BDKHC 24

~Chapter 24~

“…Is this the place you mentioned for moving?”

Denver, following Esther’s short steps, frowned as he asked.

What stood before them wasn’t a house—it was practically ruins. Completely unmaintained.

“Yup.”

Broken windows and unrepaired walls made it seem unfit for surviving even one winter month.

“You should just ask the Duke for a room. That would be better.”

“Everyone hates me. I can’t make them hate me more.”

Esther said, then marched right into the old annex.

‘Besides, Father finally started paying attention to me. No need to leave now.’

Now that her value as a “Saint” was revealed, Kaelos wouldn’t throw her out.

She had also already started her “friendly infiltration mission”—like helping Rosaline. She couldn’t back out now.

Denver quietly stared at the small girl boldly surveying the inside.

‘I knew she was an illegitimate child of Egbert—rare even once a century. But I didn’t know she was treated this badly.’

And she accepted it so calmly.

The Egbert family was famously secretive.

But the scandal years ago had leaked enough info about the illegitimate child to circulate quietly in high society.

Which meant—the family wasn’t protecting her at all.

The House of Egbert was all about noble and chosen bloodlines—political marriages only.

Their accomplishments rivaled the Imperial family and the Temple.

A noble house that remained neutral and highly trusted.

“Everyone hates me. I can’t make them hate me more.”

So she’s trying her best to be independent—or just survive.

‘She’d make an interesting head of house.’

She seemed smart. With a little help, maybe she could.

“Don’t you want to become a Duke someday?”

“Yup.”

Her answer came so quickly that Denver was momentarily speechless.

Esther, meanwhile, kept looking for a cozy spot inside.

Denver sighed at the dusty, run-down annex.

His first day at his new “job” already looked like it would be very busy.

Elsewhere in the mansion…

“You heard?”

“Heard what?”

“About the youngest miss here.”

“Oh, the idiot? What about her?”

One maid perked up in curiosity but quickly grew bored.

“She used to be an idiot. But suddenly she started talking fluently and acting totally different.”

“How different?”

“You haven’t heard? They say she can tell your problems just by looking at you—and fix them too.”

A group of maids whispered excitedly. One of them, Banshee, widened her eyes.

“You know when the Temple had that divine descent recently? Some say it was her.”

“No way. That idiot?”

“It’s true! You know Rosaline? She got scammed and was drowning in debt, right? The young miss told her everything—even stuff Rosaline didn’t say.”

“She knew secrets?”

“Like how her brother lost all their money gambling. You didn’t know that, right?”

“Whoa, really? I had no idea.”

They all gasped. They knew Rosaline was broke—but not why.

And now, she didn’t look like she was struggling anymore.

‘She even goes to other areas lately—outside her normal duties…’

“Banshee, didn’t you say your dad is sick?”

“Yeah, but it’s incurable… everyone says it’s hopeless.”

“Still—go ask her! Bring some snacks and a few coins, and she might help!”

Rumors were spreading like wildfire among Egbert staff.

The little illegitimate girl in the annex could solve anything.

“Rosaline looks so calm now. Every day, she buys sweets from famous bakeries to bring to the young miss.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I heard she even bought cheap land on the outskirts—and found rare herbs there. Sold them and made a fortune!”

“…For real?”

“Yeah, and now her family is farming that herb and making deals with big trade companies!”

It was like the gods had really sent a saint.

Rosaline, the rude and arrogant maid, now visited with desserts every day.

“Only the first 30 people get tickets each morning.”

“Tickets? Thirty?”

“Yeah, and if you get one, you come back at 11. Then the young miss picks two or three people she likes.”

“That’s barely any!”

“Exactly. Someone said they succeeded on their sixth try. They got tickets three times but weren’t chosen twice.”

Banshee let out a hopeful sigh.

“…Where is this place again?”

“Gonna try an open run?”

“Open what?”

“You know, rushing there the moment it opens. That’s what everyone calls it.”

Open run… as in run when the doors open? Banshee nodded.

“Yeah, I’ll try in a few days.”

If it could save her dying father, she’d try anything—even if it was just a rumor.

Meanwhile, at the annex…

“Yaaawn.”

Esther yawned big and hopped down from her scrappy but thick-clothed bed.

Shiphon helped her get ready.

After washing up and changing, Shiphon seated her at a round table.

Esther used to eat on her bed. Denver, unable to stand it, had fetched this table days ago.

No one knew where he found it, but the wood and carvings were luxurious.

‘Where did he even get this thing?’

The snake patterns on the legs looked expensive, even if worn.

She was still staring at the carving when—knock knock.

“Yup.”

“Miss, your breakfast is ready.”

Esther’s eyes sparkled.

Even with the lid still on, the aroma was heavenly.

“Denver’s good at cooking.”

Denver’s eyes smiled softly.

“I’m glad you enjoy it.”

Since he arrived, the food quality skyrocketed.

She’d seen him at the market—so he must shop himself.

“Mmm—!”

Too tasty. The meat melted in her mouth.

“Miss, did you know?”

“Know what?”

“Today again—it was first come, first served by 8 a.m.!”

Ah, that.

Rosaline must have leaked the rumor—or maybe out of gratitude.

Despite only a month passing, the annex was already packed every morning.

Of course, she couldn’t take everyone—so she limited it to three clients per day.

She had enough food, snacks, and even money now. She could even give Denver a small salary.

The only issue? Construction delays. High-end materials were taking longer, meaning another month of living in the annex.

Still, with all the bits and bobs she gathered, life there wasn’t bad anymore.

“Yup. I’ll go at 11.”

“Okay!”

Shiphon smiled.

‘But for all these people… lately, the rewards aren’t great.’

Helping only people inside the mansion wasn’t efficient.

But she couldn’t just go around solving problems publicly, either.

She pondered the problem deeply.

After eating, Esther slurped up orange juice, then hopped off the table.

“Time to work!”

When she came downstairs, Denver had already lined up the visitors.

She slowly focused her mana and scanned their heads—about 23 had exclamation marks.

The other 7 had nothing—not even white marks.

‘Why are those people even here?’

No problems—so clearly they came just out of greed.

‘Today’s not bad, though.’

Several orange ones today.

Red or black marks were rare—she had never seen a black one.

And she couldn’t keep overusing her powers every day.

‘No red again today…’

Just as she was about to pick three people with orange marks…

A red exclamation mark appeared.

It was a maid on tiptoes, bouncing nervously.

Wait—

“We’ve got a big fish today.”

Esther smirked and slowly raised her hand.