The Female Lead Takes Care of Everything - Chapter 93

Aref, who had been wearing a confused expression, gave a shy smile as he followed Soles’s lead.

Only then did Soles look truly relieved.

“Hey, earlier…” Aref began.

“Yeah?”

“Why do you think Her Majesty the Empress asked me all those questions?”

“I’m not sure either. How did it feel for you? Did it make you uncomfortable?”

“I don’t really know. But honestly, I think the Empress was the one who looked more upset…”

Aref hesitated, then spoke with courage.

“When I told her I didn’t know, she looked really sad.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Soles responded without hesitation.

“And if we’re being honest, it was the Empress who was in the wrong.”

Thanks to Soles explaining that it was rude to ask such personal questions upon a first meeting, Aref felt much better.

I really like House Deiamor.

He still wondered about the parents who had given birth to him.

When he lived at the orphanage, he used to think about them a lot.

Maybe they had no choice but to leave him there. Maybe, just maybe, they would come back for him after a few nights.

But after a few nights turned into many, and then hundreds, those hopes collapsed like sandcastles.

It became exhausting to build up hope only to be disappointed again and again.

Eventually, he stopped imagining those dreams altogether.

But House Deiamor had saved him from all of that.

I want to be their son.

And when I grow up, I want to marry the young lady.

Aref let out a shy giggle at the embarrassing future he had just imagined.

“Why are you suddenly laughing?”

Soles looked at him with curiosity.

“I don’t know. I’m just happy.”

“You’re so silly.”

“Hehe.”

“Still, I think smiling suits you best. Right, Deter?”

“Absolutely. The young lords of House Deiamor look their best when they smile. Of course, the young lady is just the same.”

Deter didn’t forget to include the sleeping Nivellia.

“Mmm…”

Right then, Nivellia mumbled in her sleep, almost as if responding, and smacked her lips softly.

Soles and Aref quickly covered their mouths and looked at each other, silently shaking with laughter.

“She gave you land?”

That evening, Soles told the adults what had happened with Empress Derant just in time for dinner.

“She called you in personally and gave you land?”

“Unbelievable…!”

Caleo and Celletina were clearly shocked. Their reactions made it seem like they were ready to head back to the palace immediately.

So, I was right. This wasn’t discussed with the adults.

Soles had suspected as much.

“What kind of land was it?”

Muniel, who had been quiet, finally asked.

“A small forest. I think it was called Lus…”

“Lustria Forest?”

Soles stopped and nodded as Muniel finished the name for him.

“That was once a retreat owned by the Count of Lustria. There’s a small lake and a villa inside.”

“Grandmother, how do you know that?”

“I visited it once. But she gave that land to you?”

“Mother,” Celletina said as she picked up the shawl she had taken off earlier.

“We should go to the palace right away and speak to the Empress or rather, to His Majesty and ask that the land be taken back…”

“Must we really do that?”

Surprisingly, Muniel stopped her.

“Mother!”

Celletina raised her voice without meaning to.

Normally, she would have trusted any decision Muniel made. Celletina admired her more than anyone. Muniel had always pointed her toward the right path, and her judgment was never wrong.

But this time, she couldn’t agree so easily.

“You know exactly where we were today.”

“House Deiamor went there to declare its position of neutrality.”

“And knowing that, you still…!”

“We will always remain neutral.”

Muniel slowly turned her head.

Her blue eyes, as clear as a sunny sky, sparkled with sharp awareness.

“House Deiamor only moves when the Dramenor Empire is facing danger. That is the same reason the children were honored at the palace today.”

When the word neutrality came from Muniel, Celletina felt a bit of relief.

There were three reasons House Deiamor insisted so strongly on staying neutral, despite being one of the founding noble families.

First, in the past, their neutrality allowed them to survive even without great power, avoiding political conflict and maintaining their legacy.

Second, in the present, it allowed them to hold unmatched influence without any scandals, earning the people’s trust.

Third, because of this stance, House Deiamor had taken on the role of balancing power between the Imperial family and the noble factions.

Of course, Deiamor did not always remain neutral.

In the recent Petra Bank collapse, they were the ones who first approached the Emperor with a proposal.

In the end, House Deiamor only moves when a situation begins to affect the lives of the people.

“You already know this,” Celletina said with a softened tone.

“Then why tell us to accept that land?”

“We are not the ones accepting it.”

“Then who…”

“It is just a forest.”

Muniel looked at Soles.

“Soles.”

“Yes, Grandmother.”

“When Her Majesty offered the land, did she ever call it a territory?”

“No.”

Soles paused for a moment and recalled the Empress’s words.

“She said it would be too much to grant land with control over people. That it might risk House Deiamor’s neutrality so, she offered land where no one lives.”

A small forest with a quiet lake and a single villa.

Muniel nodded slowly.

Then she made a suggestion.

“Why don’t we lend that land to the witches?”

The morning before “You have chosen the timing perfectly.”

Caleo said this just before leaving for the Imperial Palace.

Why had he said that?

Because the very next day, which was today, something important was happening.

“The Great Divine takes joy in this day. I am deeply grateful to share this moment with all of you.”

Today was the day the witches received the blessing of the Saint at the temple.

The capital’s central temple, nearby plaza, and surrounding roads were filled with people who had come to attend the holy service.

Many had come because it was led by Saint Muniel, but most were there out of curiosity.

They wanted to see the witches.

The women who had long been persecuted and forced to hide were now returning to the light, answering the call of the Divine.

And what people saw shocked them.

“They look so normal.”

Many had imagined hunchbacks, crooked noses, long fingernails, and faces covered in warts.

A witch who cast curses was supposed to look hideous and frightening.

But the women standing in prayer under the blessing of Saint Muniel looked nothing like those dark stories.

They looked like teachers who might have taught their children, coworkers from next door, friends they had laughed with just last night, or strangers they had passed on the street.

They were so ordinary that they could have blended into any crowd without being noticed.

“The Great Divine in the heavens rejoices to see you return.”

As soon as Muniel spoke, light poured through the highest glass dome of the temple, shining directly on the witches.

The crowd gasped in awe.

Bathed in that brilliant light, the women looked less like witches and more like divine beings. They seemed like angels, called back by the voice of heaven.

“Sisters.”

Muniel stepped down from the altar and stood before the elderly high witch at the front.

Then she gently embraced her.

“The Divine knows your pain and welcomes your return with all His heart.”

The high witch nodded with a gentle smile.

“Thank you for recognizing us, Saint.”

“I have always known.”

Muniel’s voice echoed through the temple.

“The Divine has always loved you and worried for you.”

Even after the mass ended, the crowd could not bring themselves to leave the temple.

Rumors had spread that the stories of witches using curses were all false, and that the Saint had received a divine message instructing her to help clear their names.

“The temple officials just revealed the prophecy. The Divine told them to help bring the witches back into the world and clear their name.”

“That explains why today’s mass was so large. Even when the Saint appears, it’s never like this.”

“No wonder House Deiamor started a pharmaceutical company. They say all their staff are witches.”

“You mean Philia Terre? Their medicine really works. I had a bad fever recently, took one of their pills, slept for two hours, and my temperature was completely normal.”

“Hey, look over there.”

The entrance to the temple suddenly became crowded.

The witches were walking out, but someone stood in their way.

People thought trouble had arrived and rushed over, ready to defend them if needed. But something unexpected happened.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

The strangers blocking the path fell to their knees and began to cry.

They had come from the countryside. Every one of them had received help thanks to Philia Terre’s new medicine.

“My mother had been bedridden for years. Just the other day, she walked around the yard with a cane.”

“My daughter used to get nosebleeds from the slightest exhaustion. It has been two full months without a single drop.”

“My father’s legs are healing. With the help of the tool you made, he now practices walking every day.”

“Do you remember me? The flesh on my arm that was rotting away has started to grow back.”

Those who had been helped by Philia Terre’s medicine bowed deeply to the witches again and again, thanking them with full hearts.

The high witch spoke to them with a calm, kind smile.

“I’m glad we were able to help.”

Though age had stooped her back and etched deep lines across her face, the warmth in her smile made her look almost like a saint herself.

From a short distance away, Nivellia had been watching it all.

She tapped Caleo on the shoulder.

“Dad.”

“Yes?”

“When are you going to give me my shares?”

“Look at you, my clever daughter. You never forget about your share.”

Caleo laughed and kissed her on the cheek.

Then he gave her the news she had been waiting for.

“Nini, when we get home today, we’re having your birthday party, right?”

“Yes. It’s my birthday.”

Today was the day the witches returned to the world.

It was also Nivellia’s fifth birthday.

“And one of your birthdays presents today is your stock shares.”

It was also the long-awaited day when Philia Terre officially went public.

“Dad.”

Nivellia shouted with determination.

“That money came from my investment. That’s not a present. Are you trying to scam me? Do you want to go to jail? Do you want to grow old there?”

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