Chapter 8
Since the temple monopolizes both divine power and healing abilities, I could not appear directly before people, so I had set up Allen as my substitute.
If someone wished to meet me through healing, it was in the form of Allen sending letters to me.
And the reason I had come to this store after a long time was due to someone urging me to meet them for the past month.
“I’m not sure who it is. They said they would reveal their identity only in front of Irina.”
“Hmm…”
I blinked slowly. Though I had been expelled from the duke’s family without receiving a single penny, the reason I could quickly repay my debts and make a living was due to the work done at this unassuming shop without a signboard.
With the temple monopolizing the work of ‘healing’ and divine power being exceedingly rare, the only thing I could do was provide healing to someone and receive payment in return.
Just as my father used to heal Alicia and my mother, as well as myself, with divine power.
No one in the empire was unfamiliar with the Rise family of dukes, and if anyone happened to encounter someone related to the dukes when they visited the capital, it would be a significant matter. Thus, I earned money while keeping my face hidden.
After the word spread about me, Allen had been performing the healing in my place.
It was unexpected that Allen had an interest in and talent for herbalism.
I only appeared publicly when divine power was required.
That was, when Allen’s abilities alone could not heal someone.
Usually, when someone possessed divine power, they were eager to offer a high price for healing.
Typically, nobles with diseases they wished to keep hidden or wealthy magnates without titles sought me out.
“However, he was quite a young man. Is there any reason for a man in his mid-twenties to seek divine power?”
Allen described his appearance.
“I couldn’t see his hair color, but his eyes were sunset-colored, and he had a somewhat rough and gruff voice. From his speech, he also seemed to have quite a nasty temperament.”
The more I heard, the more I thought of Barak Hill Rise.
Sunset-colored eyes, rough speech, and a nasty temperament. It fits Barak perfectly.
However, it would be hard for Allen not to know Barak.
He is the only duke in the empire, so it is inconceivable that he wouldn’t know.
“Is there someone in their mid-twenties who would seek divine power?”
I sat down heavily in a chair and crossed my legs.
Most of those who sought divine power were rather older individuals.
As Allen shrugged, the door was abruptly flung open with a loud bang!
Although it was located in a deep, seldom-visited alley, it sounded even louder due to the early morning.
“They say even goblins come when you speak of them.”
Clicking his tongue, the customer muttered, and I slowly turned my head with a faint smile.
“That’s him. He’s been searching for... Representative?”
Allen’s voice, cautiously referring to me as “Representative,” echoed within the shop.
Why is he here…?
The person who roughly entered the shop was someone I knew very well.
A man with a rough and sensitive demeanor, frowning deeply, yet still a rather handsome man.
“You said you would come today, that so-called representative.”
It was Barak Hill Rise.
“Hmph.”
“Please observe basic manners, guest.”
I had suspected that Barak’s temperament resembled that of Barak, but to actually see him was a surprise.
To think I would see him again here, after leaving the duke’s residence. His voice still sounded as irritable as ever.
“I didn’t come here to chat with someone like you. So where is the representative? Didn’t you say you’d meet him tonight?”
Since I had read the newspaper before coming here, I could easily guess the reason for Barak’s visit.
It must be for April.
Barak Hill Rise’s life clearly revolved around April.
Although he was a high-ranking noble, if it became known that he was receiving treatment outside the temple, it would put him at odds with the temple.
It would also mean he would never again receive treatment through divine power.
“I heard from Allen.”
Seeing Barak Hill Rise go to such lengths for April made me respect him anew.
I gently pushed aside Allen, who was blocking me as if to protect me.
“Miss.”
It seemed he chose this title, “Miss,” as I disliked being called “Representative” or any other title in front of others.
I lightly gestured to Allen to indicate that I was fine.
Approaching Barak, who was staring at me with his usual arrogant expression, I forced a natural smile.
“What brings the second son of the duke’s family to such a shop?”
“You know me well despite never having seen me before.”
“In the empire, even a three-year-old child knows about the Rise dukes.”
Rian Hill Rise, who entered the academy as the top student in swordsmanship and graduated as the youngest knight commander.
Barak Hill Rise, who possessed great talent in alchemy and magic and became the deputy head of the royal alchemy department.
And... April Hill Rise, the daughter of the duke and duchess who was lost at the age of eight and found dramatically.
“Even a country bumpkin in the empire knows these people.”
And myself, who has lived as April Hill Rise until now.
There was no reason for Barak to be surprised that I recognized him immediately as the second son of the duke’s family.
As I had said, stories about the duke’s family circulated throughout the empire like a thrilling novel.
I dismissed my thoughts about Allen and invited him to take a seat.
“So, what brings you to find me?”
Barak remained standing and continued to gaze at me.
If he had come to the shop without any attendants or aides, it must be quite an urgent matter.
The fact that he came to see me, who possesses divine power, meant that April’s condition was serious.
Having sought me out for a month, he must have been quite frustrated.
“You must have a reason for coming. Are you suffering from a serious illness?”
The only person Barak had shown kindness to was April.
I was merely a substitute for April, so he had never shown any affection towards me.
Given the length of time, I thought Barak Hill Rise would not be kind to anyone.
And I had used that to comfort myself.
Until the real daughter of the duke’s family appeared.
“… I heard you have divine power.”
Barak’s voice trembled slightly.
Perhaps due to lack of sleep, Barak, with bags under his eyes, exhaled deeply and tossed a bundle onto the table.
A clinking sound was heard as Allen, at my gesture, gently untied the bundle.
As a large quantity of gold coins, enough to brighten even the darkest night, flowed out, Allen beside me gasped softly.
It clearly looked like money that was several times more than what I had earned through divine power.
“I will pay any amount.”
“…”
“If your divine power is genuine and the treatment is successful, I will give you twice the amount as a success fee.”
“What could you possibly want that requires such a large sum?”
Barak’s eyes trembled.
“I…”
His lips, twitching slightly, could not articulate the words, but it was clear what he wanted.
“Cure my sister.”
To see Barak, who had been so arrogant, crumble like that was surprising.
I had seen Barak crumble twice.
Once when April Hill Rise returned to the duke’s family, and now, again.
He would not know how shocked I was to discover that Barak, who seemed to be unkind to everyone, was actually a very kind person.
To him, April seemed as fragile as a dandelion seed.
Fearing it might blow away with the wind, break if held too tightly, or fall if she stumbled while walking.
“You’re just a remnant left by my sister.”
“Did you think that because you’re here, you’d find the real April?”
“You’re not April.”
Though he had always been harsh with me, he had become even more so with April’s return.
He was sharp, sensitive, irritable, and simultaneously delicate, though that delicacy was only extended to his sister.
Should I accept this money or not? I tapped the table and pushed the bundle of money towards Barak.
“I must refuse.”
“But you just said you would give double the amount as a success fee.”
“If it is beyond my abilities, it might put my life at risk.”
“… What?”
“How can I be sure I won’t be secretly killed for discovering the duke’s family’s secrets?”
“…”
“Even if I am not killed, if the temple finds out…”
The mention of the “temple” caused a brief shiver.
Those who had asked me for help with divine power until now were people fearful of the temple.
If this matter were exposed, those who would “die together” with me would be only me.
The Rise family was different.
Though they had broken imperial law, who would dare to target the second son of the duke’s family?
They would simply hush it up, and I would be the only one at risk.
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