To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

6. Daughter of the Five Noble Houses

The topics that noble young ladies can discuss at their gatherings are extremely limited. In principle, the firstborn son inherits the family, and even though it’s now an era where women can inherit titles, some old-fashioned nobles still prefer to bring in a son-in-law.

In this atmosphere, would noble young ladies talk about politics or economics at their gatherings? While fields like humanities and social sciences were open to women and many women were studying them, it was natural for someone who talked about such things at a social gathering to be considered tactless.

Therefore, the topics at young ladies’ gatherings were always predictable. Talk about new dresses from a certain dress shop, beauty care methods, or fiancés. Of course, the most popular topic was undoubtedly gossip about others who weren’t present at the gathering.

“I’ve heard Liv Hamelsvoort has returned from the Lartman Duchy.”

As soon as someone brought this up, the noble young ladies sitting cozily around the table chimed in.

“Goodness, do we have to see that face in the capital again?”

“Even Miss Hildegard seemed to be struggling…”

“I feel so sorry to the Supreme God whenever I see Miss Hamelsvoort.”

They had been talking for dozens of minutes about a young lady who had fallen while dancing at a recent debutante ball, and just as it was getting boring, a new prey had fallen into their laps, so there was no reason not to welcome it. Moreover, the more negatively they talked about Liv, the closer their relationships became. They spoke freely in the heightened atmosphere.

“But what could Duke Lartman be thinking?”

However, as soon as someone said that, the atmosphere cooled down. After a brief silence, finally one of them continued in a resigned tone.

“…They must have reconciled, I suppose.”

“That’s how relationships between men and women are…”

They were reluctant to admit that Liv Hamelsvoort, whom they had looked down upon until now, had restored her relationship with Duke Lartman.

However, Liv Hamelsvoort and Duke Lartman had become close enough to go down to the Duchy together. That fact couldn’t be denied. That’s why the noble young ladies, who would have immediately invited Liv to mock her upon hearing news of her return, could now only backbite her like this.

“I hear Miss Hamelsvoort and Duke Lartman are getting married.”

“What? Is that true?”

“Yes, my mother said she heard it from Countess Hamelsvoort.”

“That’s right, and they say an enormous amount of flowers was delivered to the Hamelsvoort mansion.”

“My goodness… So she’s really becoming the Duchess now.”

As rumors spread that Liv was becoming the Duchess, the atmosphere became even more serious. Then what would become of them who had been tormenting Liv until now? They closed their mouths and unnecessarily reflected on their past actions, and anxiety crept up their bodies. Stopping their enthusiastic criticism of Liv, they naturally turned to look at the highest-ranking person in this gathering.

It was Deborah Zibel, daughter of Marquis Zibel.

As everyone’s gaze focused on her, she finally opened her mouth, her long purple hair flowing down.

“I don’t understand.”

“Y-yes, right?”

Without even knowing what wasn’t understood, another young lady quickly agreed.

The Zibel family, new nobility who had amassed wealth through business, wasn’t as recognized as the ancient Five Noble Houses, but they had their own power due to their wealth. The Zibel trading company always sold the right products at the right time as if they could read the future, to the extent that rumors circulated that the Zibel family had received the blessing of God. Therefore, in gatherings without children of the Five Noble Houses, Deborah reigned as a kind of queen.

“I wonder if Duke Lartman is really going to marry that woman? If so, it would taint the blood of the Five Noble Houses.”

“Indeed.”

“The previous Duke and Duchess passed away long ago, so there’s no one to stop the Duke… At least the temple might intervene. After all, Liv Hamelsvoort is a fake Saintess who deceived the country.”

“But if His Majesty the Emperor has allowed it, even the temple…”

“Shh, be quiet.”

The young lady who received Deborah’s sharp glance quickly closed her mouth. Deborah tapped the table thoughtfully, then slowly opened her mouth.

“We’ll have to wait and see for now.”

“Yes, so how will you, Miss Deborah…”

“We need to check.”

Her eyes curved gently, creating an eye smile.

“If she dares to try to stand above us despite being just a fake Saintess, it won’t be too late to act then.”

* * *

Liv felt the familiar air of the capital. When she was in the Lartman Duchy, she thought that place was the best, but now that she was back in the capital, she felt quite glad.

However, the scene she was facing wasn’t so familiar.

“Liv, you’re back!”

“Yes…”

Liv looked with a sullen expression at the Hamelsvoort couple who were enthusiastically welcoming her. After Emmett had dropped her off at the Hamelsvoort’s house, the Hamelsvoort couple were looking at Liv as if they were seeing something precious. Their suddenly changed attitude was something she couldn’t get used to no matter how many times she saw it.

“So, how was the Lartman Duchy? Did everyone treat you well?”

But she felt like she could talk all day about what had happened there, no matter who the listener was. Her experience in the Lartman Duchy was that special to her. She continued in an excited tone.

“Yes, it was really great. I became close with many of the servants there, and one of them, named Laga, came up to the Lartman mansion in the capital with me.”

“The Duke took care of you!”

They looked ready to applaud whatever Liv said. Lady Hamelsvoort, with sparkling eyes, asked:

“Did you become friends with the nobles there?”

Liv could answer this question with a bright face as well.

“Yes, I made friends!”

When Liv was leaving for the capital, Maria and Hannah even told her to write letters! Maria, in particular, asked Liv to add a lot of stories about the capital. It was a statement that clearly showed her longing for the capital, but it was rather amusing that she didn’t hide her desire, making Liv smile.

“I became close with all the noble young ladies there.”

“Really? That’s wonderful!”

“I’m glad Liv adapted well there.”

“That’s right, you’ll be living there later.”

As the Countess held Liv’s hand tightly in joy, the count agreed with a smiling face.

‘Ah.’

Having received the Duke’s proposal, Liv would eventually go down to live in the Lartman Duchy. She hadn’t properly realized this fact until now.

‘There… it might not be bad.’

It might be happier to live in the Lartman Duchy than in the capital full of people who dislike her. Of course, she wasn’t sure if a loveless marriage would truly be happy, but Liv was confident she could be satisfied with just Emmett’s presence. Thinking this as she went up to her room, she suddenly realized that Hildegard hadn’t shown her face yet even though she had arrived.

“Butler, where is Hildegard?”

“Miss Hildegard has gone out to volunteer, fulfilling her duties as a Saintess.”

“I see.”

It was familiar for Hildegard to be absent. She knew her responsibilities better than anyone and always fulfilled her duties. After learning the truth about the power surrounding Liv, Hildegard joked, ‘This isn’t what a Saintess’s work should be, shouldn’t I stop going out to volunteer now?’ But she still never missed going out to volunteer.

‘A Saintess…’

Liv recalled the conversation she had with Emmett on the way back.

-Liv, do you really have no intention of showing your power in the capital?

-Of course, if rumors about what happened here spread, I might have to reveal it. But until then, if rumors don’t spread…

To Emmett’s question, Liv answered with an expressionless face.

-I don’t see why I should.

The biggest reason Liv didn’t deliberately show her power in the capital was because she wanted to avoid the Emperor’s attention. But even apart from that, Liv couldn’t understand why she should reveal her power. She was used to people in the capital disliking her, and it didn’t hurt her much anymore. After all, if she got married, she wouldn’t continue living in the capital anyway…

-Is that all?

-Probably.

When Liv answered like that, Emmett looked at her with eyes full of regret.

-I wish Liv would love herself a little more.

-It’s enough for me to love you, Emmett.

-…

At those words, Emmett blushed as if embarrassed, then barely opened his mouth.

-I too intend to protect Liv by any means necessary. But I wish Liv would have the thought of protecting herself.

-Hmm…

Liv remained silent then, so the conversation didn’t continue. But there was a wrong part in Emmett’s words.

‘I’m protecting myself sufficiently now.’

For Liv, hiding her power was the wisest way to protect herself. She must not let the Emperor discover her power. The newborn baby who cried her first cry in Abgrund and was confined there forever after must not be discovered to be Liv herself. If that happens, the Emperor might try to kill Liv again. No, knowing he can’t kill Liv, he might confine her in Abgrund again.

Liv hated the idea of returning to Abgrund more than death. There was a time when she didn’t know how terrible it was to be confined there. But now Liv had tasted the world.

‘I can’t go back.’

Just thinking about that terrible space makes her breath catch and her body tremble.

Liv inherited the white hair characteristic of the Gracia family. White hair was by no means common. The only reason she had been able to avoid the Emperor’s eye so far was because her origin was known to be from the slums. But if rumors spread that Liv was ‘a white-haired girl loved by the gods’, this time she might really be discovered by the Emperor.

‘I have to keep hiding for now.’

At least here, she could never reveal her power.