Chapter 86:
A boy appeared in the slums, dressed in luxurious clothing, as if he had run away from home.
The children stared at him, unable to look away. If it weren’t for her running away, she would have been as carefree and indulging in luxury as he was.
As the children looked at the boy, she remembered what had happened half a year ago. The emotionless faces of the family members, the parents who showed no interest with their emotionless eyes.
Normally, one would think that she was unfortunate, but after living in the slums for half a year, she realized how fortunate she had been.
‘Mom, Dad…’
As the child thought this, tears welled up in her eyes.
“Hmm? Are you hurt?”
The boy, who seemed to be from a noble family, approached with a worried expression and asked. The child shook her head in response to his question.
Just as she was about to speak, their stomach growled.
‘Oh, that’s right. I didn’t eat anything yesterday.’The boy in front of them heard the sound and rummaged through his pockets. Soon, he took out a cookie that looked expensive to anyone who saw it.
“Hmm, this is all I have… Eat this.”
“Thank you.”
The child eagerly accepted the cookie he offered and began to eat it.
Crunch, crunch.
The child devoured the cookie like a vacuum cleaner, and tears began to flow from their emotionless eyes as they remembered their life in the mansion. The boy was startled by the sudden crying.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
The boy didn’t know how to react and started to panic. Suddenly, he remembered what his late mother had told him.
‘Kaine, when a woman is crying, you give her this to wipe her tears.’
The boy took out a napkin from his inner pocket and carefully wiped the child’s tears, which were falling like chicken droppings.
“Huh?!”
The child was startled by the boy’s sudden approach and couldn’t help but look at his face.
His eyes were a little sharp, but they were big, his nose was distinct, and his skin was smooth despite his chubby cheeks. Perhaps it was because they were looking at a boy their age so closely.
For some reason, her face started to turn red. As the child’s cheeks turned red, the boy turned his head back and said,
“Okay, all done.”
The boy nodded with satisfaction, and the child let out a disappointed sigh.
“Ah…”
At that moment, a scary-looking butler rushed over.
“Young Master, you shouldn’t be walking around alone.”
“Huh? Why? Isn’t this land owned by my father too?”
The butler knew that explaining to a child wouldn’t make any sense, so he changed the subject.
“Anyway, the head of the family is looking for you.”
“Huh!”
The boy swallowed his breath, thinking that he had been caught sneaking out.
“Quick, let’s go back.”
“Yes, I understand.”
As the boy turned to leave, he suddenly turned his head back as if he had remembered something.
“I’ll come play again later!”
He said with a bright smile. From that day on, the boy visited the child every other day.
.
.
.
Lise was lost in thought, her eyes closed, remembering the day she first met Kaine.
“Lise, what are you thinking about?”
Kaee tilted his head and asked. Lise, startled out of her reverie, replied in a calm tone.
“Just thinking about something from the past.”
“Hmm, I see. By the way, Master, are you ready?”
“…”
She couldn’t bring herself to agree. After all, she couldn’t be sure.
To be honest, she was happy when he said he would rescue her, but on the other hand, she was also worried.
She was afraid that she might be putting him in danger. These thoughts were swirling in her mind.
‘Please don’t push yourself too hard, Kaine.’
As she thought this, she placed her hands on her chest.
-Footsteps approached.
Lise, sensing the presence, immediately recognized it and said to Kage,
“Junior, transform into your original form.”
“Okay.”
Kage nodded without hesitation and transformed into a dog. A minute later, there was a knock on the door.
-Knock, knock.
“May I come in?”
“Yes.”
Gerard, the head of the Ripford family, opened the door and looked at Lise, who was wearing a pure white dress, with emotionless eyes.
“Even though you’re defective, your appearance is not bad.”
“…”
Lise wanted to curse at him, but she knew it wouldn’t change anything, so she just glared at him. However,
-Woof! Woof!
Unlike Lise, Kagee was bothered by his words and barked with her eyes wide open. Gerard looked at the barking dog with a stoic expression, then turned his gaze back to Lise.
“As I said yesterday, don’t even think about doing anything stupid. Many nobles, as well as royalty and the Saint, are here today.”
“The Saint…”
It must be Ange.
It had to be her. Yesterday, Gerard said that the Fate’s Saint.
‘Is this part of Kaine’s plan?’
It was hard to guess. Judging by Gerard’s reaction, he must have sent the invitation from the beginning.
Since she didn’t know if her name was on the invitation, she couldn’t predict what would happen.
‘Maybe it’s because the two ducal heirs are getting engaged.’
As Lise was deep in thought, Gerard spoke.
“It’s time. Let’s go out when they call us.”
Gerard left the waiting room. Lise picked up Kage and patted her gently.
“Kaine will come to rescue me.”
“Woof.”
Kage nodded and barked softly. Yes, he will come to rescue us.
.
.
.
At the the Church of the Goddess of Fate the Ripford family and the highest-ranking people on the continent of Leiston had gathered.
“I never imagined that the daughter of the Ripford family would appear at the last minute.”
“I know, right?”
“I wonder what she looks like…”
As the nobles conversed with curiosity, the door opened.
Creak.
Ange, the Saint, entered the room. The nobles were surprised to see her, as she was only supposed to be the officiant at the engagement ceremony.
In reality, it was absurd for her to be present at such an event. Ange’s schedule was like hell itself.
So, it was surprising that she had come as the officiant for the engagement ceremony of the two ducal heirs. The nobles were momentarily shocked, and then Skaya appeared behind Ange.
She scanned the surroundings.
‘… Only one royal family member came.’
The royal family, who even the dukes had to bow down to. In fact, one of the people at the top of the pyramid.
Leiston Von Patrick.
Aside from the second prince, no other royal family members had come. Skaya glanced at him.
His golden hair swayed in the wind, and his features were so handsome that any woman would fall for him. A typical prince charming.
‘Hmm… The royal family must have sent only him.’
Even someone who didn’t know the situation would have realized that this engagement ceremony was suspicious. After all, it was too sudden.
The engagement between the two ducal heirs felt out of place and abrupt. I’m sure that other nobles would also sense something strange. After all, the sudden appearance of the Ripford family’s daughter was a major event in itself.
Skaya looked at Lise, who was about to be engaged… or rather, fall into ruin, and Marin, who would soon be in the same situation.
‘… He looks disgustingly sleazy.’
As they were both from ducal families, she had seen him a few times before, and nothing had changed. He always gave off a slimy feeling.
‘Lise, just hold on a little longer. Kaine will rescue you.’
As Skaya was thinking this, Ange, who had stepped onto the podium, shouted.
“Introducing the daughter of the Ripford family, Ripford Von Lise!”
Everyone’s attention turned to the door of the Church of the Goddess of Fate. There, Lise stood in a spotless, pure white dress.
The nobles in the church were amazed at her beauty.
Even Skaya, who knew her, was surprised by her appearance.
‘… I knew Lise was pretty, but with makeup and a dress, she looks incredibly beautiful.’
The people in the church murmured as they looked at Lise.
“That person is the daughter of the Ripford family.”
“She’s so beautiful. Why did she only reveal herself now?”
“That’s right… With her looks, she could have easily formed her own faction.”
The nobles in the church were buzzing with excitement. Lise walked slowly, attended by her maids.
She stood next to Marin, who looked at her with lustful eyes and whispered so that only she could hear him.
“Yesterday, you said you wouldn’t get engaged, but you came all dressed up.”
“Shut up. Before I rip that mouth of yours apart.”
Lise responded with a harsh curse. Just talking to him made her skin crawl.
His gaze was so disgusting that she almost felt like throwing up. Skaya looked around for a moment.
Numerous nobles’ gazes were fixed on her. Among them were people she had been close to since childhood, such as Skaya, the second prince of the royal family, Patrick, her parents Gerard and Mirazen, and members of the Valentina family.
Quite a formidable group. However…
‘Kaine isn’t here…’
That’s right. The young master she had been waiting for wasn’t there. To be honest, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t expecting much.
Considering the incidents he had solved in the past, she had hoped that he might be able to solve this one as well. But even Kaine couldn’t have solved this in such a short time.
As Lise clenched her lower lip and trembled, Ange spoke.
“Valentina Von Marin, do you swear before the Goddess of Fate that you will love Ripford Von Lise in times of joy and sorrow, in times of hardship, and fulfill your duties as a spouse?”
“Of course.”
Marin responded with a twisted smile. Ange’s gaze shifted to Lise, who was trembling with emotion.
“Ripford Von Lise, do you swear before the Goddess of Fate that you will love Valentina Von Marin in times of joy and sorrow, in times of hardship, and fulfill your duties as a spouse?”
Lise bowed her head deeply. She clenched her fist and whispered quietly.
“I can’t…”
“Huh?”
The nobles in the church tilted their heads, unable to hear her clearly. Lise pointed her finger at Marin and shouted.
“I absolutely refuse to get engaged to this disgusting, sleazy man!”
As soon as she finished speaking…
-Woong!
A giant screen appeared in the church, as if by coincidence.
-Andrew, things are going according to plan.
On the screen, Marin was communicating with someone through a communication crystal ball. Marin, whose attention was drawn to the people in the church, was surprised to see himself on the screen.
The people in the church turned their attention back to the screen.
-That’s right. Just in case, I asked if you had been found out by your fiancée.
-Yes, that’s correct. She doesn’t even realize that she’s being used.
-I understand. Then, let’s proceed with the plan with Gerard.
-Yes, I understand. All of this is for the sake of the cult.