Leticia laughed softly, resting her head on her knees.
Even if his feelings weren’t genuine, she was happy to have made a beautiful memory.
“I wish we could spend the next six months just like last night.”
Of course, she knew even six months might be too much to ask. However.
‘Six months isn’t that long, maybe it’s not too greedy to wish for it.’
After all, it’s just half a year. She would be quite helpful to the Empire in the future. Maybe Dietrian could endure her presence for that long.
“I think it was wise to start with the divorce talk.”
She intentionally brought it up first.
She hoped it would lessen the burden he might feel towards her.
Thinking about the divorce, tears welled up in Leticia’s eyes. Quickly wiping them away on her nightgown’s skirt, she smiled softly.
“Don’t cry. Why are you crying? It’s not a sad thing.”
Rather, it was something to be happy about. She could spend the rest of her life with the person she loved most.
Nevertheless, to achieve that, she needed to think of a solution to the Balenos issue. Leticia delved deep into her thoughts.
After pondering all night, she fortunately came up with a few strategies. Even if they weren’t perfect, by the time she had completed her plans, she felt confident that innocent sacrifices could be avoided.
The morning of her wedding day dawned.
And at that moment.
“Lady Leticia, I am entering.”
Someone knocked on her door.
* * *
It was the palace maids assigned to assist her with her wedding attire.
“Greetings, Lady Leticia.”
“We are here to help you get ready.”
“If there is any discomfort, please let us know at any time.”
The palace maids were unusually formal today, different from their usual demeanor. Leticia, finding it strange, soon realized the reason when she saw Noel following behind them.
The look in Noel’s eyes as she stared at the maids was chillingly cold. The maids seemed terrified of her. But as soon as her eyes met Leticia’s, she transformed in an instant.
“Lady Leticia!”
She resembled a puppy wagging its tail.
Leticia was happy to see such a Noel, but part of her worried. She feared others might notice her changed demeanor and it might cause issues.
However, she soon realized her worries were unfounded.
The palace maids didn’t even dare to glance at Noel. If they accidentally shifted their gaze toward her, their faces would instantly pale.
One of them even fainted at her direct gaze. Rolling her eyes at the collapsed maid, Noel said,
“Quickly get that one out of here. She’s in the way.”
“Yes, yes. Understood.”
The maids swiftly carried their colleague to the hallway. It was clear from their behavior that Noel must have given them a hard time both yesterday and today. Throughout Leticia’s preparation, Noel continuously threw icy warnings at them.
“Everyone knows the Saintess has entrusted everything about you to me.”
“Yes, yes. Anything else?”
Noel haughtily declared,
“I’m a perfectionist. Whether it’s tormenting or helping with the attire, I’ll do it perfectly.”
If they gave it some thought, the maids might realize that Noel’s logic was flawed. However, they were not in their right minds out of sheer terror.
“It’s best if you all stay focused. Unless you want to become ghosts hanging upside down from the ceiling.”
Noel, as if to prove her threats weren’t empty, conjured water ropes. The maids, with transparent ropes tied to their ankles, tearfully helped Leticia with her attire. And thus, the time of dressing, filled with shock and fear, came to an end.
Leticia looked at her reflection in the mirror with a hint of astonishment.
Having worn wedding dresses twice, once before her reincarnation and now in this life, today felt completely different.
In the mirror, she looked like the very epitome of a perfect bride.
Thanks to the maids’ utmost effort, having been on edge because of Noel, Leticia looked absolutely stunning.
“You look so beautiful!”
Noel exclaimed with joy. But then, noticing the maids hovering around Leticia, her expression instantly turned icy.
She decided to get rid of the nuisances.
“Following the Saintess’s orders, I need to torment her a bit more before the wedding. So, all of you, leave.”
“Yes, yes. We’ll leave immediately.”
The maids, desperate to escape, practically ran out.
“Lady Leticia!”
As soon as the door closed, Noel was back to being like the tail-wagging puppy. Her black eyes sparkled, and she looked overwhelmed with happiness.
“You look truly amazing. Simply the best! You are the most beautiful bride in the world.”
“Thank you, Noel.”
Leticia smiled softly. Struck by her beauty, Noel felt overwhelmed and knelt again.
“Noel, don’t do this.”
Leticia tried to lift her up, but Noel shook her head, looking up at her.
“Lady Leticia, you are the master of my soul. This is the respect you rightfully deserve.”
“But…”
“I am truly happy to kneel before you, Lady Leticia. If I hadn’t met you, I surely wouldn’t have survived.”
Where Noel had grown up, in a poor neighborhood, everything was scarce. The hardest thing for her was the lack of water.
Clean water facilities were monopolized by nobles and clergy.
For the commoners to get water, they had to go to a spring on the other side of the village.
Noel, who had a sick sibling, also made the trek to the spring with a water container every dawn.
With a container full of water, her frail arms felt like they would give out. Yet, days she could get water, despite the hardship, were comparatively better.
Sometimes, someone’s waste would contaminate the spring.
Returning home with an empty container, tears of sorrow would stream down her face.
During that time, she miraculously gained the power of a wing. It was the power of water she had so desperately wished for. As soon as she awakened as a wing, the first thing Noel did was to summon a rain cloud.
The people of the impoverished neighborhood rejoiced, feeling the clean rain on their skins. It was then she realized, “Ah, this is why I needed the power of the wings.”
The goddess must have given her this power to become a beacon of hope for those in distress.
She wanted to be a benevolent force with her powers. However, once she entered the sacred palace, she constantly found herself in situations that contradicted her dreams.
“Kill someone who stands in the way of the Holy Empire.”
“Eradicate someone.”
“Torment them.”
The commands of the Saintess consistently troubled her.
Yet, she couldn’t muster the courage to disobey due to the guilt that she might not be a true wing.
With the support of Ahwin, she barely managed to hold on, but each day felt like a draining ordeal for Noel.
At times of extreme anguish, she wished the Saintess would just dispose of her.
But now, things were different.
She had met her true master. For a long time, she wished to protect Leticia and be a wing that helps people.
“Meeting Lady Leticia is the reason I can live. So,”
Noel said, looking up at her with a warm smile,
“You must live a very, very long time.”
Leticia’s eyes widened slightly.
“You must never get sick and live until you become a hearty old lady. I will take on all your pain. I will endure any hardships for you. So, you should only experience happiness from now on.”
Moved by her fervent wishes, Leticia was momentarily speechless, moistening her lips.
“Thank you, Noel.”
She managed to muster a faint smile.
“I just wish to have enough power to protect my loved ones.”
Holding Noel’s hand, Leticia whispered softly.
“I wish both Noel and Ahwin were happy. Protecting my people is my happiness.”
If the goddess is listening to her voice, she sincerely hoped that at least this one wish would come true.
She prayed more earnestly than ever before.
“That’s enough for me.”
* * *
At the same time, in the Central Shrine.
The chapel, which was in the midst of a ceremony offering to the goddess in front of the national wedding, was suddenly thrown into chaos.
“Lady Saint! We have a divine message! A message from the goddess!”
Josephina abruptly stood up from her seat and looked at the stone tablet hanging on the wall.
A faint light was shimmering on the large hexagonal stone tablet.
A gleam of ecstasy appeared in Josephina’s eyes.
“How many years has it been since we last received a divine message!”
“To receive a divine message when the Lady Saint is present!”
“Indeed, under Lady Josephina’s leadership…!”
The priests fell to the ground in a mixture of joy and fear. Listening to their words, Josephina could hardly contain her laughter.
“Lady Saint, please! Convey the words of the goddess to us!”
Only the representative of the goddess could interpret the divine message.
Trying hard to suppress her laughter, Josephina approached the stone tablet. The golden light slowly began to form words.
“To my only daughter.”
Upon reading the first sentence, Josephina had to restrain herself from laughing out loud.
The only daughter of the goddess.
Who else could that be?
Naturally, it refers to herself, the Saintess.
The goddess had finally relented and recognized her as her own daughter. With arrogance, Josephina began to read the divine message.
“The whole world will soon bless and bow before you. Even though the vilest evil is currently disrupting the world’s order, the end of this evil is near. As you wish, you will be able to protect everyone.”
Reading the last sentence, Josephina hesitated.
‘Protect? Me? From whom?’
She had lived a life far from ever protecting anyone. Looking at the divine message with confusion, Josephina scoffed.
What does it matter? Whatever the goddess blabbers, it doesn’t matter. After all, she would interpret it as she pleased.
The stone tablet grew silent. Josephina confidently turned and exclaimed,
“The divine message has descended! As everyone heard, the end of evil is near! The goddess must be asking us to identify and eradicate this great evil! The most vile threat to the empire, as we all know, is…”
Just then.
“There’s a second divine message!”
Someone shouted in shock. Josephina, startled, whipped her head around.
True to the priest’s words, the stone tablet began to glow again.
‘A second divine message?’
In the history of the Holy Empire, there had only been three instances of a second divine message.
Each time, the empire was in dire crisis. But a second message in these peaceful times?
Regardless of the reason, the goddess was delivering a message. Josephina straightened up, ready to read the divine message.
Those who had received a second divine message had always been treated as heroes who saved the empire, so she secretly held high hopes.
“This is solely…”
Josephina stopped speaking. Because the content of the message was unexpected.
“This is solely a warning for you.”
‘A warning?’
Josephina’s thoughts were interrupted as the words on the tablet began to change rapidly.
“Be warned, the end of the evil you just declared is near, but so is the end of the deceit you’ve been perpetuating.”
Josephina’s breath halted. Yet, the words on the stone tablet swiftly changed.
“No matter how much you distort my intentions, fate is already set. Everything will eventually flow as it is meant to. You can never go against the tide of time. You will lose everything in the agony of your downfall.”
Frozen like ice while reading the divine message, Josephina’s complexion turned deathly pale.
“All that awaits you is…”
In front of her, trembling like a willow in the wind, the goddess’s final words slowly surfaced.
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