PRKE 44

CHAPTER 44………………………………………

Her small frame and cute appearance are similar to Aris, but can someone really be this radiant?

Of course, perhaps because she was raised like a precious jewel, there is a somewhat arrogant streak in her, but compared to Aris, she could be called an angel.

I tilted my head slightly to look at Aris. Even while talking to others, she was conscious of us.

At that moment, a brilliant idea came to me. A way to catch two fish with a single bait!

I smiled at the still-pouting princess.

“Your Highness, I have a good idea.”

“A good idea?”

“Just a moment.”

I leaned close to her ear and whispered.

“How does that sound?”

The princess’s expression was serious.

“Of course, if you’re not inclined…”

Then she grinned and clapped her hands.

“That sounds fun! Even the King won’t object to it.”

Her voice was so loud that I instinctively turned my head. Those who were looking our way flinched and looked away.

However, a few did not avoid my gaze this time; they even smiled.

I clicked my tongue inwardly at their friendly expressions.

“Nothing but opportunists.”

Somehow, the cheerful conversation that had been flowing among them had stopped. Standing in the middle, Aris bit her lip.

Her smooth, beautiful eyebrows twitched.

I clicked my tongue inwardly again.

“I can guess what she’s thinking.”

She’s probably feeling humiliated.

And the cause, without a doubt…

My eyes met Aris’s. I smiled and waved, and she quickly turned her head with a sharp motion.

“Such a temper.”

I shrugged my shoulders and thought:

“It’s better to be prepared in advance, as expected.”

Squeak.

Thud.

Aris, lying on the bed, was flipping through a catalog from a famous clothing store. She glanced at Georgiana entering the room, then returned her attention to the catalog.

“What are you doing?”

The pages fluttered.

Georgiana, who had gone to check on Egrain under Aris’s orders, reported.

“After the rain ritual, I’m choosing the menu for the guests. In the morning, I drew seating arrangements. It seems like we’ve been busy all week preparing for the ritual.”

“Hmm. You’re working hard.”

Muttering as if it were someone else’s story, Aris suddenly gestured urgently.

Georgiana, who rushed over, lowered her head as Aris pointed at the catalog.

“Look at this. What do you think? Wouldn’t it be good to wear this dress for the rain ritual?”

“……”

Georgiana, who thought something terrible had happened, relaxed, but quickly changed her expression and pretended to study the catalog carefully.

If she showed even a hint of dissatisfaction, the rigid catalog might fly at her face.

Luckily, Aris hummed a tune, apparently unaware of Georgiana’s inner panic.

On the page Aris pointed to, a silver dress displayed an elegant posture.

Unlike Aris’s usual preference, the dress was form-fitting and long enough to drag along the floor.

It seemed more suited for Egrain than for Aris.

It was clear that some grudge remained from the time she couldn’t wear a dress from the Mobella store at the imperial envoy’s welcome banquet.

“Now isn’t the time for this. The rain ritual is right around the corner.”

Georgiana, who had been troublesome to Egrain and Jenny either alongside or ahead of Aris, still had a sense of faith as a kingdom citizen.

“What if the rain ritual goes wrong?”

It would surely bring divine punishment.

That uneasy feeling made her heart uneasy.

“Why aren’t you answering?”

Despite her annoyance, Georgiana forced a smile.

“The dress is very pretty, but wouldn’t it be a bit too fancy for you, Milady?”

“Really? Maybe a little. If only we decorated it with diamonds from the waist down.”

Aris tilted her head left and right, looking troubled.

It was clear she wasn’t paying attention to the rain ritual Egrain had prepared.

Georgiana’s gaze wavered with unease.

“She’s not going to pretend to be sick again, is she?”

No way!

Though Aris seemed reckless, she was careful when it came to the rain ritual.

Because her identity as a priestess was fundamental, she refrained from doing anything that could tarnish it.

“No. Too flashy isn’t good. During the ceremony, simpler is more beautiful.”

Fortunately, she didn’t intend to ruin the ritual.

Georgiana exhaled in relief.

“Ha… it’s a dilemma. Let’s think. Too plain isn’t good either. After all, the King himself will be coming to see me!”

Suddenly changing her mind, Aris excitedly pointed at various parts of the dress.

“Hm, should we decorate here and here with diamonds? Or maybe white flowers? Flowers could be nice. Not my style, but wouldn’t it suit better than jewels for that day?”

“I also think white flowers would suit it better for that occasion.”

Relieved, Georgiana seriously pondered with her, and Aris smiled brightly.

“Exactly. Good. Let’s place the order that way. Hurry, Georgiana. We’ll need to call the stonemason too, so it’s busy.”

Georgiana tilted her head.

“I’ll contact the clothing store. But why a stonemason?”

Aris replied casually.

“To make a place for the rain ritual.”

“Excuse me?”

“We don’t have much time, so it can’t be too fancy, but it has to be pretty and mystical. So that my abilities can stand out.”

“You mean a new altar? What about the family altar?”

“We won’t use that.”

It was a neat answer, yet somehow full of joy.

“Then?”

“We won’t use a single thing Egrain prepared.”

“……Excuse me?”

Georgiana’s confused expression made Aris snap the catalog shut and chuckle.

“I’ll ruin Egrain’s rain ritual.”

“Th-That will shock people!”

Not just shock.

A rain ritual without the priestess is meaningless.

It would incur the King’s wrath.

Yet Aris calmly tapped her leg.

“No need to worry. I’m not skipping the ritual entirely. We’ll hold a separate ritual away from the family estate.”

“……”

“It’s fine. I just want to ‘slightly’ annoy Egrain. I’m a priestess, after all. Wherever I am becomes the altar, right?”

“But Countess…”

“I’ll explain my intentions later, and she’ll understand. I’ll make sure she knows I’m upset because of her.”

Georgiana had no response.

Aris’s eyes gleamed. It was pure malice, like a child tearing insect wings.

“Isn’t it unfair that a trivial older sister suddenly gets royal protection, becomes close with the princess and prince? I heard she even raised her servants’ wages with her own money lately. Pointless. Always showing off her low-born traits alone.”

Aris scoffed and looked Georgiana over. Flustered, Georgiana swallowed.

Though she was dissatisfied with Egrain, Georgiana appreciated that Aris had at least set wages high, which Aris normally didn’t do.

“You’re not one of those who likes her too, right? Over a few coins?”

“Of course not. I will serve only you, Milady, forever!”

Georgiana, whose legs tingled, quickly knelt.

“That’s how it should be.”

Aris took a jewel from her anklet and tossed it to her.

Georgiana picked it up from the floor and bowed.

“Thank you, Milady.”

Unable to hide her disdain, Aris frowned.

“What makes Egrain any different from you? She’s called ‘older sister’ just because of who she knows. Otherwise, she wouldn’t even deserve treatment. But she dares to humiliate me? Doesn’t make sense. Don’t you think?”

“You’re right. No matter what titles she gains, she cannot change her birth. Even if Egrain is doing well now, she can’t match Milady. She’s from the back alleys by birth, after all. She cannot be compared to Milady, blessed by God.”

Georgiana’s smooth flattery suited Aris perfectly.

Aris laughed loudly, pleased, and Georgiana, having received the jewel, pushed aside her unease and smiled in satisfaction.

The day I was born, it apparently rained heavily.

[The blessing of the divine accompanies my daughter.]

Father held me and cried, his face yellowed from illness, recalling the day wistfully.

Before dying, Father decided to let me go.

I returned to Mother’s arms after several years, but I think it was not a wise decision.

[Though I gave birth to her, I strangely can’t feel affection. She doesn’t feel like my child. I even prefer the young master more. He takes after his father, at least.]

Because Mother disliked me.

I can still vividly recall her voice complaining to a maid.

Hubert seemed to feel guilty for having the affection Mother withheld from me.

I was happy.

He was the first ‘precious’ thing I had ever seen. He smelled wonderful, had clean white skin, and his voice was gentle and kind enough to make my whole body tingle.

Even without anyone’s whispers, I could tell he was from a different world.

I had seen and even stolen jewels before, but never thought of one as precious until I met him.

Young Hubert had a kind heart. Despite whispers that he might one day fall for a maid’s daughter, he treated me well.

Until the previous Countess, stressed by her husband’s disastrous management, passed away.

After that, Hubert became a snake.