Genevieve spent several days at the Bertrand estate.
[Adaline gave her clothes, shoes, jewelry, claiming that they did not suit her.]
[Even without special taste, Genevieve understood: no one had worn these dresses before.]
[Actually, the real gift is still on the way. I ordered it according to your measurements.] - Adaline explained with a smile.
[But it’s already too much...] Genevieve muttered, lowering her eyes.
Every morning Adaline woke her up personally. Together they had breakfast, walked, visited exhibitions and performances, and even took a boat ride on the lake.
Adaline proposed spending the summer in a country estate and the winter in the Margraviate of Bertrand.
[To help the shy Genevieve adjust, she took her with her to appointments.]
[She, however, never went out to dance, she just followed on her heels.]
[Why are you so kind to me?] - Genevieve asked one day.
[Because you're cute.] - Adaline shrugged.
[I...don't know how I can thank you. To be honest, I...]
[Thank you? For what?]
[…]
[Genevieve, you don't owe me anything. If you smiled, that's enough.]
[But...]
[I’m not a Saint at all.] - Genevieve wanted to say, but her voice got stuck in her throat.
Adaline, noticing her embarrassment, said softly:
[Genevieve, you are the main character of this story. You deserve happiness.]
[What?]
[And if you are happy, I am happy.]
[…]
[And when you achieve success, just remember me fondly. That’s the whole “investment.”] She laughed, sincerely and lightly.
Soon rumors began to spread.
[As if the girl that the young Duke Blanchard brought was not a Saint at all, but his mistress.]
[Disgusting, angry talk.]
Genevieve wanted to refute them, but besides Adaline and Prince Edwin, almost no one spoke to her.
[What if Lady Adaline finds out and starts avoiding me?]
She swore to the Goddess: she never had feelings for Shane.
[Please, Lady Adaline, believe me! I...I didn’t do anything shameful!]
[Huh? I know.] - Adaline answered. [It's a pity.]
[What?]
[It would be worth a try. Shane is a good guy.]
[What?]
[Handsome, rich, smiling and kind. And faithful, I'm sure.]
Even Genevieve, who didn’t know Shane well, understood that he was insanely loyal. Especially Adaline.
[Kind? Smiling?]
[Oh, you don't like men who smile a lot?]
[That’s not the point...We’re talking about Shane Blanchard, right?]
[Just call him Shane.]
[I can't afford...]
[Oh, maybe he’s not indifferent to you either. You're so lovely.]
Adaline ran her hand through Genevieve's hair and added firmly:
[He couldn't help but love you. So don't worry. At all. Not a bit!]
[This is all wrong. This...]
For the first time ever, Genevieve felt...pity for the terrible Shane Blanchard.
But Adaline's good intentions couldn't stop the gossip.
Every day they became more and more poisonous.
A servant allegedly saw their secret meeting at the Blanchard estate.
It was as if they never parted for a moment.
[They said that the daughter of the Marquis Bertrand, having learned about the affair, only cries at night, having lost her beloved because of the vile impostor, whom she considered her sister.]
Even in the temple and in the palace, Genevieve caught evil glances and heard whispers:
[If it’s hard for me, what about Adaline?]
She didn't want to go to the ball.
[But as a “candidate” for Sainthood, she was obliged.]
Putting on the dress that Adaline gave her, she went to the reception at the Imperial Palace... and immediately heard behind her:
[Is this her? The one who stole the groom from her own patroness?]
[Oh, what a fox...]
[Look at her, you can immediately see that she knows how to lead men away.]
[And Shane, it turns out, is a scoundrel. He pretends to be a caring groom, while he is in an embrace with this dirty girl. Typical mistress.]
[Maybe it's because Lady Bertrand is so cold. Men love to be obeyed.]
[Well, yes...]
[Disgusting...]
Genevieve's face burned with shame.
[No. I hate Shane Blanchard. I don't want him. Even if they give it to me. So what if he's handsome? He doesn't see me as a person. He treats me like a stone. And feelings for this cannot appear by definition.]
But she couldn't object.
The words got stuck in my throat. Since childhood, every scream was a threat of a slap in the face. [And yet, it was too much.]
She opened her mouth to speak, despite her fear... and suddenly another voice spoke.
[What did you just say?]
[Huh? Lady Bertrand...]
[Who did you call dirty?]
Genevieve turned pale.
[Adaline heard everything. These dirty, poisonous words.]
She stepped forward, and her voice sounded like thunder:
[This is just an engagement, not a marriage. In addition, we were matched in childhood, at the behest of our parents. So I don’t want to listen to morals from those who themselves are not averse to change.]
[But, Lady Bertrand, the impostor Saint has bewitched your fiance...]
[I would like her to fool me.]
[What?]
[And she is not an impostor at all. Genevieve is a true Saint.]
[How do you know?]
[Because Shane brought her.]
Adaline's voice sounded firm and without the slightest hesitation.
[Yes, she didn't believe in Genevieve, but in Shane.]
[But my heart still sank with gratitude.]
[Genevieve - Saint. Without a doubt.]
And it was these words that became the turning point.
At that moment, Genevieve... truly awakened her divine power for the first time.