Chapter 5

Chapter 5

****

The importance of a Stern in the Berg estate, with its frozen lake, was more prominent than elsewhere. However, most of the Sterns were arrogant, having only one or two of them on the continent, and Seria Stern was particularly evil. But that was a long time ago. Viscount Issac, who was in charge of Lina's class, said with a smile.

"Lady Seria has changed a lot since a year ago."

The number of times she appeared at balls and parties were gradually decreasing. But that didn't mean she completely left the social world and went into seclusion. She was slowly changing her routine to convince others.

"Only after that had she gotten on good terms with Marquis Kalis Haneton."

Very few knew that Seria had healed Kalis's arm. Of course, Viscount Issac did not know about this either. Lina, who asked for detailed information about Seria Stern, nodded at the Viscount's words.

"I see. That's why she was able to get engaged to Kalis."

It was time for a break. Lina got close to the window to look outside as it was noisy. Her appearance, which seemed like she was about to fall out of the window at any moment, made Viscount Issac turn pale.

"Saintess, it's dangerous!"

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Your body is still weak....."

Lina was in a very fragile state because of her divine power that was running through her body. High-quality bandages were wrapped around her arms, legs, and thighs because there were yellow bruises all over her body due to being unable to bear the divine power. She was fortunate to have Marquis Kalis Haneton and Grand Duke Lesche Berg here. They were one of the heads of the seventeen Imperial families. It meant that they were the people who had the power to control the divine power to some extent. Thanks to Marquis Haneton's dedication in providing her appropriate treatment, Lina's bruises showed signs of recovery.

"You seem to be very close to Marquis Haneton."

"Yes. Kalis has a good personality."

"Well...." At Lina's intimate words, Viscount Issac made an expression of slight embarrassment.

"Saintess? You can't call Marquis by his name so casually in public."

"Huh? Why?"

"Since Marquis Haneton is about to marry, there may be some bad rumors."

"Really? No way!" Lina burst into laughter. "Kalis and I are just friends."

"It's the nobles here that don't think so."

"But...." Lina, who was confused, said, "Kalis also calls me by name...."

"I see." The Viscount nodded. "Then I will have to talk to Marquis Haneton later."

It was then that the situation outside the window became noisy and they turned their gaze. Then Viscount Issac said.

"Lady Seria Stern must have returned from the glacier."

Like Viscount Isaac had said, Seria Stern had just returned on horseback. She was wearing a white fur cloak and her cheeks were red due to the cold. Seria had visited the glacier every day. And there was also Kalis Haneton. A bright smile blossomed on Lina's face as she waved by the window greeting him.

"Kali......!" Lina stopped what she was about to say. It was because Kalis approached Seria after she had just returned after a month and he covered her cold cheeks with his hands. Then they started a conversation. Lina couldn't hear what they were talking about, but Kalis was often worried that his fiancee had a cold, so it was clear that it was something like an affectionate nagging. They looked like lovers no matter how she looked at it. Lina lowered her hands and watched them silently for a moment, then asked abruptly.

"Why does Kalis' fiancée go to the glacier every day?"

Viscount Issac tried to criticize her once more, but Lina's eyes were too pure. And she came from a different world so he figured he had to teach her slowly.

"Because she is a Stern. It's a kind of good deed that only a Stern can give in winter. In recent years, she has been very sincere, and there has been a lot of praises in Berg estate."

"I envy her..."

"Huh?"

"Ah, nothing..."

Lina, who muttered to herself, asked carefully.

"Teacher?"

"Yes. Saintess?"

"What family is Stern from? Is she from a Duke's family? Is she a princess?"

"Lady Seria Stern is the daughter of the prestigious Kellyden family in the West."

"Wow, Kalis' fiancée really has it all."

Lina, who said so, suddenly wondered.

"But why is she not called Lady Kellyden, but Lady Stern?"

"Stern is a title given to her by the Holy Kingdom. Lady Seria is a rare Stern, recognized by the High Priest."

"Ah... It's like a Catholic baptismal name."

"Baptismal name?"

"In my original world... There is something like that." Lina said and tilted her head. "Can I get that title too?"

"What? Aren't you already a Saintess?"

"But being a Stern is better."

"So in the eyes of Saintess Lina, Lady Stern looks even better."

Viscount Issac thought twice before answering. The lady who was drawing the most attention in Berg Castle right now was Seria Stern. And the wedding between her and Kalis Haneton was just a few days away. The castle was busy preparing the wedding hall for them. Countless nobles from different territories, including the Haneton estate, arrived to attend the wedding. They all wanted to take a peek at Seria, so the villa where she was staying was always crowded.

"But Saintess will also receive a very splendid reception in half a year. Of course, you are to learn all the social etiquettes before that."

Lena replied bluntly. "I still want to be a Stern, like Kalis' fiancée."

Viscount Issac said with laughter. "To be a Stern you would have to meet certain standards and requirements."

"Standards? What are they? I'm confident that I can learn anything quickly."

"Ahahaha. The title Stern is not something you can obtain by learning, Saintess."

Viscount Issac, who burst into laughter, kindly explained.

"A Stern has a star-shaped dot somewhere on her body. It is not a birthmark and would manifest itself at the age of 15. And she has to be born on a Wednesday in the winter to possess the power."

Lina was not Stern. Because if she was, the maids who had helped her bathe would have already found the star-shaped dot. But they found no such thing.

"Star-shaped dot.... A Wednesday in Winter... " Lina was deep in her thoughts while counting her fingers.

Seeing Lina was deep in thought, Viscount Issac didn't think she would or could pay any more attention to his teaching if he continued, so he dismissed the class earlier than usual.

"That is all for today, Saintess."

****

"It will be Lady Seria's birthday soon."

"Winter Wednesday."

When the priest who gave Seria the medicine for the cold, laughed, Abigail nodded.

"Time flies so fast."

"I see. I was so busy that I forgot about it."

As soon as tomorrow came, Seria decided to host a small tea party with the noble ladies from the Haneton estate. A Wednesday in winter. There was such a song in the temple.

Monday's child is fair of face

Tuesday's child is full of grace

Wednesday's child is full of woe

Thursday's child has far to go,

Friday's child is loving and giving,

Saturday's child works hard for a living,

And the child that is born on the Sabbath day

Is bonny ( attractive) and blithe (happy), and good and gay (cheerful).

"Isn't it too unfair to all the children born on Wednesday?"

If only she got a penny every time she was sad...

Seria Stern was born on a winter Wednesday. On the day of her 15th birthday, a small star-shaped dot appeared on her white neck, she possessed divine power and officially became a Stern. That was the explanation in the original story. Although Stern's divine power was completely different from that of the divine powers of the priest. She said that it was because Sterns were rare, and did not make a distinction. The conversation that led to her birthday suddenly turned to Lina. The priest said with a sigh.

"Now that I think about it, Saintess seems to have much interest in the Sacred Relic, and I must say that it's very troublesome."

"Saintess? Wouldn't it be dangerous since her divine powers are not stabilized?"

"I told her that, but she is still very curious."

It was the same in the original story. Lina was a lively and lovely classic female protagonist, and she was also curious. As a result, several incidents arose in the middle of the story. After all sorts of hardships, Lina completely stabilized her divine power. And Lina was overjoyed to see her skin clear of all the bruises. However, after a while, Lina got hurt in a new trial. She had laid her hands on the Sacred Relic. The rare Keystone that was known to only react to a Stern's touch. After Lina came in contact with the holy stone, the divine power of the Sterns that had remained dormant within her, awakened. And, Lina, being critically hurt once was enough for Lesche, the male lead, to become aware of his feelings...

In the original story, the person who made Lina touch the Keystone was.....

'Seria Stern.'

'It's me. It's me again.'

***