On the red dress that spread over like a wave, gold thread sparkled.
“Hah, No matter how much Felicite’s reputation has improved lately, this is too arrogant.”
“They say she controls the imperial family. Do you think she cares?”
In an instant, a great commotion erupted, and everyone turned to look at me.
“Is that also Bergman’s work?”
But due to the veils, I couldn’t tell what expressions they were making as they looked at me.
“The saying that everyone is equal before goddess means that our goddess stands higher than humans! Everyone should be humble in such a place!”
As someone said, even the imperial family was trying to keep a low profile today.
Juyong is probably there by now.
So, I was the only one who knew that the empress wasn’t present at this event.
“…”
Amidst this, I was not only exposing my face but also wearing elaborate makeup. When I crossed my legs and fanned myself, the bracelet on my wrist jingled.
Well, from now on, I need to lay the groundwork…
Even I wouldn’t normally engage in such attention-seeking behavior, but it couldn’t be helped.
Endure till the end.
As the time came, hot sunlight poured through the ceiling, spreading a mysterious color. After three bells rang, the doors creaked shut…
“The ceremony will begin now.”
And finally, the calm voice of the priest was heard.
“…I.”
The interior darkened in an instant, and flames sprang up from the many candlesticks hanging on the walls.
“Swear by my blood and life to the Sea of Ananke.”
A subtle but overwhelming light pooled in the ceiling. As the priest let his blood drop into the holy water, no one dared to breathe.
“From now on, everything I confess will be without any falsehood…”
But then,
“Stop the ceremony.”
Someone’s entrance shattered the solemn silence.
“High priest!”
There was no need to say who it was.
It was Kailus, the High Priest of Meteora. He usually only appeared at the very end of the ceremony to light the altar and call upon the goddess.
Why was he here now…
Just as the air felt increasingly oppressive and eerie,
“Someone knew this founding festival would not end peacefully today.”
The fair skin and red lips revealed beneath the pure white veil. There was no doubt about whom this otherworldly being’s gaze was directed at.
…Things are moving faster than I thought. I pressed my feet firmly on the ground.
“So I, Kailus, as the representative of the goddess and the head of the Great Temple, here today…”
And at that moment,
“Announce that an accusation sworn by blood and life to the Sea of Ananke has been made.”
I steeled my entire body with more force, making sure my hand holding the fan didn’t tremble, ensuring my eyes didn’t twitch even for a moment.
“The accusation is so shocking that the ceremony cannot proceed until the truth is revealed.”
Kailus walked across the nave to where the priest stood.
“Therefore, I, High Priest Kailus, command the paladins of the Great Temple.”
“…”
As he walked, the candles illuminating the interior flickered as if in agitation.
“To tie up all the members of the Rixon family and the Felicite family.”
Suddenly, all the lights went out, and darkness swallowed our vision.
“Uugh!”
“Kyaa!”
As soon as he finished speaking, paladins poured in from somewhere, ripping the veils off the worshippers mercilessly, resulting in screams of terror echoing everywhere.
“High Priest!”
Even though the statue of the goddess was overlooking everything from above…
“What’s the meaning of this!”
“Shut up and kneel.”
It was an oppressive commotion that erupted in just a few minutes.
…Phew.
In the midst of it, my hands were tied, and I was forced to kneel on the floor. With my head face to the floor, I bit the inside of my cheek hard. Whatever happened, it was an expected sequence of events. So, not yet. Just not yet.
“Such actions are very unbecoming of you, High Priest. First, clarify whose blood it is that fell into the holy water and whose claim it is.”
At that moment, Inein asked Kailus.
“Ah, but before that…”
Their confrontation brought silence instead of screams.
“Can you truly claim that the blood and holy water are truly pure?”
The air turned so cold it felt like walking on thin ice.
“…Pure.”
Kailus, watching the scene with his hands behind his back, muttered. “As expected of those gathered by the devil.”
“…”
“I’m the representative of a goddess and have been given the revelation to protect Meteora.” With a brief smile, he quickly descended from the dais. “Not only have you disrupted the law, but you dare question me with what qualifications?”
As Kailus approached me, the number of paladins following him increased. More and more until they filled the vast temple.
“Alright. Even if you are the devil, everyone is equal before the goddess today.”
With a tearing sound, the stained glass ceiling split in two.
“I’ll show you myself.”
Simultaneously, the space shifted, and thick smoke dispersed.
“Ha, my goodness!”
“Cough!”
People staggered, coughing, covering their mouths. In front of them, instead of the grand statue of the temple, an altar with flames reaching for the sky appeared. Then…
“May the goddess’s blessing reach our Meteora.”
Amid the sound of hooves scraping the sandy ground, a man’s voice was heard.
“I, Ash Benio, greet the High Priest.”
In this chaotic mess, his gentle and soft voice seemed out of place.
Ash, holding the reins of his horse, looked as if he had been waiting here from the start, along with the countless soldiers he commanded. In other words…
You’ve prepared quite a bit.
It was clear this was no longer a coincidence.
“High Priest, before you carry out the law, may I have a chance to say my final farewell to her?”
At that moment, Ash dismounted and requested the high priest.
“Once my lover and still my friend, seeing Princess Felicite meet her end like this… it pains my heart.”
No one could doubt the sincerity in his emerald eyes under the sunlight.
How earnestly he speaks nonsense.
Ah, of course, except me.
My mouth itched, but I had to hold back.
“Siani…” Ash, kneeling on one knee in front of me, whispered quietly. “I have one question.”
To avoid meeting his gaze, I lowered my head even more.
“Have you ever seen something you love break before your eyes?”
Ash knelt before me and whispered quietly.
“I have. On the day you abandoned me and left.”
“…”
Contrary to his singing tone, his expression was deeply sad and regretful.
“Lift your head and look at the hell you brought upon yourself, Siani.”
Even watching closely, I couldn’t discern what his true emotions were.
“I always wondered who you were. Why did your love always seem like a lie?” Ash’s hand slowly caressed my cheek. “But now I know.”
“…”
“You are indeed a goddess born from hell.”
As his hand brushed my face and pulled away,
“Everyone is ready to follow you into the flames.”
Red blood dripped onto the floor.
“I, Ash Benio, swear before the goddess with my blood and sword.”
Bang-! In an instant, the tip of the sword Ash was holding slammed into the bloodstained ground.
“From now on, everything I say is the truth.”
I stared silently at Ash, who had stood up abruptly.
“There was a reason Redian Hyu Rixon was abandoned outside the palace from birth.”
The increasingly suffocating smoke seemed to cloud my mind.
“It was because he is the incarnation of the sealed devil Peidion.”
“…!”
The flames from the altar grew fiercer. No one noticed what was hidden behind the rising flames.
“Siani Felicite knew this from the beginning through forbidden research.”
The wind was blowing hot. Once again, I realized what kind of faces people make when they are beyond shock and gripped by fear.
“She saved the devil who should be cast into the fires of hell and seated him as the crown prince of this Meteora.”
The silence that spread through the air, wherever the sound of breathing had stopped…
“I report all these truths to the goddess with my blood and life.”
It sounded like thunder.
“Now, as the goddess’s representative, I will ask you.” At that moment, the high priest took a step closer to me. “Did you know he was the incarnation of the sealed devil?”
“…Yes.”
“Did you deceive the sun and the earth to awaken the devil?”
“Yes.”
“Did you intend to crown the devil to disturb this empire?”
“Yes.”
No matter what he asked, there was only one answer I could give. After all, it wasn’t wrong.
“All of it is true.”
The moment I calmly gave my final answer,
“My goodness!”
People covered their mouths and stepped back.
As the flames parted, revealing the altar…
“Crown Prince!”
It was Redian, bound with both hands tied to the stake.
“…”
Redian appeared to be in a deep sleep, just like the day I first met him after opening the underground castle door. Despite the flames licking at his feet, he didn’t move at all, completely still.
“Then let me ask you one last thing, Siani Felicite.”
I watched him quietly. Even as the wind blew harshly, not a single tear fell.
“What exactly is your identity, having summoned the sealed devil?”
Just a little more, a little more.
“Are you curious about who I am?” I quickly met Kailus’s gaze. “Before that, let me ask you first, Kailus.”
So that the gates of heaven can open at the most dramatic moment.
“To the dog who can’t even recognize his master standing right in front of him.”
The time…
“Who dared to give you the title of high priest?”
Is now.
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