Chapter 006
* * *
Late at night. Duke Agnito’s office.
The Duke let out a deep sigh.
Today, the High Priest had only left after scrutinizing every last remaining ledger.
“I trust you will fill in the discrepancies found in the records… My dear Duke Agnito.”
He knew exactly what those words meant. Even with his eyes closed, the humiliation was vivid before him.
“God damn it…!”
Finally, along with a suppressed curse, the Duke crumpled the documents he had been holding.
Today was the Day of Mercy, a day meant to signal to other nobles that Agnito was still going strong.
Even though the line of Saints had been severed, the authority of Agnito remained intact. This was because the belief persisted in noble society that his daughter, Esther, existed and that the bond with the Temple had not been broken.
However, not only was he utterly humiliated in front of other nobles, but even the donation records they had secretly embezzled were entirely investigated.
“Damn it…”
His head throbbed. While strained relationships could be mended with money, as long as Hanisha was around, the shame of that day would continue to be brought up.
Hiding the child away now for different reasons would only lead to suspicions of abuse.
He could neither expose the ‘impure’ Hanisha nor hide her again.
‘Hanisha… I want to get rid of her, but…’
Strangely, the Temple protected people—especially children—excessively. Even orphans were given individual names and placed on the Temple’s registry.
Names could only be removed from the registry once they reached adulthood, and the management was so meticulous it felt almost obsessive.
It was ridiculous.
The number of war orphans had increased years ago because of the religious wars sparked by the Temple.
They had killed those children’s parents in a war fought in the name of God. And then, again in the name of God, they acted hypocritically by opening their granaries just once a year.
Of course, that very point was why the corrupt Agnito could feel somewhat righteous.
Nevertheless, his anger did not subside.
If only his youngest sister, Serpina, had obediently married the person chosen by the Temple, the power of the Saint would not have been severed…
It was just as he let out a heavy sigh that someone entered after a knock.
It was Esther’s nanny and her maids.
“Has the child returned safely?”
“Yes. She finished the event successfully, just as she always has.”
That was a relief, then. At the very least, he had shown the people of the Empire that Agnito was still standing.
“However…”
The nanny, who should have left after finishing her report, hesitated for some reason.
“The Lady cried a great deal today.”
“Cried? Why?”
“She said she was startled because Your Grace did not come to pick her up… but she seemed far more anxious than that would suggest.”
Before the words were even finished, Duke Agnito stood up abruptly.
He went straight to Esther’s room and opened the door after a knock.
Esther, who had been sniffing, looked at the Duke with startled eyes.
“D-Daddy.”
“Why are you crying? Were you that upset that I didn’t come to meet you?”
At that, Esther blinked and quickly wiped her eyes.
“No, it’s just… my eyes hurt…”
Duke Agnito gently stopped her from rubbing her eyes vigorously.
“If you go around with eyes this swollen, people will tease you. Calling you the Lady with eyes as big as this.”
With that, he took something out from his robe.
It was a handkerchief made of very soft silk. It was something already familiar to Esther.
When the impure Hanisha was born and Agnito was plunged into despair, Esther had been born.
The only future that would free Agnito from its impurity.
Since then, the Duke had prepared the highest quality items for anything related to Esther. This handkerchief was one of them.
Once she received confirmation of her father’s affection through her eyes, her heart began to soften.
No, rather, she felt more aggrieved. She had worked hard from morning to night representing Agnito at the event, only to return to Hanisha’s stubbornness.
Perhaps that was why Esther felt like acting quite spoiled toward her kind father.
“It’s nothing. Just… I had a little spat with Sister.”
“…By Sister, do you mean Hanisha?”
Esther nodded.
“Sister told me to carry her bags and… she bullied me.”
She deliberately didn’t mention Hanisha’s words about not needing to act in her stead anymore.
She was afraid that Hanisha might have truly awakened some other supernatural power.
She feared she might have to share the affection that belonged to her.
In truth, Esther didn’t hate Hanisha.
When she reached an age where she could think for herself, Esther had seen the mistreated Hanisha and felt pity.
At the very least, she had memories of her mother, while Hanisha did not.
However, as everyone loved her and recognized her as the sole Lady of Agnito, those thoughts gradually faded.
Her father’s warm embrace. The always-kind servants and sweet desserts. The unique title of ‘Agnito’s Future.’
But Hanisha, the daughter of the real Saint.
If I have to share what is mine with her…
If that happens, then I… Esther will be…
“Heuk…”
Tears began to well up in Esther’s eyes again.
Once Esther started crying, she could rarely stop.
A shallow flicker of annoyance momentarily crossed the eyes of Duke Agnito, who knew this better than anyone.
He still had a mountain of work to process.
Yet he had to spend this precious time listening to meaningless words and soothing a child.
However, the Duke suppressed his rising anger.
“Don’t worry, Esther. I will give Hanisha a stern scolding.”
“Really?”
Esther, who seemed to brighten instantly, flinched and slumped her shoulders.
“N-No. It’s not like Sister is bad… um, just scold her a little bit.”
“Yes, I will. My sweet daughter.”
Duke Agnito stroked Esther’s hair.
Her mood seemed to have lifted as she began to prattle on about what happened today.
Exhausted, the child eventually fell asleep.
Watching her steady breathing, Duke Agnito’s expression hardened as if it had never been soft, and he stepped out.
Checking the time, it was already past midnight.
The fire of anger sparked in the eyes of the Duke, who had been pretending to be calm.
This was already the second time today—the accidents Hanisha had caused.
Would this truly be the last?
No, he didn’t know.
In fact, she might continue to stay by Esther’s side and unsettle her.
Esther was the only child who could wash away the family’s shame.
To ensure she didn’t go astray, he had to raise her as a kind and innocent child.
Only then could she succeed the line of Saints.
‘No more disturbances can be allowed.’
In that case.
Having reached a conclusion in his heart, Duke Agnito commanded the subordinate standing beside him.
“Prepare a carriage. Arrange for a single driver. Someone of such low quality that it wouldn’t matter if they disappeared right now.”
If a massive impurity continues to grow in size, one simply needs to eliminate it.
* * *
The Duke’s castle was quiet for a while after that. The footsteps of other nobles, who used to visit daily to discuss business with Duke Agnito, had also ceased.
‘Of course, they won’t cut ties with Agnito completely. There are business ventures already underway.’
But the important thing was that such an incident had happened—the fact itself.
“Still, thanks to the Temple’s audit that day, it seems support for the children will increase for the time being.”
Lisa shared the rumors floating around the mansion in a bright voice.
She seemed happy that Bert and Esther were no longer bullying me.
‘Of course, they’re probably sharpening their blades, just waiting for the day they can bully me again…’
Just as I was about to keep my mouth shut, thinking it best not to say such things for Lisa’s sake.
“All done,” she said, bringing a mirror before me.
In the mirror was me, blinking with my hair braided on both sides.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
“…It doesn’t look like me. It’s too cute.”
“What are you talking about? You’ve always been cute, My Lady.”
Lisa smiled proudly and adjusted a slightly tilted hair pin once more.
“Even the priests will lose their hearts at once when they see you like this.”
Lisa spoke with conviction.
Looking at her sparkling eyes, it seemed Lisa truly believed I could receive the affection of the priests.
“Yes, thank… Atchoo!”
“Oh my, you’re cold, aren’t you? I’m sorry.”
At the sudden sneeze, Lisa hurriedly tucked in my scarf.
“They say the Eastern Temple is right next to the North so it’s really cold… and it’s true. If I had known, I would have brought more clothes.”
I sniffled instead of answering. Because, just as she said, it was very cold here.
So, it was one week after the Day of Mercy.
My bedroom door, which had remained closed, suddenly opened. The head butler, a man I had never even exchanged words with, appeared and abruptly said this:
“A message has arrived from the Eastern Temple. They said to visit the Temple as soon as possible.”
All children of noble houses receive the blessing of the Temple.
But I, born as an impurity, had never visited the Temple even once.
It was because Duke Agnito had strictly forbidden me from ever leaving the mansion.
To me, a summons from the Temple meant freedom—or perhaps, forgiveness for my impurity.
This was also the reason why Lisa had personally rolled up her sleeves to dress me up.
