TGHB 56

Chapter – 56

When I heard the Duke say he would get Calyx out of the temple, I couldn’t help but feel doubtful.

How, exactly?

As far as I knew, removing a priest from the temple was no easy task.

It was Cale who cleared up my curiosity.

“Ah, he probably used the apprentice priest sponsorship system.”

“What’s that?”

“Well… simply put, you donate money to the temple and take an apprentice priest out.”

His perfectly concise explanation made it easy to understand.

So you pay money and take them out…!

But then another question arose.

How much money did it take?

That question was answered today.

After finishing a brief conversation with Calyx, I was on my way to the office with the Duke to have snacks together.

“Hey, kid!”

“Ora-beoni?”

Beyond the corridor window, Louis was waving his hand energetically.

Judging by the light sheen of sweat on his forehead, it seemed he had just finished practicing swordsmanship on his own.

“Wait a moment.”

Wait for what?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Louis grinned widely, showing his white teeth.

Then he jumped straight through the window into the corridor.

“W-wow…!”

“How is it? Cool, right?”

“Yeah, so cool! But isn’t using the door safer?”

“…Ahem. I usually use the door. I just wanted to show you today.”

“Mm.”

Louis and I chatted quietly as we walked together.

“Where are you coming back from, kid?”

“I went to see Rix.”

“Huh! You really….”

“Mm?”

Ugh.

Louis groaned softly and shook his head.

“N-no, it’s nothing. Forget it.”

“What is it?”

He clearly had something to say, which only made me more curious.

When I narrowed my eyes and looked up at him, Louis flinched and avoided my gaze.

“Kid, you know…”

“Mm.”

What about me?

“You shouldn’t call just anyone ‘ora-beoni.’ And you shouldn’t call them ‘oppa’ either.”

“…?”

Suddenly?

And more importantly, why not?

“Isn’t anyone older than Meloni an ora-beoni?”

“…No! In this world, there are only two people you can call ora-beoni. Me, and Brother Aster!”

His eyes were blazing as fiercely as his voice.

Without thinking, I nodded.

“Mm, I got it. Louis ora-beoni and Aster ora-beoni. Only those two are Meloni’s ora-beoni.”

Only then did a look of satisfaction settle on Louis’s face.

Well… as long as he’s happy.

If I really thought about it, how many people in my life were there that I could even call ora-beoni anyway—

Ah.

Then what about Ricky oppa?

…Never mind. I’ll think about that later.

“You’re going to see Uncle?”

“Mm. We’re going to eat snacks together.”

We were on our way to fulfill the “eating snacks together” clause written in the contract.

Since the Duke was putting in so much effort for Calyx on my behalf, the least I could do was faithfully uphold my side of the contract.

“Then I’ll eat with you too!”

“Okay. Sounds good.”

Just as we reached the vicinity of the office—

“This is insane! Do you have no conscience at all?! Five hundred million?! Is that someone’s dog’s name or something?!”

“Quiet down, Hudson. You’re the one who looks the most insane right now.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t go crazy?! I like money too! I want five hundred million as well!”

At Hudson’s booming voice, Louis and I instinctively looked at each other.

“D-did they really ask for five hundred million shillings?”

“Oh dear. I guess you heard.”

“…I heard it in front of the door earlier.”

At my dejected muttering, the Duke raised an eyebrow.

“I told him to keep it down.”

That was probably directed at Hudson.

“But did they really ask for five hundred million, Uncle?”

“Well, yes. That’s what they demanded.”

“Tch. Anyone would think they were selling people.”

Louis scowled deeply and gulped down his orange juice.

It seemed the temple’s shameless behavior made him nauseous.

I felt much the same.

Five hundred million. They really have no shame!

Their intention to take advantage of the ducal family was painfully obvious.

“Why have you turned into a shriveled marshmallow again? Are you worried about the money?”

I hesitated, then nodded.

“Yes… because it’s for my friend, and Dad is the one stepping in…”

If it weren’t for me, the ducal family would never have gotten entangled with the temple over something like this.

All of this happened because I wanted to save Calyx.

From the Duke’s perspective, it meant donating a huge sum to the very temple he despised, just to bring back an apprentice priest.

Ugh.

“…I’ll pay it back later.”

I spoke as if shrinking inward, weighed down by guilt.

How long would it take to gather five hundred million shillings?

If I diligently saved my allowance and lived frugally, maybe someday I could collect it.

It was an amount I could never even dream of when I was a street beggar, but now I’m a duke’s daughter….

Just then—

Tap.

“Huh?”

What snapped me out of my thoughts was the Duke’s hand gently resting on my forehead.

Squeeze.

He tilted my head back slightly and held out a spoonful of jelly.

I opened my mouth without thinking and accepted it.

My cheeks puffed out as I chewed.

“Stop saying useless things and just eat your snack.”

“B-but—”

“There is no ‘but,’ Marshmallow. Do I look like such a petty father that I’d take my daughter’s money?”

I shook my head vigorously as I chewed the jelly.

Honestly, that’s true.

If he were that kind of person, he wouldn’t be talking about buying me buildings and such.

“This is not something you need to worry about. And five hundred million is nothing to me.”

His gentle smile radiated ease.

…Sniff. Becoming the Duke’s daughter really was the best thing ever.

I rubbed my stinging nose hard.

I’ll repay this kindness someday.

I’ll do my very best to fulfill the contract and be a proper daughter.

And I’ll live as Lady Pantaibe for a long, long time!

But still—

Isn’t there some other way?

A way to reduce the donation to the temple as much as possible.

Even if the Duke says five hundred million is nothing, sending that money to the temple feels like such a waste.

Especially those priests.

Just imagining the ones who tormented Calyx smiling made my stomach churn and my teeth grind.

It felt like watching your sworn enemy buy land and prosper.

I really don’t want to do those bastards any favors….

Grrr.

I started racking my brain with all my might.

“Why aren’t you eating, Marshmallow?”

Even during snack time, I kept thinking.

“What’s wrong with you, kid? Why are you walking around the hallway with such a scary face?”

I thought while heading back to my room.

“Cotton Candy! Look at the scarf this old man is making! Ho ho ho… Huh? You don’t like it? Why that expression…?”

Even when the former Duke came to visit my room, I was still thinking.

But sadly, there were no results.

“Hiiing…”

“I don’t know what’s wrong, but cheer up, Miss!”

Aina, who had come to prepare my bed, kept encouraging me warmly.

But despite her kindness, I couldn’t muster any energy at all.

Why can’t I think of anything?

By tomorrow, the Duke might send the money.

Is there really no choice but to hand over five hundred million?

Dragging my feet, I climbed onto the bed.

Then, my eyes landed on the stacked beside it.

Would Angela know the answer?

With that thought, I reached for the book.

“Here you go, Miss.”

Since my short arms couldn’t quite reach, Aina handed it to me.

“Thank you, Aina.”

Sniffling, I opened the book.

Please, let Angela’s wisdom help me.

Though I’ve already read this more than thirty times, so there probably won’t be anything new…

I was sure of that, but—

“…Huh?”

As I read, my eyes widened in shock.

Amazingly, there was a hint hidden in a book I’d read over thirty times.

Come to think of it… why didn’t I think of this before?!