I Was Adopted by the Villain Grand Duke Who Killed My Favorite Character - Chapter 92

To meet the Saint, one had to visit the temple in the capital.

Gerard, experienced in travel, knew the fastest route to the capital. It seemed I had made the right choice selecting him over those two.

Thanks to Tristan, who worked at the magic tower, permission for teleportation to the capital had already been granted.

Gerard, who was estimating the time until arrival, asked.

“Do you not need to inform Master Tristan? If he knew, he would probably rush over from the magic tower.”

“And what do you think he’d do after rushing over?”

“Well. He would comfortably transport us to the capital using magic, then beg the Grand Princess to take him along too.”

“Yes. He would absolutely refuse to leave.”

Gerard made a knowing expression. Still, as my escort, he subtly recommended staying with Tristan.

“The temple will be crowded, and we don’t know what might happen.”

“I’m an adult too. If I’m careful, there’s nothing to worry about.”

The Saint had not yet expressed any political intentions. Everyone seemed unable to resist the temptation of knowing the future and tried to gain the Saint’s favor through various means.

So as long as she remained in the temple, no one would do anything conspicuous.

“But when you meet the Saint, what will you talk about?”

“Nothing. You will go to the audience with the Saint, not me.”

“What? I think I must have misheard the Grand Princess.”

“You heard correctly.”

Gerard took his eyes off the map he was looking at and moved his lips. I smiled apologetically at his expression filled with countless question marks.

Although I had submitted an audience request to declare my reason for going to the capital, I couldn’t meet the Saint at that place.

‘Because she’ll be using a body double then.’

The temple didn’t want the Saint’s revelations to activate indiscriminately.

Probably the person I could meet through the audience request would be a body double prepared by the temple. I planned to leave such a troublesome meeting to Gerard.

Gerard, unaware of the inside story, was confused by my declaration.

“Weren’t we going to the capital to see the Saint?”

“You can see her diligently and tell me how it went.”

While Gerard meets the body double, I can meet the real Saint.

By the way, the Grand Duke was impressive for arranging an appointment right away. Gerard urgently took out a quill pen and prepared to write down my words.

“Then please tell me what I should say when I meet the Saint. What questions should I ask her?”

“I can’t think of anything in particular.”

“The Grand Princess, who finds everything troublesome, came all the way to the capital to see someone! Surely there must be something I can help with, so please tell me.”

Pressured by his enthusiasm, I casually mentioned some questions that didn’t really matter. Gerard carefully recorded all the questions on paper, then reviewed them again.

“Whether strawberry jam or fig jam on scones, which hand works harder between right and left, and whether a cat’s charm is its tail or belly. I’ve noted everything.”

Surely he won’t really ask all of those.

Even Gerard, who is as inflexible as a model knight, wouldn’t do that. Even Lucas wouldn’t do such a thing, so I shouldn’t worry unnecessarily.

While chatting idly with Gerard, the carriage arrived at the management office for teleportation.

Gerard got out of the carriage and completed the registration procedure. I watched his back through the carriage window.

Although I had boldly set out, I couldn’t guarantee things would go well.

“I hope the negotiation goes well.”

Without Heishar, I couldn’t use any magic. Finding the Saint and meeting her alone would be a big challenge from the start.

Still, if the female protagonist were the same as in the original story, there was a chance.

[Hela hoped that the Grand Duke’s rebellion she saw in her dream, would not happen. If she couldn’t prevent the rebellion, she at least hoped he would pay the price.]

I will join forces with the original female protagonist to prevent the Grand Duke’s rebellion.

That was my choice after long deliberation. Lucas, Tristan, Gerard, the maids—they all deserve to go their own way.

If I could prevent the Grand Duke’s revenge from destroying their futures, it was worth confronting him.

***

Upon arriving at the temple, Gerard wore a disgusted expression. From the temple entrance, there was a massive crowd.

The inside of the temple was filled with nobles waiting for an audience, and outside, commoners were lined up. The commoners seemed to be waiting for the Saint to come out of the temple to pray.

Gerard stood with me on the temple steps and looked down.

“This is incredible.”

“Everyone seems to be waiting even though they don’t know when the Saint will appear.”

“They say faith begins from the lowest places.”

Commoners felt closer to the Saint, who came from a common background, than to the imperial family who received power from the Divine Beast. Not a few commoners donated money they had saved when they heard the Saint had appeared.

I wonder what the Saint thought when she saw this scene. To come from a lifetime in the countryside and see this kind of scene in the city for the first time.

It must have been a great burden in any direction.

“Let’s go to the drawing room and wait.”

Gerard and I moved to the drawing room where nobles had gathered.

The drawing room where nobles were waiting was already full. Gerard barely secured one seat to make space for me to sit. Not long after, noisy sounds were heard.

A noble was arguing with a priest who was checking the waiting list.

“With the amount I donated, how is an appointment not yet arranged?”

“You can only meet her when your turn comes.”

“That’s why I’m asking when that turn will come, am I not?”

“Perhaps soon… ack!”

“Do you know what I do at the Imperial Palace? I will not overlook today’s rudeness!”

The noble, unable to contain his anger, grabbed the priest by the collar. Gerard, who carefully examined the noble’s face, whispered in my ear in a small voice.

“It’s Viscount Wiffen.”

Isn’t Viscount Wiffen a noble residing in the capital? He has no reason to claim he came from far away, and his violent behavior was unseemly.

Gerard watched the situation with a bored expression.

The situation steadily worsened.

“Please calm down! If you continue like this, the temple will have issues!”

“I said bring the Saint here right now!”

“I-Impossible!”

“Are you going to keep refusing?”

When the priest didn’t move according to his wishes, the noble raised his hand. I signaled to Gerard with my eyes to go and prevent the situation from escalating.

Gerard, meeting my eyes, quickly sprang forward and caught the noble’s wrist. Unlike when he was just watching, his aura was ominous.

“You must stop now. My master is displeased.”

“Let go of this! I might send a formal complaint in the name of House Wiffen!”

“Go ahead.”

The noble’s face contorted at Gerard’s indifferent attitude. He tried to pull his arm free from Gerard, but he couldn’t overcome a knight’s strength.

Gradually, the gazes of other nobles were gathering.

I signaled to resolve the matter before it grew larger. Gerard, nodding, broke the noble’s arm that he was holding.

Crack.

“Aaaaargh!”

Not only the watching nobles but even I couldn’t hide my shock.

The viscount, foaming at the mouth from pain, staggered and collapsed. The surrounding nobles screamed at the sight of his arm bent in a grotesque shape.

“I-I-I won’t forgive…!”

“Please send the medical bill to the Astarote Grand Duke’s knights. Viscount Wiffen.”

I put my hand to my forehead at Gerard’s words, which added fuel to the fire. Thanks to this, other nobles seemed to realize where we were from.

Since Gerard had received an honorary count title from the imperial family right after becoming a Sword Master, this situation wouldn’t be a problem on the surface.

‘Still, there was no need to escalate the situation like this.’

How does “stop him moderately” turn into breaking an arm? Gerard seemed completely unaware of what he had done wrong.

The curious gazes of the nobles gave me a headache. I tapped the back of Gerard’s hand, which was still gripping the noble’s wrist.

Thud!

As he loosened his grip, the viscount collapsed. I knelt in front of the viscount and smiled brightly.

The only way to smooth this over was for me to step in.

“Did you come from far away?”

“No! Actually, I’m from a family in the ca-capital!”

“I regret how things have turned out. Please send the medical bill to me personally, not to the Grand Duke’s family.”

“It’s fine! This kind of injury heals with just a bit of saliva! I-I’m sorry for exaggerating!”

The viscount, more terrified than when Gerard broke his arm, hurriedly left the drawing room. Behind me, Gerard sent a satisfied smile.

“Excellent, Grand Princess.”

“What’s excellent about this?”

This was all because of Tristan and Lucas running wild.

Why was he so scared and running away when I hadn’t done anything? Because of those two who reacted aggressively whenever my name came up, I had spread in the capital as someone not to be messed with.

“Master Tristan and Master Lucas would be proud if they saw this.”

Leaving Gerard to his sentiments, I approached the priest. The priest took out a handkerchief from his chest and wiped his forehead beaded with cold sweat.

Seeing his face as pale as a corpse, I felt sympathy.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes! I’m perfectly fine. All thanks to your help.”

As the situation was gradually being smoothed over, Gerard poured cold water on it.

“Grand Princess, this priest seems to know his place. Then there should be some gratitude for our help, right?”

“Ah, that…”

Though his tone was suggestive, Gerard’s eyes were anything but. The priest, hiccupping with a frightened face, spat out words as if vomiting his internal organs.

“I will try to advance your meeting with the Saint.”

The nobles who had witnessed the previous argument did not object.

In fact, the meeting time arranged by the Grand Duke was already close. Gerard smiled broadly with his eyes curved like a dog bringing back a ball he liked.

“Isn’t that great. It’s good to find someone reasonable.”

More like someone susceptible to threats.

Even Gerard, who was relatively rational, wasn’t normal. I deeply missed the house where the maids were waiting.

“I will guide you.”

The priest, who had left and returned, guided us to a lounge. As I followed the priest, I imagined the appearance of the Saint whom I had not yet met.

‘I hope I can meet her.’

The room where the real Saint stayed, not the body double, was underground.