The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 136

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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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‘Perfect.’

As I walked out, I subtly gave Tesagh a thumbs up.

It was half a gamble, but it worked.

‘I explained the situation ambiguously with my words, and wrote the note so he could roughly understand the situation with just a glance.’

Crescenziano didn’t use his holy power during my turn.

I saw that no light emanated from Crescenziano’s hand when he touched my necklace.

He grasped the situation based solely on my hints and clues.

‘Of course, he didn’t believe me based on my words alone. The Cardinal must have had his own reasons.’

Why did a Cardinal come instead of a Bishop in the first place?

Thinking about it, the answer came to me.

‘Maybe he came to personally verify something because there were suspicious points in the canonization review process.’

After the dedication ceremony ends and Count Delphia is formally interred in the family graveyard, the fact that he was elevated to sainthood would be proclaimed to all dioceses.

In other words, this is the Temple’s only chance to reverse their decision.

It seems my words hit home as the situations aligned.

‘That’s fortunate for me.’

When I sat down at the table, Tesagh whispered.

“Then it’s my turn now.”

“Yeah. I’m counting on you.”

Tesagh’s expression was complex as he stared at me answering as casually as if saying ‘Could you get me a glass of water?’

However, he soon smiled faintly.

“What I need to say.”

Tesagh lightly touched my ear and stood up.

To distant observers, we probably looked like quite an affectionate couple whispering to each other.

So, paradoxically, Tesagh getting up and leaving in the middle of the dedication ceremony didn’t look too strange.

People would think my companion stepped away because I needed something.

‘Good, then from now on…’

It’s time to seriously monitor Duie.

While the butler proceeded with the ceremony, rambling about this and that, I listened with one ear and let it flow out the other, focusing on Duie.

‘He looks excited. And he doesn’t seem to care at all that Tesagh left.’

To put it nicely, he looked excited, but Duie seemed to have his mind elsewhere.

He kept grinning foolishly, moving his fingers as if playing piano, then suddenly putting on a serious expression.

No matter how anyone looked at it, this wasn’t the kind of behavior to show at his father’s canonization and dedication ceremony.

“The Count seems to be in a good mood…”

“Y-yes, indeed.”

I wasn’t the only one who noticed something strange.

The nobles who were being considerate tried to cover it up with thoughts like ‘He must be feeling honored that the late Count was canonized,’ but it wasn’t working well.

The atmosphere in the main hall was gradually becoming strange.

“…Then His Eminence the Cardinal will bless the offerings to be dedicated to the World Tree!”

With the butler’s loud voice, carts rolled in one after another.

Attendants wearing gloves placed the offerings one by one onto the altar.

They were contained in luxurious cases of various sizes, all covered with velvet.

‘Rougenote must be among those.’

It wasn’t a guess. It was half certainty.

Because one of the cases was emanating such vivid light that it felt overwhelming.

‘If I had Tesagh’s clip, I could have known immediately, but just because they’re holding a dedication ceremony doesn’t mean the offerings will disappear somewhere.’

Crescenziano walked out to the altar and extended his hand over the offerings.

I heard the voice of the priestess translating his lip movements.

“…World Tree, I bless these offerings in the name of the World Tree. Through this, we give all glory to the World Tree and seek to fulfill your will…”

Then, it stopped.

Because Crescenziano’s hand stopped over the case emanating light.

People murmured at the sudden silence.

The priestess slowly opened her mouth again.

“…we do. We pray that these offerings become instruments that share the World Tree’s mercy and love.”

The priestess who finished the prayer said in a slightly trembling voice.

“May I examine this offering now?”

“Oh, we were planning to reveal it after the dedication ceremony, but if His Eminence the Cardinal wishes…”

“No. That won’t do.”

It was Duie who cut off the butler’s response.

He stood up and slowly walked over.

“There are still procedures remaining.”

Duie smiled broadly.

“Surely you don’t want to skip the part where a son prays for his deceased father, do you, Priestess?”

“But…”

The priestess looked back and forth between Crescenziano and Duie, not knowing what to do.

‘Let’s go.’

Crescenziano mouthed the words and gestured with his chin.

As if retreating.

However, Crescenziano’s gaze as he returned to his seat was.

‘Looking at me.’

In other words, this was a hint.

A hint that both Duie and the offering he was refused permission to examine were suspicious.

Whether he knew this or not, Duie, who had been watching Crescenziano’s retreat with a triumphant expression, cleared his throat.

“I knew that the sacred relics my father collected received much attention, but I didn’t expect the priests at the Temple to be curious as well.”

People laughed.

At first glance, it seemed like words meant to lighten the mood, but I didn’t laugh.

“I’m sure our distinguished guests feel the same way? I understand that feeling. So instead of skipping procedures, shall we move the timing up a bit? So you can see the offerings quickly.”

‘Those are prepared words.’

Too smooth.

“So… the remaining procedures were my prayer and a prayer from one distinguished guest who had deep ties with my father, right? Let’s proceed together.”

Duie’s lips curled up as he looked around the audience.

“That person would be good.”

He was looking at me.

“Eloise Devin.”

Duie’s eyes glinted coldly.

People applauded while wondering why I was called, thinking ‘There must be some connection we don’t know about.’

The atmosphere treated it as a very honorable thing.

But.

‘What’s his scheme?’

Honor my ass, my head felt like it was about to explode from complexity.

“This may be sudden, but I ask that you come forward, young lady.”

He was even subtly urging me, so it wasn’t an atmosphere where I could refuse.

I bit my lip and stood up.

‘Fine, let’s see from up close instead.’

Earlier, when Tesagh touched my ear, he had fitted me with a magical communication device before leaving.

He was probably listening to this situation through his ear as well.

We had agreed that he would act when I signaled, so I thought it might be better to quickly check the offerings up close and give the signal.

When I walked up to the altar, Duie smiled with satisfaction.

“Good. I’ll offer my prayer first, so you can say your own prayer, young lady. You may do it silently if you wish.”

Then, without even listening to my answer, he continued speaking.

“World Tree, today I wish to make a confession about my father. It won’t be pleasant to hear.”

People seemed to think this was also just banter, but I observed Duie’s profile.

Duie continuing his speech seemed possessed by something.

“Father was a good man, wasn’t he? He helped the poor, treated everyone fairly, and was also a devout believer. As everyone here knows.”

People nodded as if in agreement.

Duie, who had been listing the good deeds of the late Count Delphia known to the world, paused for a moment.

Then.

“But he wasn’t like that to me.”

Swoosh—

Duie smiled as he pulled back the velvet covering the offering.

“To me, he was always strict, always harsh, and constantly spoke of my uselessness. Ah, how cold and sharp father’s words that carved into my heart were!”

“Wh-what is this…?”

Duie’s voice gradually cracked as he spoke, looking down at the murmuring people.

“Why was it so? Why couldn’t father, who loved everyone, love only me? I agonized and worried. I spent very long nights in torment and loneliness trying to find that answer. But…”

Duie, who had been speaking in a breaking voice, suddenly became calm.

Behind him, pieces of velvet that had been swept aside fell swoosh, swoosh.

“Even so, I want to tell father that I’m grateful. Thanks to you, father, I was able to become strong.”

Duie took a breath and smiled a chilling smile.

“Because you turned away from me! I was able to find my own path!”

People couldn’t even breathe at his eerie expression.

Duie, who had been letting out laughter close to a scream, suddenly turned his head and stared at me.

Then, in a very gentlemanly manner, he pointed to the last remaining offering.

The disconnect between that theatrical attitude and his half-mad tone was creepy.

“I’ll give the honor of removing the last velvet to the young lady.”

Coincidentally, what Duie pointed to was the case emitting light.

Looking at the case, I spoke.

“Please do it yourself, Count.”

Even if what was inside was Rugenote, this man Duie clearly had some plan.

I couldn’t simply follow his words.

But Duie said with a smile.

“Oh my, did my words sound like a suggestion?”

“…”

“It’s an order. Open it. You were curious too, weren’t you?”

After a suffocating stare-down continued for some time.

I raised my hand.

“Let’s check it out.”

It seemed exactly like I was reluctantly agreeing due to Duie’s pressure, but in fact, those words.

Were the signal I had promised with Tesagh.

Simultaneously with pulling down the velvet and saying the signal, what I saw was.

‘This is?’

It wasn’t Rugenote.

Seeing what was inside the case, I was shocked.

‘Why is this here…!’

It was none other than a piece of the Ruby Tablet.

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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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