Liese Wellington arrived at the palace at the appointed time. May guided her to the reception room, and Ariel also made her way to the reception room on time.

Thud!

“Your Majesty, I greet you.”

At the sound of the door opening, Liese, who was sitting on the sofa, stood up abruptly and bowed her head. Ariel gestured for her to sit and moved to sit on the sofa.

“Congratulations, Liese. Or should I call you Saint now?”

“Your Majesty, it’s not necessary.”

As Liese waved her hand with a bewildered expression, a smile appeared on Ariel’s lips.

“I heard His Majesty intends to raise your status to a count as a reward for saving me.”

If it weren’t for Liese Wellington’s holy power, Ariel would have been dead by now. Granting a title to someone who saved the Empress’s life is something that the imperial family should rightfully do.

But Liese politely declined. She said she did it simply to repay a debt.

“Oh, no… I’m really fine.”

“If you’re truly fine, then accept it, Liese. There may come a time when the imperial family needs your help again.”

Ariel lifted the teacup on the table to her lips.

Liese scratched her head awkwardly and followed suit with the teacup.

“But Evan made a bomb declaration… Liese, have you discussed this with him?”

“What are you talking about?”

Liese took a sip of tea.

“Marriage.”

“Pfft!”

The tea in Liese’s mouth scattered into the air.

“Are you okay? May, please get some tissue.”

“Oh! I-I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

May, who was standing next to Ariel, handed tissues to Liese. Ariel looked at Liese as she wiped her mouth in a flustered manner, finding her cute.

“From your reaction, it seems like my dear brother has his own thoughts.”

“That’s not… no, Your Majesty.”

The large pupils within those blue walls gazed at Ariel.

The two confirmed each other’s feelings. Liese thought that she might be able to marry him, but she considered it only as her own wish.

But they were on the same page…?

“Really?”

Liese hastily wiped the table where tea spilled.

“Since nothing is certain yet, I’m hesitant to tell you about it, Your Majesty.”

She hadn’t even received a proposal. Useless expectations should be set aside. The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

But her heart was directed towards Evan. Evan Clark always thought of her first. A man who wants to enjoy delicious food, beautiful scenery, and everything else with her.

A man who whispers that she can confide everything in his wide embrace, things she can’t tell anyone else.

“Aren’t you happy when you’re with Evan?”

Liese raised her head, met Ariel’s gaze, and smiled brightly.

“Of course.”

“Then that’s enough. If you’re happy.”

Ariel could see happiness in Liese’s eyes.

‘I don’t have to feel sorry anymore. I’ve been tormented by guilt and anxiety, thinking that Liese might lead an unhappy life because I’m by Leopold’s side…’

Seeing Liese’s smiling face, Ariel’s heart felt much lighter.

“I’ll give you my holy power.”

“Thank you.”

Ariel closed her eyes and reached out her hand. In truth, she didn’t think she needed holy power now that she had regained her mana.

But she didn’t want to reject Liese’s kindness and upset her.

Liese lightly grasped Ariel’s hand and closed her eyes. The pure white holy power flowed into Ariel’s body through their touching hands.

A refreshing sensation. The warmth that warmed her body spread throughout every corner.

Mana, unlike holy power, doesn’t fundamentally resolve physical discomfort. However, it provides strength to endure and allows one to demonstrate greater abilities than those naturally possessed by humans.

Usually, it embeds in objects or bodies to make them stronger, but with exceptional mana manipulation, one can create physical objects like swords using non-material mana.

‘They’re similar yet completely different.’

Her tense muscles relaxed by Liese’s holy power. Her nervous heart calmed down.

Even Ariel’s lips softened.

“It’s all done, Your Majesty.”

Ariel opened her eyes at Liese’s voice.

“Thank you, Liese. May, bring what you’ve prepared.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

May brought a box at Ariel’s command. It was a jewel box wrapped in a deep navy color cloth.

Ariel accepted it and opened the box. Inside was a necklace with a sky-blue topaz set on a silver chain.

The gem had a transparent and clear light sky-blue color. The jewel, resembling Liese’s eyes, reflected light brilliantly.

Ariel handed the jewel box to Liese.

“It’s a gift, for the ceremony.”

“Your Majesty…”

Liese’s hand trembled as she received the box. Could she dare to accept such a thing? It was already burdensome to receive titles and territories bestowed by the Emperor. Now, receiving a necklace with valuable gems from the Empress was overwhelming.

Not knowing what to say, Liese only pursed her lips.

“Just take it. I feel uneasy if you don’t have a necklace with your dress.”

Ariel chose the jewel to match Liese’s eye color. The color of the topaz seemed to harmonize well with Liese’s transparent skin, satisfying Ariel.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Eyes filled with softened light looked at Ariel. Liese Wellington closed the lid of the jewel box and hugged it tightly.

***

Inside the imperial palace banquet hall, a formal and serene atmosphere pervaded. The light streaming in through the shining glass windows emphasized the sacred atmosphere on the white marble floor even more.

““I see the glory of Atlan. Please come this way.”

Guided by the priests, Ariel and Leopold entered the imperial palace banquet hall. They held each other’s hands tightly. Evan Clark followed behind them.

“A saint has appeared from Atlan.”

Leopold scanned the prepared interior of the imperial palace banquet hall where the ceremony would take place.

He vaguely acknowledged the existence of the god Lumiere but did not believe in him. Life wasn’t so smooth relying on an unseen entity; one had to overcome hardships and adversity on their own.

But then, the god intervened and saved them.

If it weren’t for Liese’s holy power, they might have shed much blood.

“Why don’t you believe it?”

Ariel asked curiously. She naturally thought Leopold knew that Liese was a saint, so she considered it an inevitable event.

“Yeah. I don’t believe it. Atlan’s blessing…”

Once a mischievous crown prince, he rose to the throne, laid down his foundation, and finally found a companion.

As if to compensate for his difficult childhood, he could now even exterminate the troublesome dark mages. And a saint even appeared in Atlan, he truly had much to be thankful for.

“Your Majesty, this way please. The ceremony is about to begin.”

Richard guided the two as they conversed with the priests. Ariel and Leopold sat at the seats arranged for them.

Evan also sat behind them. His face was contemplative.

Since meeting Liese, he had been watching over her priestly life by her side.

Seeing her unfairly treated as a woman and struggling day after day was too hard on his heart. But he didn’t show it.

Unable to criticize her for working hard, and unable to fix the irrational system himself…

When Liese received official recognition as a saint from the Holy See and the imperial family, he had eagerly awaited this moment as well to help her escape from such difficult situations.

The banquet hall was filled with joy and tension for the ceremony. Though seemingly quiet, whispers of conversations could be heard bustling everywhere.

But soon, even those ear-tickling sounds quieted down.

The protagonist of the ceremony, Liese, opened the door of the imperial palace banquet hall and entered.

Liese Wellington was wearing a white dress. The chest part was decorated with tiny pearls and embroidery, beyond which a delicate transparent lace spread out.

The dress swayed gently as she walked, giving an elegant movement with each step. The topaz necklace gifted by Ariel shone under her neatly tied hair.

A bell rang to signal the beginning of the ceremony. Liese walked forward. In the quiet atmosphere, her graceful voice resonated.

“Oh, Lumiere, the divine presence of love and justice. Today, I pledge to serve this community as a saint. I will always walk the right path and fulfill your sacred mission with love and tolerance.”

In an instant, many thoughts flashed through her mind. The times of pain and sorrow that seemed never-ending. The day Ariel and Evan appeared out of nowhere when she was exhausted by the repetitive daily routine. And the moment when her holy power exploded as she embraced Ariel who fell into a comatose state .

The emotions of that moment resurfaced, causing tears to well up.

‘It can’t be a dream.’

Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Ariel.