[You can’t even imagine. Cough. What you just did… the deed you committed…]
While receiving help from the palace servants to apply her eye makeup, Josephina slightly frowned.
[I saw everything. What happens after you kill me.]
Perhaps it was because of the unlucky dream she had. She kept remembering what Julios had said that day.
[I… won.]
Julios, even as he was dying from her stab wound, smiled brazenly.
[Now… it’s enough… everyone can be happy…]
With those words, the liveliness in his blue eyes faded away.
At first, she didn’t even realize he was dead. His lips continued to smile.
It was much later that she realized he had been dead for a while.
‘Stupid fool. You probably had no idea what would happen after you died.’
Contrary to his confident curse, Julios’s death completely ruined his family’s life.
Especially, his brother Dietrian’s life plunged into a terrible swamp.
The marriage between Leticia and Dietrian was also ultimately because of Julios’s death.
It turned out that way because she chose the man she hated the most.
‘If only that stupid man could have seen them getting married.’
Josephina snickered.
As she mocked Julios for a while, her makeup was completed. The palace servants stepped back with bowed heads.
“Lady Saint, we are finished.”
Josephina looked at her reflection in the mirror with satisfaction.
It was perfect, as always.
For a moment, she managed to completely forget the discomfort caused by Julios.
‘This should be enough to shut up those people who have been babbling about me receiving an ominous oracle.’
After the cursed oracle was delivered, very strange rumors spread throughout the capital. Rumors that Josephina was trying to hide the ominous oracle.
Even crazy rumors spread that her power was diminishing.
That’s why she cared more about this banquet. She invited everyone from the imperial family to the central nobles.
It was to show everyone she was still in good health. The effort was worth it as the result was good.
‘Is there anything more to add?’
She wondered what could further announce her saintly majesty to everyone.
After a moment of contemplation, Josephina smirked.
‘Of course, showing the power of the wings would be best.’
“When will Noel return?”
“As I reported in the morning, she is visiting the houses of the lay followers.”
“Tsk, with such an important banquet right around the corner, why is she still out and about? She’s still lacking compared to Ahwin. Still not understanding the importance of tasks.”
Lately, Noel was visiting the houses of lay followers to widely spread Josephina’s grace.
Josephina had gladly permitted it since it helped her image.
Even though Noel might have trouble attending the banquet, she readily nodded.
Yet, Josephina clicked her tongue even though she had allowed it.
“My majestic banquet is soon, and my wing is wandering useless places. It’s irritating. Very irritating.”
Since this was not her first whimsy or coercion, the servant quickly bowed her head.
“I think so too. I will call Archdeacon Noel immediately.”
“Do that.”
Josephina arrogantly lifted her chin.
“Make sure to clearly tell Noel on your way to bring her. I plan to show the power of the wings at this banquet, so tell her to come prepared properly.”
If there were those who doubted her vitality, she just had to show them.
That Josephina’s ninth wing had become strong enough to demolish the divine palace.
Then, the nonsense would stop.
‘It’s just as well. Calisto is also planning to attend this banquet.’
The first wing, who always irked her like a thorn and who she would have discarded long ago if he were not royalty, that arrogant man was also scheduled to attend the banquet.
‘If he has eyes, he will realize. How much power one gains by fully submitting to me.’
Knowing that even the ninth has become this strong will make Prince Calisto realize a lot. That he needs to swear allegiance properly, not just a forced oath of loyalty.
If he sincerely pledges loyalty to Josephina, he too could become the master of that power.
Josephina’s eyes gleamed with anticipation at the thought of that moment.
* * *
Having left the house of the cleric, Noel walked aimlessly.
She wanted to run away to the Principality over the black city walls, but she couldn’t.
Eventually, she ended up in the slums where she used to live.
“Wow! It’s Lady Noel!”
The white archdeacon’s attire stood out anywhere. The children in the slums recognized her right away.
“Lady Noel! We missed you!”
“Sister, are you going to give us something delicious today?”
“Hey! Don’t call the archdeacon ‘sister’!”
“What’s it to you! She said it’s okay to call her sister!”
“Then I’ll call her ‘big sis’ too!”
“Do whatever you want!”
The children in the slums, unaware of their hardships, clung to Noel. Noel embraced them tightly, hiding her fatigue.
“Have you all been well?”
“Yeah! But sister, is something wrong?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Sister, you look like you’re about to cry.”
Indeed, it was strange. How could these children, who knew nothing, be so sensitive? Noel suppressed her desire to cry and forced a smile.
“There’s nothing wrong. I just wanted to see you guys.”
That wasn’t true. A huge incident had occurred.
Her only master was almost murdered.
And she didn’t even know exactly what had happened.
She was her only wing.
She was the only one who could protect her…!
She couldn’t dare say she felt like going mad because she couldn’t do anything.
“Sister, do you want to play tag?”
“Tag?”
“Yeah! We were playing tag! We’ll exclude you from being ‘it’ since you’re a good person!”
Facing the innocent children somewhat calmed her restless heart.
Though a slight lapse in attention would revive the terrible despair she felt.
Noel struggled to calm her churning stomach and thought.
‘Calm down, Noel Armos. The children are here with you. If you lose control, these children could get hurt. So keep your head straight.’
That was all Noel could cling to.
* * *
“Lady Noel, Lady Josephina is calling for you. You must return to the divine palace immediately.”
The fragile peace did not last long. Josephina’s servant had come to fetch Noel.
Under the dim streetlights, the children playing tag looked on with fear, hiding behind Noel.
“Let’s go together.”
The servant smiled warmly, a facade Noel was all too familiar with.
Noel glared coldly at the servant and asked.
“What does the Lady Saint need me for? I’ve already mentioned that attending the banquet today might be difficult. And I had Lady Josephina’s permission.”
Normally, she would have immediately followed Josephina’s command, but today was different.
Just thinking of Josephina made her feel nauseous.
Whether Ahwin cared for Josephina or not, she wanted to twist that woman’s neck.
She was also angry at the fact that Ahwin was still considered one of Josephina’s wings.
Josephina, who was suffocating his soul, was detestable.
“You must show the power of the wings at the banquet. It’s a very important matter, and you’re advised to pay close attention.”
“…The power of the wings, you say.”
Noel barely swallowed her laughter.
She realized why Josephina had given her such an order.
‘A person who knows nothing but vanity.’
She must be trying to subjugate others with her power.
‘But it’s all fake anyway.’
It’s just a facade that will crumble like a sandcastle once Leticia gains all the wings and awakens her true power.
‘Just endure until then.’
At least, until another wing appears to protect Leticia.
Just hold on until then.
Noel made this promise to herself as she said goodbye to the children.
The children looked up at her with eyes full of longing.
“Sister, when will you come back this time?”
“I’ll be back soon. Just sleep for about five nights. Next time, I’ll bring you lots of tasty things.”
And at that moment, a warm breeze blew.
Her short brown hair fluttered. Noel, who was hugging a child, froze in that pose. The breeze continued to tickle her ears.
It was accompanied by a message that only she could hear.
‘This is Ahwin’s voice.’
It was a wind spirit sent by Ahwin to Noel.
Upon hearing Ahwin’s message, Noel’s eyes widened. Tears started to well up in her black eyes.
“Sister, are you crying?”
“Why, sister? Are you hurt? Sad?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Noel barely managed to speak.
Then she suddenly embraced the child tightly. Clear tears wet the ground. A heart full of joy surged within her.
She said with a trembling voice,
“Because I’m happy.”
“Happy?”
“I thought I was all alone, but I wasn’t. He made the same choice as me. He has become a wing for my only master as well.”
The message that finally Ahwin had become a wing for Leticia.
The despair she had felt all day melted away.
“Alright. Let’s head to the banquet now.”
Noel, wiping away her tears, stood up. She then smiled slyly at the servant who had come to fetch her.
“For my master, it’s time to show the power of the wings.”
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