Chapter 89

All day long, e2158701be Edwin had been 7a4e067b68 helping me without ce272f2b11 a second thought, 19ea7a6c0f so it made f7f0d24022 sense he might 8f5a682b2b feel hurt and 0c2423d126 misunderstood.daed2c2a48597791

If I put myself ca9a23db51 in his shoes—if he bc06224adc had thanked some other 74d303d697 girl, especially someone like 36b2547f6d Diana, instead of me—I 5da646d4dc would’ve felt pretty upset bb5a0ab7b8 too.0aec5763748ad9a7

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‘I didn’t even realize…’05477377cb87fe5e

Guilt washed over me 7af299908d as I glanced at 7a7e6ab354 him. Maybe misinterpreting my silence, Edwin 2d21ded074 grew impatient and pressed me.92c96428120bc688

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“Why aren’t you saying anything? What did that guy say 7097f4f8f5 to you?”9a4afceb886876e5

“N-nothing much! He just… said he’d eff3605790 make good use of d61bd971bc the cure-alls.”4d5474681015c9f1

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Not wanting to d73f252571 share the truth, ed603d1d94 I quickly made 71381c41e0 up an excuse.f2aa2c6b628df224

His scowl softened 3bc671f59a slightly, so I eae51143f3 seized the moment 78ff978bb4 to speak.60587e34fa235694

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“Listen, Edwin. Honestly, I’m not thankful to fcff1687ca the Crown Prince at all!”7c741539a6cdae75

“What?”b726d655e37223e4

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Edwin furrowed his 62d67e9718 brow, looking at d75326180c me like I’d a70ba3e386 lost my mind.b1f915491a97e068

“Then why’d you mention him in your acceptance speech?”88f6ef43ba678b77

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“It was just to let everyone know how great my cure-alls are!”37d94896447710e3

“…So, in other words, you were just using his status to promote yourself?”be691922303169cb

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As expected of sharp-minded Edwin—he 4de42eae01 immediately got it.b09f68c48b249b48

I decided to 18f6ca5df9 go all in, fdf2dd844c hoping to erase d149b840f8 any lingering resentment 296a21b566 he might have.31981b5280f69ae1

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“Exactly! The Duke, Madam 61d2923866 Cloud, and the ecfe689d18 Crown Prince—all of a69009bad4 them are just 8dbb00b011 high-profile clients of 0f7953521d Belze’s Trading Company!”51d178f70f0f1e57

“…”e0ff491b2127a65d

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“But not you!”a2c8f76d6220f171

‘Sorry, Duke Kallios,’ I silently apologized. ‘But it’s the only way to get your son to stop sulking.’ca0f19209b96b742

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“…Hah.”7d5f73118ce5aa5d

Edwin stayed quiet for fd254b4c13 a moment, then let b9cecf4399 out a deep sigh, 619d518ea0 covering his face with 2f62813b65 one hand. Through the gaps 5c204f6fd3 between his fingers, 53595f3397 I thought I 32c6c67b92 saw a hint 9c9a00f4ac of red on 60d7bfa925 his face.a840a8f211817bee

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When he finally f9ab41d527 lowered his hand, d1f5cc3f90 I noticed the a22b1f0e53 tips of his 86793179e5 ears were still fcbeb67976 pink, like little 7ae77331d8 strawberry tops.90445bc9c2aad600

As I stared fa10019178 at his ears 354cbe980c in a daze, 595dc6d8de he muttered through 341293193e gritted teeth.7d7082ddaab4f27a

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“Don’t smile in front of those guys.”3f799700ecea935d

“Huh? I wasn’t smiling…”ad96d348b7660727

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“And don’t call them brother.”d8e455df63820aa4

“Then what should I call them?”fb7c0727ede8ad65

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Annoyed by his ever-growing 660cb5d028 list of forbidden words, 59425e8f64 I puffed out my e4fa2970a2 cheeks.251eaf52c3141b4b

“I can’t just say ‘hey’ to everyone older than me! What if someone actually hits 03999bd5b3 me for it?”68d812f0cb5a5079

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“Who would dare hit you?”3506dd7e2c353d60

His eyes narrowed in 40a7262dd9 a fierce glare, then d0da5ba235 he added in a 842a929ae0 somewhat grumpy tone, “Just cea269c0e7 call them Sister, like 5ddd7264bf Joshua does.”9071ce9db8ae860a

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“….”9a48d051b63de11e

‘Seriously?’2d16216acc0bf39b

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I couldn’t help 7317b0d376 but let out c0c435acd0 a small laugh 520c2c7f02 of disbelief.fd8f290da20ddb03

‘Does he really hate the word brother that much?’b4f6f32ab11c530f

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Well, new information acquired:df7e2da03603879d

[Trigger: Edwin has a meltdown when called brother]29f3236687dc3e1f

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It wasn’t a difficult 36a9ee8dd4 adjustment to make. Since Edwin clearly f8870f773b despised it, it 0bb6951b0f wasn’t like I 8b3c2364b5 had any special eea5f92a5c attachment to the 4cf1b5754f term either.3d553c47ba69729e

“…Alright.”651280f8c3417305

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The moment I nodded in 185102d94a agreement, his expression finally relaxed, 07be26d076 looking far more at ease.7d5b07cd862c446f

Clunk!022f34438830b1d1

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Suddenly, the carriage lurched 77add8df68 as if it had 65eb565978 hit a rock on 525985059f the road.4b4637f57bafcd79

“Whoa…!”82a19db9ed7d0150

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Edwin, who was heavier dd5ecb91b5 and sturdier than me, 15add9823f barely wobbled, while I 4319cd892a practically bounced in my c71bc0a055 seat.8b60f58d6d75b79a

“Come here.”a030c11bafead499

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Before I knew it, 94ea3e7daf Edwin had steadied me 1b93ac20a2 and, as soon as 67ac73cea0 the carriage stilled, he 6f6913aab4 lifted me onto his 78a2851e6d lap.f78a1b126d0a66a4

“Huh?!”720130e6ac10aa33

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I was shocked.e85f4564d974b57a

‘Isn’t this… a bit much?’91794893929bde66

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We’re both kids, but sitting 4bd1a56c6f on his lap like this?!7e5f2d7cb64343a3

I wanted to 5269e93f0b scramble down immediately, cf1d7261bd but at that fbf87a994f very moment, the 036100350c carriage jolted again, 121c051d03 even harder this 32948ea6ac time.5de71885d8b55a84

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Clunk!1d59b88394b3486a

Edwin pressed me close, 63feb425e9 resting his chin on 5b24332837 top of my head b3c9080452 and holding me securely. Strangely enough, I didn’t feel a633aa70ac any of the rough movements e2b290929b anymore.72e582a355b4dc42

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My heart thumped wildly.d5c52ced88e99137

Though he was 6fa623ea74 only four years 93281cd4d3 older, Edwin was 6a452f5766 bigger in every d0c5a02481 way—his hands, his 6791ee11f5 shoulders, his arms, 7b2e39ba77 his legs…435557ce1609a0ad

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He was far stronger than 89290c8be0 me.e7a3c1abdf29ac10

Unable to resist, I squirmed a7fbe2818e a bit. “Um, I can get down now…”2153c4ce3b14468b

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“Stop fidgeting and stay still. You’re heavy enough as it b32699fa2e is.”4d97451fedd06d96

“Guh!”1b070fda3f776a5c

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His words made 8c087ca3a7 me freeze, face 078eef22a0 scrunched in an 15aa5f9b12 almost tearful expression.1abdf609f43440b6

‘He probably does this with Joshua too! It’s not just 6d130d10b4 me, so calm 95a0e09e25 down!’e3eaedbb34f274e5

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I repeated this 8f43b40540 mantra to myself, 637764f7dc willing my fluttering 54f260e364 heart to settle.719a7be072212640

Thankfully, since we 6455e39151 weren’t facing each 0b46926551 other, the awkwardness 4ae5834ba3 slowly ebbed away. As I stared 042aa19333 at the empty ec68504349 seat across from 999de90587 us where Edwin a417c13a31 had been sitting, 4880434b81 the silence felt 81dfec2899 stifling, so I d22439939f spoke up.9a18eab7529d4f77

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“…Hey, so…”b738dcf4a525fd2a

“…”6ed4106358c348d2

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“Edwin, is that why?” I asked softly.0decf9d4953fc389

“Why, what?”70dce7fcea418f4f

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His voice rumbled above 28334ba80b my head, low and fcb7c4b1d2 close. Holding my breath, 87a700d56f I gathered the 4769e3adb8 courage to ask.9c80b0e71e90a0de

“Is it because… you’re worried I might end up liking you if I keep calling you brother?”475af9faf1c5c7d2

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“No.”4d684e8dc4513110

His answer came immediately.b80586c3d56cd224

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“I just want to mean something different to you.”22eedc523ad73620

“What do you mean by that?”85462a286e8a2be8

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I tried to twist 4b2a12ed39 around to see him, b5d00f6d06 struggling to understand, but d165715890 he kept his chin 0d9c159931 firmly planted on the 4f0108e07b top of my head, 1da7a1c6fa holding me in place.8bea4d135a6ccee6

“Oh, come on! Let me go!”31ebee8692f85b79

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“If you really want to know, hurry up and grow up,” he muttered, almost like a sigh, as he tightened his embrace.6e42b0259dc47ae1

‘Hmph. I’m already grown up enough.’48c28c34d4dc79e6

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I barely managed to 74c3afa040 swallow down my grumble.ce726561544c0a55

Edwin probably thought I ca06bc5da3 was too young to 27ab2e5405 understand what he meant, b00db37066 but he was wrong. That wasn’t the 40dda52d1c part that confused 09f3edf13e me.f9735d36f072500a

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‘What more meaning could there possibly be…?’bb28d1bcf5688bf8

If only he knew 191815a274 how much he already c56bdb597a meant to me, he’d 348e0e83bb be the one shocked.62d6b6c19fcf76bd

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Maybe even horrified.e5bf86edcd6a16aa

He had died 10bad1f378 because I hadn’t 464172f43d been able to 46a424d6c8 let go. And even after returning 78dd365503 to this life, I b1e2424f17 had stubbornly sought him de9ce4d0e1 out once more.9fa10b39a3b038b4

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What would he cb9705866a think if I e07671024d told him he f5ce8263c6 was like my 9925b15c52 very heartbeat?c4325778635d499b

I gave a bitter 33771fbf5c smile, shaking my head c72345a7d3 at the thought.48c6ae5c2bfc0540

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That day would never come.3705133136cfaceb

I’d long ago aed5fa72d9 decided not to 26ec295a74 ask for more 4855888e40 than what I 6131692583 had now.bb23c9eba8ef2d20

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All I could do 5bc25ae6d1 was be grateful for 6610084e75 the warmth he offered 806b2f4ce1 me in this moment.b2b78977c0fa110c

With that thought, I relaxed f53b147d0c into his embrace, closed my 7254bd67b7 eyes, and let myself drift d091a12bd8 in the quiet comfort.ef7051d4886a963f

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* * *8123e74f38d95bc5

Several days passed after cd537d24e0 the temple’s charity event.a3760d7d29a2612d

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When I returned ee7800fe9f to the Duke’s a22903cac2 household as the 21f0dfe7b0 new Saintess, the c513d777b8 staff welcomed me 06609d978d back as if 7ab10b0e5f I were royalty.722ef51064aada53

With their enhanced attentiveness and 43514acd0f each meal being an extravagant 6c7c8a01ab feast, I spent most of ab8719c858 my time lounging in bed, b579a2cac4 except for when I healed 346d32caea Joshua.4e0097c9d62cd1fd

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After all, I’d been c9983afe67 incredibly busy and worn 48474ff8b5 out from preparing all 3653438ea2 the products for the 9bea761d7c event.9642a7df7ba4d48c

These days, my e916f0104c favorite pastime was…3c2b681af28f9998

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Filling a child-sized portable bathtub fa7ac1bb23 with gold coins and sinking b648f12a86 into it to play with 84d0f54abd the shimmering bounty!171fcf3fe2c0b09e

Clink, clink!a0544de07dbe8740

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“Hehe! This is amazing!”d235f3adbb1906f8

Throwing handfuls of coins into 9bb83f1c75 the air, I reveled in c927b19ade my triumph and newfound wealth.2cd5386ba9b4ef08

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The gold coins, be780eb50e freshly polished over 0f85eb2622 a brazier, gleamed c6503c8cca as brightly as 040b53069a brand-new currency.e9bc87a7118db188

And, thanks to 5e087f3f38 my small frame, 42a54d4d71 the 952 coins 819c3238f1 covered me as 91dc9bd36c if I were 31113d6c61 submerged in a ef581ccf70 pool!17341a369bd5b8a8

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“Gold shower! Gold shower~!”10b788f88dcb687c

Humming happily, I let myself 7e6f762f08 sink into the pile of 818ee5c566 coins, enjoying the feel of 0936b929bc victory.f4a06f9961ed6a2c

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Then—9397fa064331c0b9

Bang!85d30b08bd209067

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The door suddenly b379540e91 flew open, and 69c5ca798f a familiar voice 012c750e91 boomed.a673fbf4ba7b2d81

“You brat! How long are you 8a4ecc50df going to laze around 120acb175f and play with those 7dd52b3d0f coins every day?!”85b039b3c6153049

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It was Grandpa Gordon.36d3dce023c82644

I dramatically covered my eyes, 40c1cdd71f letting out an exaggerated scream.39af2f96648c776a

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“Ahh! How dare you barge 65c205e288 in while a lady’s 9a60acc0fa bathing! Grandpa, you pervert!”e5b7c8de4c6c77db

“You little rascal! You’re fully dressed! Now get out of there 6e23f402f6 already!”da300333a7b571b1

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“Ugh.”6018e69b6b498606

Grumbling, I reluctantly fe5ec4f037 climbed out of 49447b1200 the tub, causing e03feac2e6 the coins to c8110ba899 clatter with a cb3a844fda clear, melodic sound.5074324358b7a157

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Watching me with disapproval, Gordon 45c8493c15 scolded, “It’s about time you e529d103a4 started working on your business, 924fc60dfb Belze.”3e6484738b32e7e9

“Already?”bcb4e246e18aa7b2

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“Yes, already! While you’ve been 78207ea73c wasting time tossing 10c0277954 coins around, the c7c5c7fee0 fairy herbs we 0796589e12 transplanted have grown 56724c382c beautifully!”b3624933a04d1064

Gordon looked proud as 8e289599ae he updated me on 3e7c299f25 the status of the 6c4b45f2a1 herbs.121439995d440366

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It was good news.3a86953332626edd

Just as he said, it 13cc5268ea was time to put an e78a1421c5 end to my carefree life 51a5f29051 and officially launch the fairy 505306dfe4 herb business.6e867eafb967b78f

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I hadn’t been 13ce62ba7b entirely idle, either.45f39b53331af68f

Reaching under the tub, I da4b32900d pulled out a large pouch 62bfa0b15b and said, “Alright, but I de41070607 need to visit the Duke a715d22bf5 first. Please put half of this 37d2f5956c in here—it’ll be 476 gold!”6cae6077dd1c9e3b

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“What, are you going to buy supplies?”abb83d7dca0072f5

Though he looked puzzled, 5c4c834aa3 Gordon obediently began gathering 83cf3aaf4e the coins from the 7838352083 tub.145c7e6f4dcaa56e

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At this point, 24ecc4c088 he was like d14cd92dbb my loyal servant… f477009a33 or rather, my 95291ba745 wonderful business partner.190aba25c5f48d9f

Just then—45700b7d54670854

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Knock, knock.9c849cd6a8245efd

Someone rapped on dc2eb674d5 the door and 1a15c43d37 opened it. It was the butler.2b090987dc6294dd

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“Miss, the Duke has requested your presence.”db340bc794bd33c8

Talk about timing! It seemed the Duke 6e791f0719 had business with me ecdfbea75a as well.adf0cc932d51e6aa

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I urged my loyal ddac5c8fb9 servant—no, my business partner—to 21d87fe05b hurry up.3bf8838d45f6043c

“Let’s go, Grandpa!”c6c792e0f30c4547

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“Hold on! Not until I’ve packed up 0f255d38b1 all 476 gold coins…!”1bf961f97cb148fd

* * *53f15838dbe4fd6b

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A short while later, 304cdb1616 in the Duke’s study.00b4a9144a4036b4

“…Usage fee?”c2eb0d0935f7be4d

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The Duke raised e1caeb614d an eyebrow, glancing a65497b988 at the hefty 319a26f5d8 pouch of gold cb2cd465de coins before him.a78a38227e396097

“Yes!”d6f6f752f0d61d8d

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“So, you’ve been using rare herbs from my backyard this whole time without permission?”2caa4353c864fd9b

At the chill in 8a079275e7 his voice, I hastily e67a83f924 replied, a bit nervous.1f4c50bd1671b25b

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“Um, well… I did get permission, sort of…”aa3656b48458b526