d556c0eda1a3092

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“…Thank you.”0cc853bd89a18f6b

Feeling an awkward 9dd96fc0c4 warmth spreading to 2e55c8c8ac my toes, I 3c4f79dea4 murmured in a fc16535485 small voice, “Thank 194e83b9e4 you for helping 2f5a1bf4f3 me.”a0e3dcea29eb1d81

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I bowed my f08a49be9b head to the 6681d4f7b4 Duke.1395f062de7ff4cc

“If it weren’t for you and Edwin, I’d probably be a thief by now.”620e3fdc9d170557

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Though, of course, 6df3796b7b that was unlikely.036ab9640ca8f3e8

After all, the 1776c758b7 Headmistress’s unjust ‘fine’ fb60dab69d would eventually have 88ab413cb4 been exposed.de4a68231164762e

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But thanks to f58480b457 them—who not only fc6ad8a182 trusted me but 44e31797d4 also didn’t hesitate 0e4f83dc4a to protect me—I 7f4e876272 managed to endure 2fac5fa6fc those nerve-wracking moments 833feae919 with surprising poise.789f0d00f214b5a9

“That’s a funny thing to be grateful for. Such things are natural b4da2af2a7 among family.”206cd0227876a9d7

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The Duke responded to 3d75f6131d my gratitude without much 68aa9477bc fuss.afcce671f6f6b1c3

His words left a warm, 14e6981921 ticklish feeling in my heart.4aa0354b7cb11f82

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“Isn’t that right, Edwin?”1cf6e159de6bf033

He then turned to his b84172883f eldest son, standing by his 338030859e side.e4c0cf215d2fb032

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“Edwin, I really wanted to thank you for before…”df7bed78336f239f

I was about to 2393a01b58 turn and offer my 5240752335 thanks to Edwin as 19ec806b8e well.affa06242ca668e5

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“….”87e7b09e30566928

But for some 6d20c0313a reason, he was 061388d666 looking at me 0420c1be93 with a rather bbbd7f7b48 irritated expression.fe01b449b973eeed

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I clamped my mouth shut.6913db3157370705

Though his face appeared 4fa734dfb7 almost blank at first 486bed6073 glance, a fierce glint 349ff722b1 simmered in his golden d15ae5df35 eyes.43e007ec37db466c

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“E-Edwin…?”b2a488b6cea4b3a4

As I blankly called 6552a9ccf2 out to him—8e3f641b249a1b1b

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Whip!cb0513046e814cf0

Suddenly, Edwin turned away coldly.68ba606bcafbea0b

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And then, he started walking 4a3454d60e off without a word.a79b12ec56583791

“Oh…”7fa4d42fd35b7fe5

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“He’s probably just embarrassed.”326c32320813ed3d

As I stared after ca0f0e5142 him in surprise, the fcd11fe2fd Duke chuckled softly, dismissing 5300e43f21 it as shyness.89e1834d8ec85e92

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‘That’s… probably not it…’deae1ea9a0ab86db

I might not 4577e45e0b know about shyness, c9ad70bcda but I knew 31857b5e40 Edwin’s angry expression b7d2f84768 all too well.526b99fdb0ab56d5

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In my past life, 42c408f287 he often wore that e522345337 look because of me.4aed99db3a6ba98e

‘Why is Edwin so mad? Could he still 57b303330e be annoyed about 984354c321 the kiss…?’e017031886b507d7

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But, as far e269d7684e as I knew, 60e39790c6 Edwin wasn’t one 35f6fe434d to hold grudges 89ee88a55a for long.7ea4dab30b869ee6

No matter how edc2260570 much I wracked 00997db9ea my brain, I d210a1c4b9 couldn’t think of ac4dbf4872 anything I’d done 8a2a166c9e wrong.0f28ec13ab253dbb

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“Belze, I’m sorry, but I must return with Edwin first.”4e6d8f8b2d6efba7

At that moment, the dce8e7b1ab Duke spoke with an 370ea1bb6e apologetic expression.2aeec232bdb68c37

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“We’ve been invited to the after-party.”da7aad184fe32536

It was only natural—such 90b3ecd297 gatherings of so many 3ceb731f28 nobles were rare.8000fc3da7e8534d

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I nodded vigorously. “Yes! Don’t worry about me!”7fc5a28c2fb09218

“I’ve instructed them to have a carriage waiting in front of the temple. Be careful on your db36706940 way back.”a9970b43dd654f0d

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“Got it! Enjoy yourselves!”458a0621c1ad4cde

“Then, see you later.”57ea0133f647be2f

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After parting with the 2463e1801f Duke, I turned and e498899c05 headed straight toward the 198c9d8c25 exit where Edwin had f377352d5d disappeared.5bbee2e143a14283

“Jonathan says there’s food at the booth, come quick!”6e85bd824fe5eda9

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“Did you hear? The priests brought 317581165c a ton of b571243fa6 delicious food and 4dee38f61b gifts!”8d6d8297ff3a81d7

A group of 3de29b2a37 children from the 954373b475 orphanage chatted excitedly 4f9ea51b74 as they passed b3fcac0120 by.7a85d1d54a6d12cd

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On days like this, 669c293687 the orphanage kids would f030fd7891 hold a little after-party 1002980802 of their own.ca92e2ef42edb3f5

They’d feast on a 04ed49070f variety of outside food bd07ea638a that the temple generously 2f726d282d provided, and the gifted 0a660d6b98 children would show off f52f2a9e1a their talents. They’d laugh, chat, 3137cc7e10 and play until c9abdf2743 the night grew 68a26e8007 late.ec4b1b58384553e1

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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.3ecade199aea9a42

Of course, I’d never once 5288b6d109 been a part of that.722111f6f32d7b6f

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Not that it bothered 0f86f1810c me—it was nothing out d996d569f6 of the ordinary.84c642c1508d7e58

I’d always drifted around, never ee8deb5da1 truly belonging anywhere, like some 35fbfea9d6 outsider.f5e6187a40d05de5

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But then—99d2d92b3a278749

“Um… Belze!”9ff95c79469d476b

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“If you’ve got time, would you like to join us for the party today?”8f5b4a7826e51ab5

“I-I’m Luna! We’re in the same 8db4bc4ad8 Lion group, remember?”55dc8fbcc5a2eaf2

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Suddenly, a few c84d2026a6 small figures stood e6ba4292cd in front of 5309391c0a me, blocking my 22958033d6 way.8b35fdbd14712f2b

They were the same girls 00caa4290e who had been glued to dc77ff9029 Diana earlier, chattering about how 850545ad91 she would “obviously win first f5b26769df place.”f2bf0e7beabf15ed

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I looked at 809f10e0cd these peers, their 8a642e7d29 eyes sparkling as 65cb59a431 they stared at 8e674e8dba me.76c893ae0b96bdc0

‘If I smile sweetly like Diana and say yes…’ab96fd4ea5c96321

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Then, just like in my 8e77a10988 past life, I’d finally have 0cdaf40b1a what I’d always wanted—41d1fd66f35639be

Friends, admiration, basking 76e47c8675 in their envy.00e3031b6f6913b4

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Surely, I could have it 1e6e48b2c1 all now.34188a5e109c73fe

After all, I 7dcec8114c was the Saintess.7172fca53e5edbf8

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But with this e1c95ee574 chance so close, 0307d7b0c4 oddly enough, I d64df19f20 didn’t want it.187bbf6ee785faee

‘This was what I had always dreamed of…’7f6dc58c4b19f8c7

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“Hehe.”c999047db42e5e93

I lifted the corners of f7a3085cf6 my mouth into a bright 37afe87f2d smile.33612d814e638055

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Seeing my expression, c9be425875 their eyes sparkled 647acdc2ac with even greater d7f016c5e3 anticipation.56b103876bcc5845

“…Nope.”e5616d37099d596b

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But I mercilessly poured cold d9d9cacc42 water on their hopes.a7926c6fffcb81a5

“Why would I? Go party with Diana.”6012136c35a72330

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“Oh, uh…”f4a8a578ab9232e1

“Look, here comes your ‘queen’ now! The one you all 75cdf75209 said would win!”f0cff1169330d75e

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I pointed over their shoulders.2680e1ba49d63a19

Then, leaving them 5db77d1682 stammering in surprise, e3a13e7d8c I turned on 70d2e95c45 my heel and 020de3cefe walked away.9671542406ef2933

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‘Jeez. Do they think just 2215605a90 because I don’t have 03bb5d57da friends, I don’t have b0e0dd2e21 any pride either?’8ee799822aa67f29

It was petty.8db9032ce067f32e

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But I didn’t regret it.6cb485b0e29310a2

Having died and come 46250aa03f back, I realized something.7941f3c4d488ea1f

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The things I 5fddd594ca had once envied 29629823a4 and longed for—a1b1e3ca40d3d1ae

They were so easy, so 180fe86785 trivial.356d5da146699b2d

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‘Goodbye. I’ll never miss you, and 592f22fa66 I hope we never meet f2f864e0e4 again, you miserable orphanage.’42dac7090271ee18

Though this year’s unusual circumstances 6e13d3b6f9 had earned me the title a1875736bb of Saintess,1f6b79cb3abd8187

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I had no desire to bf44477cc9 obstruct Diana’s spotlight going forward.7fcb39b913d60bd9

One taste of outshining dd1c86c04b her was enough to 0ff5ade367 shake off my past 4b878a3256 grievances.6935eb4308a68859

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I still had 4e414050d6 no intention of f1d45a6273 altering the story’s 5250500edc course.a1d4c79b10a93c61

‘…Though, it seems a bit too late for that.’442a5fdc21f3623b

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Thinking of the male lead 89e2e9ae79 candidates who had become unintentionally 6965428066 entangled with me, I felt 9c4efdfb02 a sudden weight in my 7c37a41c4f chest.54aab6e634d401cf

‘No, no! Think positively. They met Diana today, b3a9deeadf so it’s not a de60b55508 problem!’765b390f280b0577

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In the original story, Diana 6516a59548 also met all the male 59095a92e7 leads around this time.a0eaa41eba3b5f45

Ismail, of course, dade5cf49b only meets her 09a47c44a5 later after being 562d9d338b adopted by the 4bf6bb4a11 Pope…0ecc2dc7ee57e079

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‘But hey, an early meeting isn’t a bad thing, right?’cbb53de7d862177b

Maybe it had been cut 24f1a30b21 from the original, but they 7a7c4c4218 could have met during an 16bbacdf71 after-party like this one.9092144099e4f45d

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‘Yes! I haven’t derailed the story a70afda941 completely.’3c0f50bcc3a47b2d

I clung to 065cb35f06 that optimistic thought.bad31e2dde132ca1

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And just as I beb9cb243e was about to slip f903935947 through the temple’s back f75ed0d199 gate—aa599194128e24cb

Tap-tap-tap!e8631e6d7bd094ca

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“Belze!”cbf0db0b6b8d180b

A quick set of 7d8eee30b2 footsteps, and someone called 78b7629917 my name urgently.62e01d3905953ad6

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“Hah, hah… Belze.”b25064d18b3af818

When I turned around, there f90be67cd7 stood Diana, her face pale 89dad0fdf4 as she gasped for breath.d67dfc7d5fa5a74d

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“…Diana?”b451536802ed5f90

She swallowed, trying to catch 7fed9a8e97 her breath, and spoke.d741aa12b363620a

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“Congratulations… on becoming the Saintess.”9033b7e562adba40

Her gaze lingered 6242bcf5fa on the Saintess be82e2cd31 trophy I held. For a moment, a 57270ccda5 hint of envy flickered 667f82870a in her violet eyes.5ec174cfc5f95b6a

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‘Of course. She might seem b24a119bae a little annoying, 1e633986a9 but at the 34edfcb366 end of the 14f9ee2b7a day, she’s just 82847851c0 a girl…’33288300961a06b6

I understood the feelings f1de7e07a5 she might be harboring 0bb736e4a0 right now.ff2573a28556056e

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If it weren’t for e9d7044038 me, that title would 87f09b26e5 have been hers, and 4a90563521 I felt a slight 28f7e331a5 pang of guilt…388504a81c0df130

Smiling with effort, I offered 0f7003856c her some kind words in 4bda92c50f return.342b410593240e65

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“…Thanks. You did an amazing job 17b263b07c too!”2a5c6b232a807033

With the 50 talents she’d 10805a587a earned being confiscated, Diana’s total 8a26999c96 stood at 870 talents.a69486a03514721f

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Since she earned 10 talents c96c920a79 per healing, that meant she ed2017f235 had healed almost 87 people 6a1ded2896 throughout the day.bde594c51ed349ad

Even if half d60d7fa9fa of them were 8c9499d58a just faking, it c36424f717 was still an 422f48e4d7 impressive feat.f8e699db743eb522

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Honestly, I didn’t have the aa8fd30c4a confidence to rely on healing 596d660e4e alone, which is why I’d f5f8f26235 developed items to sell.4967d019b6b26fb2

‘She truly is the main character, after all…’3d197aa797b034a6

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I couldn’t help c039e87070 but admire just ec92553bfb how remarkable Diana’s 44ff3b0d11 abilities were.c07167992bb0a167

“To be honest, I’m a bit disappointed,” she said with a cute wrinkle of her nose.c1abb0b12092ad7d

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“Maybe I should have aimed to earn more talents too.”f47f33631a589567

“…”62f2f60a20427d3c

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“Belze, I heard you sold an item for 50 talents?”360d9ef5408bea6e