I think I had a dream.
A green field was spread out, and two women with green hair were holding each other and rejoicing.
âIn your destiny to be reincarnated, there will be no pain like the scorching sun or thorns that make it difficult to walk. My daughter.â
The moment I saw that, for some reason, tears came out and I covered my face with both hands.
âThanks. Thank you. Ariel.â
Ritaâs voice rang in my ears.
As I watched them, I felt seven hands on my back.
Pat, pat㠡pat, pat㠡pat, pat. I fell into a deep unconscious again with that warm feeling.
When I woke up, my body felt very refreshed.
âSaintess!â
âAh, Daisy⦠How long have I slept?â
âSix hours.â
The sun outside the window was floating in the middle of the sky. There was a loud noise from outside. I furrowed my eyebrows and stretched.
âCome out on the balcony! People are calling the Saintess.â
I rubbed my eyes at Daisyâs words and stood up.
âThey are the believers of the God of Lies, Bellatrix.â
The moment I heard Daisyâs words, I stopped in my tracks. It was because it reminded me of how I almost got kidnapped by the believers of Raid.
Bellatrixâs divinity was almost annihilated, and her deityâs nature changed. Perhaps the believers Bellatrix also have ill feelings toward me.
In an instant, my heart was beating fast. However, thinking that I wouldnât avoid it, I mustered up the courage and went out on the balcony.
âItâs the Saintess!â
âSaintess!â
âOh! Saintess!â
âBlessings of the God of Fate!â
âBlessings of the Eight Gods!â
As she was the weakest god, the number of believers wasnât large.
But they were all standing in the courtyard of the temple cheering me wildly.
âI heard that a miracle happened in which all the nameplates of the Temple of Lies were changed to the overnight.â
I heard Daisyâs voice behind me.
âMoreover, all priests with divine powers heard the message from the Gods. I, too⦠heard it, a little. Itâs really the first time something like this has happened.â
Her voice, which seemed to be thrilled, trembled a little.
âAbout this miracle, the High Priest announced the Saintessâ credit along with what has happened so far. Everyone is praising the Saintess!â
My heart trembled a little at the voices of people cheering for me.
âThe Saintess helped the God of Destiny!â
âThe Saintess is great!â
âSaintess! Thank you!â
I raised my hand and waved at them, and they cheered wildly. After a while, I turned around and went out onto the balcony and shut the door.
âThe believers of Raid have almost finished registering in the new temple, and the believers of the God of Lies have now become the believers of the God of Destiny⦠The public sentiment of the people will gradually stabilize. All of this is the Saintessâ ability.â
I let out a sigh of relief at Daisyâs admiration.
âIâm glad everything worked out.â
After a while, I asked a question.
âAh, what about Marquis Lloyd?â
I asked, thinking of him who was carried on the back of the Paladins and was probably sleeping somewhere by now.
When he opens his eyes, he will be back to his original Cass, right?
âAh⦠Thatâ¦â
Daisy slurred her words.
She opened her mouth with difficulty as I raised my eyebrows.
âThey say he left the temple right after waking up.â
At those words, somehow, my strength was relaxed.
âHe hasnât gone here? To my room.â
Daisy looked at me and nodded her head.
âHmmâ¦â
The conversation I had with him after our kiss last night was vivid in my ears.
[I like you. Saintess.]
The moment my heart was beating like it was about to explode, and before I could answer his feelings, a signal suddenly rang from Reihausd.
However, I believed that even if I didnât say it, my feelings would have been conveyed. Through the lips we met, and through the breath we passionately shared.
âBut⦠He just left, she said?â
âHe must have been very tired and wanted to go home and rest.â
Daisy looked at me as she tried to defend Cass.
âYes⦠Thatâs possible. He will be very tired. There might be something urgent.â
I answered as calmly as possible.
âSaintessâ¦â
Yet my heart thumped for nothing.
Still, there was such a big deal, but the fact that he left the temple without seeing my face even onceâ¦
A number of complex thoughts arose in me.
***
âHooâ¦Â Did you say that this disaster was caused by that demon named Camilla?â
âNow sheâs extinct. The credits of the Saintess and⦠Marquis Lloyd were great.â
At the Emperorâs reception room in the Imperial Palace, Kyleâs words finally lifted the Emperorâs worries.
âDue to the lightning strike last night, many buildings in the capital were damaged. Go out and lead the way in order to settle public sentiment.â
âI understand. Your Imperial Majesty.â
Kyle stood up from his seat with a stiff face. If they had delayed more time, the damage would have been greater, but everything was quickly sorted out.
That day he couldnât sleep.
âYour Highness. Rumors of an affair between Marquis Cass Lloyd and the Saintess are spreading. This way, she could really be taken away!â
Did he listen to what Shane said?
Somehow, as if fate had called, his steps were directed towards the temple. His heart was beating anxiously and his fists were tense.
âShould I just push for national marriage?â
And when she arrived at the temple, the work began.
He said something stupid to a surprised Ariel. In the blink of an eye, they were in front of the temple.
It was only later that he heard from Reihausd why this situation had occurred.
Kyle didnât like the way Ariel behaved. But he kept getting worried. The sight of her jumping bravely at Camilla made him want to stop her recklessness and stimulated his heart.
Has she ever seen such a woman before?
Only when all those things were done did he precariously let out a sigh of relief, and his teary smile made him even fret himself.
âIf you wonât reach out to me, at least lean on me. Ariel.â
He was clearly aware of why he felt this way.
âGoodness, Kyle.â
Turning around, Kyle was called by the Emperor. Then he took out the garnet necklace and held it out to Kyle.
Seeing this, Kyleâs eyes widened.
âWhen you were little, your mother said the color of your eyes looked just like this necklace.â
It was his motherâs favorite necklace. Even though her maid carried it and ran away, then its whereabouts were unknown.
âThis⦠Where did you find it?â
The Emperor said to Kyle, who took the necklace.
âThe Saintess found it. She said the Gods helped her.â
At those words, his hand holding the necklace grew stronger.
âThe Saintess⦠you said?â
The image of his mother lying on the bed and staring lonely out of the window was vivid.
âWhen public sentiment settles down, offer an offering to the Temple of Death.â
Something his mother loved. Although itâs an old necklace⦠She cherished it more than any other treasure because it was given to her by the Empress Dowager who loved her.
âI understand.â
âKyle.â
The Emperorâs voice was heard.
âI wonât force you to marry her anymore.â
ââ¦â
A long silence fell between the father and son.
âBecause you canât win peopleâs hearts by forcing them.â
Kyle put the garnet necklace into his inside pocket.
The Emperorâs voice was heard.
âBut I will support you. As a father.â
At that, Kyleâs hand trembled.
He stared at the Emperor.
âHow long have I been seeing you, do you think I donât know whatâs inside you? After all, there was no way I could have asked a dirty-tempered guy like you to marry a woman you had no intention of.â
A bitter smile crept across Kyleâs lips.
âIs that so. Itâs so obvious.â
The Emperor followed suit with a bitter smile and then raised his voice.
âDonât be anxious about the life you will experience in the Imperial Palace, and go ahead with the determination to make her happier than your mother if you bring her.â
After thinking for a moment, Kyle lowered his head.
âI understand. Father.â
***
Two more days passed. I couldnât stand it and sent several letters to Cass, yet the reply that came back was this.
[When things are sorted out, Iâll stop by the temple.]
So, I mean, I should know when it will be sorted out.
âIs he sick of me? Because I canât kiss him.â
All sorts of thoughts wandered through my mind and disappeared.
âOr maybe there were aftereffects on his body because the Primordial God came? Or he loses his memory about the time he was with me⦠Or maybe the Primordial God is still controlling himâ¦â
Thinking of Cass dying, I shook my head.
âSaintess. I brought strawberry mush. And sweet apple tea.â
Daisy did her best to help me because I was in a bad mood these days.
âAh, Professor Drave has been given the necklace of âMiss Ritaâ as you said the other day. I heard he was in tears when he saw it.â
Nodding my head at her report, I let out a small sigh and rested.
âGood job. But why is the weather so cloudy today?â
âPardon? The sun is that bright today, though?â
âReally? Am I the only one who sees it cloudy?â
I let out a small sigh as I gazed outside, looking dull.
Though everything had been resolved, my mind was complicated when I thought of Cass.
âGoodness, Saintess. Did you hear about Lady Rie?â
I shook my head.
âDaisy, know that youâre the only one telling me rumors.â
Daisy, who had been laughing at my words, spoke up with an interesting expression.
âSheâs engaged. I guess thatâs why theyâre sending engagement party invitations all over the place.â
At those words, my heart suddenly jumped. I donât know why my thoughts keep connecting with Cass, whom I havenât been in touch with lately.