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Genevia trudged along, letting her weary feet guide her.
By the time she finished the internal rounds, her divine power and physical strength were completely drained.
'…This is exhausting. I should head back now.'
Unconsciously, she found herself at the corridor leading to the annex.
Genevia came to a sudden halt.
- “Easy for you to say! You're a fairy, so of course you can talk so carefree like that!”
- “What do you even know about me to act so high and mighty? You don’t have the slightest idea what it's like to live a life where you can be discarded or replaced the moment you’re deemed useless or unnecessary! To you, everything’s just a joke, a curiosity!”
- “You’re so irritating! So frustrating! You’re seriously driving me crazy! Just go back to your precious young master already! And stop interfering in my life!”
"......"
Maybe it was because of that argument yesterday. She didn’t feel comfortable walking back into the annex as if nothing had happened.
To be exact, it hadn’t really been a fight, it was more like she had just taken all her frustration out on her unilaterally.
'…I'll just go back to the main quarters.'
Without a word, Genevia turned on her heel.
As she traced her steps through the unfamiliar corridor, she realized something.
Since arriving at the Grand Duke’s estate, the only place she had felt even a bit at ease… was the annex.
The place with that nosy little fairy and the cold, aloof young lord.
'But… I probably can’t go there anymore.'
At this point, she figured she had already earned enough resentment or committed enough of a mistake, to be marked for replacement. That much was obvious.
Creeeak—
As she pushed open the door to her quarters, she was met by silence and a chill in the air.
She sat awkwardly on the dusty bed and muttered bitterly.
“…Still, Ms. Lin went too far.”
- “It’s true. You are. And it’s not even like you’re naturally this selfless or obedient.”
‘I just won’t let myself be taken advantage of. That’s all.’
“Every word out of her mouth just gets under your skin…”
But as some time passed, she started to realize, vaguely, that everything that foolish little fairy had said was true.
And maybe, just maybe, those words were said with genuine concern for her.
That’s why she felt so angry and so ashamed.
“…Does she think I want to be like this?”
She had been born the sixth daughter of a poor tenant farmer.
And at just four years old, she had been abandoned to reduce the number of mouths to feed.
It was an old, kind priest who had found her, half-starved on a mountain ridge.
Thanks to him, she was taken in by the temple and given menial work in exchange for meals.
And there, she learned just how heartless the world could be.
Whether on the streets or in the temple, among farmers or priests, people were the same, cruel, and desperate to survive.
Even when, by some miracle, she awakened divine power and became a cleric, an orphan with no connections was always expendable.
- “Cleric Genevia. You’ll be sent to the North. The other clerics already have their postings.”
“Yes, understood.”
She hadn’t minded.
Whether it was the cold and dangerous North or the warm and peaceful South.
Wherever she went, life was always the same, and people were always unreliable.
In such a world, all she could do was keep her head down, smile, and play her small role.
And the North was no different.
Or so she thought.
“Come to think of it, things were a mess when I first met Ms. Lin…”
That back alley in the city.
That was where she had first encountered the tiny fairy and the cold-faced knight.
Back then, given the situation, she had acted on impulse, never imagining she'd end up so entangled with them.
It was the first time since the day she was abandoned on the mountainside that she'd shown her true personality so freely, something even she had forgotten.
Later, when she unexpectedly began living with them in the annex, Genevia had felt both discomfort and a strange sense of liberation.
That’s why it hurt more when the fairy showed up uninvited, saw her at her worst, and said such painful things.
“Ah… So that’s why I was so upset.”
Only now did Genevia realize what had been behind her shame and anger.
It was all just… so pathetic.
Then, a knock echoed from beyond the door.
Knock knock.
“……?”
Genevia got up groggily.
She wiped her eyes and plastered a smile back onto her face before opening the door.
“Yes, who is it?”
Standing outside was a man she’d never seen before, wearing pince-nez glasses.
“Cleric Genevia Lilo. Her Grace the Grand Duchess has summoned you. Follow me.”
“……!”
Genevia’s face instantly hardened.
***
“So, have you been adjusting well to life at the Grand Duke’s estate?”
The Grand Duchess asked, setting her teacup down with graceful poise.
Genevia replied with her usual calm smile, not showing a trace of anxiety.
“Yes, Your Grace. Thanks to everyone’s kindness, I’ve been settling in quite well.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
The Grand Duchess responded with a captivating smile, like a portrait come to life.
Seeing how different she was now from their first encounter at the winter coming-of-age banquet, Genevia immediately sensed it.
'She wants something from me.'
And as expected, the Grand Duchess wasted no time getting to the point.
“But I imagine you’re somewhat disappointed. You were designated as the successor to a high-ranking cleric and were preparing for the transition, only to suddenly be reassigned to the annex to look after a mere young lord.”
“……”
Genevia lowered her gaze, trying to hide her discomfort under the piercing scrutiny of the Grand Duchess’s cold violet eyes.
Although she hadn’t been at the Grand Duke’s estate long, Genevia had already discerned the relationship between the Grand Duchess and the young lord in the annex.
'This is bad… really bad.'
Genevia clenched her fists tightly.
“Cleric Genevia, I have a favorable offer for you.”
With that, the Grand Duchess signaled to her aide, Jerome, who stepped forward and handed over a pouch no bigger than a palm.
Inside the slightly open pouch, gold coins gleamed.
“……”
“I heard that during the last coming-of-age ceremony, when Lord Sion was attacked by assailants, you were the one who healed him. Since then, you’ve earned his trust and are now staying in the annex as his personal cleric.”
Though that wasn’t entirely accurate, Genevia simply responded quietly,
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The Grand Duchess’s smile deepened.
“I assume that someone with no ties to the North wouldn’t have taken that position out of personal loyalty.”
“……”
“Which is why I’d like to make you an offer that benefits us both.”
Genevia swallowed hard.
“If, in the near future, Lord Sion happens to fall into danger again and requires your help… do not go to him. Come to me instead.”
“……!!!”
Genevia’s face turned deathly pale.
Because she understood exactly what the Grand Duchess was asking of her.
“If you accept my offer, I promise you wealth and honor that rivals any noble in the North. I will personally be your backing.”
“……”
“Of course, if you refuse… well, I’ll leave that to your imagination.”
The aide, Jerome, placed the pouch of gold onto the tea table before Genevia.
The Grand Duchess slowly sipped her tea and added.
“Don’t misunderstand. That’s simply a token of appreciation, for the care you’ve already shown the young lord.”
“……”
As Genevia stood frozen, barely breathing, the Grand Duchess watched her leisurely and continued.
“Then I shall look forward to your wise decision. That will be all.”
A dismissal.
***
The next day.
Genevia returned to the very corridor she had turned away from yesterday.
She stood there, staring toward the annex, gripping her head.
“…Haah, what do I do now…”
After her audience with the Grand Duchess last night, she had tossed and turned all night, deep in thought.
'Why the hell did I get caught up in something like this?'
'All I wanted was to live a long and quiet life.'
'I should go and refuse. Return the pouch of money I didn’t even want.'
'No—no, I can’t. If I fall out of the Grand Duchess’s favor, it’s over. If I get kicked out of the North, I’ll probably be sent to some battlefield next.'
'But even so… I can’t just do as she says.'
Though she’d lived a life constantly being pushed around, not once had she turned her back on someone weak or in pain.
That was her conviction, her last shred of pride.
“…If what the Grand Duchess said is true, then something serious is going to happen to that stone-faced young lord very soon.”
Genevia paced nervously, muttering to herself.
“…Should I go talk to Ms. Lin?”
But her feet refused to move.
What could she even say to her?
Just a few days ago, she had stormed off in anger. Now, even if she went, there was no way she’d believe her. If anything, she might only make things worse.
As she struggled with her endless dilemma, pacing in place.
“Hmm? Cleric?”
“……!”
She turned around and saw a familiar face.
It was Diene Schuto.
“What are you doing here?”
“Ah… Dame Diene.”
“Were you heading to the annex? The young lord isn’t there right now, though.”
“He’s not? Then where…”
“According to Sir Garen, he went to the main mansion’s training grounds this morning.”
Diene added with a cheerful hum in her voice.
“Now that he’s an official knight, I guess he’s training seriously. He might even be sparring with the veteran knights around here. I was just about to go watch. Want to come along if you’re free?”
“Wait—sparring?!”
Genevia flinched and cried out.
Then, gripped by a sudden and ominous feeling, she took off running toward the training grounds.
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1 Comments
FINALLY
ReplyDeleteOMG THAT LITTLE ENDING PART MADE MAH DAYY