I Will Buy Divine Power With Money! - Chapter 73
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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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In the middle of an empty field with no signs of life, Rute’s voice reached my ears with unusual clarity.
As if we were the only two people left in the world.
“There too, when night falls, we’ll meet on the balcony and share drinks together. This time was quite enjoyable, after all.”
That was the same for me too.
Even while the Count was causing trouble every day, I was able to prepare for the dedication ceremony without much stress, all thanks to those midnight drinking sessions.
“Above all, my estate is full of even better liquors. How about it? Are you interested?”
Whispering sweet words in that pleasant baritone voice.
Really, this person has an exceptional talent for seduction.
“I’m really tempted, really swayed by it…”
“Swayed by it?”
“But not right now.”
I turned my head to look at Rute, who was pressed close behind me.
“There’s a lot I need to do here… And besides, today isn’t the only day, is it?”
“…”
“We’re not the kind of relationship that ends after meeting once, and we’ll continue to see each other. There will always be opportunities.”
This wasn’t a simple rejection.
It was essentially a promise that I would continue to maintain a deep relationship with him going forward.
Rute would have understood the meaning of my words well enough.
“…I wanted to kidnap you and take you away. But when you say it like that, I can’t lay a hand on you.”
Rute sighed deeply and leaned his upper body back.
Kidnapping, really. What a frightening way to joke.
Though he’s certainly the type of person who would actually do it.
“Well, fine. As the Holy Maiden says, today isn’t the only day.”
“When the opportunity comes, I’ll definitely go then.”
Honestly, I do want to visit Duke Sieri’s Mansion at least once.
Even in the original work, there was a three-page description of how incredibly splendid and massive it was, enough to be mistaken for the imperial palace.
Just looking at the carriage, it was almost like a house rolling around, so I’m really curious what the actual house would be like.
We continued our idle conversation all the way back to the Grand Temple.
Even when talking nonsense, he responded well with nonsense, making the conversation enjoyable.
All of this was thanks to my bottom enjoying such luxury.
“But it seems like it’s taking longer to go back, or is that just my imagination?”
When the roof of the Grand Temple began to come into view, I asked Rute.
Indeed, even accounting for the detour around the village, it seemed to take about an hour longer?
“It’s not your imagination. I slowed down the pace.”
“Why? Were you worried about my bottom?”
“You did look pitiful when you got off the horse and were rubbing it with difficulty.”
Did I look that pathetic? Well, it really hurt so much that I had no time to think about dignity or anything.
“And I also wanted to be alone with the Holy Maiden like this for longer.”
I tilted my head at his incomprehensible words.
“Why bother? We meet every night to drink anyway.”
Someone I can meet and talk with alone anytime I want, so why?
“But we’ve never had a conversation like this without worrying about prying eyes.”
“…”
“See? As soon as we arrived at the Grand Temple, we encountered an intruder.”
An intruder?
When Rute pointed ahead, I turned my head.
In front of the Grand Temple’s main gate, next to the Holy Knights guarding the entrance, stood Seth, High Priest.
Having sensed our approach first, he was looking directly at us.
“High Priest? Why are you here?”
Why was Seth, the High Priest, guarding the main gate?
When I asked in surprise, he bowed his head and answered.
“I was waiting for the Holy Maiden.”
“How did you know when I’d return to wait here?”
“You told me not to follow, but you didn’t leave instructions not to wait.”
That’s… certainly what I told Victoria.
But waiting in front of the main gate instead of inside the Grand Temple?
“Did you finish your business safely?”
“Oh, yes, it’s all done.”
When I answered obediently, Seth nodded and approached with both hands extended.
“May I help you down?”
The thoroughbred was very tall, so if I tried to get down alone in these flowing robes, there was a high chance I’d fall.
“Please do.”
When I nodded, Seth took a big step forward.
Just as his hands were about to wrap around my waist.
“If you’re going to entrust the escort to someone, you should leave it to me until the end. What’s the point of casually handing it over to someone else like that.”
With a mischievous voice, Rute’s strong arms embraced my waist.
Seth’s hands, suddenly losing their target, stopped abruptly in mid-air.
“Anyone free can just do it.”
“Holy Maiden. This is a more important matter than you think.”
Rute said seriously with a face completely devoid of humor.
“Originally, gentlemen are beings who stake their lives on escorting ladies.”
This guy is talking nonsense again… Staking his life because he has nothing else to stake it on?
If he died once like me, he wouldn’t say such things.
“Holy Maiden, please choose. Whose escort would you like to receive?”
Rute asked while glancing at Seth.
But why is Seth being wary of Rute again?
This meaningless power struggle between men, I really can’t get used to it.
“…High Priest, please help me.”
With a deep sigh, I reached out my hand to Seth.
I heard Rute’s aggrieved voice from behind.
“Holy Maiden, are you betraying me?”
Is this really something worth calling betrayal?
“It’s a matter of efficiency. For the Duke to help me down, he’d have to get down first, but the High Priest is already on the ground so he can help me down right away.”
“You speak wisely.”
Seth eagerly reached out as if he’d been waiting, grasped my waist, and helped me down.
Rute’s hands that had been around my waist loosened weakly.
“You must have had a hard time riding an unfamiliar horse.”
Seth said as he gently set me down on the ground.
Right, my bottom did suffer. Though it was worthwhile.
“Oh, I’ll wash this properly and return it to you.”
I held up Rute’s robe that I had been sitting on the entire way.
It would be wrong to return something I’d crushed with my bottom without washing it first.
“Thanks to this, I had a comfortable trip. Thank you, Duke.”
When I smiled brightly at him, Rute grumbled.
“You’re giving me both the disease and the cure.”
“I never gave you any disease, what are you talking about?”
“My heart has been wounded, how can that not be a disease?”
Rute made a forlorn expression. It was such a pitiful look that anyone who saw it would naturally feel sympathy.
How does such an expression pop out like pressing a button?
“The rejected person will go to the stables alone and lonely, so Holy Maiden, please go in with your escort.”
The retreating figure trudging away looked so forlorn that I was flustered.
“Was my refusal of his escort really that shocking?”
Did I make a mistake because I still don’t know this world’s culture?
When I asked Seth, who had been engaged in a strange battle of wills with Rute, he gave an incomprehensible answer.
“It’s fine. He needs to get used to being rejected. Who knows when something like this might happen again.”
“What? Get used to it?”
“Don’t worry about it. Holy Maiden, you should always do as your heart tells you.”
“Well, I was going to anyway…”
“That’s enough. Now let’s go inside. Sir Victoria is waiting inside, hoping only for your safe return.”
With Seth’s pushing hands, I went “uh, uh” as I entered the Grand Temple.
Unlike Rute who left looking dejected, Seth seemed extremely satisfied…
I really don’t understand these people’s hearts at all.
* * *
“…”
Jeremy, his entire body covered in black cloth with only his eyes showing, gazed up at the estate standing before him.
This place, boasting elegance and classical beauty, was none other than Count Kiris’ mansion.
After chasing their carriage for two days, he had finally arrived at his destination.
‘There were quite a few amusing incidents.’
Jeremy lightly recalled what had happened during those two days.
Namely, the Hindel couple’s vengeful battle against Baron Gail.
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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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