I Ran Away And The Reverse Harem Started

Chapter 56 Mikhail made a dumbfounded sound at Deborah’s answer. He moved his lips, wondering what to say, and then closed them tightly.When the kingdom’s development led to the temple’s decline, the high priest declared a date. A three-year-old noble girl born on that date, he proclaimed, would serve as a saint for the temple.That woman, born on that very date, was Deborah. She was the only girl born that day.Many nobles brought their daughters to the temple, claiming they were saints, but Deborah was the only one who could prove her birthdate.It was a midwife, present when a courtesan gave birth to Deborah, who confirmed her claim.“In any case, if there’s another noble girl born on the same date, wouldn’t that mean the current Saint isn’t the real Saint? Wouldn’t that make this a fraud? Everyone believes Saint Deborah is the true Saint.”When a priest carelessly voiced his opinion, Mikhail nearly burst through the door in anger. He might have done so if Deborah hadn’t been standing right in front of him.At that moment, another priest interjected.“It’s not entirely a fraud.”“Why not?”“Aside from Saint Deborah, another noblewoman with the same birthday went missing. It’s a story from 20 years ago.”“Hey, what? It’s so frustrating.”“At that time, kidnappings were common in noble families. But someone could have kidnapped her on purpose, right?”The apprentice priest spoke in a disappointing tone.He’d hoped for a more exciting tale, but a disappearance felt like an anticlimax.“Anyway, keep this to yourself.”Keep it to yourself? Nonsense. I heard everything.You’re dead. I’ll remember your face, Mikhail thought, grinding his teeth behind the door. He didn’t forget to glare at the apprentice priests through the slightly ajar door.Unaware they were being watched by Deborah and Mikhail, the two priests left the room, laughing over trivial matters.Silence settled once they were gone.Still fuming over the priests’ words, Mikhail belatedly remembered Deborah. When he turned his head, he met her expressionless gaze.“Um, Saint?”Mikhail called to her curiously, but Deborah didn’t answer. She stared blankly into the distance, lost in thought.Mikhail called again.“Saint Deborah.”“Oh… yes.”She suddenly raised her head as she came to her senses. Her once-dark purple eyes regained their original color.Mikhail thought that she was deeply hurt by the apprentice priest’s nonsense.Raising his chin proudly, he spoke confidently.“Don’t worry, Saint. I’ve memorized their faces.”“Huh? Why memorize their faces?”Well, so I can figure out which families they belong to or call them out to a dark alley, maybe. My family has connections with a few guilds, and if I summon those guys…Mikhail clamped his mouth shut before finishing the thought. Now wasn’t the time to share such things.No boasting. No showing off, he reminded himself.Pondering what he should say, Mikhail furrowed his brows and faced Deborah.“Are you truly all right?”It was better to ask that first. After all, he’d just overheard disrespectful gossip from men who were supposed to be serving alongside her at the temple.Thinking of Deborah’s worn-out drawing room, Mikhail couldn’t shake the feeling that the temple wasn’t particularly kind to her.Meanwhile, Deborah was lost in thought.When the priests mentioned another noble girl who shared her birthday and had gone missing, she’d been startled.Deborah had been brought to the temple at a young age and raised there. She’d never truly questioned her fate until now.But if I’m not the real Saint……could I finally gain freedom?She had been going to the poorhouse to treat the poor, helping with prayers, and looking after the well-being of the people of the kingdom. It wasn’t that she hated that kind of life or that it didn’t suit her.But it wasn’t done out of joy or free will. It was a duty born of obligation. If she hadn’t given her all as a Saint, her father would’ve coerced her into compliance.And she wouldn’t have the beloved Saint’s reputation she bore today.For nearly 20 years, she’d served the temple. Now, she was about to marry a man she didn’t desire.Count Drunia was wealthy and prestigious, but could marrying him truly bring her happiness?Would she spend her life serving a man chosen by the king, just as she’d served the temple?Some might say she was selfish. They might criticize her for not doing even that much for the kingdom. After all, she was a woman chosen by the high priestess and the god of the temple.‘But.’If there was someone else who had been chosen as a saint besides herself. If that person was a true saint, she could be free.But there was something on her mind.‘A missing noblewoman who was born on the same day as me.’When the two apprentice priests spilled about that story, the person who came to Deborah’s mind was, ironically, Yvette Büllosen.To be precise, the reason Yvette’s family came to the temple every day.Deborah knew who they prayed for and to whom they made generous offerings.Their missing second daughter.But why did I suddenly think of Yvette’s younger sister?The Büllosen family had worn a path to the temple after losing their second daughter. Deborah’s friendship with Yvette had started after that loss.Deborah was close to Yvette. Yvette cared for her like a younger sister, and Deborah, adjusting to temple life at a young age, had come to regard her as an older sister.Could the missing noble girl with the same birthday as me be Yvette’s younger sister?But if Yvette’s sister shared her birthday and had been chosen as a Saint, the Büllosen family should’ve said something. At the very least, they should’ve publicized their daughter’s disappearance throughout the kingdom. If the date was indeed significant, someone might have intervened because of the oracle.But Yvette has never mentioned anything. Not once.The missing daughter of the Viscount Büllosen family—what was her birthday?Could I really leave the temple? Deborah was overwhelmed by her raw longing for freedom and her questions about Yvette.Mikhail watched her, perplexed by her troubled gaze. Resolving himself, he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.“Are you truly all right, Saint? You look unwell.”Startled, Deborah raised her head and met his amber eyes. The storm in her mind suddenly stilled.Coming back to reality, she glanced around, then brushed her face with one hand and nodded. She forced a faint smile.“But Marquis, I, I think I have something else to do besides preparing for prayer.”“Huh? What…”Deborah took a deep breath at Mikhail’s question. Then she let it out again.With a determined face, she looked back at Mikhail.“I have to go see my father.”“Your father? All of a sudden?”A bitter smile appeared on Deborah’s pale face.In this confused moment, she had many people to meet.First, she had to meet her father, who had not come to see her face since he sold her to the temple. She had to ask him if he knew about the other missing noble daughter.‘I wonder if I am really a saint.’Deborah lowered her purple eyes and took a deep breath. After meeting her father, she planned to meet Yvette.How much did Yvette Büllosen know?Why had Viscount Büllosen kept quiet about his second daughter? * * * Yvette Büllosen woke up late in the morning. She had fallen asleep after reading documents related to the company until 4 a.m. the day before.When Yvette, who had woken up, pulled the rope, the maid came in as if she had been waiting, pulled the curtains, and brought water for washing.After washing her face with warm water, Yvette changed into a dress that was practical and comfortable—perfect for sitting at her desk for extended periods.Yvette had taken over as the owner of the trading company without ever making a debut in society. It had been so long since she last wore a frilly, elaborate dress that she couldn’t even remember the last time.Once she was dressed, her secretary entered the room promptly, as if on cue.“What’s the schedule today?”This was Jenny, the new secretary who had replaced the one who’d retired after serving the Viscount’s family for over 20 years.Jenny recited the day’s schedule concisely. After a simple lunch, Yvette would take a carriage to inspect the new bathhouse and bank buildings under construction.As Yvette applied balm to her chapped lips, she listened to Jenny outline the agenda.“There are no external meetings scheduled for the next week. For today, you only need to check the construction sites. Starting next week, you have a meeting with Holden.”“I see. So, today’s relatively free.”“Yes. Since you stayed up all night to take care of the work. Perhaps this week, you could spend some time with the Saint, as you often do during your breaks.”Jenny’s remark reflected her awareness of Yvette’s routine of visiting the Saint on her days off. Yvette silently approved of her new secretary’s perceptiveness, given that she’d only been employed for three months.The Viscount’s carriage carrying the two women stopped in the commercial district near the mansion, close to Crown Square in the Count Drunia territory.The two walked toward the newly constructed bank building.“Also, I heard that Holden is hosting the eldest son’s birthday party at their summer villa.”“Yes, I heard about that.”“Do you plan to attend?”Jenny suggested Yvette consider taking a summer retreat at the villa.“I did some research and found there’s a small villa under the Büllosen family name near Rewybourne. It’s in a small town… let me check the name.”Jenny flipped through her documents.“Your previous secretary,  Miss. Kay, told me that there was a small villa in the village next to there. It was a little old, but it was a quiet villa.”As Jenny hesitated over the name of the small town, Yvette suddenly stopped in her tracks.“No. I’m not staying there.”“Pardon?”Jenny turned to Yvette, bewildered by her abrupt refusal.Yvette’s bright blue eyes momentarily darkened, her brows furrowing deeply as if recalling a painful memory.Jenny looked back at Yvette as if she was dumbfounded by Yvette’s answer.At that moment, Yvette’s blue eyes distorted. A deep furrow formed between her eyebrows, as if she was recalling something painful.“You’re not using the villa next to Rewybourne?”“Yes. I don’t plan on staying in that villa now or in the future.”Jenny couldn’t hide her confusion at Yvette’s cold tone. Yvette didn’t provide a detailed explanation but spoke firmly.“Find a new townhouse in Rewybourne.”“Huh? But…”The trading company had been doing well financially, but purchasing a new townhouse in a thriving city wasn’t a casual decision. Even so, Yvette was adamant.By now, Yvette had stopped walking entirely and was glaring icily at her secretary.“I don’t pay you to question my orders.”“…Understood.”“If the funds aren’t sufficient, book a hotel for two weeks instead.”“Yes, ma’am.”Yvette abruptly turned and disappeared into a side alley. Jenny stood there, scratching her forehead with a puzzled expression.She couldn’t understand why Yvette insisted on buying a new property when they already had a villa.“Well, I guess the villa is a bit far from Rewybourne.”If she tried to rationalize it, that made sense.Well, it was a villa that she bought about 20 years ago, so there must have been more than one or two things that needed to be renovated. She had to invite other nobles. She couldn’t have guests in a shabby villa.But then again, didn’t nobles usually praise old buildings as charming and full of character?Jenny scratched her forehead again.“Still, what was the name of that little town where the villa is located? Was it Jens? Jensen? I can’t quite remember…”