How to Live as the Terminally Ill Younger Sister of the Villain - Chapter 88
“A secret?”
Angelina quickly scanned her surroundings. Although there was no one else around, it didn’t seem like an appropriate place for their conversation.
“Shall we move somewhere else? I think I have quite a lot to tell you, Duke.”
Blake nodded, understanding Angelina’s concern.
***
The place Angelina took Blake to was the same tavern she had visited with Laura a few days ago.
“Laura, keep watch outside.”
“I’ll help as well.”
When they tried to leave Laura outside, Sean stepped forward to join her.
His intention seemed more about monitoring whether Laura would actually keep watch rather than helping.
It seemed they were still cautious even after everything that had happened.
Laura noticed this immediately, but didn’t bother stopping him.
Whether he stayed or not wouldn’t change her actions.
“We’re not open for business today… Oh?”
The owner, who was sweeping the messy floor, spoke threateningly as they opened the door.
However, his expression changed when he recognized who had entered.
“Well, who do we have here. It’s the young lady!”
“Are you really not open? I need a quiet place to talk with my friend.”
“Oh come now~ Who said we’re not open? Our establishment is always open for you, young lady.”
He completely changed his attitude, setting aside his broom and warmly welcomed Angelina.
His eyes met with Laura outside the door, but knowing she was part of Angelina’s group, he showed no particular reaction.
“I was actually waiting for you to visit again.”
“What happened here?”
Angelina frowned as she surveyed the interior.
The place was in complete disarray, as if someone had vandalized it.
“Don’t even get me started. You see, the Order…”
He lowered his voice significantly to speak, but suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Then he looked at Angelina’s other companions with suspicious eyes.
He gave Haley and Mason just a cursory glance, but couldn’t take his eyes off Blake.
Though his clothes were neat and exuded nobility, they weren’t flashy enough to determine whether he was an aristocrat or just a wealthy young master.
If it was the former, there was a high chance he was involved with the Order, so he needed to be careful with his words.
When he went as far as looking Blake up and down, Mason, who was standing nearby,y stepped forward angrily, but Blake tactfully stopped him. And right on cue, Angelina intervened.
“He’s one of us. My friend.”
“Is that so, young lady?”
“Yes. Do you think I would bring someone dangerous here?”
“Well, you’re right about that.”
Perhaps due to his trust in Angelina, he quickly set aside his concerns and continued his story.
“Anyway, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the Order is using their Holy Knights to turn every inn in this area upside down.”
“The inns?”
“And when they weren’t satisfied with just inns, they started barging into restaurants like mine too!”
Angelina, who had been frowning, took a deep breath and crossed her arms.
“They’re looking for that woman.”
There would be no other reason to specifically target only inns.
“They must think that the ‘Saint’, being human after all, must have arranged somewhere to stay.”
“Exactly. They barged into my establishment yesterday and left it in this state.”
“You’ve had it rough.”
When Angelina sympathetically agreed, he excitedly continued his story.
“They said there might be secret spaces under the floor and that they needed to check everything. I mean, really! They made such a mess, drilling holes everywhere – floors, walls, you name it.”
He grumbled that it was fortunate they hadn’t demolished the entire building, given how violent they were.
He grumbled that it was fortunate they hadn’t demolished the entire building, given how violent they were.
“And you know what excuse they gave me?”
“What did they say?”
“They said that if a registered believer of the Order hasn’t attended the temple for over a year, it means they’re not fulfilling their duties as a believer. I mean, really? They even spouted nonsense about how it clearly shows a lack of faith in the Sun God!”
“They’re making up all sorts of accusations.”
“Exactly! I told you, didn’t I? Ever since the current High Priest took that position, the Order has been acting really strange. Now they’ve gone as far as falsely accusing believers and resorting to violence, I mean, really.”
He clicked his tongue and let out a deep sigh.
“Have you experienced any trouble yourself, young lady?”
“Can’t you tell from the fact that my cute little friend is gone?”
“They took it? Don’t tell me they spouted nonsense about that adorable thing being a monster attacking people?”
Instead of answering, Angelina just shrugged her shoulders.
“Tsk tsk, they’re really rotten, aren’t they? I could overlook things like forcing donations or raising healing prices, but this is too much! They’ve crossed the line! The Sun God will be angry!”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“They deserve divine punishment!”
“Yeah, it would be nice if divine punishment really did strike them.”
“The more I talk about it, the angrier I get! What is the Saint doing, not punishing those bastards!”
“It seems she thinks protecting the believers from monsters is more important than punishment right now.”
“Ah, how kind-hearted she is.”
He spread his arms toward the sky as if worshipping the invisible sun and the ‘Saint’, repeatedly clasping and unclasping his hands in prayer.
The corner of Angelina’s mouth briefly quirked up and down.
‘I didn’t expect the Order would react this faithfully.’
It was Angelina’s wish that they would search everywhere for the ‘Saint’.
But she hadn’t expected them to react this honestly.
They were diligently stepping into the traps that she and Aesi had laid, so much so that they deserved praise for their dedication.
‘Thanks to that, the Saint’s image has been completely established.’
Until her previous visit, it was just ‘There’s a rumor that woman is the Saint.’
Just a floating rumor in the wind.
But now this person showed unwavering belief that she was the Saint.
Believing that she was protecting them from monsters, and even hoping she would punish the Order someday.
Could it be any more perfect?
“You’ve been having a hard time because of the Order, too.”
Angelina carefully concealed her joy as she took out a gold coin from her pocket and flipped it up.
The coin spun in an arc and landed neatly in the shopkeeper’s hand.
As sharp as the arc the coin drew, the corner of the shopkeeper’s mouth curved upward.
“You know what? I heard another rumor.”
“Oh?”
Another gold coin emerged from Angelina’s pocket. She leaned her upper body forward, as if inviting him to come closer and speak.
“I’m curious.”
As she slipped the gold coin smoothly into the shopkeeper’s shirt pocket while whispering softly, his mouth immediately opened.
“Word about the Saint seems to have reached the Imperial Palace. Would you believe it? They say people saw His Highness the Crown Prince in the central plaza!”
“The Crown Prince?”
“Yes, the Empire’s proud little sun! He must have been undercover or something, wearing plain clothes and his guards were disguised too, they say.”
“Really?”
“But you know how it is? No matter how modestly those high-born folks dress, people like us can still tell!”
“Still, it must be hard to tell whether it’s the Crown Prince or just another noble’s son? Especially if he was in disguise.”
“Well, there was someone who supplies the imperial kitchen who happened to be in the plaza! He recognized the close guard knights from seeing them every day at the palace.”
“Hooh~?”
So they hadn’t recognized the Crown Prince himself, but rather his escorts.
“So we’re always arguing among ourselves about whether it was really the Crown Prince or just one of his close associates being guarded.”
“But either way, it’s certain that His Highness has started showing interest in this situation.”
“Exactly! That’s why there’s been a lot of talk among us about submitting a petition to His Highness about the Order’s tyranny. Well, it’s just talk since no one’s brave enough to actually do it.”
The shopkeeper clicked his tongue and shook his head regretfully.
But contrary to his voice, his expression was satisfied as he patted the pocket containing the gold coins.
“What if we try being those brave ones?”
“Cough W-what did you say?”
The smiling shopkeeper choked on his own saliva in surprise.
The smiling shopkeeper was so surprised that he choked while swallowing his dry saliva.
After beating his chest and clearing his throat a few times, he looked at Angelina with a strange expression.
“What are you saying? You’re going to write a petition, young lady?”
“If we could just speak to His Highness the Crown Prince directly, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a petition, right?”
“People like us can’t meet His Highness directly, so what other method could there be besides a petition?”
“Well, I heard this rumor……”
This time, Angelina lowered her voice significantly and whispered.
Even though Blake could still hear it anyway, it was just for the feeling of secrecy.
“You know about the play being held at High Street at the end of this month? There’s a rumor that His Highness will be attending the first performance.”
“What? Is that true?”
“Uncle, don’t you trust my information?”
“Hey now, young lady. Who says I don’t trust it? I’m just saying it’s that surprising.”
