But Lina was a saint. Moreover, Seria clearly remembered this impressive scene in the original story. Lina told the emperor and the high priests that she was able to purify the demon shadow with her own powers.
It was such a strong divine power.
It was an unparalleled, God-given divine power.
Seria took another long, hard look at Lina. But there was nothing unusual about her. In the original novel, the romance of Lina, the female protagonist, was the most important aspect. It also explained in detail her abilities, setting, background, and saga, which were necessary for the probability.
‘Honestly, I don't think there is anyone in this world who knows Lina as well as I do. Because I read the original novel.’
‘But no matter how much I think about it, there's nothing strange.’
Lina was the heroine of an ordinary romance novel, with a spontaneous, cheerful personality and warmth. A little person-centric, but that was frankly not a flaw. Otherwise it would have been hard to create an excuse to connect with so many men.
Seria and Lina had experienced unpleasant things , and Seria often said rude things to Lina, but objectively this was true.
The mysterious shadow that was absorbed into Lina's body flickered again. There was really nothing easy about this. It was hard to guess. Finally, Seria came to a conclusion that she should visit the Grand Temple once.
‘I should take a look at some oracles.’
“Lady Seria.”
At that moment, there was a tapping sound on the carriage window. Seria opened the window and saw Alliot’s face, along with a cold wind.
"What's wrong?"
“We're almost there. We'll be entering the Kellyden estate within fifteen minutes.”
“We're almost there?”
"Yes, I will put up Berg flag on top of the carriage."
"Do so."
The carriage Seria rode in, although luxurious, did not have any engraved patterns on it. It was to avoid any accidents. However, they have now almost arrived at the Kellyden territory. To inform the Marquis of Kellyden, a flag embroidered with Berg pattern in gold thread must be attached to the carriage.
Guards were always on standby 24 hours a day on the watchtower, so they would surely recognize the landmark of this carriage. Then they would rush to the castle to inform the Marquis.
Alliott suddenly turned around and sighed lightly.
"I’m being watched too closely to have a long conversation.”
"Huh?"
"I'll leave you to it, My Lady. My back is about to be torn."
"…?"
Alliot’s words were immediately understood. Because as soon as he retreated, Abigail approached Seria on her horse.
Abigail had been glaring at Alliot.
“Is there any inconvenience, Young Lady?”
"No. Aren’t you cold, Bibi.”
"Not at all. Compared to the winters in Berg, this place is a desert."
Seria burst into laughter. She beckoned Abigail to come closer.
"Bibi, how many gloves did you bring?"
"One."
"Don't lie to me."
"It's thirty"
"…"
Seria was speechless for a moment at her frankness and audacity. She wondered how far Abigail's charm would go.
"Don't just go around and throw your gloves."
"Don't worry, Miss.”
"I'll show you my old room when we get to the Kellyden Castle. You said you were curious."
"All right. Miss.”
The wheels of the carriage, which had been stopped for the flag to be put up, began to roll smoothly again.
‘I'm a little worried.’
Seria had a vague assurance that she wouldn't swear and punch her family in the face as soon as she met them. She had shown superhuman patience even in front of Lina.
‘What can I say, the more time I spend in Seria’s body, the more I feel a little more in control.’
But just in case. She had to remind herself that she was now Seria Berg, not Seria Stern.
‘But to be honest. I had a strange premonition that Lesche wouldn't react badly if I punched Marquis in the face.’
It was a ridiculous premonition, but on the other hand, she didn’t feel bad.
The Kellyden castle was just around the corner, so it was necessary to get her appearance a little more organized. Seria took out the mirror and checked her face. Green hair cascaded down her face. The strange and surprised feeling she felt when she first saw herself in the mirror had faded.
It had been a year. So much had happened in one year. It was only natural that she got used to it.
‘I am Seria now.’’
***
Knock. Knock. Knock.
With a tap on the door, the Kellyden’s butler entered.
"Young Master. Lady Seria has arrived.”
"Seria Kellyden? That evil woman is really here?"
"Yes, Young Master.”
Nissos Kellyden had a frown on his face.
"I thought she would never come, but I guess she’s still afraid of father."
Marquis Kellyden made it clear to the vassal he was sending to the Grand Duchy of Berg. Be sure to tell Seria strongly that she must visit the Kellyden estate. But Nissos was skeptical. With Seria’s personality, he didn’t think she’d even come halfway. So he felt fortunate that his father’s words still had weight on Seria.
"She didn’t come to father’s last birthday. I thought she had cut ties with the family. How is my father?
"He is greeting the guests.”
"My father and mother must be busy."
“Yes, most of the western nobles have arrived.”
Nissos said, staring out the door with his light blue eyes.
"Open the side gate."
"Yes, Young Master.”
The butler retreated. Nissos looked out the window. A series of bright white flowers had been placed in Lady Magrus’s coffin. Under the solemn supervision of the priest, countless mourners scattered the flowers while reciting the same words. The scene repeated itself for hours.
"Lady Magrus died in the presence of God…"
“May she rest in eternal peace.”
The Kellyden mansion was ostensibly solemn, but in reality it was anything but. Often, when the elders of the house died, they would use the opportunity to gather people together to socialize. In fact, why would they be sad if it was the death of some strangers.
Of course, the mourners couldn’t laugh out loud, but in their quiet and sad faces, the nobles would promise to meet next time.
Above all, this time it was very… There was even a bigger person who appeared.
Grand Duchess Berg. There were no nobles who did not know that Seria Stern had become the Grand Duchess of Berg.
Of course, because of the special process of her wedding, rumors were rife as to whether the marriage would continue or end in divorce. Even if it was the latter, nobles knew that Stern’s divorce was very tricky. It was because the Great Temple set a date for only one day a year, and only on that day would they accept Stern's divorce.
It was an unprecedented scandal. Everyone’s attention was focused on the story of how she broke up with Kalis Haneton and married the Grand Duke of Berg, and whether she was going to divorce…But in the Kellyden estate, she was just a daughter of a lowly actress…
Was that why there were no welcome gestures towards her? From her family to the nobles who were close to the Kellyden family.
If people were to look for the place with the least amount of talk about "Seria Berg" through the Empire, it would by far mean the noble society near the Kellyden.
So it was natural for them to be upset by the news of her coming.
***
‘I knew no one was coming out.'
There was a well established gate at the Kellyden castle. If it wasn’t Seria who was returning, but Cassius Kellyden or Nissos Kellyden, the knights would have already come to greet them at the gate.
If that was not the case, servants should come out.
However, there was no one at the castle gate. No matter how much they hated her, Seria was the Grand Duchess of Berg, but they publicly treated her coldly like this?
It was even more so in front of the castle.
The center gate wasn’t even opened.
The Kellyden castle was a famous castle on the lakeside.
To get in and out of the castle, people had to go through the drawbridge, which was divided into three parts.
One being the central drawbridge, and the smaller auxiliary drawbridges on either side. Usually, the Kellyden’s family members used the smaller one on the right, while the small one on the left was used for servants and goods to go back and forth.
And the large drawbridge in the center. It was customary for the Marquis Kellyden and his wife to use it when they returned after a long absence from the castle, or when they had guests of a higher status than the Marquis. Manipulating a large drawbridge was labor intensive.
Seria looked for a while at the flag on the carriage she had ridden in.
The Berg pattern was vivid.
It was customary for Berg to raise a flag embroidered with gold thread.
It was also a consideration for others to prepare to greet in advance.
No matter how many times it was Seria who came here, the carriage she rode in belonged to Berg, and Berg was the powerful grand duchy in this empire, so it was only polite that the central bridge should be opened. Also, the direct line of the Kellyden family should be there to greet her at the castle gate.
A courtesy that even the butler would know well.
“She’s the Marquis’s own daughter, but this treatment is terrible. It’s the first time she came back since she almost died.”
Seria suddenly wondered what the Knights of the Berg were thinking from behind.
How could they not know that Kellyden and Seria didn’t get along with each other….If it was the original Seria standing here, she would feel miserable. There was a tremendous burst of anger there, and evil was a must.
“Let me show you this way.”
So said a guard who jumped out from the side entrance of the castle, but Seria answered coldly.
"No.”
"What?"
"Open the central bridge. I’m coming in that way.”
