Originally, the townhouse in the imperial capital where Seria stayed was a temple building. Therefore, it was difficult to decorate it glamorously, and the food only appeared as "three divine meals", but the taste wasn’t so good. So much so that she suspected the reason that the original Seria went out every day was to hunt for good food.
The food at Berg Castle was a new world to her. She ate all the fancy food every day. She had to eat a good amount of calorie-rich food because she had to walk around the cold glacier every day. Since she has promised to do her best as a Stern and there's still plenty of winter left.
“Your Highness. I'm going to start checking the glacier tomorrow.”
“You don’t need to do inspection for a while.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I'd like you to be the temporary lady of the castle. The High Priest will be arriving at the castle in four days. "
“That was quick? Ah…Did you perhaps teleportation?”
“Yes.”
It’s not like he was reporting that the High Priest died. Why would he use something so precious? But when she thought about it carefully, she applauded his decision. From the High Priest’s point of view, all the news in the last few days in Berg's estate would have been like strikes of lightning. Seria Stern, who was scheduled to marry Marquis Haneton, suddenly married the Grand Duke of Berg. In addition, Saintess Lina was suddenly married to Marquis Haneton … Wait a moment. Something felt weird? Did the temple know that Lina and Kalis were married?
"Your Highness." Seria asked carefully. "Do you know that Marquis Haneton and Saintess Lina took vows of marriage?"
"Yes"
"….How?"
"As soon as Marquis Haneton returned, he requested a divorce. You were unconscious, so you wouldn’t have known."
Lesche frowned his forehead. "If you want to hear more details, ask your lady knight."
Seria raised her head to the sudden popping out of Abigail’s name.
“Aren't you curious about why your knight hasn't come to see you?”
" Abigail?"
Actually, Seria wasn't really curious. Because Abigail was an assassin and she always had places to go. She was sure that Abigail was needed somewhere else again this time. However, this time Seria almost died, so why was she not by her side? Where did she go? After seeing her expression changed in response to her thoughts, Lesche spoke.
"Go and see her after work. I'll let Alliot go with you."
"Thank you Your Highness."
She thought it’s probably not a big deal, or Lesche wouldn't be so calm….. Actually, no. She thought this man would still be this calm even if Abigail's head got cut off.
‘I'll have to go ahead and check it out.’
Seria nodded and stepped out of Lesche’s office.
‘As soon as Kalis returned, he requested a divorce.’
Seria recalled what Lesche had said earlier. If Kalis wanted a divorce, why Lina was still so happy when she saw him a while ago? For some reason, she had a feeling that Lina did not know about the divorce. Everyone knew about the divorce, but why didn’t Lina know? And if Lina knew about this, wouldn’t she be shocked?
‘If she does… How will it play out?’
3. Deteriorated reception
Seria didn't know Abigail was imprisoned. She touched her forehead in concern.
‘To throw punches at ten knights under Kalis’s command….’
Abigail refused to elaborate, so Seria was unable to hear the details of what had happened. However, when she pursued Alliot (Angel), who had followed her, and saw him shaking his head from side to side, she was able to get a relatively detailed description of the circumstances at the time.
Here’s the story.
By the time Kalis finally returned from the glacier, Abigail was already angry. However, Kalis’s status was too high for her to throw punches. At her last thread of patience, she knocked out Kalis’s ten knights.
‘Bibi is like a bulldozer.’ She sighed deeply.‘That's a grave insult to Marquis Haneton.'
Kalis was the man who ruled Haneton in the west. Of course, the western provinces were tightly held by Seria’s family, the Kellyden, but the western territory itself was very prosperous. Therefore, Kalis was very high in status, so the charge of the insult was more severe. Alliot (Angel) comforted her.
"Actually, what Lady Abigail committed was a crime. It was not a knightly duel, but almost a riot. Isn't that enough to be kicked out of the imperial banquet?"
"… Yes."
“She’ll get out of jail in a few days anyway."
"But the prison is too cold. What if she dies freezing?"
"You think Lady Abigail will freeze to death? Lady Seria….Are you seriously thinking that?"
Alliot (Angel) made a strange expression as he questioned her, which weirdly made Seria relieved.
"As soon as Abigail is released, we will bring her the warm beef soup and the thickest and finest cloak."
"I will carry it for you, my lady."
"Thank you, Alliot. You’re very nice. You’re like an angel."
"It's not a very pleasing expression for a knight to be called an angel."
Every day in her mind, she praised him as an Angel.
"I sincerely ask you to stop calling me that."
Eventually, she decided to call him Alliot again. Suddenly, there was a voice heard as they walked diligently outside the basement of the prison.
"Lady Seria! You are here!"
"Linon?"
Linon, Lesche's chief aide. He rushed over with heavy stacks of papers in his hands. Maybe it’s a joke to say that he was weak, but his breathing seemed like a person who would soon die.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes…. Ugh. I’m fine."
"What is that document? Is it for me?”
"Yes. Ugh…. Yes." Linon, who barely took his breath, quickly
answered.
"It is almost the expected time for the High Priest to arrive at the estate. As such, all decorations used for the year end party must be removed.”
Seria asked what she heard for the first time.
“Year end party?"
"Yes? Didn't you hear it from His Highness? Wasn't there a reception scheduled?”
"Yes."
The reception was scheduled following the wedding of her and Kalis.
"It's a waste to throw away all the food and flowers that I had prepared, and there are many nobles at the castle.”
“When is the party?”
"It's the day after tomorrow.”
"After tomorrow?”
"Isn’t the High Priest coming in four days?"
"Yes."
"But why are you telling me this?"
"I guess you really don’t know but the Hostess of the castle is in charge of it.”
She was puzzled for a moment.The castle the High Priest visits must be unconditionally and completely solemn. It was customary. Banquets are absolutely prohibited. Not even small parties are allowed. The number of food items cannot exceed three. In other words, after decorating the castle to hold the year end party, it must be necessary to remove all those decorations and put on a simple and clean cloth immediately before the arrival of the high priest, and then erase all traces of the party. It goes without saying that neat, fresh, and small dishes should be prepared to serve the High Priest and his companions.
“You want me to do all that in four days?”
Linon looked at her and continued.
"As a temporary hostess, my lady will have to work hard on all of these things…."
"It’s a lot of work, right? But surely His Highness said that Lady Seria is willing to do everything…"
Linon's creeping voice was replaced with the words Lesche said earlier, like an illusion.
"I'd like you to be the temporary hostess of the castle.”
Right. She almost forgot that Lesche was a man of strategy. He had allotted her to do something like this. She actually preferred this clean transaction method, because she was uncomfortable receiving his help with the marriage for free. It would be a bit scary if Lesche Berg had done something nice for no reason.
Suddenly her mind started to get busy. This is a retribution. Yes, repayment is not easy. She scanned through the thick paperwork, but there were more things to do than she thought, it's probably because the castle was so big. She moved quickly, tapping her feet. It was late at night when the work was done. The food for the reception party was checked, the wine and silverware stored in the warehouse, as well as the white tablecloths. As she was busy looking for flowers and curtains for the big table, she remembered that the covers for chairs and sofas also needed to be reupholstered, this gave her a chance to explore the cellar of the castle.
****
‘Afterwards, Alliot gave me a piggyback ride.’
She was going around on her feet, but Linon and Alliot, who kept following her, were extremely dissuaded. Well, the country would feel sorry, too, the person who collapsed bleeding at the wedding was overworked as soon as she came to her senses. She was able to get more work done than she thought, thanks to Alliot.
‘If I do a final check tomorrow, I can manage to hold a reception banquet tailored to the assortment. What would be lacking?”
When Seria finally returned to the bedroom, limping, the maids came in with a hot dinner.
“My Lady. Please eat. You must be tired. We have prepared something simple but hearty”
When she cut the goose meat with steamy ginger bread, hot mushroom stew and apple sauce, put it in her mouth, and chewed it tightly several times, she felt a little rejuvenated. After eating a piece of pie with plenty of candied fruit, her senses returned. Then she remembered what Linon said, “if you eat well, you will be motivated to solve tomorrow's problems. It's good for me when I'm motivated," he said, "because I have to do everything the Grand Duke tells me to do, whether I'm motivated or not.” She then drank her after-meal tea with some sadness.
Begonia replied to the message that Seria wanted her to fix the dress she would wear at the banquet, she also opened up two letters in front of her. One belonged to Kalis and one to Lina. She hadn't expected Kalis would write to her, let alone Lina. The content was even more surprising. She said she was sorry and that she wanted to be her friend.
‘Friends?’
That sounded really ideal. It's so classic that it made her laugh. It was already hard for her to be friends with her ex-fiancé’s lover, but to be friends with the current wife of the man who almost became her husband? It wasn’t worth spending time dwelling on it.
‘I can't keep my eyes open anymore.’
She thought she wouldn't be able to sleep today, but she was so tired after her bath that she felt very sleepy. She thought she was going to go and kill Kalis on a sleepless night, but she was glad she didn’t…. As soon as she buried her face in the pillow, she passed out.
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