The Holy Lady, The Curse - Chapter 7 Part 6

Bellota knew that momentary fear attacks weak hearts indiscriminately, regardless of age, gender, status, or power, leaving them in a mess. Geril was trying to make up for it, and as a saintess, she couldn’t help but respond to his commendable efforts. It would be foolish to reject a greater cause over personal feelings.

“It’s a good decision. I too would like to donate holy water and goods, though modest, as prizes for the hunting festival.”

When Bellota finally smiled happily as Geril had hoped, his eyes, which had been tense and tight until then, expanded with excitement. A refreshing smile tinged with pleasure appeared on his lips.

“It would be an honor if you do so, Saintess. I will convey your wishes to His Majesty.”

Bellota nodded.

Excited at the thought of having won Bellota’s heart, Geril downed the cold black tea in one go, then called his subordinate and instructed him to donate a large sum to the Grand Temple today itself. Only then did he rise from his seat.

“Preparing for the hunting festival is no easy task, so I think I should be going now. As you know, I’ve been overseeing the hunting festival for several times now. It’s quite a challenging task.”

Geril smiled regretfully as he looked back at Bellota, who had come to see him off to the waiting carriage.

“You’re working hard. Thanks to your efforts, it will be an even more meaningful hunting festival.”

At Bellota’s praise, Geril bowed his head, smiling shyly yet proudly, and then carefully watching her reaction, he brought up the words he had been hesitating to say.

“Um, Saintess.”

When Geril called her with a hesitant air that she had never seen before, Bellota’s face became puzzled.

“You know that the winner of the hunting festival receives a gift personally bestowed by His Majesty, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

Bellota nodded in response. The person who came first in the hunting festival received not only honor but also a gift from the Emperor, which, although it changed each time, was always something rare. Geril was the winner of the last hunting festival.

“I will win again this time and receive that gift. And, I will offer it to the Holy God. In the Saintess’s name.”

Bellota’s eyes stopped in confusion. Geril didn’t miss this opportunity and pushed forward.

“So… if I come first, could you grant one small wish of mine?”

Geril asked, acting like a man courageously overcoming his shyness and making advances. This time, a look of embarrassment settled on Bellota’s face.

Geril quickly added an explanation.

“It’s nothing grand. It’s just… with some motivation, I could catch twice as many monsters as usual.”

Bellota, holding her hands tightly together in bewilderment, finally managed to answer calmly.

“What more could you wish for, Duke? You already have everything.”

However, Geril had no intention of letting it slide with Bellota’s sweet words.

“That’s not true. You don’t know, Saintess. How lonely one can become in this position…”

Geril looked at Bellota with a bitter smile.

“Just thinking that you are cheering for me from behind would be a great strength. You’re the only one who shows me such sincerity.”

After finishing his words, Geril stared at Bellota with an intense gaze filled with desperation. Unable to find a way to avoid it anymore, she spoke in a troubled voice.

“I’ll… think about it.”

Although it was an ambiguous promise, Geril, interpreting it as permission in his own way, smiled brightly.

“You’ve promised. I will really do my best. So that you won’t be disappointed, Saintess.”

Immediately excited, Geril gently grasped Bellota’s hand as he pleased, then softly kissed the back of her white hand before finally climbing onto the carriage.

Bellota, who had been watching the splendid carriage adorned with gold here and there leave the temple, let out a faint sigh only after Geril had completely disappeared.

“……”

She also knew what kind of favor Geril was showing her. At this point, she couldn’t pretend not to know. Nevertheless, she couldn’t guess what Geril was thinking.

A saintess cannot marry anyone without God’s permission. He should know this well, given that she had talked about the Rockdragon’s oracle at Selento Castle. No, even if God were to allow marriage to him…

Bellota, who swallowed the successive sighs that were about to escape, was about to turn around when…

“There’s no chance that Duke Lylester will come first.”

At the sudden low voice, Bellota’s steps came to an abrupt halt. When the surprised Bellota turned around, she saw Seiden standing still under a large tree in full bloom, who knows since when he had been there.

“Sir.”

Bellota called out to Seiden, happy and surprised, but then tensed up and looked around for a moment. Seeing believers and priests passing by at a distance, her face became troubled.

Noticing this, Seiden approached Bellota and spoke quietly.

“I have something to tell you. It would be better somewhere quieter than here.”

Seiden’s expression was serious. After pondering for a moment, Bellota nodded.

“It would be better to go to my office.”

The two headed towards Bellota’s office, keeping a slight distance between them.

While Bellota was brewing black tea herself, Seiden glanced around her office. As he had never had occasion to come here before, this was the first time Seiden had visited her office. The room, faintly permeated with Bellota’s scent, was clear and clean like its owner.

Soon, Bellota brought the black tea and sat in front of him, and Seiden’s gaze, which had been staring at the large pearl stored on the wall shelf until then, turned towards her.

“Please drink. Be careful, it’s hot.”

“Has your ankle fully healed?”

Bellota seemed surprised for a moment at the sudden question but soon nodded brightly.

“Priest Felton treated it cleanly. It’s all healed now.”

Seiden nodded, completely relieved, and picked up the teacup she had offered. Until a few months ago, he never thought there would come a day when he would be drinking tea offered by Bellota here.

“……”

Bellota watched Seiden slowly sipping the hot tea. It was the first time she had seen his face since the day he returned from the subjugation. Since then, Bellota had been busy trying to find the source of the early full moon.

Felton suspected Geril, but there was no evidence. Bellota worried that Geril might know about her curse, but after seeing Geril today, it didn’t seem to be the case. Moreover, even if it were Geril, he couldn’t use the Demon God Stone directly, and a mage powerful enough to use it wouldn’t bother cooperating with Geril.

In the midst of these complex thoughts, as she recalled what Geril had said earlier, Bellota felt a subtle emotion rising towards the man before her. Bellota also couldn’t agree with the sacrifice of the few for the greater good. It was clear that the consent of the few who would be sacrificed in the process would not have been discussed at all.

Moreover, considering that the few were clearly the weak, she couldn’t feel sympathy for the residents of Torcana. And Seiden was someone who knew well what was important. As this became certain once again, Bellota felt deep trust in him.

Bellota waited until he put down his teacup and then asked what she was curious about.

“What did you want to tell me?”

Instead of answering, Seiden stared at Bellota for a moment. He still wasn’t sure if it was right to tell Bellota about the Demon God Book. But Seiden remembered Bellota on that day, in the breaking dawn. The woman before him was always stronger than he had thought.

Seiden took a breath and spoke in a calm voice.

“There won’t be a full moon next month.”

Bellota’s face froze for a moment.

“Because the one who used the Demon God Stone advanced the full moon, the next full moon will be affected. It’s said to be an immutable law, so you can believe it.”

At the added explanation, Bellota’s gaze, which had fallen, wandered aimlessly in the air.

There won’t be a full moon next month. Bellota knew what that meant. Next month, she wouldn’t have to endure the curse.

“I see.”

Bellota barely managed to nod. Even with just one liberation, it felt as if something that had been tightly gripping somewhere inside her was ridiculously loosening. With just one liberation…

After composing her confused mind for a moment, Bellota suddenly raised her head and looked at Seiden.

“But how did you know? Did you visit the Magic Tower?”

Bellota frowned in curiosity. She couldn’t imagine Seiden visiting the Magic Tower. However, Seiden gave an answer that was incomparable to the Magic Tower.

“I visited Hellers’s Tower.”

Bellota was momentarily flustered and lost for words as she looked at Seiden.

Heller’s Tower. Bellota and the priests had been seeking advice even from mages. However, they hadn’t thought of seeking out the mages of Hellerus, who were despised by the Magic Tower and might have close ties to dark magic.

As Bellota was looking at him with a shocked face, Seiden decided to get straight to the point.

“It seems there’s a way to break the Saintess’s curse.”

At those weighty words, Bellota’s already confused breath stopped for a moment. It felt as if the air quietly floating in the quiet office had come to a stop.

“I haven’t completely found the method yet, but I will definitely find it.”