“You claim to know a lot.”
A warm breeze blew through the window, rustling the curtains.
“But now it seems you know less than I do.”
Redian’s hand touched my fluttering hair.
“Love that is generously shared among everyone…”
Redian chuckled, seemingly recalling that passage from the book.
“As if such a thing exists.”
“…”
I stared blankly at Redian’s appearance. His smirk seemed to mock the goddess’s benevolence.
Of course, I live in this world, but I am not one to praise the goddess of Meteora. Nor do I particularly believe in the existence of gods. But,
“Well, after all, it’s just the goddess’s love, Redian.”
“…”
“Isn’t it remarkable how she continuously forgave Lucifer’s atrocities over and over again?”
I wasn’t sure why I was defending the goddess, but his words didn’t sit well with me.
“Besides, after Lucifer became what he did, she wept out of sorrow.”
The concept of such love was foreign to me. If I were the goddess, I wouldn’t have forgiven to that extent. If forgiving his torment of humans led to him setting the land ablaze, and forgiving that led to more of the same, then by now… I wouldn’t have let it slide. Yet, the goddess’s mercy was so vast and deep that she forgave him numerous times.
“If it were me, I wouldn’t have forgiven him. Honestly, if the goddess had decided, she could have killed Peidion.”
“…”
My gaze briefly settled on the temple outside the window.
“But she couldn’t bring herself to punish or kill Peidion, so she shattered her own soul instead.”
That alone showed how much the goddess cared for Lucifer, or rather Peidion. If it were me, I would have kicked him into the flames of hell or told him to vanish from my sight right then and there.
“No, Master.”
“Huh?”
Redian’s voice caught my attention again.
“That’s not the goddess’s mercy, but her selfishness.”
“…Selfishness?”
Up until now, Redian rarely contradicted or argued against my words. But this time, he seemed particularly firm.
“Because for Lucifer, who loved the goddess, that would have been the cruelest punishment.”
“…”
“So, while pretending to be merciful and benevolent, she inflicted the most brutal and cold-hearted punishment.”
His response made me frown slightly. I couldn’t understand why Redian and I were even debating this topic.
“Besides, if the goddess hadn’t taught Lucifer about love in the first place…”
Redian’s gaze remained fixed on me throughout. It wasn’t his usual kind or gentle look. It felt somewhat chilly, actually.
“None of this would have happened.”
“…”
“At least, to Lucifer, that woman’s love was never beautiful or fair.”
Perhaps that’s why.
“It always lacked something.”
Every word Redian spoke seemed directed at me.
The wind that had been blowing stopped, and the curtains that had been swaying settled down. My hair that had been fluttering gently fell to my shoulders.
“I wonder.”
Yet, Redian’s hand still touched my cheek.
“Is Peidion still searching for that goddess?”
His touch was gentle, but there was no warmth.
“Or…”
As our eyes met, Redian slowly spoke.
“Did he finally find her?”
* * *
“Milady, a letter has arrived, but I don’t know where it’s from.”
That afternoon, as I returned to my room, Daisy handed me a letter.
“There’s no seal on it…”
“How did a letter from an unknown source enter the duchy?”
“Well…” Daisy lowered her voice. “The person who handed it to me had a seal from the Rixon imperial family.”
“What?”
Listening more closely, it turned out that the person who brought the letter specifically asked for Daisy. When Daisy went down to the main gate, someone showed her the imperial family’s seal and then secretly handed it over.
“But since it was sent without a seal, I thought there must be a reason. I didn’t tell the head maid and secretly brought it here.”
“Is that so?”
As I took the letter, indeed, there was nothing written on it.
“Good job, Daisy.”
“Hehe.”
Indeed, I had chosen a smart maid for this life.
The seal of the Rixon imperial family. Then the letter must be either from the emperor, empress, or the royal princess. But as Daisy said, sending it without a seal meant it was meant to be confidential.
All three are possibilities.
Wait, now that I think about it, aren’t I close to all the imperial family members? Even to the emperor, empress, and royal princess, ranking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively. This is quite an achievement, even for someone who’s lived multiple lives.
[Big Sis, may the goddess’s protection be with you. The antidote you sent was well received.]
Ah, as soon as I opened the letter, I could tell who sent it. The mix of modern language and this world’s language indicated it was from the empress. I’m probably the only person who got called ‘big sis’ by the empress.
[It’s really incredible… It was the side effects of the magic stone I’ve been suffering from for years, but it’s getting better instantly. Every day, Mori says indeed the goddess is the best.
How did you make something even the wizards couldn’t? My skin itches so badly every night I woke up several times, but now it’s much better. Meeting you was the biggest fortune since I came into this world.
I love you. My goddess.]
Below that, as if it were a postscript, was scribbled ‘Goddess is the best!’ in crooked letters.
“…”
I nearly spat out the tea I was drinking.
That mother and daughter, wait, if you think about it carefully, they’re not mother and daughter, right? Anyway, the empress and royal princess are so adorable together.
“I’m glad.”
It seems the antidote Vallentin created was effective. Then, if I officially launch a cosmetics line and promote it through the empress… I’ll have plenty of money to run away with.
Wow, my plan is truly brilliant. My brand’s name was given by the emperor, and the model for my brand is the empress. Moreover, this would ensure that Redian could safely adapt to the imperial palace. And once I successfully elevate Rere to the position of crown prince…
Very good. My plan to leave and disappear was proceeding smoothly.
“Hmm, let’s see.”
Feeling more at ease, I threw myself onto the bed. With everything else proceeding well, it was time to prepare for the next phase. Now, that means organizing the underground castle on a large scale.
“Where should I build the accommodations?”
I planned to send away the Norma who needed to be sent away and keep only four as my personal knights. The current underground castle would be converted into a dedicated research facility for my brand. Then, I’d need to either build new accommodations for Norma or relocate them.
It’s probably best to keep them close by.
I sat up in bed and surveyed the spacious room. “Even here, there seem to be plenty of rooms.”
Just this private floor and the connected annex had more rooms than needed. And there were even several rooms within my own room.
“Indeed, a billionaire’s home is different.”
If I were to have Redian sleep inside my room, I could call him whenever needed (?)…
As I looked around my room thinking, I eventually shook my head. “No.”
If this were like the old days, that might be the case.
“The hunting competition is over, and since I couldn’t protect myself and got hurt… You’ve decided I’m no longer useful and abandoned me.”
“I was looking for you. Master.”
Now, it seemed rather dangerous.
If in the past he was a vigilant puppy, busy being on guard, lately…
It’s definitely dangerous for sure.
“Ah, I don’t know.”
As I lay back down on the bed, various thoughts overlapped.
“Lucifer and Rere.”
Come to think of it, the nickname I casually gave Redian was similar to Lucifer. And Lucifer was a name given by the goddess herself, meaning ‘bearer of light.’ Rere was also a name I gave Redian when I brought him out of the underground castle into the light.
Hmm.
Furthermore, Lucifer was said to be the most beautiful and strongest among the angelic legions of heaven. Our Redian was the same.
“It really is similar.”
It wasn’t just a coincidence.
“Could it be…”
I pondered again about the content of the book I had read to Redian in the library.
“His behavior won’t be the same, right?”
My sensitivity, honed over multiple lives, seemed to sound an alarm.
My goal is a puppy-like male lead.
Things seem to be going a bit off track, but… In any case, he’s turning out to be quite the puppy, right?
PLS DONT BE SO DENSE 😭
i need this in manhwa form
i need the rest of the story
PLS