The Sickly Grand Duke is Obsessed with Me

iced her concern and smiled kindly, then brought it up.
“Are you worried that our family money will dry up?”

“…more than that, I’m concerned about Father’s health.”

“What’s wrong with my health?”

“Father already has many things to do for this family, but I’m worried that you will collapse as there are many things to do.
This time, not only grain but also daily necessities were generously given, right?”

“Ahem, there seems to be a misunderstanding.
It’s… something I’ve done every year.”

Elusiana’s neck got cold on a bigger scale than she thought. No… Are you saying that’s it’s a misunderstanding now? If you give them everything, will even the family wealth remain? Even if there wasn’t a gold digger, it’s like pouring water into an empty dock.
The warehouse will eventually become empty, and the family will be ruined, Father.

Without knowing her frustration, Simon stroked Elusiana’s head.
“Don’t worry about anything.
I will protect you as much as I can.”

Elusiana tried to say more, but she sighed inwardly.
Simon was more stubborn than she thought.
Although she was also stubborn, she kept her mouth shut as she kept thinking of the skinny faces in the slum she saw yesterday.

“Don’t worry about this father, and take a rest, Lusi.
I will come back safely.” Simon, who gave Elusiana a big hug, left the room.

Elusiana looked out the window again.
A carriage with the pattern of Viscount Waieos could be seen leaving the main gate.

Is it because of the heavy rain I haven’t seen in a while? She felt strangely uneasy in the corner of her heart.

 

* * *

 

“It’s a rough road, but fortunately, you came.”

An old priest in a white priest’s uniform greeted Simon with a benevolent smile.

“I promised, so I have to keep it.”

“You’re right.
Come this way.”

The old priest guided Simon into the temple.
As they reached deep inside along the white and long corridor, an antique-looking door appeared, unlike the monotonous entrance.

“You can go inside.”

“…thank you.”

The old priest smiled and went back the way he had come.
Simon took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

When he opened the door and entered, he came into the room filled with all kinds of valuables.
It was too fancy to be the room of those who worship God.
And—

Again… this scent.  The unique scent that came from the High Priest’s room.
The scent reduced his concentration as time went by.
Simon’s eyes frowned automatically.

“May God bless you.”

“May God bless you too.”

“Viscount Waieos, please have a seat.”

The high priest, who invited him to sit down with a kind face, put down the prepared tea and sat across from him.

“Take a sip.”

“…thank you.”

After swallowing a sip of tea, the high priest spoke strangely, “You need the special ointment?”

“Yes.”

“Have you already used up everything I gave you the other day? With that amount, you could use it for several months.”

“…it happened because I used it so generously.”

“Umm, I’m in a very awkward position.
As you know, many people are waiting because the ointment is precious.
Some people have to wait for more than a year.”

“I know.
I’ll give you… enough donation.”

The high priest, whose eyes flashed at Simon’s words, pushed the wooden box foward on the table.

“You did well to take special care of it.
I put in plenty of that.”

“…thank you for caring for me.”

“But… I heard you had some problems in the slum yesterday.”

Simon’s eyes subsided as he opened the wooden box lid to check the goods.

“The news traveled so fast.”

“I heard that your daughter visited the slum herself.
Is that why the charity was stopped?”

“…that part will be dealt with today.”

The high priest lifted the teacup with one corner of his mouth slightly raised.

“Of course you should.
The Viscount, who swore in the name of God, shouldn’t go against his will.
Don’t you think so?”

A slight wrinkle formed between Simon’s forehead, which sighed inside.

“Nothing will go against God’s will.”

“I believe so too.
He saved your daughter’s life with great difficulty, so you cannot lose her in vain.
You have to keep that in mind.
There is no mercy in God’s wrath.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.
Then, can I go out now?”

The high priest who put the teacup down smiled and nodded.

“Of course.
I can’t stop you from following God’s will.”

Standing up, the high priest put his palm on one side of his chest and slightly bowed his head.

“Then, I’ll see you again next time.
May God bless you.”

“May… God bless you too.”

When Simon left the room, the high priest moved to the window.
A pot with small and pretty flowers was placed by the window.
He looked at it and whispered with a gentle smile.

“You did a great job today too.”

Creek, the high priest who opened the window, poured the pot of purple flowers out.
No matter how excellent his purification power was as a high priest, it would be poisonous to smell it for a long time.

A flower that truly transformed your earnest desire into truth.
The name of this kind of flower was ‘Flower of Hallucination.’ 

 

***

 

T/N:

Benevolent, and honorable behavior considered to be the responsibility of nobility