Chapter 39
Tap. Tap.
I tapped the table with my fingertips.
Without the administrative department’s approval, pharmaceuticals and food cannot be distributed.
Because they directly affect the human body.
So, despite the inconvenience of going to the palace, I had to visit the administration in person.
It can’t be helped. No matter the humiliation I might face, this is a necessary procedure.
Once the decision was made, everything became simple.
After finishing my preparations, I went downstairs and ran into Sir Aiden, who had just finished his workout.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to the palace.”
“To the palace? Are you sure it’s fine?”
“It should be fine.”
Pain potions have to be made by priests individually, so supply is limited compared to demand.
Therefore, their prices are extremely high, and what can substitute them are painkillers.
Painkillers will inevitably give me money and power.
There is immense success waiting ahead, enough to redeem the momentary humiliation.
Since I’ve already suffered enough at the Estarion family’s hands, there’s nothing more to fear.
“Do you want me to go with you? If you want, I can register the documents for you.”
“No. I need to handle it myself. These are not documents that should go through someone else’s hands.”
After drawing the line, I stepped out of the mansion, and Sir Aiden followed me with a concerned look.
I knew he worried because when we first met, I was completely broken both physically and mentally. But now, I wasn’t the mess I was back then.
I wasn’t perfect, but I had regained much of my health and had grown mentally stronger.
In a way, I had become more resilient than before I left the Estarion family.
So there was no need for him to worry anymore.
“Sir Aiden. I’m not weak like I used to be.”
“You’re not weak, but you’re still powerless. You have no money or power.”
His words struck unexpectedly.
“That’s why I have to go to the palace. I need to create the things I don’t have.”
By any means necessary.
I held back my next words and greeted him.
“Thank you for always thinking of me. I’ll be back soon.”
With that, I left the worries behind and headed for the palace.
The palace, which I hadn’t visited in a while, was as magnificent and beautiful as ever.
What had changed was the identity card I showed when entering the palace’s administrative district.
Selena Rayon.
Since I had been exiled from the Estarion family and could no longer use their surname, I had created my own.
I didn’t feel regret about not using the noble family’s ancient name.
Instead, I was excited about being able to reveal the painkillers under my chosen name at the upcoming fair.
But why did the administration call for me?
I had written Selena Rayon on the documents, so they shouldn’t recognize me by name.
Was there a problem with the documents? I had checked everything multiple times, including the reference documents, and everything was perfect.
It might be distrust of the painkiller itself.
Although the administration had approved pain-relief drugs before, their effectiveness was never widely recognized.
Moreover, painkillers inevitably cause conflict with the temple.
The temple controls its finances and power through the pain potions, and painkillers would obstruct the temple’s expansion.
So the royal family might be planning to use painkillers for a strategy.
Of course, this was my grand imagination, and it was more likely they called me for something trivial.
“Did you get invited to the charity party?”
“A charity party?”
I heard a voice from a palace servant ahead.
“The one prepared by the Lophen family. My wife’s been pestering me to get an invitation.”
“Ah, that one. It’s famous. I heard the Estarion family plans to reveal their hidden daughter at that charity party.”
“Right. I heard the older brother, the deputy commander, treasures her so much.”
“The Estarion family is known to be tight-fisted, so I heard.”
I no longer had expectations from them, so hearing news about the Estarion family didn’t pain me.
No expectations, no disappointment. No disappointment, no affection. It was a simple rule.
“Ah! Count! Isn’t that you!”
I looked ahead as I heard the voice, and in the distance, I saw Estarion.
My heart sank with a thud, and as my heart beat faster, a hot sensation spread.
It’s possible to feel blood boil with just anger and malice. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth.
I had expected this when I came to the palace. Since the Count was the head of the administration, he would be here often.
“Gerald, Diago. Long time no see.”
The Count was focused on the other people, not noticing me.
Unlike me, who had struggled in hellish pain, Estarion looked still at ease.
I, who had permanent scars from the manacles around my wrists, was nothing like him.
“My daughter prepared the charity party with the Lophen family, but since it’s not under my control, I can’t provide an invitation. But…”
I tried to hide as Estarion Count continued speaking.
I was worried that if he saw me, it might interfere with my painkiller approval.
Just today. Getting approval is more important.
Even though it hurt, I would put my pride aside just for today.
My clenched fist turned pale as I tried to hold back the bubbling emotions.
I held my breath and waited for Estarion to pass.
Tap. Tap.
The voices and footsteps grew faint.
Then, without realizing it, I cursed under my breath.
“Damn…”
It was a clumsy curse, but it felt somewhat relieving.
I could now understand why Sir Aiden curses so often.
With that small relief, I knocked on the door of the administration.
“Ah, the reason we called for Ms. Selena Rayon is to confirm the credibility of the drug before giving approval for the goods.”
The safety management officer in the administration kept rubbing his hands as he spoke in circles.
“As you know, drug approvals are very stringent these days. It’s the law, after all. But if you show some sincerity, it might be different.”
The purpose was clearly bribery. Seeing his greedy eyes, a sigh escaped me.
This works in my favor. If they were serious about the painkillers, it might have delayed the document processing.
I secretly slipped a gold coin between the documents.
I never planned to spend my salary from Sir Aiden like this.
“Oh, you really don’t have to do this.”
“Please, I’m counting on you.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it as quickly as I can.”
The officer wasn’t lying. Within five minutes, the documents were approved.
After receiving the signed documents, I was about to leave the safety management department in a good mood.
As I opened the door, I bumped into Estarion Count.
“You…”
His face twisted as he clicked his tongue in disgust.
“Why are you here to tell more lies to the palace? No, more importantly, can anyone just come into the palace?”
“….”
“Ah. Count. I’m here as a guest to process the administrative documents.”
“Administrative documents?”
The officer explained, and Estarion Count grabbed the documents from my hand.
After reading it, he sneered.
“Painkillers? Drugs only made by frauds in history. Has there ever been a real painkiller? Even if it’s well-made, it’s just an energy recovery potion with some drug mixed in.”
“I guess you’d like to believe that.”
“Typical of the daughter of a dirty fraud. A lowlife who steals other people’s lives. Go ahead, try selling such a drug. I’ll make sure you’re thrown into prison for fraud.”
He wasn’t going to cancel the painkiller approval just to frame me for fraud.
I clenched my jaw and bent down to pick up the documents.
It was humiliating, but I could endure it. I had experienced the hellish tortures of the Inquisition.
I’m glad Sir Aiden isn’t with me today.
I didn’t want to show him this.
I walked away, bearing the humiliation.
If emotions leave traces, my steps were filled with burning vengeance.
Humiliation is momentary, but revenge will last forever.
I straightened my back as I left the palace.
The next day after my visit to the palace, Sir Aiden and I went to District 8 to check the orphanage where Will would stay.
District 8 was worse than I expected. Drugged people rolled on the ground, and the pedestrians’ eyes were filled with a gloomy aura.
“I really feel like I’ve been living in a well. I didn’t know there were places like this in the capital. Well, I knew, but… I never really understood it.”
“Knowing it intellectually and experiencing it are different matters. Thankfully, the orphanage is located in a rural area. There’s a forest behind it and even a small wheat field nearby.”
“In that case, he can run freely and grow up healthily.”
As we were talking, the carriage stopped. When I got out, I saw the old orphanage.
“It’s run by the temple.”
It’s said that places run by the temple are better than those run by the empire.
As we entered through the gate, all the children’s attention turned to the ball they were playing with.
“Hello.”
I greeted them with a smile, but they only returned nervous glances.
What surprised me was that the children weren’t afraid of Sir Aiden, who, surprisingly, approached them shyly.
“Hey, are you playing ball? Which team is winning?”
“We’re losing 3 to 1!”
“Well, I’ll join the losing team.”
“Really?”
“But not now. We need to see the director first. Where’s the head priest?”
“Please wait a moment!”
Unlike me, who was awkward, Sir Aiden casually approached the children, and I envied him a bit.
Sir Aiden smiled wryly.
“What? You can’t do this? You’re not friendly with the kids, huh?”
“…Give me a few days and I’ll get close to them.”
“Are you pouting?”
“No!”
I flared up without realizing it, and he burst out laughing.
“The head priest is here!”
When I turned to look at the bright voice, the head priest of the orphanage appeared. Instantly, the fear I had buried resurfaced.
My fingertips went numb with fear, and my body froze.
Chills ran down my spine.
The priest from the Inquisition who had tortured me was standing right in front of me.
