CHAPTER 1 – Illusion of Desperate Purity – (Part 2)

The Order was connected to the orphanage by a single wall.

Lillian sneakily observed him every day, standing on tiptoes to peer over the wall. Cedric Edelgard remained as handsome as ever, to the point where he was still eye-catching.

As he grew older, he grew a head taller than everyone else, and his once handsome face now easily matched the title of “Empire’s Most Beautiful.” Glowing phrases like ‘An angel descended upon the empire,’ ‘A statue crafted by the gods,’ and ‘The embodiment of the Holy Spirit’ always accompanied his name.

Lillian naturally found herself falling in love with Cedric again. Since all the girls in the orphanage admired him, it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

<It would be a national loss if a young man of his appearance never married and never had children.>

<Such a face, for generations to come, would be a benefit to the entire empire. Imperial law should be changed, and a hundred ordinary men should take up the priesthood in his place.>

The girls in the orphanage would often have these futile discussions about Cedric.

That was how seriously handsome he was.

‘No. Not him, not him…….’

Lillian tried to extinguish the rekindled flame, but it didn’t go out as she wished.

When she poured a handful of cold water on the embers, Cedric, concentrating on his training, bit his lip with narrowed eyes. Even when she attempted to splash ice-cold water, the sweat-drenched Cedric smiled, his golden hair fluttering.

‘…No, it can’t… It can’t! It can’t!’

Every day, Lillian stole glances at Cedric’s handsome face, resonant voice, delicate hands, broad shoulders, and even the beautiful veins on his muscular arms that popped out. Almost like he lacked nothing. 

Moreover, he had achieved the impressive title of “Youngest Knight Promotee.”

‘Ah, he was so cool today, too.’

In the midst of her exhausting daily routine, Lillian tirelessly replayed the images of Cedric she had glimpsed a few times. The evening hours spent thinking about him were the happiest moments of her day.

The adolescent girl’s heart, idolizing Cedric, burned like wildfire, yet her scorched heart vehemently denied her feelings.

‘No, I shouldn’t. He is someone I must not dare to embrace.’

Though no longer the heir to House Edelgard, Cedric was still of noble blood. And having been formally initiated into the Knights of the Silver Cross, it was as clear as day that he would be ordained and become a priest.

Cedric could not marry any woman. 

Well, perhaps he could if he ever left the knighthood, but even then, she could never be his partner.

By a hundred concessions, a seat in the government, it was impossible.

‘What nobleman would want me?’

A commoner orphan girl from an orphanage.

The two of them were destined to never be together.

‘What’s the use of desiring him so desperately? It’s all pointless.’

A pure and untainted love, never wished for by anyone, sprouted in her heart like a tenacious weed, growing freely despite being trampled on.

She had resolved to let him go as soon as possible, but the fever that had persisted for years didn’t subside easily.

Moreover, due to her fervent pursuit of Cedric, she had taken on all the miscellaneous tasks on the training grounds. Lillian found herself essentially a servant of the Knights of the Silver Cross, having to encounter him every day.

Each time she saw Cedric, aside from blushing, her heart felt as heavy as a stone.

The only consolation was that Lillian, too, was aging.

‘I’m already an adult, so I’ll soon leave the orphanage.’

Parting was a natural course of events.

‘Let’s just hold on until then.’

As fate would have it, Cedric was recruited into the 7th Elite Corps. He would go embark on a crusade for the glory of the Lord. The timing coincided with Lillian’s departure from the orphanage.

It was around the time she was preparing for their impending farewell.

<What’s your name? I feel like I’ve seen your face often.>

Cedric spoke to Lillian for the first time.

She was sixteen at the time. After seven long years of serving as a maid and seeing her face every day, he’d only asked for her name just before they parted ways.

<…… It’s Lillian.>

<Lillian.>

Her name was reiterated through his handsome lips. After that, no more words were exchanged. Cedric, washing his hands under the faucet, gave a slight nod of understanding and turned away.

It was an extremely dry conversation. Despite Cedric’s nonchalance, Lillian’s heart raced all day, and she stayed up all night with wide-open eyes.

‘He asked for my name. I gave him my name…….’

Once she left the palace, once he left for the war, they would never see each other again.

She had vaguely thought that if she lived as if she were dead, blind, she would be able to forget her tiresome love.

But on the day Cedric called her name, the flame within Lillian exploded.

<Commander, please take me into your elite army! I’ll work without pay!>

It was an impulsive choice. She’d made a mistake.

‘What did I just do?’

By the time she realized this, she was already following the procession of the 7th Elite Corps, heading towards the battlefield.

‘Why am I here?’

Objectively, she was quite a helpful resource. Her hands were quick and nimble, so much so that she was nicknamed ‘Lillian the Lightning Hand’. She was no stranger to them, having spent seven years in the service of the Knights of the Silver Cross.

Lillian followed Cedric to the battlefield as a servant of the enlisted soldiers. Although she was driven away several times due to food shortages, she stubbornly clung on.

<I’ll take care of my own meals, and I won’t deplete the army’s supplies. Please accept my service to the Lord! I’ve come this far and I can’t go back anymore!>

But the battlefield she eagerly followed was a living hell. It was a daily struggle to endure each day solely for the desire to be by the side of the man she loved.

Besides, she didn’t see Cedric often. On the few occasions they did meet, he was engrossed in fierce battles, often injured and enduring various hardships. Watching from the sidelines was incredibly difficult.

‘All I know is basic bandaging… What have I done?’

Lillian resented her uselessness.

‘I pray to God Almighty. Please let me be of some use to Cedric. Please.’

Did the Lord listen to her earnestness?

Suddenly, a miracle happened in Lillian’s unfortunate life.

<Lillian! Suddenly, a light……!>

<What? On me?>

Unbeknownst to her, a divine power had blossomed.

She had gained the qualifications to become a priest!