“They all depend on our business for a living, Renee,” Jacques spoke with trembling lips. “You’re not stupid, are you? You must have heard of that?”


    The blonde-haired woman lowered her head, unable to answer.


    “So, for this time, obey my words.” The father continued. “Only the Kozlovs can help us. The other families are too hostile towards us.”


    “No.” Daniil warded off the hands of his siblings who were going to help him up. “I don’t want this. You guys use my stupidity and love for Renee to your advantage. You know how disgusting that is, right?”


    Jacques hastily responded, “Please, listen to me…”


    However, Daniil hurriedly left the ce.


    “Sorry, but it would be best if you all got out of here soon.” Igor Kozlov added in a cold tone. “I can understand why you guys want to marry off your daughters into our families, but this mess is going too far, sir.”


    “The Kozlovs don’t like things that embarrass us like this.” Anna Kozlov joined in. “Everything will be fine if you can take care of your daughter and there isn’t this mess. However, now people will use all this to mock us. And remember, Jacques Emilien. Your family is insignificant in front of us. We can continue to do business without your family.”_.


    Jacques had already stretched out his hand, about to follow the three siblings. However, he gave up his intention knowing that it would be useless.


    “It’s not like you, Jacques.” Renee’s mother approached her husband with teary eyes. “Perhaps you didn’t really want Renee to join the Kozlovs, so you uttered the words that would annul this marriage.”


    Jacques gritted his teeth, then left his daughter without saying anything. His wife then came to Renee and hugged her tightly.


    “It’s okay, my daughter.” The woman whispered while shedding tears.


    Renee was still silent and looked down deeply.


    ***


    The Kozlovs were still kind enough to lend some horse carriages to Emilien’s family, and the others left the mansion. Just as she came out of the yard, Renee found her father ring at her from one of the horse-drawn carriages.


    The blonde-haired woman wiped her tears again.


    “Renee….” Elise lined up her best friend but couldn’t say anything.


    “It seems I can’t really be free.” Renee held her chest while disying a bitter smile. “I want to be reborn into an ordinary family, not Emilien. Bearing this name is too heavy for me.”


    “No matter what happens, we will always be by your side, Renee.” Lauren put her hands on the blonde’s shoulders.


    “I know.” Renee closed her eyes, then sighed and looked at Raymund’s servants. “Hey, does your god have the ability to make me reincarnate into someone else, or at least erase my memory so I can let go of all this burden?”


    They have nothing to answer.


    “Sorry, Renee.” Raymund’smunication device made a sound. “I may be a God of hope, but I’m not really divine… I still have many ws. It’s just a title.”


    “No problem, sir.” The blonde woman smiled. “You still have a lot to take care of, not just me…”


    Suddenly Elise hugged her best friend’s body and started crying. Renee hugged the female warrior back while disying a smile.


    “It’s okay, Elise,” Renee whispered, tears threatening to fall. “I’m sure I can get through all of this.”


    ***


    My servants returned to my ce after apanying Renee for a long time, even though their mission should have beenpleted.


    “I don’t know.” Yua took a deep breath. “I feel something a little different from the usual missions.”


    Elise slightly wiped her tears.


    “With this incident, I understand a little why the scarlet wizard did all that,” I spoke with my back to the women.


    “I just wanted to remind you, my lord.” Kimi chimed in. “If the scarlet wizard performs a magic ritual on arger scale than I did in the past, there will be more victims.”


    “Of course, I won’t forget that,” I answered the petite elf. “Therefore, you will have less time to rest. After Yua practices one more skill, you will go on to the next mission.”


    Just as I said that, Erbau came out of the mist and came over to me. The beautiful-faced god looked so worried.


    “You should send your servant down immediately, Ray.” The god of buildings stopped in front of me. “Finally, Levi agreed to my request to inspect the building that radiates divine energy, but when the message came, I had other matters to attend to, so it’s only now that I….”


    “Hey, calm down.” I cut off the man’s words. “Speak slowly.”


    Erbau sighed and paced back and forth. “You have no idea how much divine aura that building exudes. You should send your servants immediately to destroy it. I’ve asked various gods to carry out natural disasters there, but construction continues.”


    Ah, it seems that the gods here are terrified that creatures from below will invade this realm.


    “But, my servants just returned from a mission,” I answered the god. “So…”


    “I’ll build another building for you!” Erbau then said again before I could continue. “And I’ll make two for you, with arger workforce to finish faster. I’ll even call my workers right now to start construction.”


    Kimi came to me. “If that building exudes an aura of divinity, it’s most likely rted to the scarlet wizard. We’d better get going soon.”


    “I’m fine. Let’s go again.” Yua shrugged. “If it’s for good, why don’t we do it now. I’m not too tired either.”


    I looked at Elise, who answered right away. “I feel fine too, sir.”


    “Well….” Actually, I want to spend time with my servants. “You guys will be leaving now, then. And maybe Yua can practice a new skill in between missions.” I then turned to Anja, who was still kneeling near the pond, weeping. “Anja, maybe I need some things. You can prepare it quickly, right?”


    The woman, now wearing only a tiny loincloth and her chest wrapped in bandages, immediately got up and said, “Okay, sir! I’ll do it as soon as possible.”