“I also think white flowers would be more suitable in that spot.”

Relieved Georgiana, who had let her guard down, earnestly joined Aris in contemplating.

“Exactly. Good. Let’s place the order like that. Hurry, Georgiana. We also need to call the stonemason because we’re busy.”

Georgiana, smilingly nodding, asked, “I’ll contact the clothing store. But why do we need a stonemason?”

Aris casually replied, “To create a place for the ritual.”

“What?”

“Since we don’t have much time, we can’t make it too extravagant. It should be beautiful and mysterious. So that my abilities stand out.”

“You’re building a new altar? What about the family’s altar?”

“We won’t use that.”

It was a clean but somehow delightfully joyful answer.

“Then?”

“I won’t use anything Eggrain prepared.”

“…What?”

Smirking, Aris, who covered the catalog with a thud, laughed lightly at Georgiana’s puzzled expression.

“I’m going to ruin Eggrain’s ritual.”

“T-that would surprise people, wouldn’t it?”

They would be surprised indeed.

A ritual without the presence of a priestess would be meaningless.

It would incur the wrath of the king.

Nevertheless, Aris shook her legs with a relaxed attitude.

“No need to be surprised. It’s not like I won’t perform the ritual at all. I’ll hold a separate ritual away from the family.”

“……”

“It’s okay. I just want to give Eggrain a little hard time. I’m a priestess, after all. Where I am is the altar, isn’t it?”

“But the Marquis…”

“He’ll understand when I explain later. I need to make it clear that I’m upset because of Eggrain. I’m a priestess.”

Georgiana couldn’t say anything.

Aris’s eyes were sparkling. It was pure malice, like a child tearing the wings off an insect.

“A useless sister suddenly receiving royal favor, getting close to the princess and prince, isn’t it a bit unfair? Lately, she even raised the wages of the servants with her own money. Pointless. Anyway, she’s revealing all the signs of nobility by herself.”

Aris, who chuckled, scrutinized Georgiana. Feeling embarrassed under her gaze, Georgiana swallowed her saliva.

Although Eggrain was somewhat displeasing, Aris was grateful for one thing—she didn’t set the king’s salary too high.

“Surely you don’t see your sister in a good light? Just for a small amount of money?”

“I would never. I will forever serve only the young lady!”

Feeling numb in her feet, Georgiana quickly knelt down.

“That’s what you should do.”
Aris took a jewel from her anklet and threw it to Georgiana.

Georgiana picked up the rolling jewel from the floor and bowed her waist.

“Thank you, miss.”

Aris, unable to hide the disdain in her eyes, wrinkled her face.

“What’s the difference between you and Eggrain? It’s just because of the way you look at it. Originally, I wouldn’t have to treat you specially. But to think that my dignity would be tarnished by someone like you, it’s ridiculous. Don’t you think so?”

“You’re right. No matter how many good titles you get, you can’t change your inherent blood. Miss Eggrain may be doing well now, but she can’t compare to you. After all, she’s from a back alley, right? It’s incomparable to being born with the blessing of the gods, right?”

The words spread out like clear water and were quite suitable to appease Aris’s mood.

Aris, in a better mood, laughed loudly, and Georgiana, who received the jewel, erased her uneasy feelings and smiled satisfactorily.

It is said that it rained a lot on the day I was born.

“[The blessing of water accompanies my daughter.]”

Hugging me and shedding tears, my father, with a yellowed face due to illness, recalled that day as if he missed it.

My father decided to send me away before he died.

I returned to my mother’s embrace after several years, but it wasn’t a wise decision, I think.

“[Although you are a child born of my pain, strangely, I don’t feel affectionate. I would rather find young master more adorable. He resembles only my father.]”

Because my mother hated me.

I could still vividly recall her voice when she complained to her fellow maids.

Hubert seemed to feel guilty for receiving my mother’s affection.

I was delighted.

He was the first ‘precious’ thing I saw since I was born. He emitted a very pleasant fragrance, his skin was clean and fair, and his voice was so gentle and affectionate that my body tingled.

Even without the murmuring, stealing, and touching of other people’s jewels, he was the first to make me think it was precious.

Young Hubert was also kind-hearted. Despite the gossip that he might eventually marry the daughter of a servant, he didn’t mind and treated me well.

Until the countess, suffering from the mismanagement of the former earl, faced extreme stress and died.

After that, Hubert turned into a snake.