I Will Buy Divine Power With Money! - Chapter 143

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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But this time it was also a misunderstanding.

Rute put me in his usual extravagantly gorgeous carriage.

Someone like this wouldn’t send me to prison.

“Aren’t you angry?”

Last night he was grinding his teeth, unable to contain his anger.

Now, far from being angry, he was actually smiling.

“No, I’m not angry. It seems you didn’t even half-listen to what I said before.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I said about it being okay if you deceived me.”

As if I could forget that. It only happened a few days ago.

“You do remember. But why did you think I’d be angry?”

“That’s…”

“If I seem angry, it’s because you don’t believe my sincerity at all, despite everything I said.”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you.”

I let out a sigh.

I know very well that Rute was sincere back then.

His eyes were so full of sincerity that it was difficult to meet them properly – how could I misunderstand that?

“Still, a fake pretending to be the real Holy Maiden is a big problem.”

“That doesn’t really matter. I didn’t open my heart to you because you were the Holy Maiden in the first place.”

“What?”

“I believed in the ability and skill you showed me, the confidence to never back down and ultimately seize what you want. That wasn’t fake, was it?”

Rute was right. I really did live earnestly.

To avoid dying meaninglessly again, I had to restore the Sun God and save this world from destruction.

“So whether you’re real or fake doesn’t matter. Actually, I like things better now.”

You like it? Why?

“Because you’re free.”

Rute looked straight at me and smiled brightly.

“Thanks to this, I can now have you all to myself with peace of mind.”

This was the first time I’d seen Rute smile so joyfully since his pain disappeared thanks to the divine artifact.

He really is sincere.

“You don’t have anywhere to go anyway, right?”

“I was planning to seek refuge at the Temple of the Annihilation God. The High Priest there already knows I’m a fake Holy Maiden.”

“Stay at my house instead of there. Now I know you’re fake too.”

I blinked at this unexpectedly radical proposal.

Could this be the reason he’s taking me to the Duke’s mansion right now?

“What help could I be when I’m not even the Holy Maiden…”

“I covet your ability and skill. And it seems you can still use divine power even after leaving the Grand Temple.”

“That’s true. The Sun God hasn’t abandoned me.”

“Then that’s settled. Stay at the Duke’s mansion and help me with my work. You could work on trading guild business with me too.”

He’d put me to work in the trading guild that he treasures like his life?

How should I put it. Rute really…

He truly doesn’t care at all that I deceived him.

Ridiculously, realizing this fact made my heart feel much lighter.

We’d become quite close, so I was worried about what would happen if Rute came to hate me over this.

“If that’s what you want, Duke, I’ll gladly do so. Please work me to the bone.”

“Then first, let’s do something about that way of speaking. I really hate hearing such extreme honorifics.”

Rute stuck out his lips and grumbled.

Since I was no longer the Holy Maiden with status equal to great nobles, I was being more polite, but who knew he’d react so negatively.

“Do exactly as before. You can call me by name too.”

“That’s a bit… There are people watching.”

“I’m giving permission, so who’s going to say anything?”

Look how confident he is.

Well, Rute is the ill-tempered Duke Sieri who lacks nothing and doesn’t even fear the Imperial Palace.

Of course he wouldn’t care about others’ opinions.

“Then I’ll say it makes me uncomfortable.”

“What do you mean, when you’re even more thick-skinned than me.”

What? More than him? How can he say something so harsh?

“You’re adapting quickly. I can see you cursing me with your eyes.”

Rute laughed, saying he was fine with being cursed at.

Looking closely, he has some perverted tendencies.

The carriage that had been running hard soon approached the vicinity of the Duke’s mansion.

I stuck out my tongue at the cityscape visible through the carriage window.

“It’s incredibly splendid.”

Though I haven’t been to many places yet.

Still, I could definitely tell this place was more splendid than others.

Clean, well-maintained roads, people passing by laughing and chatting, streets lined with all kinds of shops, and elegant buildings.

But the real treasure of this place was something else.

Naturally, it was Duke Sieri’s mansion where the lord of this land lived.

“…”

From the moment I passed through the gilded gates, I sensed something extraordinary.

A garden so vast you had to take a carriage through it, with no end in sight.

And at its end stood the Duke’s mansion in all its grandeur.

Getting out of the carriage and facing the mansion, I became curious about just how much money Rute had.

The majesty of this grand mansion that would require every adjective related to big things – tall, wide, long, and just plain huge – to describe it.

“…Duke, you really are rich.”

“I told you to call me by name.”

I was dazed, but he still cared about titles at a time like this.

“Ah, I’m finally bringing you to my house. It really was fortunate you left the Grand Temple.”

Rute stood beside me, looking at me with a beaming smile.

He didn’t seem to think at all about how I’d left the Grand Temple in disgrace.

I’m grateful for that though.

“Have you returned, my lord?”

Then a neatly dressed middle-aged man bowed to Rute.

“Ah, let me introduce you. This is Count Kal Rahin, the butler of House Sieri.”

“Hello, Count. I’m Ordel.”

“Kal, this is my guest, Miss Ordel. She’s a very precious guest, so serve her with utmost care.”

I was grateful for Rute’s consideration in looking after me to the end.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Ordel. Please feel free to call me Kal. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to find me.”

But what’s this?

Kal’s eyes looking at me seem to be shining with madness – is it just my imagination?

“Karen Boreo will be in charge of attending to Ordel. Tell Karen to select the necessary personnel herself.”

“Yes, understood.”

At Rute’s casual words, Kal’s eyes flashed even brighter.

It doesn’t seem like he’s looking at me badly though. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s quite burdensome.

Why is he looking at me like that?

“Let’s go. I’ll show you to your room.”

But Rute took my hand and led me inside the mansion, so I didn’t have time to stare at Kal for long.

The back of my head was tingling, but somehow I was too scared to turn around.

But the really scary thing was something else.

“This is really supposed to be my room?”

“Yes, you promised to give me the side room when I came to the Duke’s Mansion.”

Rute smiled brightly, saying he was keeping that promise now.

Even so, this is…

I looked around the bedroom Rute had given me in a daze.

It was twice the size of the bedroom I used at Daesinjeon, with a spacious bed adorned with a dark green canopy and sophisticated decorations.

And there were even pure gold patterns decorating one wall magnificently.

Wow, so really rich people decorate their rooms with gold.

Even with all that pure gold attached, it was amazing how it looked elegant rather than burdensome.

“This is just the basics. If I had known you were coming, I would have decorated it even better. It’s a shame, but please make do with this for now.”

“What’s there to be ashamed of? Please don’t add anything more here. This is already more than enough—it’s overflowing.”

“You could receive even more. Rather, I’m the one who has received a lot all this time.”

Rute tapped his neck lightly.

He said it was because of the divine artifact, but the price for that had already been fully paid by saving Daesinjeon.

“Are you hungry right now by any chance?”

“No. I’m fine.”

Hungry? Just looking at this splendid room was enough to make me feel full.

“Then wash up first. I’ll have a meal prepared in the meantime. I did cast a cleansing spell on you, but taking a proper bath will be more refreshing.”

I nodded.

No matter how convenient cleansing magic was, I had no intention of continuing to impose on Rute.

“Karen, attend to Ordel.”

“Yes. Please come this way.”

“Then rest well, and I’ll see you at mealtime.”

Rute left after a brief farewell.

What should I do about this?

Not only did he generously forgive me, but he’s also letting me stay comfortably. I was planning to repay him by making a custom sacred artifact.

Now I see the cost-benefit doesn’t match up.

I feel like I need to give him much more, but since he’s someone who already has everything, I don’t know what to give him.

“Please come this way, Holy Maiden. I’ll show you to the bath first.”

Karen led me, who was lost in thought, toward the inner area.

The moment I entered the bathroom after passing through a dressing room as large as a regular room, I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation.

There was a large bath filled with hot water!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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