To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

[To Hildegard,

Hello, Hildegard! Thank you for sending me a letter. It’s good that my writing improves the more I write letters, but this is the first time I’m writing to someone other than Emmett. Please understand if my writing is awkward.

The Lartman Duchy is nice. The people here treat me well. As you said, they don’t seem to know about the rumors about me. I’ve become friends with the chef Max, the gardener Julian, the head maid Mia, the librarian Emily, and the maid Laga. They’re all good people.

And I had my first birthday party here! My birthday is July 27th. I didn’t know my original birthday, so Emmett and I decided on that date.

Recently, there was also a banquet where I met other noble young ladies. They’re all kind, pretty, and treat me well. I’ve become especially close with people named Hannah and Maria. Hannah is kind, and Maria likes to talk about the capital.

Oh, actually, not everyone likes me. There’s one person who dislikes me. Her name is Malea, and she thought she would marry Emmett. But other than her, everyone else is fine, so there’s no need to worry.

I’m not looking forward to Brother Walter coming either. Brother dislikes me… although I understand why. You know what? Brother actually went to study abroad in the Merna Empire to avoid me. But he might be able to get along with you, Hildegard. Unlike me, you’re a real Saintess.

Well, hoping that you’re doing well there, I’ll end this letter now.

—Liv]

[To Sister Liv,

Hello, sister.

I’m a bit jealous that you’ve already made friends there. I hoped you would do well, but to think you’re already on a first-name basis! If it’s alright, would you call me ‘Hilda’? It’s my nickname, everyone called me that when I was in the slums.

And to think someone has come to dislike you, hmm… It must be jealousy because she wants to marry the Duke.

All the more reason to be confident, sister. After all, you’re a daughter of the Hamelsvoort family. Although I don’t like this world of nobles, nobles outside the capital will treat you well just by mentioning your name.

Come to think of it, I’ve never thought about your birthday before. I’ve never celebrated your birthday until now, and I didn’t even know it! Still, I really wish you a happy birthday. I’m sending you a novel with a pretty cover as a birthday gift. It’s the most popular book in the capital these days. Of course, since I don’t like reading books, I’m not sure if it’s interesting…

And I didn’t know Lord Walter disliked you. I wish everyone would know the truth about you…

—Hildegard]

“She says I can call her Hilda?”

After receiving Hildegard’s letter, Liv looked at it for a long time with a joyful face. It was a pleasant thing to be able to call someone by their nickname. ‘Hilda’ was the first nickname of another person that Liv would use!

Liv wrote a reply to Hildegard with an excited face. She wrote that she was happy to have become closer to Hildegard and wished for Hildegard to do well there too. After finishing the letter, Liv handed it to Laga.

“Please send this to Hildegard of the Hamelsvoort family.”

“Yes, young lady. What will you do now?”

“I want to go to the library.”

Going to the library was now a familiar routine for the two, and Laga, after taking care of the letter, followed Liv as she walked to the library. While Liv was humming, thinking about discussing her impressions of the book she read yesterday with Emily, Laga cautiously spoke up.

“Um, Miss… There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Yes?”

“Well, one of the maids who came down from the capital with the Duke is talking about you.”

“Huh?”

“Saying things like fake Saintess and such…”

“Ah.”

Only then could Liv grasp the situation. Among those who came down with Emmett from the capital, there must be some who are dissatisfied with Liv. People in the capital generally disliked Liv. Especially if they were devout believers of the Holy Church.

“At first, I was going to let it slide since it was just among the servants. But that girl is spreading the story to more and more people, and now there are even people who believe it…”

“Hmm… So people hate me now?”

“No, no! There are more people who don’t believe it! Especially the head maid, who warned that if she hears such talk again, she’ll report it to the Duke. But that girl has been so noisy lately, I thought you should know…”

At those words, Liv’s face became thoughtful. Should she tell Emmett about this? But in fact, that maid wasn’t saying anything untrue…

“It’s fine.”

In the end, Liv answered in a calm voice.

“I’m okay.”

“Miss…”

At those words, Laga looked at Liv with moist eyes, but Liv really was okay. She was used to other people talking behind her back. Anyway, the people here would find out someday. Of course, she might feel a little sad if the people who had been treating her well turned their backs on her.

“Miss, you’re here!”

As Liv entered the library, Emily greeted her cheerfully. Laga guided Liv to Emily and then disappeared to clean her room.

“What book will you read today? You said you wanted to read something other than novels last time, right? May I recommend a history book?”

“Sure.”

Then Emily approached the bookshelf with an excited face and soon pulled out a book. The title was ‘The Religion of the Holy Hilysid Empire’.

“You know myths well, Miss. Then this book should suit you well.”

“Mmm, thank you.”

Emily had been impressed by Liv’s religious knowledge during a conversation with her recently. It seemed to have left a strong impression. Liv received the book from Emily, then sat down at the desk and began to turn the pages.

The introduction of the book was about how the Gracia family received a revelation from the Supreme God of the Holy Church and unified the houses to establish the Holy Hilysid Empire. While reading that, Liv mentally asked a question to the Supreme God.

‘Did you really give a revelation to the Gracia family?’

Yes.

‘Why do you love the Gracia family?’

The moment Liv asked that, one of the books on the bookshelf fell to the floor.

“Oh my, why did this suddenly happen?”

The title of the book Emily picked up in surprise was ‘The Promised Land, Hilysid’.

“It’s okay, I wanted to read that book anyway.”

Liv opened the page and began to slowly read its contents.

In an era when the Garsia Empire, the largest country in history that ruled this continent, had fallen and faith in the Holy Church had been shattered.

Anfang Gracia was a girl who devoutly believed in the Holy Church. She prayed to the Supreme God three times a day and helped the poor and sick according to the will of the Supreme God.

Then one day, heavy rain fell and many lives began to be swept away by the swollen waters. When everyone turned their backs on the Supreme God, saying that the unceasing rain was because the Supreme God had not taken care of them.

Anfang Gracia alone began to pray for 33 days to quell the anger of the Supreme God.

On the last day of prayer, she inserted a clover-shaped piece into her heart, sacrificing her own life-

And the rain stopped as if it were a lie.

But surprisingly, a child was born from the cut belly of the dead Anfang Gracia. On the day the child was born, a bright light shone on the child, wherever the child stepped, filth was purified, and wherever the child touched the ground, crops grew abundantly.

The child later becomes Fearte Gracia, the first Emperor who established the Holy Hilysid Empire.

Liv quietly looked down at the contents.

It would have been incomprehensible to other humans, but Liv could understand.

“Did you love Anfang Gracia?”

Yes.

“Why?”

In an era when no one believed in me. I couldn’t protect my only child who believed in me. At that time, I lacked power, so I had to watch my child sacrifice herself for me.

“So the power of a god grows with people’s belief.”

That’s right. Through Anfang Gracia’s sacrifice, I was able to regain enormous power, and thanks to that, I could stop the rain and produce her descendants. I promised to love the Gracia family forever.

The promises of gods are absolute. No matter what evil deeds the Gracia family commits, the Supreme God will truly continue to love the Gracia family. As Liv nodded, understanding why the Gracia family had received the love of the Holy Church for generations, a brown-haired maid entered the library.

“Becca, what brings you here?”

When Emily asked in a somewhat sharp voice, the maid called ‘Becca’ cautiously approached Liv.

“A letter has arrived for the Miss…”

“A letter? Is it from Hildegard?”

“No.”

Becca said with a smirk.

“It’s a letter from Lady Malea Tschermak.”

“Why are you delivering that letter?”

When Emily asked in a pointed tone, Becca shrugged and replied.

“What’s the problem? I’m just receiving it from the guard now.”

Emily was still looking at Becca with a suspicious face, but Liv went ahead and took the letter from her.

[To Liv Hamelsvoort,

Hello. You remember me, don’t you? I’m Malea Tschermak.

We’re not close enough to exchange letters, so I’ll get straight to the point.

Why are you already acting like the Duke’s wife when you’re just a fake Saintess?

The noble young ladies here seem to know nothing, but do you think they’ll treat you the same way when the truth is revealed? They respect you as a daughter of the Hamelsvoort family, but in reality, you’re just from a lowly slum.

It’s not that I want to become the Duke’s wife now or anything like that. I just don’t want to acknowledge someone inferior to me as my superior. So don’t treat me like a foolish woman blinded by jealousy.

I hope you’ll distance yourself from the Duke before I tell the truth. If not, I’ll reveal the truth about you to the vassals of the Lartman Duchy and other nobles in high society.

I hope you understand my warning.

—Malea Tschermak]