Chapter 174
“Grandmother, look at that. If we took those glass pieces from the chandelier and sold them, we could make a lot of money.”
“You talk just like one of the servants from our estate.”
Edel, sipping wine leisurely, commented while gazing at the hall alongside Sarubia.
After parting with Rufus, Sarubia made her way toward Baroness Inferna.
“Are you enjoying the banquet, Baroness?”
“Thanks to you, I am, Saintess,” Baroness Inferna replied, nodding with a wine glass in hand. “However, it feels a bit empty without the true star of the evening.”
“By ‘star,’ are you referring to Prince Tarek?”
Sarubia glanced up. Prince Tarek was seated at a high position, looking overwhelmed by the constant greetings from the nobles swarming around him.
‘Sir Roroel… I hope you don’t get caught,’ Sarubia thought nervously, trying to calm her unease.
Meanwhile, Baroness Inferna subtly stepped closer to her.
“Do you truly think Prince Tarek is the main star of this banquet, Saintess?”
The way she asked the question made it clear that the Baroness thought otherwise.
“…Who do you think the true stars of this evening are, Baroness?” Sarubia asked cautiously, trying to gauge her thoughts.
“The soldiers who fought valiantly in the war against the demons, both those who sacrificed their lives and those who returned safely. They are the real heroes of this event, wouldn’t you agree?”
Baroness Inferna narrowed her eyes.
“Yet, I don’t see a single soldier here.”
“Oh, I see…”
“This place is as corrupt as a pigsty, no more, no less,” the Baroness said with a sly smile, gesturing to a servant.
After hesitating briefly, the servant approached to refill her empty wine glass.
“I know you can foresee death as the Saintess, but I fear for the future of this country,” Baroness Inferna said quietly, holding her wine glass once more after dismissing the servant.
“I truly worry whether this nation can survive as it is now.”
“…”
Sarubia fell silent.
It felt as though she had been struck on the back of the head with a hammer.
Baroness Inferna was right.
Here they were, hosting a grand banquet to celebrate Prince Tarek’s return, yet no event had been held to honor the soldiers who had fought in the demon war.
The common soldiers had received nothing. They hadn’t even been given a token of gratitude, and instead, the excuse of financial hardship had been used to deny them any form of compensation.
How utterly unfair.
“Please, don’t dwell on it too deeply. Just the ramblings of an old woman,” Baroness Inferna said, noticing Sarubia’s darkening expression and giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
“Edel, go fetch some cookies for you and the Saintess.”
“Okay!”
Edel cheerfully grabbed Sarubia’s hand.
“Let’s go, Sister Sarubia!”
Smiling, Sarubia followed Edel to the banquet’s refreshment table.
The tables scattered around the hall were filled with all sorts of light snacks for the guests to enjoy. Plates with gold trim displayed an array of colorful cookies.
“Cookies…!”
Overcome with excitement, Sarubia instinctively covered her mouth.
Butter cookies, gingerbread cookies, shortbread cookies—there were all kinds, piled up like small hills. Just looking at them made her eyes spin with delight.
‘Is this what heaven must be like?’
Happiness bloomed inside her like dough rising with too much yeast.
“Sister, look at this. A cookie shaped like a puppy,” Edel said, picking up a cookie and showing it to Sarubia.
It was a cookie shaped like a sitting puppy, with chocolate chips forming its eyes and nose.
“C-Cute…”
Without realizing it, Sarubia, as if in a trance, reached out and grabbed the cookie.
“How can something this cute exist?”
“Isn’t it? Let’s take it and eat it.”
“No, it’s too cute to eat! We should preserve it and turn it into a necklace,” Sarubia declared, excitedly wrapping the puppy-shaped cookie in a napkin before turning to inspect the other cookies.
As she and Edel moved around the refreshment table, a shadow suddenly loomed over them.
“Lady Sarubia.”
“Hm?” Sarubia turned her head and saw a blond man standing before her.
“It is an honor to meet you.”
Edel gasped sharply.
“P-Prince Camus!”
Edel’s face turned as pale as a ghost. It was understandable—he was still terrified after what had happened the day before.
Sensing Edel’s fear, Sarubia quickly pulled him behind her.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Prince Camus.”
“If you have a moment, may I speak with you?”
“…Yes.”
Sarubia nodded, handing the napkin-wrapped cookie to Edel, who was still hiding behind her.
“Take this and return to the Baroness for now, Edelweiss.”
“B-But…”
“I’ll be back soon.”
Sarubia smiled warmly as she patted Edel’s head.
“Wait for me, and don’t eat my cookie while I’m gone.”
“…Okay.”
Still frightened of Prince Camus, but comforted by Sarubia’s gentle smile, Edel mustered a bit of courage and nodded.
“I’ve been sending people to meet with you, but I regret that we haven’t crossed paths until now.”
Prince Camus led Sarubia toward a table reserved for the royal family.
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