THE TRAGEDY OF THE VILLAINESS

Chapter 195: Side story 7

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“I’m really curious what the other Sterns are like.”

Susan was excited. Ben was no different.

“I am very curious. Grand Duchess.”

Susan and Ben, who seemed to have been sleepless the previous day with anticipation, seemed to have grasped everything in five minutes after Myote entered.

‘Oh my.’

Myote looked up at the silver tree and looked back at me.

“In the subjugation battle, you broke your ankle and could not walk properly. Are you walking well now?”

 “Myote Stern fainted and was carried on a knight’s back like it was just yesterday, but now you look well.”

“I’m not a kid, and I can’t stay stunned for a long time.”

“Same here. My ankle was healed a long time ago.”

“Come to think of it, I’ve heard that before. If you have a strong personality, you don’t get sick. “

“Thank you for saying what I wanted to say.”

Ben and Susan, who had followed up to the silver tree as a sign of hospitality to Stern, were seen startled with wide eyes.

Myote opened her mouth as she sat down at an outdoor table under the silver tree.

“I didn’t know that you were all well, and I brought a bunch of medicinal herbs as a gift for my visit. I see it’s useless now.”

“I will keep it well for entertaining guests visiting the Berg Castle.”

“Give it to at least guests with the title of Marquis or higher. I’ve carefully selected expensive and precious items.”

“Since Myote Stern’s sincerity cannot be ignored, should I receive only nobles who visit the castle with the title of marquis or higher?”

“Oh. That’s not what I’m saying. If the intent is to insult me, you succeed.”

“Should I openly curse at the precious Stern?”

“I’ll do it behind the scenes.”

I smiled and leaned back on the chair.

“What’s the point of swearing behind your back?”

“Well, that’s right.”

Myote Stern answered in a proud voice.

“And I don’t care because I don’t need to come to the Central Territory for the next 60 years.”

“Enjoy yourselves in your spare time.”

“I’m counting on it.”

The rustling of expensive tea cups echoed through the quiet field.

“Hmmmm…”

Henoch, who had no presence like an invisible human between me and Myote, coughed awkwardly. He lifted the cup and opened his mouth.

“I wondered if Myote Stern liked this place…”

“I don’t really like it.”

“…You seem to be pleased enough to be here for five hours.”

Myote only tilted the teacup without saying a word.

Myote and I already stayed here for five hours. We could never get out from under the silver tree. And High Priest Henoch was sitting here with us.

As the time I spent here became too long, the castle was busy procuring various items under the silver tree.

Thanks to this, in just a few days, all kinds of things had been added under the silver tree.

A beautiful white tablecloth embroidered with lace was spread on the round tea table. The chairs were padded with soft cushions, and the variety of refreshments became much more varied.

So, enough to survive for five hours…

From the wooden baskets brought by the employees, there were endless snacks. Only outdoor refreshments could be served as an exception, so the chefs of the castle prepared it diligently.

“In the castle, I eat frugally at every meal.”

High Priest Henoch smiled as he looked at the newly set table. His gaze turned to the cherry candies in a pretty glass bottle. 

“Why are you smiling?”

I was wondering.

“Come to think of it, Myote Stern has been very fond of this since she was a child.”

Myote Stern’s arrogant expression was still there, but for a moment there was a rattling sound of the teacup. I knew right away that Myote Stern was embarrassed.

High Priest Henoch smiled warmly.

“The Grand Duchess knew and prepared it.”

“Not really.”

“Sure.”

I lifted my chin slightly. The High Priest didn’t even bother to hide the smile that appeared on his lips.

“Myote Stern has a childish taste, but it is still Stern’s taste. Of course, I have to consider it from the perspective of the host.”

“….”

“Myote Stern seems to think that this gigantic silver looks like this fruit compote.”

“….”

Myote did not answer, but High Priest Henoch laughed softly.

“Definitely, you can set a new record in the Great Temple, saying that the Sterns prefer the giant silver tree.”

High Priest Henoch gave a few words to the priest behind him and spoke with a smile on his face.

“The Grand Duchess also stayed here for five hours for several days.”

Myote Stern, who was slowly drinking tea like a thirsty person, put down her teacup. She said with a smile as if she was having fun.

“So the Grand Duchess just stuck here every day.”

“It seems that guests do not want to leave this place either, so I’m guarding this seat as a hostess.”

“I didn’t know you were such a considerate person.”

“I hope you know it by now.”

“…you two.”

High Priest Henoch made a perplexed expression on his face.

“Can I ask why you don’t get up at all when you say that?”

“….”

“You seem to really like it…”

Now, me and Myote Stern silently tilted the teacup.

Ben, who was standing behind me, approached and poured new tea into Myote’s empty teacup.

High Priest Henoch said with a smile.

“It’s a blessing to have something that Sterns like in the Grand Duchy of Berg.”

It was a bit embarrassing, but it wasn’t wrong. I felt like a bee stuck to honey. Even if I find a holy relic that suits me, my heart is pounding because I want to own it, and I wondered if the answer would come out in a moment saying that I could live here for the rest of my life for this huge silver tree.

“The weather is nice… I’ll go in after a while. The High Priest can go back first.”

“No. I’m with you.”

Henoch was a High Priest, not a Stern, but I didn’t understand why he also liked this silver tree so much and stayed to talk about various things.

He seemed to be secretly worried that Myote Stern and I might have a fight.

Well, it was understandable because all the priests were worried.

“You two…”

High Priest Henoch said with a tired face as if he had already run out of things to talk about.

“Now why don’t you go back to the castle? It’s already seven hours.”

***

“Thanks to you, they left early in the morning after all four days.”

Susan said with a smile.

It was the day Myote and Henoch had just left the castle. In the meantime, some of Berg’s employees, who had been visibly nervous, said they would take a leave of absence.

The tension was relieved but they felt sick.

I understood. Because it wasn’t easy to meet Sterns and the High Priest.

Moreover, whenever Myote and I had a conversation, it was almost visible to the naked eye that the nearby employees were stiffening.

It was surprising that Susan and Ben were only smiling skillfully the whole time.

‘It’s just daily life.’

In fact, Myote Stern and I were already hostile to each other like that. I said looking at the hardworking employees, especially Ben and Susan.

“You both lost some weight.”

Ben and Susan looked at each other and laughed.

“Because everyone had simple food. The chef is excited now.”

I mean, how sad it must have been for a person who excelled at cooking delicious food not to be able to make use of his/her skill. From today, it was clear that only very luxurious and expensive foods would always be served.

I headed to the dining room.

As soon as I opened the door and entered, the person sitting in the chair jumped up.

“Grand Duchess!”

“It’s been a while, Chloe. Sit down.”

“Yes!”

I had a meal with Chloe. Salted and herbed roast goose, steamed beef, and butter and honey dripping over the fluffy pancakes. Raisins and almonds in a small silver bowl were fully filled, and the leafy vegetables served in the salad were cold and fresh.

Chloe looked nervous, but her tongue was honest and she ate very well. When I was almost finished eating and dessert came out, I spoke first.

“Okay. Are you ready?”

“Of course!”

Chloe quickly handed me the report. After reading the neatly organized reports one by one, I smiled brightly.

“I’ll build the magic tower within three years!” (*remember Seria said she will build the magic tower in 10 years 😂, now it reduced to 3 years.)

“Thank you!”

Inside this report was written about the curse on the green manor.

Magi disappeared after I purified it, but Martha was still tied to the green manor. 

“She helped me a lot.’

 Although Chloe took the initiative in preparing, she even opened a top secret book about witchcraft in the Great Temple. It seemed that she had not forgotten that I had suffered in the battle against the beasts.

I immediately gave Chloe’s wizards and Berg’s aides a pass to the Laurel Manor. This was because of Chloe’s explanation that it was a complex curse magic that requires meticulous preparation in advance to solve it.

Because Berg’s knights were also accompanying them, a noisy procession began to form.

 “Uh, but Grand Duchess…”

Chloe sneaked up and asked in a hesitant tone.

“Didn’t you spend a lot of much money to dispel this spell?”

“I did. Why?”

Chloe asked cautiously, rolling her eyes back and forth.

“…But wouldn’t it be too difficult to build the tower within three years?”

It was a strange question. I raised my eyebrows as I re-read Chloe’s report. Chloe sighed and rolled her eyes.

‘She’s still very scared.’

“Chloe.”

I said as I turned a page of the report.

“Originally, scholars don’t care about money. Research funding? That’s the law that should be provided by the party entrusting the research, not the one doing the research.”

Chloe’s eyes twinkled. I understood everything. As I, who had to support research funds, suddenly spent a lot of money, she thought that I might stop the research.

Apart from that I was the Grand Duchess of Berg…

I tapped Chloe on the shoulder.

“Don’t be discouraged. Chloe.”

“Yes….?”

“I have a lot of money.”

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