“You once told me that I am your wife, hence precious to you.”
Even though she had decided to be honest, it was still embarrassing. Avoiding his gaze, Leticia said with flushed cheeks,
“Back then, I couldn’t believe those words. After all, I am my mother’s daughter. I thought you were just being kind to comfort me because you are always so gentle. But now, I can believe those words. I was very happy… that’s why I said that.”
Leticia waited for his response with her head bowed. However, no matter how long she waited, no reply came.
“…I think I should go.”
“What?”
“I have urgent matters to attend to.”
Startled, Leticia lifted her head.
Dietrian, with a stiff face, gave a slight bow and then strode away. For some reason, the tips of his ears were red.
Staring at his retreating figure in astonishment, Dietrian stopped. He sighed deeply.
“Haah.”
As if trying to suppress something, he rubbed his face several times before turning back around.
He approached her swiftly with long strides and stood in front of her.
Caught off guard, Leticia shivered. Suddenly, she felt his warm body heat enveloping her hand.
A strange sensation from their clasped hands made her heart race.
“…Your Highness?”
His deep black eyes calmly gazed at her. She felt as if she was being drawn into his profound gaze, feeling completely immobilized.
“I too was glad. To know that my words brought you joy brings me great happiness.”
A smile as if painted appeared on his lips.
“I’m happy.”
* * *
After Dietrian left and Leticia entered the room, she leaned against the door and slid down. Staring blankly at the white crescent moon, she cupped her cheeks.
“Really, this is serious…”
She murmured almost like a sigh and buried her face in her knees.
“How long will this liking continue to grow?”
Her affection for him kept growing, seemingly without limit.
It was a big problem because she liked him too much.
Even when she heard his confession about knowing her past, she was merely happy.
After her return, she had not expected his affection, let alone his kindness.
He does not hate me, so this marriage might be better than the last, Dietrian will suffer less.
That’s why she was purely happy.
But now, the speed at which her feelings were growing worried her.
‘I only have half a year left.’
The curse placed on her heart by Josephina remained – if she did not kill Dietrian, she would die.
This time, she was determined to protect Dietrian, meaning she only had half a year left.
Leticia bit her lip hard.
‘I thought I could die without regrets.’
Her current life was, after all, a bonus.
She believed it would be happiness to die for him. But just now, for the first time, she felt reluctant.
[The fact that my words made you happy, I’m very much happy.]
That sweet smile, she didn’t want to give it up at all.
She wanted to be loved. Not just with the kindness shown to everyone or respect towards a wife, but with love directed towards a woman.
She wanted to be a real couple, not a wife with a six-month expiry date, to share love with him, to have children resembling him, to build a happy family, and to wish for a lifetime of happiness.
“Ah.”
At that moment, a tear dropped.
Startled, Leticia hurriedly wiped it away.
Yet, tears kept welling up. She pressed her hand against her eyes quickly, trying to stop any more tears from flowing.
“It’s okay. Everything will be okay.”
She whispered several times to calm the turmoil inside her.
Even without such a future, it’s okay. This was what she had braced herself for. After all, it was a bonus. So,
“…let’s be satisfied with half a year.”
Her lips quivered slightly.
Her grip on the hem of her dress tightened, with enough force to make her knuckles turn white.
After a while, Leticia removed her hand from her eyes. With reddened eyes, she looked out at the moon and smiled faintly.
‘I should smile.’
She had heard that saying long ago.
It’s not the heart that dictates the expression, but the expression that dictates the heart.
Ever since she heard that, she often tried to force a smile when she wanted to cry.
She wasn’t sure if it was just her feeling, but it seemed to make her heart a bit lighter.
‘I’ll continue to smile.’
To be satisfied with the present.
So that no regrets remain.
To give Dietrian a brilliant half year.
That was when.
Clunk.
Leticia, who had been trying to gather her thoughts, paused. The window kept rattling.
‘Is it the wind?’
Maybe the latch was poorly secured. She approached the window to check. Soon, she tilted her head.
‘The latch is fine.’
Suddenly noticing the scene outside, Leticia’s eyes widened. The garden seen through the window was utterly still.
‘What’s happening?’
As if there was not a breath of wind, Leticia was taken aback.
Clunk. Clunk.
Leticia quickly turned her head.
Unlike the tranquil scene outside, the window in front of her continued to rattle. It was as if the wind was blowing just outside her window.
The thought that suddenly crossed her mind made Leticia’s eyes widen.
‘Could it be, Ahwin?’
If it was Ahwin, who could wield the power of the wind, it was entirely possible. Leticia hastily opened the window.
At that moment, a refreshing breeze rushed in, and her long golden hair gently waved.
“…!”
Under the night sky, a white piece of paper fluttered down like a butterfly.
As if trying to catch Leticia’s attention, it gently landed on the bed.
Leticia quickly closed the window and unfolded the note.
[Please forgive this method of contact to avoid Tenua’s eyes.]
As she suspected, it was from Ahwin.
[I have something urgent to tell you. I will visit you at an appropriate time.]
‘Why does Ahwin want to meet me?’
She was puzzled but also worried.
‘Is Ahwin okay?’
She then realized she had completely forgotten. Before falling asleep, Ahwin was suffering from the pain of the oath.
‘If he’s still in that state, he must be suffering terribly.’
Josephina had ordered Ahwin to massacre the Principality delegation.
The fact that the delegation was still intact meant Ahwin was likely still enduring the pain of the oath.
Leticia bit her lip anxiously.
‘Is there a way to reveal that I’m the goddess’s proxy?’
Although that fact might not immediately alleviate his suffering, she wanted to at least ease his mind.
‘But there are too many eyes right now.’
Ahwin was leading the imperial knights at the main castle. It wasn’t easy to send a reply without being noticed by their eyes.
‘If only I could use the power of the wind.’
The proxy of the goddess can use the powers of the wings that have sworn loyalty to her.
If the wing that controls water awakens, the saintess can also control water in the same way.
If she could wield the power of the wind, contacting someone without the imperial knights noticing wouldn’t be difficult.
‘But Ahwin isn’t my wing.’
Just as she thought that,
She felt a warmth from the bracelet, warm enough to be slightly hot.
Surprised, she looked down to see a soft golden light emanating from it.
And then, she heard a voice tinged with laughter.
Do you need the power of the wind?
Leticia’s eyes widened.
As the voice ended, a gentle breeze caressed her cheek.
It was like a spring breeze, complete with a faint scent of flowers.
Her golden hair swayed and then settled as the wind circled around her. Frozen like ice, Leticia asked in a trembling voice,
“Did I just summon the wind?”
She had only wished for the power of the wind. But suddenly, the wind started to blow around her. The window was tightly shut, so it wasn’t the wind from outside.
‘This is unbelievable.’
She was so shocked that her legs gave way. She barely managed to sit down on the bed. She had to take several deep breaths to calm her trembling.
Even after a while, the bracelet continued to emit a faint light. Looking at the bracelet in disbelief, she said in a trembling voice,
“I need the wind. Show me that I can control it.”
Her earnest wish reached the goddess’s will. A warm energy gathered around her heart, flowed through her veins, and entered the bracelet.
The light from the bracelet deepened, and the air around it reacted unusually. As her dress fluttered slightly, Leticia clutched the bedsheet tightly.
Then, a gentle wind softly circled around her.
As if welcoming her, it tousled her hair a bit before heading towards the window.
The latch rattled and then suddenly popped open. At the same time, the window slid open smoothly.
Leticia covered her mouth with her hand as a cool breeze poured in through the open window.
Shock filled her green eyes.
It was real.
She really could wield the power of the wind.
‘This is impossible.’
She realized what it meant for her to be able to control the wind.
The third wing of Josephina, who controls the wind, Ahwin.
its getting more exciting to read the story because of her awakening as a Saintess. What more to come? I’m excited 😄 thank you for updating, please continue till the end. Let’s reach the end of the story together? Yes?🥺
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