Calisto had never intended to reveal his identity so easily.
He had kept the secret for nearly twenty years.
But now, he felt resigned to whatever might happen.
A few days after provoking Josephina, his physical condition was at its worst.
Despite having prepared himself to gauge Noel’s reaction, he felt like he was dying.
He writhed in pain all night, unable to make a sound for fear that his sister might hear.
He swallowed his screams, waiting only for the pain to subside.
He had fainted several times before barely regaining consciousness.
It was the same now.
Even after taking a handful of medicine, the intense pain surged through him intermittently.
So, there was no more reason to hesitate.
He was no longer afraid of anything.
If Noel did not tell him the truth, his end was already determined.
The pain of the oath would either kill him or he would have to take his own life; one of the two remained.
He bit the inside of his cheek while maintaining a smile, swallowing his blood-mixed saliva and lifting the corners of his mouth.
“Why aren’t you answering? Can’t you believe what I say? Will you deny it again, like before?”
“…….”
“Are you going to say you don’t know anything about the pain of the oath?”
Noel, stunned into silence, quickly regained her composure.
“So, you’re really the first wing of Saint Josephina?”
“Yes.”
“The first wing, who has never shown himself before, is really you?”
“Yes.”
“You were the one who left all the duties of the first wing to the third wing?”
Calisto’s face twisted horribly.
“Are you playing with me? How many times do I have to repeat the same thing?”
“I think we need to be cautious, considering the situation.”
“Cautious? Are you asking me to prove that I’m the first wing?”
“If you can prove it, I’d be pleased.”
Noel asked cautiously.
“Do you have a way to prove it?”
“Ha.”
Calisto chuckled hollowly, then glared fiercely at Noel.
“Do you want me to play the fool to please you?”
“I never asked for a clown act.”
“Then how do you want me to prove it? Should I rush at Josephina right now? If I die vomiting blood from the pain of the oath, will you believe me?”
“You could just use the power of the wings, couldn’t you?”
“I’m a magician. You don’t believe my words, but you believe I have power? I could also pretend that magic is the power of the wings.”
Calisto sneered sarcastically.
Noel considered probing further but decided to let it go.
‘He really has a terrible temper. He’s like a mad dog.’
Still, she couldn’t simply rebuke him for his foul mood.
Now she understood the reason for this sharp response.
‘Long-standing pain destroys human instincts.’
Even the greatest of saints would find it difficult to endure prolonged physical suffering.
She knew this well, having cared for her sick younger sibling for a long time.
Even her mild-mannered sibling had become very irritable after a long illness.
“If you’re so curious, why don’t you run to your master?”
“What?”
“If I am the first wing of Josephina or not, ask your master directly.”
Calisto glared at Noel as he spoke.
“That devil holds you in high regard, doesn’t she? Then she might just answer you.”
Noel shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t know. Do you think I can get an answer, Your Highness?”
“What?”
“Do you really think she’ll tell me the truth about the first wing? To reveal that the first wing has been ignoring her all this time, do you think that’s possible?”
“That’s…”
Calisto hesitated as he was about to question whether it depended on his master’s will.
Noel’s attitude when speaking about his master was peculiarly formal.
It was as if she were speaking to a complete stranger.
Or rather.
‘Hostility?’
There was something hidden in her calm tone.
Calisto looked intently at Noel, almost in disbelief.
Her black eyes calmly met his gaze.
Calisto’s eyes narrowed as if searching.
“You.”
He asked.
“Are you truly loyal to Josephina?”
Noel remained silent for a moment.
Their gazes fiercely clashed.
After a while, she lowered her eyes and whispered softly.
“As I’ve said before, I am a wing of the goddess. My goal is to live a life that is not shameful as a wing.”
Noel understood that Calisto was suffering greatly because of Josephina.
She felt even more pity because she had been in a similar situation.
But she couldn’t reveal everything about Leticia just yet.
She still couldn’t fully trust Calisto.
Still, she could reveal this much.
“In the past and now, according to the will of the goddess, I strive to protect the weakest and the lowliest, just as my only master has saved me.”
Noel stated firmly.
“I will continue to serve my master with all my heart. That is all I can tell you.”
Calisto frowned deeply at her words.
“So, you are loyal to Josephina? You’re saying Josephina has been protecting the weakest and the lowliest? Have you turned into a devil’s dog?”
…If he can’t understand, just leave it be. Noel shrugged and said.
“Please sit down. I’ll treat you first.”
“What?”
“You’re bleeding from your mouth.”
Calisto reflexively rubbed his lips.
He chuckled dryly at the red blood staining his sleeve.
“You’re really something.”
“You’re not coughing up blood, are you?”
“It’s none of your business whether I vomit blood or not.”
“I must care. I don’t have the ability to treat hemoptysis.”
Noel said.
“I can handle a wound in the mouth with my skills. I’ll use my divine power to…”
Noel couldn’t finish her sentence.
Calisto irritably slapped her hand away.
“I don’t need such filthy power.”
Noel clicked her tongue. She knew he was like a mad dog, but continuing to deal with him felt like a waste of time.
“Someday, you will regret those words.”
“What?”
“Shall I tell you how to escape the pain of the oath?”
Calisto flinched. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, Noel grabbed his wrist.
“How dare…”
Calisto tried to shake her off, but Noel’s grip was unexpectedly strong.
She looked directly at Calisto and said,
“There is one way. But I cannot tell you now. However, I will tell you this much: soon, you will discover how to escape the pain of the oath.”
“…What?”
“No one can do this for you. You must do it yourself. You must prove your own worth.”
“What kind of nonsense…”
Calisto’s face contorted in frustration.
At that moment, Noel began to chant an incantation.
A bluish light flowed into Calisto’s wrist.
Calisto, who had been about to use magic to throw Noel off, paused.
Blinking in confusion, he lowered his head.
“How can this be…”
He blinked, unable to believe what had happened. Noel, having finished the healing, stood up.
“I will leave now.”
She bowed slightly, leaving Calisto still frozen in shock.
The sound of Noel’s footsteps faded away.
Calisto, without blinking, stared down at his wrist.
It was the spot where Noel’s hand had touched.
Where her divine power had flowed.
It was definitely the power of a goddess.
But it was not the power of the goddess he knew.
It was familiar, yet unfamiliar.
It was a refreshingly clean energy, starkly different from the suffocating power of Josephina he was accustomed to.
‘How can Josephina’s power be so clear…’
At that moment, Calisto realized.
Today, Noel had never once said she followed ‘Josephina’.
* * *
‘That should be enough.’
Turning a corner, Noel looked back momentarily. There were no footsteps following her.
‘Did he understand?’
She thought the chances were fifty-fifty. He might have sensed the existence of another saint, or he might not have.
‘Should I have explained more?’
Noel shook her head as she pondered.
‘Caution, must always be cautious. I can’t risk it without certainty.’
If Calisto sided with Leticia, he would undoubtedly be a strong ally.
But the situation wasn’t desperate enough to take such a risk.
With these thoughts, Noel looked up at the sky.
It was still early, but the sky was darkening.
‘Looks like it’s going to rain.’
Gray clouds were gathering one by one.
A chill wind made her shiver, prompting her to walk toward the temple.
Not far away, the Imperial Guards led by Ahwin were entering the temple.
* * *
At the same time.
“Your Highness, is there something troubling you?”
“…No.”
“Then why do you keep looking back…”
The castellan asked cautiously. Dietrian responded unabashedly.
“It’s just to check if there’s anything I missed regarding the safety of the fortress.”
“Ah, I see.”
The castellan nodded, impressed by his lord’s thoroughness.
Thoroughness, indeed—it was anything but.
Yet, Dietrian felt no twinge of conscience.
He had no luxury to feel guilty.
Because of the solitary confinement lasting over a week, Leticia’s withdrawal symptoms had worsened.
Until now, she had been quenching her thirst by seeking him out, but today, there had been no word from her.
‘Why hasn’t she come yet?’
By now, Leticia should have popped up from there.
It was time for her to shyly smile and come up with some absurd excuse to see him.
Then, he could pretend to fall for her clumsy excuse, take her to a corner, and have time to steal three kisses or more while the knights around him coughed discreetly.
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