# 30
**Chapter Thirty**
I pressed my hat tightly as I stood in front of the Anis Guild Building.
The carriage had been parked far away, and to avoid a repeat of last time's incident, I walked with a guild member who was waiting for me.
I made my way through the familiar corridors towards the room where I usually met the guild master. However, there was another person sitting instead of him.
It made sense; The union president was on a business trip last week. I heard the news, but since I did not receive any report from the union president regarding my case, I decided to visit.
The guild master's agent was wearing a black hoodie, with a white mask covering his face.
His intention was clear to keep his identity a secret. Based on his height and build, I could only assume it was a man.
"Welcome."
“……”
The agent nodded slightly, held a pen in his left hand, and began to write something.
“Greetings. It is a pleasure to meet you. There is no need to use formal titles with me, Duchess.”
“Ah, okay.”
It still felt strange to be so formal with someone I was meeting for the first time.
But what is the reason behind this silence? Can't he talk, or does he choose not to? Depending on how carefully he concealed his identity, he may have wanted to conceal his identity.
The agent handed me a report.
After reading it, a huge smile spread across my face.
'Ah, money really is the best.'
Knowing the original story, the money I invested actually doubled.
Knock, knock.
Hearing the sound of knocking on the desk, I looked up to see the agent. Did he have something to say?
He handed me a paper.
“What do you plan to do with all this money?”
I blinked at the unexpected question. Although it surprised me, it wasn't something I couldn't answer.
“I save as much as I can and live happily with it.”
“- Exactly?”
“Um... I haven't really thought about it in detail...”
My plans were simple: heal Harold, escape to another country where the curse of the original story would not reach, and live under a pre-arranged identity in a new home. That's it.
Maybe, if I met someone on the road, I might settle down, but that seemed too far away at the moment.
Harold's recovery will take years, so I haven't made concrete plans yet.
“Why do you ask, though?”
The agent picked up the pen in his left hand again. His grip on the pen was a little awkward, so I found myself staring at his hand. Then, something unusual about his fourth finger caught my attention.
'Is he married?'
There was a visible ring mark on the ring finger.
He handed me another piece of paper, and I tilted my head as I read.
“-Just curious.”
“About me?”
The pen moved again, this time writing a longer response.
“Since you married Duke Harold Wesen, your personality has changed radically. Before the marriage, it seemed like your life’s goal was to marry his younger brother, Kayden Wesen, whom you followed relentlessly. Now, you are more knowledgeable about investments than most experts. For someone like me, who mainly deals with information, you are an interesting person, Duchess. My interest is purely personal. I assure you, I will not sell this information.”
“But I'm still curious: What do you plan to do with the money you're secretly saving behind your husband's back?”
The agent clasped his hands and rested his chin on them as if urging me to answer.
Even though his face was hidden by the white mask and his eyes were covered by transparent black fabric, I felt his gaze fixed on me.
"It's just a little extra savings on the side. The more money the better, right?"
The agent tilted his head slightly before nodding in understanding.
I checked the time. It was the day I agreed to volunteer with Mrs. Mayer, so I needed to leave soon.
“Okay, I'll go now. Take care.”
As I pushed my chair back and stood, the sound of pen on paper caught my attention again.
*Scribble, scribble.*
The agent pushed another sheet of paper at me.
“-I look forward to meeting you again.”
I moved my gaze from the paper to the agent's face.
The man nodded slightly.
I imitated the gesture in response.
'I arrived a little early for the appointment.'
With Anna and Faris accompanying me, I visited the temple for the first time, looking around curiously. The temple was bustling with preparations for volunteer work. The smell of fresh bread wafts from different directions.
‘The smell of this bread brings back memories.’
I felt a slight sense of nostalgia. However, I had paid more attention to quality this time. This was not the floury, dull bread I had eaten in the past.
I thought no one would notice me in the crowd, but a priest wearing a white robe approached.
“May the Governor’s blessings be with you. Duchess Diana of Wessen, welcome to the temple. I will guide you to Lady Mayer.”
"May the ruler's blessings be with you. Please, do."
I followed the priest while continuing to look into the temple.
Although I was reborn into the world of Degenerate Noblewoman Enchants Duke's Son, a romantic-fantasy novel, this world was surprisingly lacking in the typical magic, holy powers, and spirits you might expect from this genre.
Well, to be more precise, magic existed in this world—400 years ago. His records and artifacts from that era still exist. While there are no longer wizards who use mana, tools imbued with magical energy, such as mana stones, still exist, and magical engineering remains an active field.
In addition, some sword masters among the Knights are still able to use Aura Blades, although their numbers are much smaller compared to 400 years ago.
‘…Harold can also use sword energy.’
However, the holy power, which is often present in fantasy romance stories, was never present here—except for me.
Perhaps because of this, the temple's influence was very weak. Although some rights are protected by a charter made 100 years ago, they have managed to grow steadily, but there are still many non-believers among the nobles.
'Diana was also an unbeliever.'
However, the moment Diana's mother died, Diana visited the temple for an entire month, driven by a desperate desire to hold on to something. After that month, she stopped visiting, but during that period, she even donated all the money she had saved and prayed to a ruler she did not believe in.
First, she prayed for her mother's return, then later to find out where her mother's body was.
Another day, she prayed that her mother would go to a good place, and sometimes, she begged the governor to punish the countess and her family, who had killed her mother.
On the last day, she prayed to escape this hell.
While I was visiting the temple, memories of Diana's past came flooding back. Even though I didn't share her feelings, just remembering her made me want to cry for her.
At that moment, I saw Mrs. Mayer talking to a priest in the distance. I pushed Diana's painful memories aside and walked toward Mrs. Mayer.
She noticed me as she adjusted her glasses, offering a calm smile.
"Hello, Duchess. If you don't mind waiting a moment, I would be grateful."
“Of course, don't mind me. Please, continue talking.”
“Haha, almost finished.”
True to her words, Mrs. Mayer finished her conversation with the priest and turned to me.
“Shall we go now?”
“Yes, we can go together.”
Every two weeks, twenty teams of volunteers are recruited, and I will be going to the same place with Mrs. Mayer this time.
“Duchess, my husband’s eldest grandson is staying at the Marquis’ residence, and he showed interest in joining the volunteer work, so I brought him along. I apologize for not telling you earlier.”
“No problem. Anyone can join. How is the grandson of the Grand Marquis?”
."I don't know him well, but he's a good guy. A little clumsy, though, and I'm not sure what made him want to come."
Mrs. Mayer frowned slightly, but since she described him as 'good,' I assumed he must be a decent person.
At that moment, a loud crash echoed in the air.
“…Ah, there he is.”
Following her gaze, I saw the source of the noise. The temple workers were shouting,
“Please, remain still, young master!”
The man got up, dusted himself off, and laughed awkwardly. His well-groomed red hair swayed lightly.
“Huh? It’s…” It was him—the clumsy man from Mrs. Mayer’s mansion.
“…!”
At that moment, the man turned and looked directly at me, a wide, bright smile spreading across his face.
“We meet again, Duchess.”