Dana blinked in confusion. A new master? It was overly abstract. As she pondered the meaning of the words, Dana gasped.
“Does that mean a new emperor will appear?”
“Are you pleased by that?”
“Oh, did it show that much?”
Callisto clicked his tongue as if he couldn’t believe her.
‘If you dislike it so much, why are you so bound to it? You could easily hand it over to a suitable branch of the bloodline.’
Well, everyone but Dana thought her being the emperor was a blessing.
There was no one more suited for the throne in this imperial family than his sister.
Callisto respected his sister’s sense of responsibility. But he didn’t fully agree with her choice.
‘The most important thing is one’s own life.’
Having suffered the agony of a lifelong oath, Callisto had realized something crucial.
Responsibility could never be the top priority in life.
After surviving countless near-death experiences, he was certain of this.
‘It can’t be helped. That too is my sister’s choice.’
Anyway, Dana had made her choice. And so, only one thing remained. To stay by her side as much as possible and help her.
‘But one day, I will have to leave.’
The time to return to the Magic Tower was approaching. He wished someone could fill his place after he left. But unfortunately, there was no one capable enough in the empire.
“If it’s not a new emperor, then what is it? Who interpreted this vision of the future? Did the former Tower Master do it? Could it be that their interpretation was wrong?”
“I don’t think so. I came to the same conclusion as the Tower Master. The meaning of the stars is clear. A new master will soon appear in the empire. Someone who will further prosper the empire.”
“Who on earth could that be…?”
Dana, muttering in confusion, suddenly stiffened. She looked at her brother with disbelief. As if understanding her thoughts, Callisto gave a slight nod.
“It seems a new representative of the goddess will appear.”
* * *
Dana bit her lip nervously. She couldn’t stay still, pacing round and round the room. It was dizzying just to watch her.
“A new representative of the goddess. Yes, that’s entirely possible. The Saintess is in the Principality after all.”
Leticia was the saintess of the empire. That would not change until her death. The same went for the fates of Dana and Callisto. They would live under Leticia’s wings until their final moments.
Regardless of the fate that tightly bound them, the empire was in dire need of a representative of the goddess. It was a country built on land unfit for human life. Without the goddess’s power, the lives of its people would become barren.
“For the sake of our empire, this must be the goddess’s plan?”
“Most likely, yes.”
“The movement of the stars. The movement of the stars. Is that all we know? A new master, is that it?”
“The visions of the future in the Magic Empire are different from the divine revelations or the power of Gilead. They only show us vague futures. That’s the best interpretation we could come up with.”
“Damn.”
Dana bit her lips repeatedly. Perhaps it was because the hope she had given up on reappeared before her eyes. She was anxious, incredibly anxious. It felt like if she didn’t act immediately, this “new master” would disappear.
“Where could this representative of the goddess possibly be…?”
“Why don’t you try contacting the Principality first?”
Dana stopped abruptly in her tracks.
“The Principality?”
“Yes.”
Callisto nodded slightly.
“Even Gilead’s power can see the future. Since this is no ordinary matter, something related to the vision might have appeared in Gilead’s dreams. So, you should send word to the Principality.”
* * *
Finally, Ahwin and Noel became husband and wife.
Unlike the marriage of Leticia and Dietrian, their wedding ended in an instant. Neither had much interest in the ceremony. They held the event with only those closest to them, as if they were family.
Although it was their wedding, there was another main character. It was Lehira, who had become the goddaughter of Ahwin and Noel. Thanks to Lehira, who seemed to know something good had happened and smiled all day, the atmosphere was even more lively.
Right after the wedding, Noel and Ahwin left for their honeymoon. Before leaving, Noel sought out Lehira. She held her tiny hands and whispered softly.
“Princess, I hope we can meet our beautiful baby angel soon.”
“Hmm?”
“If I tell you this, I feel like it will definitely come true.”
Lehira tilted her head, but then smiled bashfully. She hugged Noel with her short arms.
“Thank you.”
Did Lehira understand Noel’s words? That wasn’t clear. But Noel’s face was lit up with a bright smile.
Even after the two left, Abel and Lehira grew up strong and healthy. One day, as usual, happiness filled the air.
Late at night.
Lehira, who had been asleep, slowly lifted her eyelids. Beyond the soft bed, a bright moon was shining. After watching it for a moment, Lehira got up. Then, she began to crawl.
“Abe!”
Lehira and Abel shared the same bed. The bed was so large that even two adults could sleep on it. It was great for rolling around, but difficult to crawl across. Lehira panted as she crawled toward her brother.
“Abe! Baba.”
She shook Abel, who was fast asleep, with all her might. Abel mumbled in his sleep and then drifted off again, clearly in a deep sleep.
Lehira started pulling her brother’s hair with her tiny hands. Unlike Ahwin, Abel didn’t budge.
After failing to wake her brother, Lehira pouted her lips. She squeezed his nose for a moment and then lay down next to him. She hugged his arm and, with her large eyes, tears slowly welled up. Sniffling, Lehira buried her shoulder into her brother’s arm.
“Don’t leave me…”
Just a moment ago, Lehira had been dreaming. It was a magnificent and dazzling dream. Colorful flowers were scattered everywhere, and a golden glow illuminated the world. Each breath was fragrant, and even the wind was warm.
It was a scene she had seen many times in her dreams. If that was the case, then that person would soon appear.
“Hello, Lehira.”
As expected. It was just as she thought. A boy with black hair and golden eyes smiled brightly as he lifted Lehira into his arms.
“You’ve grown quite a lot. As expected, human time moves so quickly.”
The boy’s name was Sigmund. He often appeared in Lehira’s dreams and told her many things. Although she was still too young to understand most of it, the memories lingered. Thanks to that, Lehira instinctively knew what she needed to do.
「Good news. It is said that a new representative has appeared for the fate of Dinute.」
「Dinute?」
「Dinute. She is the goddess of the empire. Your mother, Leticia, is Dinute’s representative.」
「Represen-at-tive?」
Pop! Something shot out from behind Sigmund. Lehira burst into a wide smile.
「Dust!」
「I am not dust! I am the great Master of the Magic Tower! Why do you keep calling me dust?!」
「Watch your mouth. This child is the future Gilead.」
The dust’s words didn’t last long. Sigmund irritably grabbed the dust. With a puff, the dust exploded. Lehira, startled, began searching for the vanished dust, but Sigmund patted her back and spoke.
「In any case, Dinute has finally found a new representative. As I expected. Your brother, Abel, will be the new master of the empire.」
Lehira, who had been busy looking for the traces of the disappeared dust, widened her eyes. Sigmund’s smile deepened.
「That’s right. Abel, that child, will write the new history of the Holy Empire.」
* * *
“Sire…”
It was certainly a good dream. Yet, Lehira didn’t like it. Instead, she felt sad.
‘Does that mean we have to part?’
She didn’t know what the Holy Empire was, nor did she understand exactly what a representative of the goddess did.
There was only one thing she knew for sure.
Abel would have to leave for the empire one day.
That fact made Lehira unbearably sad.
That night, Lehira sobbed quietly for a long time.
* * *
The next day.
Early in the morning, Banessa visited Dietrian’s audience chamber. Dietrian greeted him with a troubled expression. Surprised, Banessa asked,
“I came to bid you farewell before I leave for the empire… but you don’t seem well. Has something happened?”
“…Lehira cried all night.”
“What? The princess cried? Why? Is she unwell? Have you shown her to a physician?”
“There’s nothing wrong with her body. I confirmed with the doctor. Besides, children crying is not unusual. It’s just…”
Dietrian smiled bitterly.
“That it’s Lehira that makes it a concern. Lehira might be Gilead.”
It wasn’t certain yet. They would need to wait until Lehira grew a bit more and could communicate properly to confirm her dreams.
But the possibility was there.
“Lehira spent the entire night holding Abel and crying.”
“Oh dear. Your Highnesses must be very worried.”
“It would be better if we at least knew the reason. But we don’t.”
Dietrian let out a soft sigh.
He wished he could spend all day watching over his child, but that wasn’t possible. There were urgent matters that needed his attention.
This was also the reason Banessa had come to see him today.
Not long ago, a message arrived from the empire:
「There are signs from the stars indicating that a new master will appear in the Holy Empire. Do you have any insights? If such a future has been revealed, it may have also appeared in Gilead’s dreams. If any current Gilead has seen a vision related to this, please inform us.」
Contrary to Callisto’s assumption, no one in Gilead had experienced such a dream yet.
Except for Lehira, who might be Gilead.
Given the circumstances, it was hard not to be concerned about what had happened the previous night.
“I will go to the empire and find out more. Please do not worry, Your Majesty.”
Banessa was to deliver the response to Callisto’s letter.
Though there was a portal between the two nations, which made it unnecessary for someone to travel in person, Banessa had decided to go himself at Callisto’s request.
He had mentioned that they might soon need the power of wings and asked if they could send Banessa.
Thus, Banessa set off for the empire.
Throughout the journey, Banessa was deeply concerned.
He couldn’t stop thinking about Princess Lehira, the dear and beloved child.
‘What could be troubling her?’
Banessa’s thoughts continued as he greeted the knights who had come to receive him, relayed his regards to the chancellor in place of Dana, who was away from the capital, and followed the court servants to his quarters.
Even then, his mind was still occupied by thoughts of Lehira.
* * *
And so, Banessa simply couldn’t comprehend the scene before him.
‘A dream?’
Dana lay asleep in front of him. The issue was…
‘Why…?’
Banessa’s gaze moved awkwardly, creaking as if out of his control. Dana’s long gray hair was scattered over the pillow. Her white, round shoulders peeked out from beneath the covers, leaving Banessa completely speechless.
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