COARV Chapter 7

After becoming a Stern, I received a townhouse on the Imperial Capital's main street from the Grand Temple. Monthly dignity maintenance funds came as well. The amount was substantial, but my spending was more substantial.

Every day I wanted to drink champagne worth its weight in gold and bathe in water scattered with pearls. I commissioned new dresses weekly—bags, shoes, gloves, parasols went without saying.

'And the jewelry I bought.'

Jewelry was expensive. Since I agreed to pay in monthly installments, after I possessed Seria's body, I had to use all the dignity maintenance funds—minus living expenses—to repay that jewelry debt.

I finally paid it all off last month. Seria was originally such a breathtaking beauty that she received quite a few gifts from male nobles harboring dark intentions toward her. But honestly, most were useless gifts.

Flowers. Jewelry. Lace. Fans. Things like that.

'The flowers all wilted, and the rest wouldn't fetch much money even if I resold them.'

Plus everything was for women, so there was nothing I could really give Kallis. The demonic crystal bracelet I'd just taken out was the most suitable option.

'Demonic crystals are rare right now. They'll be extremely rare until Lina finds the demonic crystal mine later.'

After packing the bracelet away carefully, I was having tea with Abigail and the priestess when—

Knock knock.

The door burst open with urgent knocking.

"Priestess! This is terrible!"

It was an apprentice priest.

"Calm down. What happened?"

"The saint has collapsed!"

"What?"

The priestess shot to her feet. I stood as well, flustered. The apprentice priest who brought the news also delivered even worse information.

"And the celestium monument beside her is glowing transparent!"

"What?"

I nearly stumbled. Those words meant one thing. Lina had been revealed as a Stern.

No—the original villainess is sitting here obediently, so which fool who doesn't value their life...

'And it's too early.'

This is still the very beginning of the original story, so why? Most importantly, unlike the original, Lina hasn't even stabilized her divine power yet.

In other words, Lina could actually die.

I felt sudden chills. If the female lead dies? What happens to this original story?

I had no idea. I'd never thought about it.

"His Grace ordered me to bring the priestess and Lady Seria!"

"Me too?"

"Yes, my lady!"

'Me? Why me?'

I didn't know, but I couldn't refuse Lesche's command, so I immediately started walking. Abigail followed right behind me.

'The rumor hasn't spread yet, I guess.'

Berke Castle was teeming with nobles from Haneton territory and various other territories. But the news hadn't spread yet—the annex where Lina stayed was quiet.

Only those involved in treatment were running about busily.

"The saint?"

"She's past the crisis! Fortunately, His Grace the Grand Duke and Marquess Haneton were at the castle!"

"Thank goodness..."

The priestess exhaled in relief, then quickly approached Lesche standing by the door to greet him.

"Thank you, Your Grace. On behalf of those who serve the gods, I offer my respects."

Thinking she'd passed the crisis, the words that followed could only be favorable. The priestess, who had rushed over breathlessly, steadied her breathing and said:

"A new Stern has emerged. The saint knows gratitude—she will surely stay in Berke territory in the future to oversee the frozen lake, the glacier."

Lesche wore a rarely soft expression.

No, correction.

'This seems like a first.'

Had seeing the female lead in pain made him realize his feelings? Contrary to such expectations, the words from Lesche's mouth were unexpected.

"I'd like that in writing."

"Pardon?"

"As you know, Berke is sensitive about glacier protection. I'd like you to take responsibility and put it in writing, Priestess. Linon?"

As soon as Lesche called, his chief aide held out paper.

"Of course, I prepared it in advance. Priestess, here, sign here..."

The priestess signed in bewilderment.

'He really is a calculating male lead...'

I tried to slip away quietly. I had a feeling if I stayed nearby, they'd make me sign something promising to stay here all three winter months. I looked around, searching for where Kallis might be.

"Lady Seria."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Lesche called, so I stopped abruptly.

"Did you suffer like that when you manifested as a Stern?"

"No. My divine power as a priestess isn't as formidable as the saint's."

The moment I answered, Lesche's brow furrowed. I flinched and lowered my head.

'Why. What. Did I say something wrong?'

"Priestess."

Lesche's red eyes turned toward the priestess who'd signed in bewilderment.

"Didn't you know the celestium monument's effect increases proportionally with the amount of divine power? Did the saint not attend lessons properly? She couldn't have been unaware that divine power overflowed in her body. Yet she deliberately touched celestium and stirred up the castle like this?"

"That's... I believe she didn't think she could be a Stern."

"So she touched it by mistake, is that it?"

Lesche raised one eyebrow. When he gestured with his chin, the pale-faced Baron Aison was summoned. The noble hired as Lina's teacher.

"Baron. You tell me. What did you say earlier? Why did the saint touch celestium?"

"Well, the saint..."

Baron Aison glanced at me.

"She harbored a vague admiration for Lady Stern..."

'Me?'

I blinked.

'Vague admiration?'

So Lina touched the celestium herself? Admiring me? Wanting to check if she was also a Stern? Why so suddenly?

"Your Grace."

Baron Aison dropped to his knees. Thump. He too was a proud noble who received the fifth rank of nobility, but he couldn't compare to Lesche, a Grand Duke. That he knelt like this meant no one would think it excessive.

Baron Aison said with a pale face:

"This is entirely my fault."

"At least you know."

Lesche's expression was tremendously cold and blank. Slightly frightening, even. Then someone entered.

"Your Grace! The saint has awakened!"

While the priests' faces brightened, Lesche's expression showed no particular change. I could hear his chief aide Linon whispering to Lesche.

"Your Grace. Still, going in once for relations with the high priests..."

"Am I a nanny?"

"For that matter..."

Lesche exhaled with an annoyed expression. He seemed to consider briefly, then went in. The priestess had already rushed inside, so I had to go in too.

In the bedroom was Kallis. More precisely, he sat at the head of the bed where Lina lay, holding Lina's hand.

'So that's where he went.'

I frowned slightly when suddenly there was a voice whispering beside me.

"Lady Seria."

I was slightly flustered. The man who suddenly attached himself to speak was Linon, Lesche's chief aide.

"His Grace has been taking turns with him stabilizing divine power at the saint's side. Please don't misunderstand."

"I'm not misunderstanding."

I said it reflexively, then exhaled slightly.

"No. Actually, I almost did misunderstand. Thank you for being considerate."

Linon's eyes widened.

"You're very honest."

It was an admiring tone. I didn't know what part of my words impressed him, but Linon smiled faintly.

"Being considerate is natural. You are currently the most precious Stern in Berke. If you'd stay for a thousand or ten thousand years, I could do even more."

I almost laughed at the whispering voice, forgetting the situation.

Then—

"Ugh..."

Lina made a pained sound and opened her eyes with difficulty.

'It's bad.'

Her face was pale, her lips completely bloodless. She truly looked like a corpse on the verge of death. Despite the maids continuously wiping, cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

"Saint, are you all right?"

Her black pupils moved hazily. She looked at Kallis right beside her, holding her hand and stabilizing her divine power, and murmured:

"Kall... is...?"

"Yes, Lina! It's me! Are you conscious?"

Kallis gripped Lina's hand tightly. My gaze fixed on those two hands.

"It hurts..."

"You'll be fine now. Don't worry, Lina."

A soothing voice. I felt the maids sitting beside Lina glancing at me. Even Linon, who had explained the situation to me earlier telling me not to misunderstand, now kept his mouth shut.

Abigail whispered to me quietly:

"Should I cut off his hand?"

Just as I nearly turned around with 'What?'—

"Priestess."

Lesche spoke.

"As you know, Berke territory is extremely busy in winter. I can no longer afford to keep this troublemaker in the castle."

Everyone seemed to doubt their ears. About him calling Lina a troublemaker...

"Your Grace?"

Lina's eyes widened, clearly having heard. Regardless, Lesche called his chief aide.

"Linon, inform the Grand Temple. As soon as the saint can travel, I'll return her to the Grand Temple."

"Understood, Your Grace."

"Your Grace!"

Hearing those words, Kallis shot to his feet. He was extremely angry. Being someone who read Kallis's expressions very well, I felt that anger even more clearly.

"Your Grace. Isn't this too harsh? The saint didn't fall ill because she wanted to—how can you say such things in front of a patient?"

Lesche made an amused expression... no. A mocking expression.

"Can't I say what I want in my own castle?"

"...Still, it's too excessive. The saint is a patient."

"Well said. That damn patient. That 'patient.'"

Lesche gestured with his chin toward me.

"Your fiancée isn't in healthy condition either, but don't you think your priorities are wrong?"

Kallis froze momentarily.

"Anyone watching would think your fiancée is the saint, not Seria Stern."