IDIBC Chapter 83

Judith Fan Monzania (1)

It was four days after she arrived at the ducal estate that I received word from the saintess that she wanted to meet me.

“I heard from the maids that she has silver hair and blue eyes.”

Sabrina carefully combed my hair while whispering quietly. I didn’t need to ask to know who the protagonist with silver hair and blue eyes was.

“Really? What a coincidence.”

I laughed in a deliberately bright voice, but my face reflected in the mirror wasn’t laughing at all. I quickly gave up trying to force a smile and glanced at the large bag visible in the mirror.

Even at a glance, it was packed full. Noticing my gaze, Sabrina spoke as if making an excuse.

“I packed some things just in case. There’s not much to take anyway, but we could be kicked out suddenly one day.”

“We’re used to that sort of thing.” She smiled awkwardly, trailing off, her face somehow apologetic. The bag probably contained plenty of accessories and gold coins—things that could easily be converted to money in any country.

“Good job.”

I wanted to add a light joke, but no words came to mind.

What kind of person would the saintess be? What should I say when we meet? I couldn’t easily guess even one thing.

In any case, it was true that I was occupying her place, so I should feel sorry toward her, right?

“Lienne.”

“Hm?”

Only when I heard Sabrina’s unusually low voice did I snap out of my deep thoughts.

“Don’t be intimidated when you meet her. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

Only then did I realize my expression looked thoroughly cowed. Even though I thought, as Sabrina said, that I hadn’t done anything wrong, I somehow felt like a great sinner. I unnecessarily exaggerated moving my lips around to loosen my facial muscles.

“Got it. Don’t worry.”

****

Sitting against the backdrop of brilliant sunlight, the saintess was even more noble and beautiful than I had imagined. Thanks to that, the resolution I had firmly made just moments ago became useless.

“The same silver hair and blue eyes, but…”

Sabrina, who had followed me near the meeting place to cheer me on, glanced at the saintess and trailed off while looking me up and down from the opposite seat in the carriage.

“Why do you look so lively and robust?”

She came all this way just to crush my spirits.

Sitting in a clean pavilion with no decoration except stonework, she glowed softly like morning sunlight even in a simple white dress. As Sabrina said, rather than looking lively and robust like me, she was sacred in herself. Befitting the name of saintess.

“Just hurry back.”

Having nothing else to say, I gave her a pointless scolding and got out of the carriage. Only after Sabrina disappeared—having opened the window and clenched both fists while leaving her final words of encouragement—could I prepare myself to face the saintess again.

She had asked to meet in a garden resembling a plaza located among the autumn villas, neither in the spring district nor in the winter district where I was staying.

The autumn district had a much more sacred feeling than other places.

The villas lined up there were more suited to the word “castle” than “mansion,” and the afternoon sunlight stretched long, casting sharp shadows of spire tips clearly on the ground.

The place where I got out of the carriage was, coincidentally, in front of the chapel within the estate where the engagement ceremony had been held.

[It’s too late for regrets.]

Ricardo’s words from that day echoed in my ears. The fact that the building most visible from where she and I sat was the chapel also somehow weighed on my heart.

By the time I could see her silver hair—so similar to mine—dyed in a light resembling the sunset, she noticed my presence.

She smiled gracefully, gazing directly at me with her blue eyes.

Judith Fan Monzania.

The saintess of Resotia and Rochester’s companion. The noble woman who would receive the oracle that she would soon become empress.

She resembled the dawn breaking in a quiet morning garden.

Before that dazzling light, no matter how much I straightened my body and put strength in my toes, it was difficult to fully uphold myself as I became endlessly shabby.

“Welcome.”

Judith greeted me like the mistress of the estate. With perfect gestures and expressions befitting perfect etiquette.

“Ah, yes…”

In contrast, I greeted her somewhat awkwardly and sat across from her. As I took my seat, a servant attending the saintess approached us.

Even at a glance, they weren’t from the ducal estate. I had heard that the very next day after she came to the ducal estate, temple people including the Grand Priest from the Grand Temple had come rushing in.

“I asked to meet first, stopping the Grand Priest who wanted to see you first.”

I merely nodded without answering. The implication was subtly embedded that she had restrained the greatly enraged Grand Priest on my behalf.

That didn’t mean I felt grateful for the mercy she was showing. She watched me silently. My shoulders shrank unconsciously at her gaze, as if measuring me as a person.

“What do you plan to do going forward?”

The saintess didn’t beat around the bush. I thought this way was better too.

“First… my name is Lienne Rowe Fennel.”

When I stated my name, her chin lifted slightly. She stubbornly kept her mouth shut and didn’t bother to kindly introduce herself.

“I have something I want to ask.”

“Please speak.”

“I understand the oracle hasn’t come down yet.”

Judith’s fingertips trembled slightly. Only then did I realize that she too was nervous. Though I didn’t know how the Crown Princess found out, the oracle hadn’t yet written her name.

Of course, I wasn’t denying that she, who was a saintess from birth, was as good as already engaged to Rochester.

“I don’t ask with any other meaning. I understand you’re coming to the estate after the oracle comes down.”

“The oracle will certainly come down. Very soon.”

The “very soon” she mentioned still had about two weeks remaining. Again, I couldn’t know how the Second Prince or Julian found this out.

Of course, I had heard that the Grand Priest of Hadeima was sometimes told the time in advance by the gods before an oracle came down.

But I was curious about that. If it was such a solemn and clear command, why did she hurry here like this?

“I came despite opposition. Because the temple would never allow it.”

“…”

“The Grand Priest told me to wait, but I couldn’t just stand by and watch how things were unfolding.”

When she appeared at the ducal estate, they said she had been riding in a shabby carriage. While suffering from a high fever.

“Are you feeling better? I heard you had a high fever.”

I tried my best to maintain a composed attitude. My fingertips kept growing cold, but I didn’t want to treat her emotionally.

“I don’t think we’re in a relationship to have such conversations.”

But she seemed to think differently than me. I couldn’t claim to fully understand Judith’s feelings, but I clearly knew she couldn’t have good feelings toward me.

She was right. We weren’t in a relationship to inquire about each other’s well-being.

“I simply want to know, as Ricardo’s companion, what you’re thinking right now.”

Ricardo’s companion—at those confident words, my cheek burned hotly. I straightened my body a bit more.

“I won’t make excuses. I want to stay by the Young Duke’s side.”

At words that somehow sounded shameless, the saintess’s complexion turned pale.

“I know it won’t happen just because I’m stubborn. If the will of the gods is clear and I judge that it’s truly for the Young Duke’s sake, I will leave.”

Judith pulled up her lips, but couldn’t stop the trembling at their corners.

“If you judge… you’ll leave?”

A small scoff burst from her parted lips.

“Lady Fennel, the will of the gods has always been clear. It has never once said it wasn’t me. For the Young Duke’s sake? Who dares to make such a judgment?”

“…”

“I was thoroughly raised as his companion. Since birth, it was as natural to me as breathing. No, I was born to be his companion. Yet you dare to make such a judgment?”

My heart pounded at her quiet fury. It was because I could fully feel the condemnation she was pouring toward me.

“I am Ricardo’s person. Someone who wouldn’t be strange to collapse and die if not for him. I’m not just some saintess. I came here to love.”

“…”

“All the citizens of this empire hope and continue to hope that Rochester and his companion will become one. I’ve been put in a position where I must beg you for what should rightfully have been my place. What do people think? Can they truly love and follow this family as much as they do now without Rochester’s companion?”

At the undeniable truth to which I couldn’t refute even a single word, it felt as if the blood drained from my face. The image of me being pointed at by people for coveting what I shouldn’t covet was too easily drawn.

“What do you think the gods would think? Will they just stand by and watch your willfulness?”

“….”

“So leave this estate right now before you suffer greater misfortune.”