Chapter 16: The Divine Power Test(4)

“I see that Father Edwin took care of you late into the night. He’s really a kind person, isn’t he?”

A thin, boyish voice flowed from his mask-like expressionless face.

“You collapsed by the lake, didn’t you? I noticed that after the power test, the carriage didn’t have the priest or Alicia. Do you know how worried I was?”

“It wasn’t something to worry about. I’ll be going now.”

“Oh, is that so? It’s strange, though. Your clothes are completely dry, but your hair is all tangled and damp as if you had fallen into the water. Maybe it’s just my imagination.”

Lucio narrowed his eyes and smiled slyly.

“…You saw everything, didn’t you?”

The presence of Lucio, who had been circling around Alicia in her cloak, was unsettling. Why does my ominous premonition never miss?

I couldn’t understand Lucio’s intentions, who kept his lips tightly sealed despite having witnessed everything.

“So, Alicia, do you finally feel like making a deal with me?”

His voice, tinged with laughter, sent a chill down my spine.

“Alicia, I never intended to cross the line.”

In the cool breeze, Lucio’s lavender hair fluttered softly. Under the full moon, his hair sparkled, and his slender frame was visible through the sleeves of his robe. On the surface, he looked like nothing more than a naive boy.

“Do you remember the stories we shared while playing the organ alone together?”

Yes, I’m sure that happened. But I don’t remember the details of what we talked about with Lucio.

“You’ve forgotten. I knew it would be like that.”

“Even if I forgot, was it really such an important story?”

Lucio’s slender fingers grasped a handful of golden threads hanging down beneath his shoulder.

Lucio brought my hair to his nose and took a deep breath. It was unpleasant. An invasive chill crawled up my spine like a leech.

“…Of course. It was very important. It was the day I promised to become a shabby old priest in the dilapidated monastery for you.”

Lucio’s snake-like tongue descended onto my hair. I froze in shock at the unexpected action.

A red tongue slid across my hair, sharp and probing like a beast tasting its prey.

“Alicia, I would have been content to become a decaying priest in the monastery if it meant being with you. Even though my priestly body couldn’t desire you, I intended to find meaning in spending my life with you.”

A visceral revulsion made my teeth grind. The red tongue slowly climbed up my hair.

Unable to bear the discomfort any longer, I pushed Lucio away with all my strength.

“I believed your words about wanting to live serving the faithful, but this is a different story.”

Under the moonlight, his greedy purple eyes sparkled with madness.

“If you take one more step forward, I’ll scream.”

“Go ahead and scream. Then I’ll just let everyone know what kind of feelings Edwin has for you. I’m curious to see what happens if I tell everyone in the monastery. Should we try it?”

As Lucio’s lips mentioned Edwin’s name, my breath faltered.

Lucio spread his palm and covered his mouth. Through the gaps in his hand, his mouth twisted crazily.

“Or, should I inform the central temple that a foolish nun jumped into Lake Deleta instead of the Saint? Hahaha!”

Lucio’s cheeks twitched with a spasm. He looked pleased as if he had found something immensely entertaining.

“…What do you want? Just get to the point.”

I took a step back and held my head high. Lucio twisted his body and approached within the small safe distance I had gained.

“Oh, it looks like the innocent nun play is over? Should I start calling you ‘Lady’ now?”

Eyes consumed by delight. As Lucio licked his lips, thick bodily fluids dripped, drip, drip, from them.

“I thought you were an innocent nun, but now it seems you’re more of a woman who enjoys men. If you need someone to enjoy the night with, choose me instead of Edwin.”

“In the sacred monastery dedicated to God, how dare you…!”

It was an utterly disgusting form of taunting.

“Don’t worry. I don’t plan to live off the monastery. What I want is… for you to return to being just a noble lady. I’m not so devout to live as a priest myself.”

The thought of returning to being a noble lady and hearing what would come next was disturbing.

“I once told you that there are many notable families among the clergy, apart from you. Although it’s embarrassing to count myself among them, my family is not lacking compared to the Duchy of Sossilion.”

Lucio looked me up and down with a repugnant gaze.

“Alicia, you will become my fiancée. You will bear my child and live quietly, following my will. Isn’t that better than dealing with a superficial and bumbling man like Edwin? What do you think… It’s not a bad proposal, is it?”

All the hairs on my body stood on end. Lucio’s sharp nails dug into my white hand.

I froze, unable to utter even a groan of pain.

“So what exactly do you gain from this? According to you, my family’s wealth and honor wouldn’t be needed.”

At my words, Lucio only laughed.

“Does a man ever need a particular reason to choose a woman? Look at yourself. You’re not lacking in appearance compared to the Empire’s Saint. I thought you were clever too, but apparently not. Throwing yourself into a lake like that. Haha!”

A bright red scratch mark remained where Lucio’s nails had dug in.

“The answer is decided, but I’ll give you some time to think. It’s only gentlemanly, right? We’ll see each other again after the upcoming prayer mass.”

God has abandoned me. Just as someone who truly loves me appeared, I fell back into the abyss as quickly as I saw the light.

Only then did it feel like I had returned to where I belonged. The musty smell of mold. The dampness wrapping around me like shackles. In the pitch-black darkness with not a sliver of light.

* * *

Last night before falling asleep, I fervently wished for the dawn not to break. Even without opening my eyes to check, I could sense that the morning sun was fiercely shining. God is so indifferent.

I busied myself preparing to leave. As I tried to untangle my hair, I glanced at the handprint left on the corner of the mirror.

‘Sarah and Licia together forever.’

Sarah’s once-clear fingerprint had now faded to a faint blur. Even her final trace seemed like it would soon disappear.

‘Licia seems really brave. I don’t think she’d shed a single tear no matter what happens.’

Sarah’s whispered words in life seemed meaningless now, as my eyes grew red.

“Sarah, I’m so tired. I’m so tired that I want to give up on everything.”

If she had been here, she would have embraced and comforted my troubled heart. I clung to the wall mirror and sobbed for a long time.

“…Pull yourself together, Alicia. The priest must be waiting.”

I wiped my damp eyes with the edge of my sleeve. My eyes were swollen and red, with visible blood vessels—it was clear that I had been crying.

As I opened the door and stepped out, Father Edwin was standing by the railing.

“Alicia.”

As soon as I met Edwin’s gaze, tears welled up immediately. No, no. I quickly averted my eyes.

“Is something hurting? Could it be because of me…?”

“I just overslept, so my face is a bit swollen.”

I bit my lower lip and told a lie.

“…I see.”

Even with such a clumsy lie, he was willing to be deceived. I followed his back silently as he went down the stairs. Once the mass for the Holy Spirit was over, it felt as if I would never be able to lean on his broad back again.

“Father Edwin…”

Foolishly, I ended up calling his name. He turned his head leisurely and looked down at me. Beyond his kind golden eyes, I saw Lucio standing there blankly.

“No, no. I just called out to you.”

With a broken heart, I forced a smile. It would be nice if you could notice what’s in my heart. I held onto that vain hope.

“Did everyone sleep well?”

Lucio gave a boyish, innocent smile. Father Edwin wouldn’t know that beneath the boy’s skin, a greedy viper was coiled up.

Throughout the journey to the palace, I was dazed, only staring at Father Edwin’s back. My hands wandered aimlessly in the air. In the end, I arrived at the Emperor’s bedroom without exchanging a single word.

“Your Majesty, have you been well these days?”

Father Revencio approached the Emperor. The Emperor, who had been improving to the point of being able to move on his own just a few days ago, was now sprawled out on the bedding like a corpse.

“Cough, kkkk…”

The Emperor’s jaw trembled as if he were terrified. He could not form a coherent sentence and only emitted rough breaths. Is it possible for a person’s condition to deteriorate so rapidly?

“You will recover soon as if nothing had happened. After all, there are two Saints protecting the Empire.”

No sooner had Father Revencio’s words fallen than the door to the Emperor’s bedroom opened. Two Saints, dressed in pure white dresses, stepped into the room.

Although the black-haired guest had not been officially declared a Saint at the palace, their appearance suggested that they were already being treated as Saints within the palace.

“Saints, please come in.”

Father Revencio greeted the two Saints with a broad smile. Abigail, with a haggard face, took the Emperor’s right hand.

“The black-haired Saint is new to the blessing mass, so let me give you a brief explanation. You simply need to hold the Emperor’s left hand and stay in position until the mass is over. Just your presence will be of great help to His Majesty.”

Sua frowned deeply at Father Revencio’s words.

“How long does this blessing mass take?”

“It depends on the situation, but usually, half a day is sufficient.”

“What? You’re telling me I have to stand for half a day, not just for a while?”

Sua fanned herself with her hand in disbelief. In contrast, Abigail remained silently in her place with her emaciated limbs.

“At least they should bring a chair. You’re not asking me to stand all day like her, are you?”

Sua’s sharp voice echoed through the Emperor’s bedroom. It wasn’t just Abigail who was standing; all the clergy, except for the Emperor, stood during the mass. Just as I was curious about how Father Revencio would persuade Sua, his hazy eyes turned towards me.

“Go and bring a chair.”

For a moment, I was dazed by the command, but quickly moved to lift a chair from the corner of the room and place it next to Sua.