Is this real?
A week after the family meeting, I was pondering while fitting together the puzzle pieces Nina had brought me.
Next to me was an assortment of delicious cookies, candies, jellies, and cakes, all sent by some of the gullible elders who had instantly believed that I was a saintess.
'He must have just said that to help me. I don't have any divine powers.'
Sighing briefly, I recalled the events of that day.
“It will come early. That’s my ability.”
That's what I had said.
I meant that my ability was knowing where to invest, but the conversation quickly turned into me being a saintess who knew where spring would come.
'Kiraxis must have aimed for that.'
But isn't claiming to be a saintess too big a lie?
My status had skyrocketed from a mere 'albino beastkin' to the 'saintess of the Magic Empire.' While I no longer had to worry about being kicked out, how was I supposed to handle this...?
'Oh, am I the one handling it...?'
As soon as they heard I was a 'new saintess,' the meeting hall had erupted into chaos.
Some said it was unbelievable, others demanded proof when spring arrived, and some called it a lie.
But spring would truly come.
'So... am I a fake saintess now?'
If they were going to make me act like a saintess, they could at least have explained it to me! I had expected an explanation after the meeting, but Kiraxis had simply vanished.
Frustrated, I squeezed the puzzle piece in my hand until it snapped in half.
“Ah-cha.”
“You're strong, Lady Florin. Was the puzzle boring?”
“No, I was just angry...”
“I see. Perhaps you're feeling cooped up since you’ve been stuck in your room due to the heavy snow today. Would you like me to play with you?”
“No, it’s okay, Nina, you’re busy.”
I shook my head maturely.
Of course, playing tag and hide-and-seek with Nina was a lot of fun... but I shouldn’t bother her when she was busy.
As it turned out, Nina was Kiraxis’s only maid. When I first found out, I thought he was a terrible person for making one person do all the work, but after hearing the full story, I was impressed.
'He captured an assassin sent to kill him and forced them into a 10-year obedience contract...'
I'll have to ask him to teach me that spell someday!
I was finding ways to adapt to living with this villainous family.
'It’s about time the head of the family contacted me.'
The situation had escalated so much that there was no way to back out.
Resigned to whatever might come, I pushed the puzzle aside and grabbed a crayon. Unlike oil pastels, which easily stained my white fur, crayons were perfect to play with.
'Let’s organize my goals.'
I started drawing a crown on the sketchbook Nina had given me. This was my conclusion.
'Since it’s come to this, I’ll be a fake saintess and a daughter-in-law!'
I didn’t know who my husband would be, but it would be one of the characters from the novel, I guess.
Of course, by the end of the novel, my husband would be head over heels for Raine. That was how the story went.
'I don’t have to love my husband, so that’s not a problem, but it would be troublesome if Driblyane fell due to a love triangle.'
If this family collapsed, I'd end up on the streets as well.
'So, I need to establish my own power base independent of my husband and support the family myself.'
And if my husband got stabbed and died?
'Then I’ll become the duke!'
I chuckled slyly.
'But it would be better to eliminate the root cause that makes this novel a tragedy.'
You never know where an unexpected variable might pop up.
I took out a pink crayon and drew three hearts. These represented the male leads from the later parts of the novel.
Among these three, only Dante was a direct descendant of this family; the other two were not.
Gerd was a collateral member with the blood of the Ricenbyum royal family, and Yuri was the youngest son of Ariadne, who had Imperial blood of the Magic Empire.
'These three have deep wounds from their childhoods. And they fall hopelessly for Raine, who understands and empathizes with their pain.'
It was a typical salvation cliché.
'What if I intercept that salvation cliché before Raine does?'
That would reduce Raine's influence, wouldn’t it?
I took out a red crayon and wrote down numbers. These were my concrete life goals from now on.
"Very good."
Looking at the squiggly handwriting, I grinned. Then, I reached out and quickly devoured a piece of brownie like a rich person.
I didn’t even lick the chocolate off my fingers.
'If this is how they treat a saintess, I’ll keep pretending to be one!'
In a state of bliss, I sprawled out, showing off my full belly.
“Is Lady Florin here?”
It was then that the long-awaited call from the head of the family finally came.
Throwing aside the crayons, I jumped up and grabbed Nina’s hand.
“I'm here!!!”
Let's go! Time to sell the Holy Empire's secrets!
* * *
“Look at this! New buds have sprouted!”
“Indeed, spring has come to the very place Lady Florin pointed out!”
“This is the proof, my lord!”
“Could it be that we indeed have a saintess in the Magic Empire?”
In the head’s private conference room, the atmosphere was intense.
Amid the excited shouts of the vassals, Immanuel Guillaume Driblyane stared intently at the scene in the vision stone. The land with budding new shoots and budding flower buds—proof of spring.
About a week ago, he had taken a gamble and purchased the entire Luxoria estate. This was the result of that investment.
“Master!”
Eventually, the door opened, and the butler brought in a white ermine, carefully cradled in a basket.
Immanuel watched as it was placed on the table, then scolded those around him.
“Why haven't you laid out the red carpet yet?”
Driblyane strictly followed a merit-based system. Even the heirs had to earn their keep through results.
'I knew that, but...'
To experience it so clearly.
The velvet carpet was so soft that it seemed like I might slip if I wasn’t careful. The fact that it was laid out just for me meant only one thing.
They acknowledged my ability!
The advantage of this villainous family was that they didn’t care about background as long as you brought benefits.
The Holy Empire style is to complicate matters with honor, lineage, nobility, and dignity.
But not in the Magic Empire.
Money is king!
“Child, what is your name?”
“Florin.”
“Florin, I will remember your name.”
Shortly after, I was sitting proudly in front of the head of the family, sipping honeyed milk. It wasn’t easy to lap it up with my face buried in a large cup, but the sweet smell was too tempting to resist.
“Hmm, yes. Being an albino, it must be hard to transform. I will have utensils and cups made that suit you better.”
“Thank you.”
“Ha, there’s no need for thanks. You are a treasure!”
“Hehe, then I won't hold back... Make me a dining table too! And add some shiny decorations!”
Why refuse when offered? I might as well get more.
I was sure that the personal items the head promised to have 'made' for me wouldn’t be cheap. They’d likely be miniatures with artistic value worthy of a museum.
I smiled broadly, leaning my cheek against the cup. It was a gesture to show off a bit to those gathered here.
