Noel, returning from the slums, immediately started to dress up.
Josephina’s courtiers adorned Noel quite splendidly, just as Josephina intended.
They added bountiful waves to her neatly cut brown hair and attached purple earrings, the symbol of Josephina, to her earlobes. The heavy eye makeup made her gentle eyes look intense.
Her clothes were also very splendid. The priestly robe seemed as if it was sprinkled with gemstone dust, shining brightly whenever it caught the light. The sleeves and hem were intricately embroidered with complex patterns in gold thread.
“You are all set, Lady Noel.”
Noel looked at her unfamiliar reflection in the mirror. Normally, she would have frowned at Josephina’s vulgar taste.
But now, Noel felt more at ease than ever, thanks to the spirit’s message sent by Ahwin.
The message that Josephina was a fake, that Leticia was the real one. That the goddess’s true power had blossomed, and that Ahwin had become Leticia’s wing, just like her.
Those words had rescued her from the mire. It seemed she could endure any hardship, even more severe than the current one.
“Here are the key attendees for today’s banquet. Please review them in advance to avoid any mistakes.”
Listening to the courtier’s warning, Noel received the list of banquet attendees.
“Especially, you should be wary of the royals. Princess Dana and Prince Calisto will be attending. As you know, the royals tend to disregard the greatness of the saintess.”
“Yes, of course.”
“So, you must properly demonstrate your power, especially to Prince Calisto.”
A clear hostility lingered in the courtier’s voice.
“Lately, his recklessness has reached the heavens. Please silence him with overwhelming power. Lady Josephina has repeatedly emphasized this.”
“Prince Calisto, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Prince Calisto. Noel was well aware of the name. He was known for having the foulest temper among the royals. His history was also quite unique.
‘He kicked the position of crown prince away on his own?’
The Holy Empire’s royal family did not adhere to the principle of primogeniture. The strongest royal of the generation became the successor, and this time, Calisto, the youngest, had the most outstanding qualities. Yet, he was not the crown prince.
‘Ten years ago, he suddenly turned the palace upside down, saying he didn’t want to become the emperor.’
Of course, the emperor opposed it. Calisto did something outrageous while trying to convince the emperor.
He committed the insane act of setting fire to the temple because he didn’t want to become the emperor.
Thanks to that incident, he fell out of favor with Josephina. Noel smirked.
‘I wish the prince would cause a big scene this time too. I’d have no regrets seeing Josephina clutch her head and collapse.’
Well, if he did something like that, Calisto wouldn’t be safe either.
‘If I could just see Josephina fall, I wouldn’t mind using any means necessary, as long as my life is spared.’
With such trivial thoughts, Noel headed to the banquet.
“What time does the banquet start, and where have you been until now?”
“My apologies, saintess.”
As soon as Noel entered the outdoor banquet venue, Josephina sharply rebuked her. Noel glanced at Josephina’s side with her head bowed.
‘Who is that?’
A young man and woman she hadn’t seen before stood beside the saintess.
‘Siblings?’
Both had grey eyes and grey hair. Their high status was apparent from their attire to their small actions, exuding dignity.
‘Quite at ease beside Josephina.’
At this banquet hall, all the influential people of the Holy Empire were gathered. Even those who were well-off groveled before Josephina.
But not the two people in front of her. Even standing right next to Josephina, they showed no signs of being intimidated. Especially the man.
‘Why are his eyes so fierce? Has he forgotten who he’s standing next to?’
If arrogance could take human form, it would look like him. His gaze seemed to despise not only Josephina but everyone in the banquet hall. It was quite fresh to see someone so blatantly poor at managing their expressions in the divine palace.
‘Huh? What’s with that guy? Did he just curse at me?’
Then something astonishing happened.
The moment their eyes met, clear hostility flashed in the man’s grey eyes. He muttered a curse under his breath. Caught off guard, Noel blinked in confusion.
“Cal!”
The woman beside him gasped and grabbed his arm.
“Didn’t you promise me!”
“I am fulfilling my promise to you very faithfully.”
“Come here, let’s talk.”
As Cal nonchalantly replied, his sister looked frustrated and attempted to pull him away. Cal didn’t budge.
While observing the siblings, Josephina prodded Noel.
“The time has come, why are you dawdling? Get ready. Isn’t everyone waiting for you?”
“I heed the saintess’s command.”
Noel quickly bowed her head and turned around. As she walked towards the stage, she suddenly realized that Josephina had not introduced Cal and his sister to her.
‘Treating someone right in front of you as if they’re invisible? Truly, she has an exceptional talent for ignoring people.’
It was then Noel realized why Cal had been growling. Being ignored right to his face was enough to make anyone furious.
‘But he should curb his temper. Life will be quite troublesome if he gets on Josephina’s bad side. Being in a high position and still not knowing that woman’s character.’
Noel clicked her tongue and walked towards the stage set up in the middle. White lights formed a circle like a pond.
Standing in the middle of the stage, Noel fell into a moment of contemplation.
To reveal her true power or not.
Noel was indeed the first wing of the real saintess.
She was confident in overwhelming everyone present with the power of water.
‘Josephina’s first wing wouldn’t stand a chance against me.’
Ahwin, the second wing of Leticia, had overwhelmed Tenua, the second wing of Josephina. It was natural for Noel to overcome Josephina’s first wing.
The problem, however, was.
‘If I show my true power, Josephina will think it’s because of her.’
The thought of Josephina being pleased was unpleasant to imagine.
‘Should I just do it half-heartedly?’
If she acted as if it was a great effort to do something she could with a flick of her finger, everyone present would naturally doubt Josephina’s power.
Josephina’s temperament wouldn’t allow her to hold her anger.
‘No, it’s better to reveal my true power this time. I must prepare for when it becomes known that Leticia is my true master.’
When people were contemplating who the real saintess between Leticia and Josephina was, the overwhelming power that Noel would show now would surely be of great help.
Those who saw the true power of the wings would have no choice but to realize who the real saintess was.
“Huh.”
Having made her decision, Noel took a deep breath and stared at the lake in front of her. This was the first stage to show Leticia’s power to everyone.
‘Let’s show everyone properly what power the wings serving the real saintess possess.’
Noel slowly drew up the divine power flowing through her body.
Moments later, the massive lake turned into a black pillar, shooting up into the sky. The pillar grew endlessly high, reaching the sky in an instant, so high that one couldn’t see the end even by tilting their head back fully.
Clouds gathered in the sky where the pillar of the lake touched, and thunder and lightning struck. A storm brewed only where Noel’s power reached, in the midst of a clear night sky.
It was as if an enraged goddess had manifested herself. An overwhelming power that any human would fear.
As Noel intended, most people at the banquet were stunned.
Even ‘Cal’, whom she had just met, was among them.
The moment the water pillar shot into the sky, Cal, who seemed bored with everything, was surprised and abruptly stood up.
A wave of satisfaction washed over her.
The thought of revealing later that all this power belonged to Leticia made her heart race in anticipation.
‘Since we’ve started, shall we do a bit more properly?’
The water vortex spun ferociously, as if it would suck in everything around it, whipping through the air. Those of faint heart feared the pillar would fall upon them.
Noel’s hand flicked, and the fierce water pillar suddenly burst apart.
In an instant, it became a transparent roof that covered the banquet hall. The sight of a wide rainbow settling down at once was truly a spectacle.
“This is unbelievable.”
As the water poured down, people who had been frozen in shock finally came to their senses. The banquet hall was still enveloped by a rainbow. They spoke with trembling voices as if waking from a dream.
“It’s truly magnificent.”
“I thought I was dreaming.”
“I thought it was the goddess’s wrath, but it was her blessing.”
Amidst exclamations from all around, Noel moved towards Josephina with light steps. She pressed her forehead to Josephina’s long sleeve and spoke.
“Saintess, as you commanded, I have shown the goddess’s power to this world. Are you satisfied?”
“Haha, of course. You did well, very well indeed, Noel.”
Josephina couldn’t hide her laughter at Noel’s perfect display of power. She looked completely forgetful of her earlier irritation at Noel’s tardiness.
“It seems you have become much stronger than when you brought down the divine palace with the power of water. Was it not too much for you?”
“Not at all. How could it be too burdensome when the true saintess has given me her power?”
Noel said with a smirk.
“Such tricks, I can show you any number of times.”
“Haha! Tricks, you say. You used such immense power, yet not a single drop of water splashed around. That means you controlled all the water in this space, and you call it a trick!”
Josephina burst into laughter.
“Noel, it’s truly joyous to see you grow.”
“Of course, I must grow. And I will continue to do so. Every day, I feel my master becoming stronger.”
“Haha.”
“I am truly happy to serve the true representative of the goddess.”
“Haha, well done, Noel. You’ve shown your skills sufficiently, now enjoy the banquet to your heart’s content.”
“Thank you.”
Noel smiled gently and stood up. Turning around, her eyes met Cal’s from not too far away.
His sister was holding onto him and speaking urgently, but he seemed not to hear.
Noel chuckled at Cal’s stiff expression.
‘It seems he was quite startled by our Lady Leticia’s power.’
Noel then turned her attention away from Cal and headed towards a nearby table.
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