Chapter 25

꒦︶꒷‧₊★₊‧꒷︶꒷‧₊ଓ₊‧꒷︶꒷‧₊★₊‧꒷︶꒦

·  · ୨୧ ·  ·

The Person Who Delivers Congratulatory Remarks

(Hildea’s POV)

I paused for a moment.

‘She must have heard it directly from Gabriel. It’s possible that they have already seen each other, since he is staying at the mansion in front.’

‘However…’

‘Why now? Why is this now the topic of discussion?’

I chose to pretend that I didn’t know. Even if I could untangle the tangled thread, I still wouldn’t want to touch it.

Rosé, who has no idea about my complicated inner thoughts, asks me again, as she tries to beat her chest from frustration.

“I heard that you met him? It’s been such a long time. How did you feel after meeting him?”

I frown.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I mean did you feel anything at all?! It’s been 12 years since you’ve been exchanging letters with him.”

‘That is what I’ve wanted to ask Rosé. What do you want me to feel about your fiancé?’

I feel very uncomfortable looking into Rosé’s sparkling eyes.

I can’t tell if she’s interrogating me or if she has expectations about something.

“Well, yeah we met earlier by chance, and there’s nothing going on between us.”

‘So there’s nothing for her to misunderstand.’

I tried to explain further, but Rosé opened her eyes wide as if she’s extremely excited about something, and immediately whispered,

“I’m not talking about that; what I mean is Gabriel changed a lot right? It’s been a decade since you last saw each other, so doesn’t it feel like your first impression of him has changed as well? Like his eyes are now burning with passion.”

‘I’m taken aback by Rosé’s flame-like momentum. Why has she become like this all of a sudden?’

‘But maybe she’s just asking for my opinion.’

‘Well he definitely has.’

I unconsciously remembered Gabriel’s appearance, without realizing it.

‘He changed a lot, though.’

‘Gabriel was indeed a pretty boy like a doll when he was young. Well it seems to be the case because he has grown up well without shedding any tears.’ (*)

(PR/N: (*) It basically means he grew up good looking, regardless of his age, without anything unfortunate happening to appearance. The idea is that if he had lost his beauty, it would’ve caused tears. Those Korean beauty standards…)

I snorted as I contemplated those thoughts.

“He hasn’t changed that much.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Rosé suddenly paused for a moment.

I tilt my head to the side as if I was confused about her reaction. ‘Why? Isn’t this the answer that she wanted?’

It was really my intention to change the flow of the conversation, but the direction of thoughts still went back to Gabriel.

‘His body became thicker and stronger, but his face remained the same with its gorgeous features.’

‘And his muscles are so strong…’

My face hardened upon realizing.

‘Why do I remember Gabriel in such detail?’

Thinking about my usual personality, I can’t remember things that I’m not interested in at all. Then, my ears start pounding from Rosé’s voice.

“Oh, after you saw his current appearance, did your heart beat uncontrollably…”

”No. Why are you asking me?”

I immediately refute her words, but Rosé rolls her eyes as if she’s in disbelief.

“But still, how was it? By any chance, did you feel moved that he came here all the way from the battlefield…?”

“No. What if he gets reprimanded by the Imperial Palace because of that? Never in history has a commander-in-charge returned back alone.”

“Really?”

My face contorted thinking about it.

‘But is the situation really that serious?’ A chilling silence rang through the room.

I looked at Rosé because I was wondering if she was offended after I cursed the person who she likes. She smiled awkwardly.

“To be honest it’s really hard for me to read your facial expression right now, but I hope that I didn’t offend you Rosé by saying those words…”

Rosé scratched her cheek and smiled like a mischievous kid.

“Sister, I’m actually wondering if Hillington and Belfius are really that close. Close enough for him to stay at one of our mansions here at the capital?”

‘Is it possible that our father is not aware of it?’

(PR/N: Imagine, he comes home in a good mood thinking about seeing his daughters and instead sees Gabriel at the door. Prepare yourself Gabby.)

Even now, I still can’t understand who allowed Gabriel to stay at our old mansion.

‘But he’s too close.’

‘Shameless and close.’

‘He acts like the kind of person who can’t do anything unless he’s right next to the person he likes the most. They’re not even properly engaged.’

But contrary to the rumors, once the nobles hear the news, they will have an impression that Hillington and Belfius are on really good terms.

“We’re not that close. Especially now that the Duke is known as the war hero, everyone would definitely try to appeal this marriage.’

“Hmmm, I see…”

I agonized over the situation. There are advantages and disadvantages.

‘It will be both helpful and poisonous to Rosé.’

I put my hand on Rosé’s shoulder. ‘My poor and affectionate little sister.’

‘Will this cheerful girl be able to survive a quarrel that usually happens among the aristocratic girls.who have full combat power?’

‘We should also be preparing as well.’

‘I only have one conclusion. Knowledge is power.’

I clench my fist tightly, then squeeze Rose’s hand to give a bit of strength.

“Rosé.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s take more classes from now on.”

“Huh? Why there’s nothing much to learn anyway.”

“Stop making excuses. When you’re not even attending your class and always disappear. Will you please listen to your older sister this time?”

Rosé shuddered and complained right away.

“Ha, but Sister! I’m pretty busy too. Really. I am really busy.”

“You’re so noisy. Can you even dance properly at the ball?”

“There’s always a way!”

“What?”

Rosé chuckled. Isn’t she saying nonsense confidently?’

“If I don’t dance, then that would solve the problem!”

“You really!”

As I slapped her on the shoulder, she rolled around in bed saying that she’s going to die in pain.

“Am I talking to my five-year-old or my 20-year-old twin sister?’

(TN: Aww love them both.)

Having said that, I began to worry.

‘What if, while dancing with Gabriel, she accidentally knocks him down because she’s too strong? Or what if she steps on his foot according to the beat?’

‘I can’t stand it if someone insults my sister.’

Recalling the original plot of , there are a lot of people who

didn’t like that Rosé was engaged to Gabriel.

And somehow, everyone worked hard to break off the engagement between the main characters.

In the process, the original Rosériel suffered from humiliation.

‘And of course there are episodes of kidnapping.’

I hardened my face.

“Your sister wouldn’t allow that to happen.”

“Eh? What are you talking about?”

‘I just want you to be happy.’

It’s hard to say just how much this child has helped me in this life. When I was desolate, she brought me sunshine to help me move forward.

(TN: Just love how she describes her sister’s love for Rosé.)

‘If it wasn’t for Rosé, would I be able to live like this among these people in the Duchy?’

Perhaps my father and I would remain the same, living together without properly looking at each other. Even now, I’m still not on friendly terms with my father nor the people in the household, but still.

“Rosé. Your sister will help you so that you won’t have to suffer. Because I love my younger sister more than anyone in the world.”

Rosé, who had a bewildered face, suddenly smiled. It was a look befitting the title .

“I love my sister and I hope my sister won’t suffer too. Because everyone loves you…”

“Thank you.”

Rosé sometimes lied to me so much that I didn’t care if people weren’t nice to me.

“That’s okay. Rosé.”

“No, sister, I’m being serious….”

It’s been a long time since I stopped bothering with such things, but my sister is just too kind.

I stroked Rosé’s soft hair for a long time and found stability.

-ˏˋ ━━━━━━ ʚ🌸ɞ ━━━━━━ ˊˎ-

(3rd PERSON POV)

The Mielle Empire was a country that had benefited a lot from the congratulatory remarks and the powers granted through them.

Therefore, the people had a monotheistic belief in the God who bestowed blessings and powers.

In addition, the exact origin of God and the language of God were unknown to the general public, so it was decided a long time ago who would understand, interpret, and deliver the spoken words.

The highest priest.

And the highest priests called the one and only God.

“Chris.”

All the young priest believers sat around a room as they watched and listened to the current high priest, Chris, who has been living in the priesthood for a very long time.

“It’s okay to ask questions.”

“Me, me! Supreme Priest, me please!”

Highest priest, Chris, smiled softly while looking at the unusually active young priest, and nodded. The boy’s eyes sparkled.

“Why is God called Yeon-nim? It’s really hard to pronounce it. And where did that name come from? What does it mean?”

Chris smiled solemnly at the child’s enthusiasm and gently stroked the child’s head.

At that particularly gentle touch, the young priest blushed as if embarrassed.

“I don’t know.”

“Uh, so there’s something even the highest priest doesn’t know?”

“Because the language of God is difficult for us to understand. We can speculate, but we can’t confirm and judge.”

The young priests frowned at once, as if to say ‘I don’t know what he’s talking about.’

“That’s the thing to remember, everyone. We are those who love God. It would be a shame if we ourselves couldn’t utter the name of God.”

The young priests tried to utter the name ‘Yeon-nim’ all at once. Yet it was still too difficult for them. They felt that it was too unfamiliar since it was a name that they normally didn’t say aloud.

While glancing at one another, the young priests smiled at each other because they felt proud to be taught directly by the highest priest and receive his blessings.

“Now, is it still difficult?”

“No, it’s good now! And also fun! We can now speak of it clearly.”

“That’s a good attitude.”

The stories that have come and gone inside that room can never leak out.

Priests have been priests since birth, but they were born with love and respect for God as if it was carved inside their body.

Thus, regardless of age, learning the knowledge of God from the highest priest, as if indulging in it, was very natural.

They worship and love God because they are priests.

“Have you ever been afraid of giving out congratulatory remarks, Chris?”

Then the quietest young priest who was shyly sitting in a corner, suddenly raised his hand and asked.

The young priests’ eyes opened wide and held their breath in unison.

In the end, the highest priest’s biggest task was to speak the language of God and that’s the Congratulatory remarks.

“If I am afraid?”

The young priests clasped each others’ hands and murmured. They actually felt the same way. ‘Me too! Me too!’.

After a while, Chris spoke again.

“Why? Because they think that their fate is already decided once we utter their congratulatory remarks?”

Chris’s eyes narrowed and that young priest’s shoulder shuddered, when he saw the intense gaze on him.

“Young priest. We only deliver God’s blessings. Have I ever made a remark without any witness on the spot? If not, then why should I be afraid?”

The young priest’s face paled.