Vol 3 - Chapter 21

Volume 3 Chapter 21

I finally stopped in my tracks as we approached Adoracion-sama’s mansion leaving the dining hall behind us.

‘Here we go again’ ‘ — was what I thought, but I was pretty sure something was different this time around, and that had something to do with Lidianne’s current state.

“…Lidianne, what happened to you?”

The twilight breeze blew around us as we stood in the middle of the road.

Only the rustling of the leaves on the trees could be heard as I whirled around to face Lidianne.

“Why didn’t you say anything back then? It doesn’t seem like you.”

Lidianne was in a disadvantageous position back when Amalda appeared with the priests in tow, but that didn’t deter her from proudly retorting against her.

But right now, not a single trace of that magnificent display of haughtiness remained.

“Everything that Rozalie said was right, wasn’t it. You know better about Lufure-sama’s matters, don’t you?”

Lufure-sama was staying in Adoracion-sama’s mansion.

I didn’t have an inkling when he started living there, but Lidianne knew full well how Lufure-sama never went to see Rozalie.

And yet, she remained silent about it.

Rozalie had been shooting off her mouth, but she remained taciturn, even during the time we were running away.

I was still clutching her hand that I had grasped when we were about to escape.

If it was the usual Lidianne, she would already shake it off and retort with “Until when will you hold my hand!?”

.

“Hey, Lidianne.”

“…”

“Are you perhaps bothered about what Rozalie said?”

Lidianne finally twitched when she heard the words I uttered.

However, it was very obvious that it was not a happy reaction.

She bit her lips and casted her eyes down, as if she wanted to hide whatever feeling was painted across her face, then she squeezed the words out.

“…There’s no way I’m bothered about that.”

It sounded as if she was trying to convince me.

She didn’t attempt to lift her face, nor did she turn towards me.

“I am a fake Saintess. I am not a person who can hope to have Adoracion-sama’s heart. That much is correct.”

She then heaved a sigh after mumbling those words.

Her breathing was slowed, as if she was trying to calm herself down. She took another breath before abruptly raising her head.

“— So what?”

Her tone was brimming with haughtiness.

Her expression returned to how it was usually — composed.

She gazed at me nonchalantly, and her lips were curved into a smile.

“Let them just say whatever they want. I’m already well aware before I entered the Shrine.”

“Aware….but”

“Adoracion-sama’s Saintess will only be reincarnated when he is reborn into a human, and she will definitely seek him out.”

I also knew about this story.

Adoracion-sama’s was a deity with a deep relationship with the humans, and that peculiar characteristic of his, as well as that legend was widely known among the people.

Adoracion-sama would abandon his deity state, and he would be reborn as a human.

His destination was already predetermined. He would be born in the royal family, who were his own descendants.

He would no longer have his appearance and divine power, and he would only use the remaining vestiges of his power as a deity to lead the people.

That girl would be the only support of Adoracion-sama, who would have to undergo such rigorous conditions.

Humans couldn’t live for eternity, so everyone else would leave him behind, but she was the only person who would be reborn over and over again, and she would definitely find him again.

Legend says that she would never lose her memories, and that she would always remember Adoracion-sama’s love for her.

“But I don’t have any memories of my past life. I am just me. I don’t have any recollection of being loved by him.”

She raised her chin and straightened her back, no longer looking down.

Her voice was clear and bright, almost laughing, even.

“Being chosen by Adoracion-sama to be his Saintess is an immense honor — I already knew that before I answered his call.  I didn’t come here wishing to be loved by him.”

I wordlessly stared at her.

However, she didn’t meet my eyes.

She just gazed faraway at a certain point in the distance.

“Did you know? That person told me ‘Let us reform the Shrine” so I became the Saintess, you know? The country already knows what’s going on within the Shrine, but they didn’t have the power to intervene. That’s the reason why I was sent, to change the situation from within this Shrine.”

“…..”

“But you know, I didn’t come here for the sake of the country. I entered the Shrine for him.”

There was only one thing reflected on those resolute, red eyes.

It was Adoracion-sama’s mansion.

‘Lidianne…’

“I want to help that person. I want to reform the Saintesses, return the Shrine to how it is supposed to be, and restore the joy of the deities.”

Lidianne chuckled softly.

She didn’t bow her head again.

She didn’t attempt to shake me off, so we were still holding hands, and she was gripping it really hard that it was a bit painful.

“But I didn’t live up to his expectations! That’s the only thing that I can’t do! Ever since that Amalda Ridge came, nobody listens to my words anymore…!”

She heaved a sigh, then she held her tongue after spouting those words out.

We’re talking about Lidianne. She probably didn’t intend to say such timid words.

She blinked, as if perplexed, then she bitterly turned away.

The edge of her eyes…

“….I’m not sad about not being loved. I’m already prepared for it right from the start.”

She couldn’t hide the fact that tears were starting to well up in them, but she still tried to gloss over it as she looked up to the sky.

“…Still.”

The night sky was dotted with the stars, looking as if it was covered in jewels.

It was clear without a single cloud.

The evening breeze was cold, as if it wasn’t spring yet, blowing through her raven hair.

“I’m just so vexed that I’m so useless.”

Lidianne’s voice was quivering as those words spilled out of her lips. It felt as if she was sending all those feelings that she couldn’t get across into the faraway sky instead.

The bright night sky was filled with stars.

Her raven hair flowed into the wind, as if it was a sheet of paper — breathtakingly beautiful.

“…Hey, I just want to ask something.”

There was an unnecessary obstruction to that otherwise perfect painting.

It was me, of course.

I couldn’t help but voice it out as I stared at Lidianne’s side profile —

“Liddy, you’ve never had a friend before, have you?”

Well, in fairness, I also knew it was inappropriate in this setting, and that question was way too insensitive of me, as if I can’t read the mood.

The night was cold, uncharactersitic of spring.

The atmosphere around us was colder — I almost thought I froze for an instant.

Lidianne’s tears seemed to have gone instantly as she stared at me with a horrible expression.

——–

T/N: (Missed chapter 3/4)… 🙂

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