The people heading to the temple looked up at the sky anxiously.
“Is the goddess truly angry with us?”
“If the saint says so, we must believe it. She is the chosen one of the goddess, after all.”
“Haven’t you heard the rumors yet?”
“What rumors?”
“That this ritual is a conspiracy to hide the truth.”
“A conspiracy?”
“They say the saint’s power is fading. That’s why the demons escaped.”
“Shh! Be careful what you say. Speak out of turn, and you might be dragged off to the temple without anyone knowing.”
This ritual was different from the previous ones in many ways. Not only the priests but also the royalty and the commoners attended. The large central temple was so crowded that there was no room to stand; not just inside the building, but also in the courtyard. The priests watched this scene with grim faces.
“Isn’t it outrageous? To let such lowly people attend the ritual.”
“There was nothing to be done. The prince made a fuss about having as many people attend as possible.”
“Ha! It’s ridiculous. What right does the royal family have to meddle in temple affairs?”
“Hmph. Everything will be resolved once the ritual is over.”
“That’s right. The saint herself has promised. There will definitely be an oracle.”
“When we see the oracle, we’ll feel it for real. Who the true ruler of this empire is.”
“I can’t wait to see the stupid look on the prince’s face.”
The priests exchanged looks and sneered at each other.
* * *
“Here is some ice water, Your Highness.”
“Thank you.”
The princess took the glass, pressing her throbbing temple. Calisto glanced at his sister.
“It’s pouring snow. Ice water in this weather? Aren’t you cold?”
“It’s because of whom I am drinking this ice water.”
“Are you blaming me?”
“Yes!”
The princess gulped down the cold water and slammed the glass down with a clang, glaring at Calisto.
“Because of you, I am burning up inside. I’m furious!”
“What did I do now?”
“Why escalate matters? Why does the royal family need to interfere with the rituals? And why drag the commoners into this?”
“The goddess is angry, you know. The royal family naturally has to take responsibility.”
“When did the royal family ever… Oh.”
The princess massaged her throbbing forehead, feeling like she was talking to a wall. Calisto spoke nonchalantly.
“Ignore whatever the priests say. There’s no need to listen to the nonsense of swine. You’re wasting your time.”
“I can’t help but care!”
The princess snapped back.
“You’re hurting!”
Calisto flinched.
“When you fight with Josephina, you get hurt. It must have hurt this time too!”
“…Do I look like I’m in pain?”
“No! That’s why I’m more worried. How much medicine have you taken? Don’t tell me you’ve emptied another bottle? Have you forgotten what the doctor said? You could die! Your body could completely break down!”
“I didn’t take any medicine.”
Calisto’s gaze naturally shifted towards the people. Even in the crowded multitude, he quickly spotted the person he was looking for.
“…I met a troublesome savior.”
“What?”
“Someone who does whatever they want, doesn’t listen even when told it’s dangerous, who cares so much about the safety of their people but shows no concern for their own safety…”
Calisto’s eyes deepened.
“A savior like that.”
“What do you mean? Explain it clearly. Who helped you? Who treated the pain of the oath? A doctor? Or a magician?”
Calisto shook his head.
“Neither a doctor nor a magician. Anyway, don’t worry, sister. This time, it’ll be okay. Both for that person and for me.”
Because a promise was made. He had sworn loyalty, bending even his lifelong beliefs, even kneeling down. Thanks to that, he had secured a promise from Leticia. This time, he would handle things, and she would not step forward.
“…Alright. I will ask His Highness to take care of the oracle. But I will also go to the temple. If there’s any issue with the oracle, I must intervene.”
It was dangerous, he had argued several times, but it was useless. Ultimately, Calisto could not break Leticia’s stubbornness, and they had come to the temple together.
‘I shouldn’t have put the second wing to sleep.’
Calisto deeply regretted having succumbed to Leticia’s request to put Ahwin to sleep. If the three of them had stood together, Leticia could not have been so stubborn.
‘Should I dispel the magic now?’
He could still feel the magic he had cast on Ahwin. He could wake him before the carriage got too far.
‘But I was asked not to.’
It was the first request Leticia had made to him. Since he had sworn loyalty, it was as good as an order.
‘To disobey right after becoming a wing…’
Calisto scoffed, wiping his face. When he was Josephina’s wing, he would have recoiled at such orders, but now he hesitated to disobey.
“The saintess commands you!”
Calisto’s torment didn’t last long. Inside the temple, Josephina made her appearance. She was garishly adorned with jewels to the point of disgust. Josephina declared arrogantly.
“Before starting the ritual, I have something to tell the people of the goddess present here.”
The surroundings became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Josephina’s gaze turned icy as she looked at the crowd.
“I clearly stated that the wrongdoings of today were caused by the goddess’s wrath. Yet, there are those who disturb the public with nonsense. They say I am losing the goddess’s power, and that the oracle given before declared my doom.”
Some people flinched, shrinking their shoulders.
“Even saying that the oracle given at my daughter’s wedding was due to my sins.”
Josephina twisted her lips.
“Yes. They are right. I am not without sin. I bore a terrible sinner, after all. I know well that my daughter is a demon!”
Calisto gritted his teeth. As he tried to stand up, the princess quickly grabbed him, starting to hold him back with all her might.
“That sin has already been paid for. I entrusted my daughter to Tenua. I handed her over to the filthy descendant of dragons as payment for my sins!”
Josephina’s malicious tirade continued.
“Of course, I know that is not enough. I will pay for my remaining sins throughout my life. By punishing the descendants of the dragon and annihilating the Principality as decreed by the goddess!”
“…”
“We must expose the ugliness of the Principality royal family to the whole world, and reeducate the foolish Principality citizens with a whip…!”
“Is that truly the will of the goddess?”
At that moment, a clear voice interrupted Josephina. A petite woman in a hood stood up among the crowd.
Calisto instinctively turned his head in that direction, his eyes widening. A woman he had never seen before stood in Yerina’s place, wearing Yerina’s clothes. A young woman with long golden hair and gentle green eyes smiled faintly and asked.
“Command to attack the Principality. Is that truly the will of the goddess? Are you certain?”
Leticia had returned to her original form just after Josephina entered the temple. An elixir hidden beneath her sleeve sparkled, and a warm energy spread through her body. She reflexively touched her cheek and noticed something strange. Her hair, which should have been black, had turned golden.
‘Isn’t this my hair?’
It wasn’t just her hair. Her hands, her facial features, everything had returned to her own.
‘It’s my body. What on earth happened?’
Leticia was startled. This was no illusion. Her body was indeed here.
‘Could the goddess have intervened?’
As soon as the elixir shone, her body transformed. It seemed logical to conclude that the goddess, who had been slumbering, had awakened and assisted her.
‘The goddess was surely asleep… Ah.’
Not long ago, Leticia had acquired her fourth wing. With her power strengthened, it made sense that the goddess would awaken.
‘But why did the goddess send my body here?’
Leticia’s heart pounded. There had to be a reason for the goddess’s intervention.
“That I handed her over to the filthy descendant of dragons was also to atone for my sins!”
Hearing that, Leticia realized she had to step forward now, to protect the people she loved.
* * *
“Leticia?”
Josephina’s eyes widened almost to the point of tearing. She looked at her daughter as if she couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Leticia, you, how on earth!”
“Leticia? That Leticia?”
“The queen consort of the Principality? Why is she here?”
People around were shocked as they looked at Leticia. Without taking her eyes off Josephina, Leticia spoke.
“Yes, I am Saint Josephina’s daughter, Leticia. And the wife of King Dietrian of the Principality.”
“Why would someone like you be here!”
“Because this is where I belong.”
“What?!”
“You said this is the place to receive the goddess’s oracle. So.”
Leticia stared straight at Josephina.
“Shouldn’t I, the true representative of the goddess, be here?”
“The goddess’s representative? You?”
Josephina exclaimed in disbelief. Leticia slightly rolled up her sleeve. A thin wrist was encircled by a silver chain bracelet embedded with black jewels.
“The elixir has chosen me as the goddess’s representative.”
A small action had massive repercussions. The faint light swirling around the bracelet caused the crowd to exclaim in surprise.
“Black jewels! Those are indeed black jewels!”
“The elixir of the saintess looks different!”
“Of course! The elixir changes its shape according to its owner!”
“Then, is that really an elixir?”
Josephina was struck dumb with shock. The priests around her were equally stunned. Eventually, one of them regained his senses.
“That’s an elixir? Are you all out of your minds? That bracelet can’t possibly be a real elixir! This woman is a murderer! Do you really think the goddess would choose a demon as her saintess?”
He pointed angrily at Leticia.
“Get out at once! How dare you come here with a fake and try to deceive us all!”
“Exactly! How dare a demon claim to be a saintess! Bring a sword! We must cut off that wrist with the fake and offer it to Saint Josephina!”
Amid the raving priests, Leticia boldly declared,
“My elixir is genuine. I am indeed the true representative of the goddess.”
At that moment, Josephina regained her composure. She pushed the raging priest aside and stepped forward, glaring fiercely at Leticia.
“Shut your mouth, Leticia. You filth aren’t worthy to even utter that name. Do you really need your mouth torn to realize your place?”
“I received an oracle.”
“An oracle? Ha! You received an oracle?”
“On the day of my royal marriage. The goddess blessed my union and gave me an oracle. You know this, mother.”
Josephina, who had been laughing, suddenly froze.
“Saintess! There is no need to listen to this woman any longer. She must be dragged out immediately!”
Josephina stared intensely at Leticia. The priest’s ravings seemed to fall on deaf ears; it was as if only Josephina and Leticia were present in that space. Leticia smiled softly, sending shivers down the spines of those watching.
“Shall we prove it?”
“…!”
“To my true daughter, I relay this: The day when the whole world will bless and bow before your path is not far off.”
Josephina’s eyes bulged in disbelief. How could this be happening! How could this woman know of the oracle! The oracle continued. Josephina, who had been petrified, barely managed to regain her composure and asked in horror,
“What trickery have you played! How do you know of the oracle?”
“Indeed, you would hope it was foul play. Because you received a more terrible oracle. An oracle that must not be revealed.”
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