Dietrian delayed his answer for a moment, trying to discern why she was so perturbed.
“Gilead is one of the twelve guardian families blessed by the dragon.”
“Guardians, you say?”
“Yes. As you know, people of the Principality once wielded transcendent powers similar to the imperial clerics, thanks to being chosen by the dragon. The people from these twelve families were such individuals. Though now, that power has all but vanished. Gilead signifies the owner of that power, or the family that governed it.”
Hearing Dietrian’s explanation plunged Leticia deeper into confusion.
‘Why would the goddess ask me to verify Gilead’s dream?’
What connection did Gilead have with her to warrant such an oracle? But her questions didn’t end there.
‘Why would Mano specifically want to gift a fairy tale about Gilead?’
Moreover, unlike in the past, she even appeared in Heden. Her mind was a jumbled mess. In this severe confusion, one thing seemed certain.
‘Could all of this be a coincidence?’
No, it couldn’t be. This was an affair the goddess herself had intervened in. It was not something to be dismissed as mere chance. Her heart pounded. Dietrian asked,
“Why do you inquire about Gilead? Is there something troubling you?”
“That is…”
Leticia struggled to continue. To discuss Gilead, she would have to confess about the oracle.
‘Then I’d also have to reveal the curse.’
Naturally, that was out of the question. Regardless of dreaming about a rosy future with Dietrian, the possibility that the curse would never be resolved still lingered.
‘What should I do?’
But she couldn’t just say it was nothing now. Leticia decided to reveal only a part of the truth.
“…I’ve heard about a dream concerning Gilead.”
“Gilead’s dream, you say?”
“Yes. Until now, I didn’t know what Gilead was, so I thought to inquire upon arriving at the castle.”
“…”
“I was surprised to see the fairy tale book just now.”
Dietrian scrutinized her expression to gauge the truthfulness of her response.
‘It doesn’t seem to be a lie.’
Having learned to read her expressions quite well since discovering the curse, he could tell she was speaking the truth now.
‘Of course, it’s not the whole truth.’
The more he saw her forced smile, the more obvious it became that she was hiding something.
‘Should I ask, will she answer?’
He contemplated probing further but ultimately decided against it. It seemed unlikely that he would get a proper answer.
“Leticia, who informed you about Gilead’s dream?”
“Just someone I know.”
She dodged the question, as expected, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t see through to the truth.
‘She said she saw the goddess in her dream earlier.’
On her way to Heden, Leticia had mentioned that a dream encounter with the goddess revealed her to be the owner of the elixir.
‘Could she have learned about Gilead from the goddess as well?’
In the empire, there were no others who could have informed her about Gilead, apart from the two wings who were favorable to her.
‘Should I probe further, or not?’
Debating whether to confirm his speculation about the goddess, he chose to remain silent for now.
He knew she loved him but also understood that crossing certain lines was not permissible.
‘If I cross the line, she might run away.’
Knowing that the curse was what she most desperately wanted to hide made him even more cautious.
“Your Highness, what significance does Gilead’s dream hold?”
Responding to Leticia’s question, he stood up and, taking the book from the desk, offered it to her.
“Why not check for yourself? It’s my mother’s book. Please, read it.”
***
In the quiet room, only the sound of a book being flipped echoed.
Dietrian deliberately sat a little distance away from her, holding documents that he wasn’t even looking at.
Leticia, who was initially wary of his gaze, soon became engrossed in the book.
At a certain moment, Leticia’s eyes widened as she turned to a specific page. Just by glancing over, Dietrian could tell what had surprised her so much.
‘It’s about Gilead’s prophetic abilities.’
He saw the familiar illustration depicting the first scene of Gilead’s prophecy. He remembered it because he had read it to Mano several times.
Unable to believe it, Leticia stared at the page for a while before finally starting to turn the pages again.
Dietrian had so many questions he wanted to ask her, but he held back.
He had also held back from saying he loved her with all his might.
If it meant not losing her, he could bear even more than this.
Finally, Leticia closed the last page with trembling hands.
Silence settled. Neither of them spoke for their own reasons.
Dietrian broke the silence.
“How was it? Have all your questions been answered?”
Dietrian asked with a deliberately gentle smile, yet he did not miss that her hand clutching the book cover had turned white.
“…Your Highness.”
“Speak.”
“Gilead has disappeared, hasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Then, we can no longer see the future through Gilead.”
“Unless the dragon’s power returns, that seems to be the case.”
Leticia was silent for a moment, looking down at the fairy tale book with a very complicated gaze.
Then, slowly caressing the book title, she whispered.
“Your Highness, you said this fairy tale book was Madam Mano’s favorite, right?”
“Yes. She insists on having a fairy tale read to her before going to sleep, and this is one of them. It’s her most cherished book, so perhaps she wanted to hear it in Heden as well.”
“I see.”
Leticia smiled faintly.
“Then, may I personally deliver this book to Madam Mano?”
Leticia carefully hugged the book and stood up.
“Tonight… I would like to read it to her.”
* * *
Suddenly, a red sunset settled over Heden.
It had been a very long day for everyone in Heden.
For the people of Heden, for the Principality delegation, and for the Second Knight Order who had come from the capital to welcome them.
Despite the long and arduous day, a bright smile was on everyone’s lips. It was because miracles had happened one after another.
And at the center of those miracles was Leticia.
“So, the rumors of her being a murderer were all false?”
“That’s right. It was all a false charge pinned by Josephina.”
“I heard it too. That crazy black-clad guy said it earlier. What Josephina did to her.”
“Anna said so. She was extremely devoted to Madam Mano.”
The people of Heden were enthusiastic about Leticia whenever they gathered.
Their reactions were similar.
They were happy that the new queen was not a villain like the rumors suggested, and soon, they burst into indignation over Josephina’s misdeeds.
Because they had seen what kind of person Leticia was.
“Still, she’s the daughter of the saint. That blood can’t just disappear.”
Of course, among those who had not seen her in person, there were some who doubted her. But they had to quickly retract their words.
“Excuse me. I’ve seen what kind of person Her Highness is all the way from the empire with my own eyes. I owe my life to her.”
“You! You shouldn’t say such things! It’s all thanks to her that the people of our market survived!”
This was because the knights and market traders were about to pounce as if to devour them.
Leticia, who was at the center of the topic, was actually just in her room. Even after returning to her room, she read and reread the fairy tale book several times.
“Gilead’s dream will surely come true. This is because Gilead can glimpse into fate.”
Leticia, who had been unable to take her eyes off that passage for a long time, raised her head.
Suddenly, a red sunset had descended around her.
Holding a fairy tale book in one hand, Leticia left her room.
Mano’s room was not far. The guards at the door pretended to know.
“Your Highness.”
“And Madam Mano?”
“She’s having a meal. Please go in.”
The knight, who had been informed by Dietrian in advance, smiled and opened the door for her.
“Madam Mano, say ‘ah.’”
“Ah.”
As she entered the room, Julia was feeding Mano bread soaked in soup. Mano, who was munching away, smiled brightly upon seeing Leticia.
“Baby!”
“Your Highness.”
Julia quickly got up from her seat. Leticia smiled and quickly shook her head.
“Please, sit comfortably.”
“Baby!”
Mano’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Leticia. Leticia smiled and sat next to Mano.
Julia looked at Leticia with concern.
“Your Highness, are you feeling alright?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Still…”
Even though she had seen with her own eyes that she was alright and had heard from the doctor, Julia could not stop worrying.
“Baby, are you not in pain anymore?”
“Yes. I’m all healed now.”
Soup was smeared around Mano’s mouth. Leticia carefully wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.
“Julia, may I take care of Madam Mano’s meal?”
“Directly by Your Highness?”
“Yes. I thought I’d spend the night with Madam Mano today. I’ll also read her a fairy tale.”
“Oh, understood.”
Julia, too, had been pre-informed by Dietrian.
After Julia left, Leticia soaked the bread in soup and fed it to Mano, just like Julia had done.
Mano accepted it with an excited expression. A warm smile also adorned Leticia’s lips.
“Does it taste good?”
“Mhm, mhm.”
Mano nodded her head.
“Baby, you’re not in pain anymore, are you?”
“Of course. I’m not in pain anymore, now.”
“I knew it would be so.”
Leticia’s hand, dipping the bread into the soup, momentarily paused.
She quietly observed Mano.
“How did you know?”
“I had a dream.”
Mano smiled brightly.
“I dreamt that Baby lives a long and happy life. So, I knew it would be alright.”
“A long and happy life?”
“Mhm, mhm. For a very, very long time, until Baby reaches my age, happily. So, I knew it would be alright.”
Mano said with a gentle smile.
Tears welled up in Leticia’s eyes.
“Madam Mano, do you know about Gilead?”
“Of course!”
“How so?”
“Because I am Gilead.”
Though it was unexpected, it turned out to be true.
“But the power of Gilead was lost, wasn’t it?”
“Not at all.”
Mano shook her head and then suddenly embraced Leticia tightly.
Mano’s eyes, shining brightly as she smiled, sparkled like stars.
“It has returned.”
Seven years ago, when Julios confessed to Mano about the ‘dream,’
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