TVOWW 55

Chapter 55

I Decided to Turn the Fake into the Real

The saint’s blue eyes shone clearly.

“If I become friends with everyone, that means I can give everyone happiness, right?”

But within her words of “everyone,” any mention of Johann had disappeared.

As if she held no ulterior motives at all.

If I showed even the slightest sign of being offended, I would only look like a touchy woman obsessed with her husband.

The priest standing beside the saint interjected.

“Since the Lady Saint has her position, please treat her meals the same as the Duchess of Blanchet.”

The servants, including Betty, stiffened awkwardly.

Just as I was about to step forward, Patricia replied with a blank face.

“Do not worry. The House of Blanchet never neglects to treat its benefactors properly.”

“That is fortunate. The Lady Saint cannot eat any dish if the ingredients are lacking in sincerity or if the preparation is even slightly off. I entrust this matter to you.”

Though he phrased it as a request, there was an undeniable arrogance, as if the matter of serving the saint had already been dictated.

“Then, we shall guide you to the banquet hall. Madam, perhaps you would prefer to move separately with the Lady Saint to prepare for the meal?”

Patricia only nodded, as if the question wasn’t worth answering, giving me a brief moment to rest.

Though we’ll see each other again shortly anyway.

The saint rose first. But something strange caught my eye.

No one is stepping up to escort the saint?

The knights of House Blanchet stood nearby to guard me, the duchess. Yet none offered to escort the saint.

For a knight, attending to a lady of the saint’s stature should be a great honor.

But rather than eagerness, there was a faint aversion in their eyes.

Before I could assign someone, the priest hastily summoned a servant to escort the saint to the banquet hall.

Is that why everyone dislikes her?

I returned to my chambers and changed into a new dress for the banquet.

It was made of blue silk with yellow lace trimming on the short sleeves—an elegant piece.

When Betty clasped a sapphire necklace around my neck, her face lit up with competitive pride.

“As expected, my lady is the most beautiful.”

Honestly, it was hard to take Betty’s words at face value.

“Indeed. The saint may be lovely in her own right, but she cannot surpass the unique aura my lady possesses.”

Patricia complimented me as well, and I blinked in surprise.

“My aura?”

“My lady has a dreamlike air about you. Whenever I see you, I cannot help but be captivated.”

Without changing her expression, Patricia spoke as if it were a simple truth.

“Th-thank you.”

“It is only a fact.”

Her calmness only made me more embarrassed, my cheeks flushing red.

What’s gotten into Patricia lately?

In the original story, Patricia was a strict rule-follower. She never did anything outside her duties as head maid.

But now she keeps stepping forward for my sake.

Unlike others, she had no particular reason to change, which made it even more confusing.

After making the final checks to my attire, I stepped outside. Erich was waiting to guide me to the banquet.

“The preparations are complete. Shall we go?”

He wore his hair loose with his bangs down, tied lightly at the back.

He must have done it because of what I said before.

Wearing his knight’s uniform, he looked far more like a knight than an aide.

“By the way, it seemed like the knights were avoiding the saint. Was that because of me?”

“No, my lady. They simply do not wish to get entangled with her.”

“But serving the saint should be considered an honor, shouldn’t it?”

“The knights of Blanchet have never held much affection for the temple.”

Erich replied calmly as he escorted me.

“And beyond that, there’s something oddly unsettling about this saint. Not only me—every knight has said she makes them uncomfortable.”

I hadn’t expected even the other knights to feel the same. Betty chimed in.

“The servants are no different. The saint and her priests are just… insufferable.”

“But isn’t the saint supposed to be blessed, beloved by all?”

“If that blessing exists… it must take a miracle to be so unlikeable despite it.”

Of course, that was only the saint in scripture.

No one can truly be loved by everyone.

Erich frowned as he recalled her.

“I agree. At least in House Blanchet, it will not be so easy for her. In fact, it feels like she subtly disrespects you, my lady. Just what kind of ‘saint’ is she supposed to be…”

“Seems her holy power can’t fix her personality.”

“…Pfft!”

Erich flushed red, clearly trying not to laugh, but unable to hold it back.

Betty, on the other hand, burst into unrestrained laughter. “Exactly! Holy power isn’t omnipotent after all!”

I patted Erich’s shoulder.

“Go ahead and laugh. It’s fine.”

“Ahem—my apologies, my lady. I just… didn’t expect that.”

“It’s fine. We’re already at the banquet hall, anyway.”

As we arrived, the servants opened the doors.

Stella sat at the very center of the hall.

That’s the hostess’s seat.

The Blanchet servants around her looked uneasy and turned their eyes to me.

Stella smiled sweetly when she saw me.

“Duchess, your dress suits you so beautifully.”

“Does it?”

“Yes. As you can see, I must always wear priestly garb as a saint… but—”

Lowering her eyes demurely, she clapped her hands gently.

“Seeing you in something so lovely brightens even my heart.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“No, I should thank you for inviting me to such a splendid banquet.”

Before her was a table laden with extravagance. Stella smiled faintly at the sight.

“Perhaps it’s the warm atmosphere, but I feel almost as comfortable as I do in the temple.”

Meanwhile, I was anything but comfortable.

At least one thing is clear.

Stella was looking down on me.

Whether or not she remembered being thrown out last time, I couldn’t tell.

My own place setting was soon laid out.

This is… excessive.

It even surpassed Stella’s feast—on par with what an empress might receive at a formal event.

When I glanced at Betty, she whispered just for me.

“Hostess and guest are not the same. No matter what seat she takes, we must show the difference.”

“When did you prepare all this?”

“Even so, she’ll probably never learn her place.”

Betty returned calmly to stand behind me. Looking around, I saw the servants’ eyes full of quiet support.

Because of Stella?

It felt as though House Blanchet truly stood with me.

At that moment, Johann returned from his outing.

“Estelle. I’m back.”

Still in his outdoor attire, he strode straight to me. His gaze was tender as he looked at me—until it shifted to Stella. Then it turned icy.

“Why is she here again?”

Stella’s delicate hand trembled, freezing on the cutlery.

“That is…”

“I told her if she crawled back into this house again, I wouldn’t let it go.”

I gently laid a hand on Johann’s back.

“She came because I wasn’t feeling well today. She braved the offense for my sake.”

“…You were unwell?”

Johann cupped my cheeks with deep concern.

“Were you in pain?”

“I think it was just fatigue. I’m fine now after receiving treatment with holy power.”

“Can holy power really be trusted?”

His crimson eyes grew sharp.

“If you worsened despite being ‘healed’ before… perhaps holy power is useless after all.”

It was true that the side effects had come unusually fast.

With a sorrowful look, Johann raised a handkerchief to my lips.

“You’ve gotten some here.”

“That can’t be. I always eat neatly.”

“Truth is, I just wanted an excuse to wipe your lips. You leave no flaws for me otherwise.”

With a tender smile, he whispered by my ear:

“Make a mistake sometimes. That way I can take care of you more.”

He sat down directly beside me.

Normally, the lord sits at the center, with the lady next. By taking the seat at my side, he left an even greater distance between himself and the saint who had claimed the hostess’s place.

That works in my favor.

The saint cautiously addressed me.

“Please don’t worry. It was only stress—your body is perfectly fine.”

Then another priest placed an ornate box before us. Stella lifted it shyly.

“Still, I was concerned, so I prepared a gift for you, Duchess.”

“For me?”

“Yes. A holy relic imbued with my blessing. Will you take a look?”

Inside was a ring set with a diamond.

“If you wear this, incidents like fainting will be less likely.”

“I didn’t prepare anything in return…”

“I only wished to ease your burden. Please accept it freely.”

She smiled serenely, hands folded.

I gazed at the ring.

It is beautiful.

Nothing about it seemed suspicious. Yet because it came from the saint, unease gnawed at me.

Should I really accept this…?

Suddenly, a large hand reached out and snapped the box shut.

Johann.

With a lazy smile, he said:

“I’ve decided to turn the fake into the real.”

At those words, I could sense joy ripple through the room—from Betty to Erich, even the servants.

I widened my eyes at Johann.

“What… what do you mean?”

“You already know.”

His crimson gaze held only me.

“I swore to be with you forever. I won’t let anyone else take your first.”

He pulled out another box from his breast pocket—one that looked remarkably similar.

What on earth…

My mind froze. My heart, however, pounded wildly.

I stared blankly at Johann as he moved with the grace of a dancer, descending to one knee before me.

He opened the box before my eyes.

“Blue is the symbol of House Blanchet.”

Inside gleamed an antique ring set with a dazzling sapphire.

“This ring has been passed down through generations to the Duchesses of Blanchet.”

“…”

“And its only rightful owner… is you, Estelle.”

His handsome face softened with devotion.

“I want to entrust my future to you.”

An unexpected surge of emotion welled up. Tears pricked at my eyes.

“Thank you.”

In the original story, Estelle could have anything she wanted.

The villain filled her world with precious and beautiful things, indulging her every wish.

But the ring was never allowed.

As proof that everything was false, there was no ring in Estelle’s gilded cage.

“Right now, I’m so happy.”

“Do you like the ring?”

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been given one.”

Before me stood Johann—the villain of the original tale. His dazzling looks, imposing frame, tender yet confident demeanor…

He was irresistible.

But he was no longer the same man from the story.

“Put it on for me, Johann.”

Never breaking eye contact, Johann slipped the ring gently onto my finger.

Clatter!

Across the table, the saint dropped her cutlery.

At some point, her white veil had slipped away, revealing her golden hair quivering in anguish.

I thought saints never revealed their hair except to their spouses…

Stella stared at us in shock, her elegant façade fractured.