“Now that you’re about to become my adopted daughter, I’d like to ask. Why did you choose our family?”

The Marquis, who had been hesitating, finally gave in to his curiosity and asked. Surprisingly, the answer that came back was simple.

“Because you were in debt.”

“Debt?”

The Marquis asked with a startled face.

“Of course, if I were to choose based on family alone, prominent houses like the Chelbon ducal family or the Irvant count family would have been better. On the other hand, Marquis Vascus family may look splendid on the outside, but in reality, it’s buried in debt.”

“No, it’s not that bad…”

“Isn’t that good?”

Estelle said with a soft smile.

“It means the information I hold is all the more crucial to you.”

‘Moreover, being a family steeped in corruption, there are many weaknesses to exploit, hehe.’

Estelle added inwardly. In fact, that was the biggest reason.

But if she mentioned that much, it was obvious that the Marquis would become wary of her. For now, she planned to pretend not to know, and then reveal them one by one to tighten the leash when he acted impudently.

“So that’s how it is. Well…”

Marquis Vascus agreed, albeit reluctantly. While he was at it, he asked one more thing.

“I’ve been wanting an adopted daughter too, but honestly, I’m not sure about the saintess part. It won’t be easy to prove your qualifications. Are you really confident?”

It was a question he had been harboring for a while.

When they formed their alliance, Estelle had demanded to be adopted into the Marquis’s family soon. At that time, the Marquis was still skeptical about her value and couldn’t readily agree.

But Estelle’s weapons weren’t just mysterious information. She not only declared that she would become a member of the imperial family later, but also guaranteed that she would be recognized as a saintess by the temple.

—What nonsense!

Anyone would have thought so. Even the Marquis, who had paid off his debts with the miracles Estelle provided, couldn’t believe what he heard and rebuked her.

But when Estelle really started interacting with the Emperor and the Marquis himself came to trust her completely, he couldn’t help but reconsider.

Would it be possible, really?

For the Vascus family to produce a saintess?

“Of course.”

Estelle replied as if it were obvious.

“I am a saintess to begin with. God sent me here… probably?”

Estelle showed an evil smile. Leaning crookedly on the sofa, she looked more like a witch than a saintess.

* * *

“I heard Marquis Vascus has adopted a daughter?”

“A daughter in a family that only had sons?”

The news that Marquis Vascus had adopted a daughter spread quickly through social circles. Because the Marquis had rapidly increased his influence with his amazing business acumen, public interest in the daughter he adopted was bound to be great.

Interest soon added praise and spread far and wide.

She was said to be such a pretty and lovely lady. She was said to have a wise yet innocent charm. She was said to have an unselfish heart that knows how to give, and so on.

Among these rumors, some were spread by the Marquis, and some were conveyed by nobles who had met Estelle in person.

The circumstances of her adoption also became a touching story circulating in society. Originally, Estelle was an employee at a jewelry shop frequently visited by Marchioness Vascus, and as she came and went often, the Marchioness grew fond of her.

She was said to have extraordinary intelligence and kindness. On top of that, she was beautiful, which was the icing on the cake.

Marchioness Vascus, who had always wanted a daughter, boasted that she had fulfilled her wish by adopting Estelle. She said that after only seeing her bear-like sons, having an angel-like daughter by her side left nothing more to be desired.

“Estelle… you say? That’s the name of the adopted daughter?”

“That’s right. Everyone’s in an uproar talking about that woman these days.”

The news that Estelle had become an adopted daughter of a noble family soon reached Aristie as well. It was quite shocking to her.

Even though Estelle had previously revealed her identity, Aristie hadn’t fully believed her words. She had inwardly dismissed her as a crazy person.

But to actually become a noble lady.

—Soon, I’ll become a noble lady like you. Furthermore, I’ll be selected as a saintess. And ultimately…

—I’ll become the Empress. After cutting off your head.

As Estelle’s chilling prediction came to mind, Aristie felt a chill in her chest.

Is that how she intends to fulfill her words step by step? Until the day she cuts off my head and becomes Empress?

It already felt like a knife was at her throat. She couldn’t just stand by and watch anymore. As she pondered how to deal with this, her maids chattered among themselves.

“Don’t worry, Miss. It’s just getting attention for a while because it’s not common for a commoner to rise in status like that.”

“Originally, no such woman would be a topic of conversation over our Miss, who is to become Her Majesty the Empress.”

“That’s right. In fact, she’s not even that pretty.”

“Oh my, have you seen her?”

“No. But it’s obvious, isn’t it? Who in the world could be more beautiful than our Miss? Right?”

Aristie, who had been listening quietly, sighed and said,

“That’s enough, everyone. I appreciate your concern, but the praise is excessive and uncomfortable to hear.”

“Oh my! The praise is excessive, Miss?”

The maid who was styling Aristie’s hair guided her gaze to the mirror. In the mirror, a woman with fair skin and golden hair was staring at herself with sapphire-colored eyes.

“Look. We’re just stating facts.”

“Miss, you need to learn how to flaunt your beauty a bit.”

“At this point, you need to step up, Miss. Let’s show everyone!”

‘…Right. Now I really need to step up. Whether it works or not.’

Amidst the bustling maids, Aristie resolved to tell the Emperor the truth. To expose Estelle.

That was the determination she confirmed while looking at her reflection in the mirror.

“This much grooming is enough. I’m going out, so all of you go and rest.”

“No! We haven’t even finished your makeup yet…”

“If I don’t stop you, you’ll keep going all day. Do you think I don’t know you’ve gathered to gossip using me as an excuse?”

When she jokingly scolded them, the maids laughed awkwardly.

“Oh my… Our Miss is so perceptive, hoho.”

“Come on, hurry and leave. If we keep dawdling like this, the sun will set.”

At Aristie’s urging, the maids left the room, expressing their regret. Finally alone, Aristie looked at herself in the mirror once again in the silence.

It certainly wasn’t an ugly face. But something was lacking.

‘What could it be…’

As she pondered, she took out an accessory from her jewelry box and fastened it around her neck. A sky-blue jeweled necklace that sparkled brilliantly was on her chest.

When she had encountered Estelle, her neck had been bare. She had only looked at the other’s necklace. It was to avoid unnecessary comparison or tension, but now she could no longer avoid it.

What difference would wearing one piece of jewelry make…

‘Still, I want to change something.’

Not realizing what she truly wanted to change, Aristie headed to the imperial palace to meet Khalid.

* * *

“The lady has come?”

Khalid, who was handling state affairs in his office, asked in a somewhat surprised tone.

Aristie usually doesn’t visit the imperial palace unless necessary. Her visits to the palace were always for passive reasons. Only when there were banquets or special events, or for schedules related to bride training.

Because she was like that, it was unexpected for him that she had requested to meet Estelle.

Even that ended badly, so he thought she wouldn’t come to the palace anymore, but to come again…

“Show her in.”

His face brightened with joy. Khalid stopped his work and sat on the reception sofa to welcome Aristie.

As he watched her enter, his heart fluttered anew. Although he couldn’t show his excitement every time, pretending to be calm, inside he always looked at his fiancée as if it were the first time.

Moreover, today Aristie was wearing the necklace he had given her. He tried to hold back, but because his eyes were drawn to the necklace, a smile formed on his face.

“I greet the sun of the empire.”

“Another stiff greeting. I should get married soon just to stop receiving that greeting.”

Khalid joked as he offered her a seat. As Aristie sat on the opposite sofa, her beautiful navy blue dress spread out lavishly.

To Khalid, who was looking at that sight with a stirring heart, Aristie spoke.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

“Ah, yes, something good happened.”

“Something good? What might that be?”

“I was suffocating and buried in work, but just then my fiancée came to visit.”