To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

1. The Girl Enduring the Love of the Gods

There are things in this world that one cannot dare to see with outsider’s eyes.

“I love you, Your Grace.”

The light pink lips uttered a voice that felt sweeter than anything in the world. The girl’s cheeks were flushed red, and from her deep pink eyes that looked as if an angel had blessed them with a kiss, affection overflowed. Yes, judging from her appearance alone, it was a lovely sight that would make anyone envy the recipient of those words.

However, the face of the man facing such a girl was frigidly cold.

“Miss Hamelsvoort.”

The man, Emmett Lartman, took a step back from the girl with a slightly flustered expression. No, to be precise, it couldn’t be called complete bewilderment. The man already seemed accustomed to this situation, and it was closer to him putting on an expression to show his rejection of the girl.

The gazes of everyone in the banquet hall were focused on them. Surrounding them were the voices of people giggling as if they had found something entertaining.

“It’s troublesome for you to do this in front of people.”

Emmett spoke as if to soothe the girl, but the girl didn’t seem to care at all about the attitudes of those people. The girl’s gaze was fixed solely on Emmett.

“But I truly love Your Grace.”

“I’ve heard those words countless times already, you think I wouldn’t know? Why do you keep saying such things in front of people? This is a great discourtesy!”

“But…”

The girl mumbled with a slow voice, fidgeting her lips.

“They said when you love, you should express it.”

“Who on earth did you hear that from? No, in the first place, that’s not something meant to be applied to a situation like this.”

Even as she made an absurd excuse, Emmett spoke to the girl in a resolute manner, as if relaying the absolute doctrine of a god in a dignified voice.

“Please don’t approach me again. Didn’t I clearly tell you? This is the last favor I can do for you.”

“A favor?”

“Yes, a favor.”

“Hmm…”

The girl rolled her eyes as if pondering, and seeing that, Emmett felt his chest constricting. 

Why in the world does this woman have such a hard time understanding? Even as he’s telling her he doesn’t love her, how can she approach him so shamelessly every time? 

Those who knew nothing about them treated him as a callous man being cruel to a pure girl, but those who knew even a little about their relationship always pitied him.

It wasn’t the first or second time this girl before his eyes, Liv Hamelsvoort, had expressed her affection for him. From the moment she first saw him, Liv Hamelsvoort had unhesitatingly expressed her feelings for him as if she had fallen for him at first sight.

The Count’s daughter’s passionate confession had become a popular gossip in high society, and Liv Hamelsvoort in particular had long since become a laughingstock. There was a time when he had been close with this woman, but now he wanted nothing to do with Liv Hamelsvoort.

“If you keep acting this way towards me… don’t you know it will only increase the rumors about you?”

Emmett said that to persuade Liv Hamelsvoort, but the answer that came back was unexpected.

“But people always gossip about me anyway…”

At those words, Emmett fell silent, unable to answer. Liv Hamelsvoort’s words were not wrong. Because he could already hear the voices of others surrounding her.

“How impudent. For a fake Saintess to dare confess to Duke Lartman.”

“She still seems to believe she’s some kind of Saintess, right?”

“It must be troublesome for the Hamelsvoort family too. To have adopted such a woman.”

It was like they had become judges at a trial, condemning a criminal and exercising their due power. But no one criticized each other for being too harsh on a noble lady. Liv Hamelsvoort was someone who could be looked down upon in high society, and the reason was the same as the reason those who knew pitied Emmett.

Liv Hamelsvoort was originally famous in high society as the ‘Fake Saintess’.

The Hamelsvoort County, a devout family that had worshipped the Supreme God from ancient times, had searched for a Saintess in accordance with the revelation from the temple that a Saintess would be born in this land. The girl they adopted in that way was none other than Liv Hamelsvoort.

However, unfortunately, when a year had passed since they adopted Liv, the real Saintess appeared.

‘Hildegard Hamelsvoort’, adopted as the second daughter of the Hamelsvoort family, was undoubtedly the legitimate Saintess, using divine power to perform miracles and bestow good deeds.

Thus, people criticized Liv Hamelsvoort, calling her a ‘Fake Saintess who deceived the country’

Emmett fell silent for a moment at Liv’s words, knowing her situation all too well, and then opened his mouth again.

“In any case, I don’t want to be involved with you anymore. No, rather, I dislike you. You know that, don’t you?”

He made up his mind to be more resolute with Liv Hamelsvoort. He must have been too lenient so far. 

Damn it, strangely, this woman had a side that made people annoyed and concerned at the same time…

“I clearly told you not to speak to me from now on. I don’t want to be entangled with you at all. This is my last request.”

“A request?”

“Yes, a request. I hope you’ll listen.”

“…Alright.”

Even as she answered that way, Liv Hamelsvoort looked at him with eyes so pitiful that it would make anyone stop in their tracks, but he ignored her gaze and turned around, striding away. Finally getting rid of that insufferable woman, he felt a bit refreshed.

* * *

“Sister!”

Someone hastily grabbed the arm of Liv, who was standing blankly in the middle of the banquet hall.

It was Hildegard, Liv’s younger sister and the ‘Real Saintess’ who was likewise adopted into the Hamelsvoort family.

Hildegard had nearly fainted upon seeing Liv with Duke Lartman just a moment ago. She had clearly told her sister several times not to approach Duke Lartman in front of people, yet she had disobeyed.

“Sister, I told you to stop talking to His Grace!”

“But I love him.”

“Still, you can’t! When Duke Lartman says he dislikes it, of all people…”

Hildegard spoke to Liv as if addressing an inferior, but if one looked closely at Hildegard’s attitude as she lectured, one could strangely find a hint of affection for her. People thought Hildegard would hate Liv, who had dared to deceive everyone as the fake Saintess, but that wasn’t really the case. Rather, Hildegard pitied Liv.

‘I’m trying to help, so why won’t you listen to me?’

Unlike Hildegard, Liv, who was revealed to be the ‘Fake Saintess, was an unnecessary existence to the Count Hamelsvoort family. The Count and his wife weren’t casting her out in accordance with the national law that prohibited abandoning a child after adoption, but if she kept chasing after Duke Lartman like this and disgracing their honor, she might really be kicked out.

Liv was already at the lowest level in high society, so it wouldn’t be surprising no matter what happened to her.

“Sister, why don’t we do volunteer work together instead?”

Hildegard spoke, trying to divert Liv’s attention away from Duke Lartman.

“I’m going to the temple to pray tomorrow. And after offering prayers, I’m planning to stop by the slums to distribute some food. Do you want to come with me?”

“Pray…?”

As if thinking for a moment, her long white eyelashes fluttered like a butterfly every time she blinked.

And as always, an irreverent remark popped out of Liv’s mouth.

“Hmm… Is there a need to go all the way to the temple to pray? Wouldn’t the Supreme God hear it the same no matter where you do it…?”

“What? Sister, but the temple is where the sacred power reaches the most…”

“If they’re truly a sacred being, they’ll hear the prayer no matter where it’s done.”

As this attitude of Liv’s wasn’t new, Hildegard didn’t bother to refute it with much effort.

“And the slums… I absolutely detest the slums.”

But at this, even Hildegard frowned.

Hildegard was from the slums. It was a well-known fact throughout the Empire that Hildegard, a worthless orphan from the slums, had gained the power of a Saint and risen in the world.

“Sister, how could you say such a thing…”

“What if I catch a contagious disease in the slums and die? It would be a huge problem.”

Even as she said something absurd, Liv had a very serious face.

“There are too many risk factors in the slums, you know. What if I end up dying?”

“…It would have been enough to just say you don’t want to go.”

In the end, Hildegard stepped back, trying hard to manage her expression.

As her younger sister, she always tried to approach Liv first, but this kind of attitude from her was nothing new.

-Sister, there’s a winter charity event happening on the capital’s streets. Do you want to go together?

-Hmm… It’s cold outside right now, so I might catch a cold. And if the cold gets worse and I die, it would be a big deal.

-Sister, I’m scheduled to bestow blessings at the naval departure ceremony this time. Won’t you come with me?

-The departure ceremony is held at sea, right?

-Yes, that’s right.

-Ah, no way! What if I accidentally misstep and fall into the ocean?! I heard the sea is dangerous.

Whenever Hildegard suggested something, Liv would bring up her own well-being to avoid it. There were too many instances to count on ten fingers. And Hildegard was really displeased with Liv’s attitude. How could she say such things in front of her, a Saintess?!

“Sister, can’t you please try to behave with dignity? Following God’s will, acting with restraint instead of being loyal to your own desires.”

“God’s will…”

Liv made a face that had lost interest. She always did that when Hildegard mentioned God. It was the expression of an old person who had heard about God ad nauseam but never experienced a miracle before passing away, or the expression of a young child to whom the existence of God felt endlessly difficult and distant.

“Sister, to receive God’s love, you must always behave properly. The Supreme God only bestows grace upon those who act righteously.”

As a Saintess, Hildegard knew the contents of the scriptures better than anyone. Whenever Liv acted irreverently, she would always recite passages from the scriptures to admonish her.

“Think about what makes you keep living, sister. What do you usually do?”

As always, Hildegard thought Liv would ignore her words this time too.

But unexpectedly, Liv mumbled with an indifferent face.

“What am I doing right now, you ask?”

“Yes, sister. Even now, if you try to set some goals in life…”

“Well, it’s already taxing enough as it is.”

At that moment, what was the emotion contained in those eyes? Ennui? Resignation? Despair? With a face that didn’t even allow a guess as to why she was making such an expression, Liv answered indifferently.

“I’m in the middle of enduring the love of the gods.”