Chapter 67
Chapter 67
The noble ladies stared at the Child of Destiny with astonished faces. The Empress Dowager, who had been on the verge of death, had become remarkably brighter after starting a conversation with the child.
At the suggestion that it would be good to bathe without salt and change into soft clothes, the Empress Dowager readily complied.
Although she had a gentle impression, it was surprising that the Empress Dowager, whom even the Emperor could not sway, was following the child's words like a doll.
The child even diligently applied cream to the Empress Dowager's body after she changed her clothes.
"What do you usually apply?"
"There's an oil the Priest gave me."
"How do you eat?"
"I'm eating mainly meat because they say strength is important to overcome the illness."
"That's strange..."
The child tilted her head and blinked.
"What's strange?"
"I think the Priest is strange..."
"Strange?"
"Many patients come to the Temple. Patients with unusual illnesses would try to get treatment by any means. Why wouldn't the Priest know about atopy, which even I know about?"
"That's..."
"Greasy oils and meat are bad for atopy. They say it makes skin conditions worse."
The Empress Dowager's eyes twisted viciously.
'The child is right.'
Somehow, she had been doing as the Temple instructed, but she had been feeling her condition gradually worsening. She had been trusting them with the desperation of grasping at straws.
If the child knew, the Temple must have known as well.
The fact that they hadn't given her proper treatment until now must have been to continue using her.
'Those wicked things!'
How much had she given to the Temple until now? She had helped the Temple's affairs even while growing distant from the Emperor.
"You're the only one who cares about me."
When the Empress Dowager said pitifully, LeBlaine smiled brightly.
"No!"
Then she scurried over to the noble ladies and said.
"How much do you think the ladies were worried about His Majesty? Everyone looked unwell because they were worried earlier."
"Is that so?"
The noble ladies' faces brightened as LeBlaine didn't forget to give them credit.
"Of course, Your Majesty. Everyone was so concerned that they couldn't show it, but they were worried with one heart."
"I won't forget the ladies' hearts. It seems I haven't lived in vain."
Until now, the Empress Dowager had only been close to the noble ladies who were close to the Temple, so there had been no chance to become friendly, but seeing their touched expressions, it seemed things would change from now on.
The noble ladies looked at LeBlaine with friendly eyes for creating this situation.
'Good, I've pleased the leaders of society.'
Not guessing her sinister intentions.
"After doing as the child said, it's less itchy than usual. What reward should I give to such a bright child?"
When the Empress Dowager asked with a chuckle, LeBlaine fidgeted with her hands.
"I'm okay. I'm just happy if Your Majesty isn't suffering."
"Goodness, how admirable. But at times like this, saying what you want makes me happier. Tell me. What do you want? A toy? Jewelry?"
"I'm okay... um, then I want a book!"
"A book?"
"I heard that Your Majesty has many precious ancient books. They say you are wise because you always keep books close."
As her fourth-life survival skills were activated, the Empress Dowager happily sat LeBlaine on her lap.
"Yes, I have a wonderful library. Choose. I'll give you whatever the child wants."
"Wow-!"
Seeing the happy child, the Empress Dowager smiled gently.
"By the way, what was the child's name?"
She, who had never remembered her name even during her three regressions despite giving her the name herself, asked her name for the first time.
It was the moment when the Empress Dowager of the Empire came into LeBlaine's grasp.
\\
Lane and I left the Imperial Palace with the Empress Dowager's book in my hand.
Lane asked, looking at me, who was excited.
"Don't you have several Ancient Language Books being kept in the territory?"
He looked like he was asking if it was that good.
"But it's different from the books in the territory!"
This is the Original Bible!
'I never thought this would be mine.'
I didn't necessarily intend to receive this.
It was true that I was trying to receive a gift that she cherished as proof that the Empress Dowager was in my hands.
But I said a book because it was the gift that the noble ladies would find most admirable for a child to want.
'Seeing that she chose the Original Bible herself and gave it to me, she has completely turned her back on the Temple.'
I cheered inwardly.
I had completely severed the relationship with the Temple and obtained the Temple's treasure that couldn't be bought with money.
It was a perfect ending.
'As long as I have this, it has become difficult for the Temple to touch me.'
Of course, including my guardian, Duke Dubled.
"If it were another child, they would have asked for a toy. Well, you said you could read Ancient Language."
"Yes."
"But you shouldn't reveal that you can read Ancient Language anywhere. It will cause troublesome things."
I readily nodded.
It was also pleasing to me that the fact that I could read Ancient Language was a secret only known to the Dubled family and high-ranking vassals.
When I returned to the mansion, my brothers were there.
"Is it true that you took the little one to the Imperial Palace?!"
When Isaac sharply questioned, Lane flicked his forehead.
"If you know, don't ask."
"The Temple guys are coming and going in the Imperial Palace right now, how could you take the little one there!"
"As soon as we left the mansion, I felt countless signs of Dubled knights. I thought we were going to war."
"You can't go inside the Imperial Palace."
"They wouldn't target the child at this time when there's trouble in the Temple. I'm not an idiot."
She took out a necklace from her clothes.
It was a necklace made by connecting a wooden piece engraved with the Imperial family's emblem with a thin string.
'Oh, that's the Amity Duke's Wish Token?'
I secretly called that necklace a wish ticket. Because it was said that you could make a request to the Emperor only once. It was a very special right, granted in very rare cases.
In my previous life, it was definitely Duke Amitie's.
'Ah, I see.'
In this life, Dubled recovered the Kruger Kingdom. It marked the end of the continental war.
Dubled did what Duke Amitie was supposed to do, and they received that necklace from Dubled.
It seemed that Lane had it because it was more necessary for her, who was managing the mansion in The Capital, than for Dad, who was in the territory.
'Yeah, with that, you can ask the Emperor to transfer the Priests.'
The Emperor, who was in a power struggle with the Temple, would have gladly transferred them.
Henri said.
"But Aunt, it is true that we must pay attention to LeBlaine's outings."
"The child is pitiful."
When Isaac shouted, "Why, is our little one pitiful!" Lane took off his coat and said.
"Excessive protection is confinement. Until when are you going to take away the things the child needs to know, see, and learn? Forever?"
Henri and Isaac's faces hardened.
"The child I saw today wasn't so bad that you had to lock her in a cage and protect her."
After Lane said that and left, the two became silent.
\\
Evening.
Dad came to me as I was rolling around, wondering how to use the Bible.
I looked up, wondering what was going on, and Dad held up a plate.
"Snack?"
"The maid said it rots your teeth, so she won't give it to you."
"I'm a knight now!"
"Whatever."
He pointed to the plate with a flick of his eyes, so I jumped out of bed.
I ate the cake Dad brought at the small round table next to my bed.
Dad, who was quietly watching me with his chin propped up, said.
"Did your brothers argue because of Lane?"
"Lane just talked to my brothers?"
"But as a result, she made the two of them argue."
I put the fork in my mouth and recalled Henri and Isaac, whom I had seen at dinner.
[Aunt's words are sophistry. She also protected Mother as if she were imprisoning her. You were the one who gave her a room without windows!]
[You must have realized that wasn't the right protection after Mother passed away.]
The two of them bickered a little, and in the end, they must have had a big fight.
"Do you want to meet people?"
"No!"
"LeBlaine."
"...A little."
I have loyal people who move on my behalf, but there are things I can't do unless I go out.
And I also wanted to experience other things.
This life was different from my previous life. Many things that were painful in my previous life became enjoyable in this life.
I used to hate taking baths. The Amitie family was frugal, so there wasn't enough warm water even in winter, and the Duke himself bathed in cold water.
They gave me warm water, but it wasn't enough, so bathing was always a painful experience.
But now I love it.
Bathing in overflowing warm water with good fragrances and chatting with the maids is one of my favorite things to do.
In my second life, I hated going outside. Duke Valua scolded me for embarrassing him if I fell on the street.
He nitpicked every action, so I wished I wouldn't go out.
But in this life, I looked forward to occasionally going to the shopping district in the territory. A large hand came over my head.
"We should have a tea party when we go to the territory."
"A tea party? I can meet kids my age!?"
When I widened my eyes, a faint smile appeared on Dad's lips.
"You do what you want. It's our job to worry about protecting you."
I seriously pondered.
'Isn't our Dad the coolest in the world?'
He's overprotective because he's worried about me, but he always makes the decisions I want.
I was moved and jumped into Dad's arms. And when I kissed him on the cheek, Dad's eyes widened.
He had never been kissed before, so he was very surprised and touched his cheek.
"I like Dad the best!"
"......"
"Yeah. The best."
Then, when I rubbed my face against his chest, a dazed answer came back from above my crown, "...Me too."
\\
The next day.
Duke Dubled attended the State Council, which was attended by only a very small number of powerful people among the nobles.
After discussing several agendas in a stern atmosphere, a break came.
Among the nobles, trivial chatter was exchanged as if relieved.
Marquis Montbel, who had been sitting solemnly, was fidgeting. Most of the retainers knew why that nobleman, who usually didn't even attend meetings well, had arrived an hour before the meeting started today.
His daughter, Ines Montbel, had become Empress Yvonne's lady-in-waiting.
She was the youngest of the Empress's ladies-in-waiting, who were selected from outstanding young ladies.
A young retainer brought up the topic with a feeling of "here you go."
"I heard that Young Lady Montbel has become the Empress's lady-in-waiting this time?"
Marquis Montbel raised the corners of his lips with a smirk.
He had been waiting for those words to come out.
"It seems she looked favorably on my daughter at the party the other day."
Marquis Montbel was one of the few who owned the most fertile territory in the Empire.
As a prestigious family with a long history, he was a prominent power holder who had received the right to vote in the Central Council, following in his father's footsteps.
The nobles laughed and agreed with his words.
"If it's Young Lady Montbel, it's understandable. I heard she was the most loved at my wife's party. I heard there are so many noble ladies who want to help with her education."
"Thanks to that, it's become very annoying."
"Annoying? It's something to be proud of. Isn't she the cutest daughter in the world?"
"Do you think so too, Duke?"
It was then.
Duke Dubled's hand, who had not been participating in the small talk, tightened.
He looked at the nobles.
As his cold blue eyes, which had gained experience on the battlefield, flashed, the nobles flinched and closed their mouths.
Could it be that he didn't like the agenda that had been decided?
Should we have raised the tax to 10 percent instead of 7 percent?
Or was he unhappy with the idea of attributing the magicians of other countries who had been brought as prisoners to the Imperial Palace?! Should we have just let him kill them as he pleased!
All the nobles had engraved Duke Dubled's ruthlessness and ferocity in their minds.
During the outbreak of the civil war, he still remembered the sight of him cutting off the head of an assassin who had invaded the Imperial Palace with a single blow and walking away with the head dripping with dark red blood.
They didn't know why, but it seemed like something had seriously offended him.
It was when even the Emperor, who was sitting in the highest seat, called out in embarrassment, "Hey, Duke."
Theodore Dubled, who was clenching his fist, looked at the frozen nobles.
"My daughter is the cutest in the world."
...Huh?
The conference room froze, and Marquis Montbel, who had flinched, swallowed hard.
--
