The Past Winter
Smile

Elise Helga Blanchett, was a priestess sent directly by the central sacred temple located in the imperial capital of Estheria. He was assigned to help take care of the orphanage on the border of the territory he was now living in. He has been over twenty years walking the path of the gods with love and faith in his heart.

She, once a girl from a small noble family on the outskirts of the village, was edited by a wealthy Marquess who fell in love with her. His life as Marchioness Blanchett was very happy and he was highly respected by all the workers in his residence.

His marriage, which was opposed by the family of Marquess followers, gradually acknowledged his existence. He became the second-honored after Marquess Blanchett in first place. Because the intelligence and tenacity of Elise makes him a person who is considered worthy of being in line with the Marquess.

Like the story of Cinderella, he who came from a poor noble on the outskirts of the region met his love destiny, the prince who owns the palace. But the happiness of the Cinderella must run aground after the prince reportedly died due to the war that erupted thirty years ago.

As per the prevailing custom, he who is a wife must carry out the task of becoming the next head of the family shortly after the departure of his beloved husband, which should be given to their descendants. But in the case of Elise who has not had children so she was the one who was appointed as the head of the family.

As if he could not grieve, the widowed Elise could not resist the coercion of the family's nobility. The followers forced Elise, who had the status of Marchioness, to remarry in order to continue family peace.

Blanchett's followers did that for years until eleven years of coercion they did without any word of fatigue. Because the family followers believe the position of the head of the family must be held by men and not women.

Elise was heartbroken, her heart raging. Not long ago he was left by a husband that he loved, but the old rat followers had screeched asking him to marry again. So, the followers of the Blanchett family don't care who's going to be the head of the family, which is important the family they follow doesn't collapse.

Eventually Elise decided to hand the Blanchett family into the hands of the emperor and he became a priestess devoted to the gods. She gave up the family name she had retained for more than eleven years for her beloved husband. On condition that Blanchett's name, her husband's name, would be used as part of her name for life. Of course the emperor agreed to the terms of Elise, considering her service to the empire and the Emperor's unrivalled family.

And here is where Elise is. Amidst the conflict between the priest Ortiz and Serena and his three favorite foster children. Reverend Blanchett gently embraced Rubi's small shoulder. He stared intently at the extremely crazed middle-aged man respectfully.

Who doesn't know pastor Ortiz Gene in the parlour? Pastors who thirst for honor and high ambition. The man who dared to oppose the now openly orphanage chairman, even though he was not asked for an opinion at all.

Reverend Ortiz felt himself superior because he served in the orphanage longer than the current head of the orphanage, and pastor Ortiz had the opportunity to become the chairman of the temporary home, because of his previous death. For thirteen months he was the chairman of the temporary home before the new chairman was assigned by the holy temple.

Reverend Ortiz could not become the head of the parlour because he was not born from a noble family and was just a commoner, nor was he the priest of the holy temple of the imperial capital. Reverend Ortiz is only the priest of the village's sacred temple which is located close to this orphanage.

Hence when the new head of the parlour had been appointed by the holy temple, how furious he was at the holy temple. He appealed to the leader of the holy temple in the imperial capital and of course the appeal request was rejected outright without being processed first.

“Unlike your foster children, the child that Miss Serena cared for even took the initiative to help me who was in trouble.” Pastor Blanchett quipped.

“Hah! Little thing so where can be a comparison of the children I have taught!” Reply priest Ortiz ketus.

“It is precisely this child who is further away from me who is trying to help me.” He said again as he gently rubbed Rubi's head. “Can we see which one implements the system of bestiality in his teachings. Right like that, Reverend?” The words that Reverend Blanchett made pastor Ortiz almost choke on his own saliva.

Not without reason did pastor Blanchett speak like that, but there was evidence in front of him. When the moment the tray was deliberately thrown to the floor by the priest Blanchett happened, the children who were brought up by the priest Ortiz laughed at him instead of helping.

They also ridiculed Pastor Blanchett blatantly when the priest said that his hands were weak because he was no longer young. The children raised by the priest Ortiz laughed loudly and called the priest Blanchett a near-death man.

Rubies who move instinctively help the pastor when he knows that the priest is pretending. But the girl still went ahead and did what she had to do without wanting to get any flattery.

The priestess Ortiz's face flushed red, she harbored anger and shame. All the children of the orphanage and the officers who witnessed this incident whispered about him. They scorned the priest Ortiz through the deliberate gazes and sounds of laughter played on him.

With a face reddened like a tomato, priest Ortiz dragged his foster children out of the dining room. The children looked pale and their gazes begged for anyone to help stop this angry priest Ortiz.

As a result of their actions so far, no one had any intention of helping. Who wants to help arrogant children who are being educated by an unfavorable pastor? The officers and the other children looked at them with satisfied gazes. The horrendous incident ended with the sound of a door leaf slam that almost broke the eardrum.

The children and the officers returned to their respective affairs. Some of them gave support to Serena directly, and others through gestures. It was because Serena bravely went against the arrogant attitude of the Ortiz priest that they disliked and even made the stiff priest Blanchett side with her.

“Master Blanchett, thank you for helping me.” Serena said while saluting Pastor Blanchett.

“I only tell the truth, no need so.” Pastor Blanchett said.

“Thank you pastor, you have helped Serena.” Said Elyn, Olive, and Allen in unison and bowed their bodies while paying homage to pastor Blanchett.

“Her cup you have managed to slightly turn a stray cat into more humane.” Praise pastor Blanchett for admiring Serena's foster children.

Serena smiled proudly. Getting compliments from pastor Blanchett was the most extravagant thing he ever got. Because the priest Blanchett is known to never give praise to others and is famous as the most indifferent to anything worldly, except those dealing with gods.

“But you guys don't be happy just yet, I'm not helping you guys and going forward it will be like that. I am only happy when a beautiful child helps me pick up an item that has fallen. Thank you to this little guy, without that little help I won't open my voice."

After saying that, Pastor Blanchett left the dining room. Serena watched the priest's back until she disappeared behind the door. Nothing changed from the priest, only his face looked brighter as he slightly reviewed the smile on the tip of his lips.