Although she was actually alive, Karin was once deeply depressed, thinking that Odette was dead.
During those miserable times, Charlotte's presence, who always mentioned 'Odette', was a horror in itself to Karin.
Even when she was just lying down in her room, curled up, not eating or drinking, the name Charlotte made Karin have a seizure.
Karin waited, barely able to suppress her burning stomach, for Odette to read the entire article.
She believes that after reading the entire article, Odette will be more outraged than her.
But.
"Ummm...."
That was Odette's only reaction. Judging from her eyes, she didn't seem to be very interested in the article.
"...Is that all the reaction is?"
"I read it well. Thank you for sending me the newspaper."
"Oh my God. Odette, how Insensitive are you?! Aren't you angry after reading this article? This guy makes my blood boil!"
Karin's voice grew louder in bewilderment.
"Can you forgive her for this? Selling you out every time to protect her own position?"
"What. It's always happened. Don't get upset about it every time, Karin. Come on in. I have some dry tea leaves. I can make you some delicious tea."
Karin's eyes narrowed as she noticed that Odette was trying to comfort her. As she had no friends, Karin always looked forward to tea time with her friends.
'She does that because she knows I'm weak during tea time with her.'
But today Karin was absolutely not going to fall for that trick.
"Haaah. Do you know what it means when this kid takes charge of the Victory Day event? The temple is going to completely push this kid. As your replacement."
"It's more than a substitute. If they can trust her with the day of victory."
Victory Day. That was the day when Rosalind, the first and greatest Purifier recorded in the Bible, performed her miracle.
That day, all the Transcendent beings in the ward were restored by Rosalind's purification, and achieved humanity's first victory over the disaster.
As it was an event symbolizing Rosalind, there was no history of daring to entrust the officiating of the event to another Purifier.
When Odette had just awakened, the Pope and the High Priests were furious at Count Albert's suggestion that Odette preside over the Victory Day, calling it an insult.
"You know that so clearly, yet you're not going to do anything about it?"
Karin asked, seeming frustrated.
"There's something else important right now. Aren't you curious about the tea leaves I dried myself, Karin? The aroma must be amazing."
But Odette just smiled and gently took Karin's hand.
It was a habit of hers that even Odette herself was unaware of.
'A habit that comes out when you want to avoid this conversation.'
When she smiled like that, Odette would just change the subject no matter how much Karin would argue.
'No matter how angry I get, you'll Just laugh.'
So all Karin could do was sigh and end the conversation.
"... You are too insensitive to damage."
The ending contained sorrow for her friend...
Even with the hostility towards her and the damage to her reputation, she doesn't necessarily get angry and just pretends not to see it every time.
Karin guessed that Odette's attitude was because she was too accustomed to the hostility of others.
'She never told me, but I'm sure the Count has been using her since she was very young.'
Maybe Odette learned through experience that resisting the enemy is useless. Or maybe it's just old-fashioned helplessness.
Karin's heart ached again as she thought that perhaps being accustomed to only hostility and not kindness was also a trace of her harsh childhood.
'I think it would be better for me to step in instead.'
Karin made up her mind to do so.
Karin was already interfering with Charlotte, using her background as a Duke Brentano to keep her from rising in social circles.
'I guess that wasn't enough.'
Even maintaining social order was the role of the empire's sole Princess.
It seemed like the social atmosphere needed to be properly reorganized.
***
A look of disappointment flashed across Karin's face. Of course, like the Princess of Brentano, she quickly hid the emotion, but Odette could not have failed to notice her friend's feelings.
But contrary to Karin's thoughts, Odette did not just sit back and let it happen.
She was waiting for a proper counterattack.
...Charlotte, there are more than one or two strange things about that girl.
The strangest thing was this.
Charlotte, who should have been S-class in her previous life, was rated A-class in this life.
You might think it's just a class difference, but that's not the case at all.
In this world, S-rank means an existence outside the standard. It is a rank given only when the amount of purification possessed by a purifier cannot be measured.
The fact that Charlotte was rated as an A-class being, meant that her purification amount was excellent, out of the S-class beings that were out of the norm, meant that her purification amount was ridiculously low compared to her past life.
There was another strange thing.
Since Charlotte's appearance, no disasters have occurred anywhere on the continent.
The disasters that had appeared countless times in her past life, and had even resulted in catastrophes. They should have appeared in this life as well, but they disappeared as if they had been cut off.
'But, since it's the <Redemption> setting, and things like past lives, I can't tell Karin.'
So, in front of Karin, she just laughed it off.
"Karin has already punished Charlotte enough. My best friend is already fighting with Charlotte in public, so why should I be angry?"
Karin rolled her eyes slightly. She pretended not to notice, but her heart seemed to soften at the words, "best friend."
Although it was just soothing words, it was also Odette's true feelings. Sensing that, Karin's stiff expression loosened and she burst into a snicker.
In this life, Karin was working behind the scenes to keep Charlotte from giving up her place in high society.
It was she who actively utilized her network of high-ranking ladies who could serve as chaperones to prevent Charlotte from having a grand debutante ball.
Charlotte was forced to make a humble debut among the many debutantes of the lower nobility that year.
The social standing starts from the position at the debutante ball. Karin knew best that if Charlotte made a modest debut, society would treat her accordingly.
Unlike in the game, where she easily took the position of 'socialite' with a grand debutante, Charlotte in this life was barely able to exert any influence in social circles.
Odette put her arm around Karin's. Karin sighed helplessly.
"I'm weak. If you say it like this, I have no choice but to lose, right?"
After saying that, Karin finally followed Odette to the cabin.
'Karin doesn't know how obsessively I observe Charlotte.'
For the past two years, Odette has been investigating Charlotte using every means at her disposal.
Even Karin's views on the Bible, which they occasionally brought up as a topic of conversation, were useful information to Odette.
And now she was starting to vaguely get an idea of what Charlotte's true Identity was.
Also about what that child ultimately wants.
***
After a short morning tea time, Karin returned to the villa.
After seeing her off, Odette picked up the newspaper that Karin had left on the wooden table.
Then she carefully read the article Karin had pointed to with her index finger.
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