No More Regrets, Just K*ll Me

 

As I approached, I overheard someone explaining about the statue.

“This statue is believed to have been created around ten thousand years ago and depicts the form of a god…”

I raised my hand high.

“I understand the temple was built about seven thousand years ago so how could the statue be over ten thousand years old?”

The man explaining the statue’s history brightened up and clapped his hands.

“Good question!”

What’s this? It reminds me of my school days. Professors really loved it when students asked questions.

“This statue actually existed even before the temple was built. There are records indicating that the temple was constructed around this statue.”

“Oh, so the statue is older than the temple?”

“That’s right! At one point, scholars speculated that this statue might be the sacred artifact known as the ‘Stone of God,’ but it turned out to just be an ordinary statue.”

I looked up at the statue with curiosity.

The statue, neither male nor female, was draped in long fabric, arms outstretched, and seemed to slightly bow its head as if looking down at the humans below.

The delicately carved hair appeared almost alive, and the body, devoid of any sexual characteristics, looked smooth. The ribs were visible, and the protruding lower abdomen was deep and hollow.

As I stared blankly at the statue, I finally heard the voices of my companions who had followed me.

“What are you doing running like that, Miss Ariadeline!”

“Oh, sorry. I got a bit excited.”

But I had overlooked something. I didn’t realize how famous I was.

As soon as the maid Molly called my name loudly, all the surrounding people turned their attention toward me.

“Could it be, that Ariadeline?”

“That villainess who cursed the saint…”

“Oh my, is that villainess still alive?”

‘What? Am I a celebrity even here?’

It seemed that being far from the capital meant my other rumors hadn’t reached this place.

‘Definitely, if I’m treated as villainess here, it would be inconvenient for them to search about me.’

Moreover, those accompanying me would surely hear bad things.

Just then, Carlothian rushed over, trying to shield me.

But I naturally pushed him aside and raised my arms to the sky as if greeting the statue.

“I was lost in the depths of despair!”

I had diligently filmed music videos during my time as a singer. Acting skills? Not bad at all.

I brought my hands, which I had raised high, together in a prayer-like gesture and looked up at the statue.

“Her Royal Highness, the benevolent Crown Princess, has ‘forgiven’ me long ago!”

Emphasizing forgiveness, again and again.

I turned to the crowd, wearing a more serious expression than ever.

“I still feel that my sins have not been forgiven!”

With a very, very earnest expression!

“And so, I have come on this path to seek forgiveness from the God.”

I gazed wistfully at the ceiling.

Ah… I’m hungry. The ceiling patterns look just like grill marks from a steak.

“But I realized that my sins can never be forgiven.” 

Now that I think about it, it’s lunchtime. What should I eat after I go down?

“Therefore, I intend to willingly acknowledge and bear my sins for the rest of my life.”

Yeah. Lunch has to be meat.

“Living in atonement for my entire life.”

I should ask Carlothian to buy me some.

“This is my resolve as Ariadeline.”

I gave one last poignant smile.

Is my face moving properly? Anyway, I then knelt in front of the statue and pretended to pray.

‘I hope Carlothian buys me lamb.’

It’s been a while since I had lamb. I wonder if they have it here. Ah, I’m salivating. I lowered my head for a moment and smacked my lips.

As I closed my eyes, everything around me was quiet. Hmm, am I doing this right? Is my acting too obvious?

I cautiously opened one eye and looked around.

‘What the…?’

I saw that the people around me were standing in prayer just like I was. Some were clicking their tongues and looking at me, but there were more people praying.

‘Oh man, I was just trying to wrap this up.’

I had to stay kneeling for a bit longer to make it look more sincere.

‘Even if it’s not genuine sincerity.’

Ah, my knees are cold. My legs are numb. I’m really wearing down the stamina that Carlothian saved for me.

Time passed slowly. My knees grew so cold they felt frozen.

Okay, this should be enough, right? I slowly stood up. But then—

‘Ah! My legs are numb!’

A sharp sensation surged up from my toes, and I stumbled.

“Miss Ariadeline!”

Molly rushed over to me in a panic. But Carlothian was quicker. He caught me by the waist.

‘Oh, I almost fell awkwardly.’

I looked at Carlothian and smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

If it weren’t for him, I would have fallen in front of all these people and made a scene.

Carlothian looked at me oddly but helped me regain my balance, and Molly came over to support me.

“What are you doing pushing yourself when you’re not even in good health!”

When did I ever become weak?

“Come here. Let’s take a break over there for a moment.”

Is Molly trying to play along with me? I guess it might look better if they think I’m weak but still made it here.

I didn’t refuse and let her help me sit on a bench prepared at the edge of the temple.

As I sighed and looked up, I felt the eyes of people watching me.

‘Ah, I guess I’ll be under surveillance for the duration of my stay here.’

There will be a lot of talk about whether the villainess has truly repented or not.

I gestured to Carlothian. Seeing my gesture, he approached me.

“I think we’ll need to stay here a bit longer.”

Carlothian looked at me with a questioning expression.

“Well, since I’ve stirred things up like this, it wouldn’t look good to leave right away.”

“There’s no need to worry about that.”

“And there’s also a lot to learn about the sacred relics inside the temple.”

Carlothian looked at me silently. I widened my eyes at his gaze.

“…Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“…If you’re okay, then that’s fine.”

Even though I looked at him in confusion, he didn’t offer any more explanation. Carlothian naturally sat down next to me and crossed his legs.

“Once I feel a bit better, let’s take a look around the temple.”

I whispered, and he nodded. Ha, I guess I’ll have to wait until the crowd thins out.

I sighed inwardly.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

“Living a lifetime in repentance.”

Her face, which smiled poignantly while saying that, seemed more genuine than anyone else’s. People began to murmur among themselves.

“Is it true that she was forgiven by the Saint?”

“I think I’ve heard rumors like that in the capital.”

“To say that she’ll live bearing her sins.”

The murmuring about her grew louder. Some believed her sincerity, while others did not.

“Just because she was forgiven by the Saint doesn’t mean her sins disappear.”

“It must all be an act.”

In truth, that’s the right answer. But everyone fell silent at the sight of her kneeling gracefully and quietly praying.

Even if it was fake, her appearance—dressed in a shabby dress, eyes closed in concentration—looked nothing short of sacred.

With her bright blonde hair cascading down and dressed in a white dress, she knelt on the bare ground, looking almost like a saint—though, of course, that shouldn’t be the case.

Someone clicked their tongue in disapproval at that fact.

Ariadeline prayed for a long time without getting up, as if truly seeking forgiveness for her sins, and people began to gather around her, starting to pray to the statue as well.

After a while, the villainess—no, Ariadeline—slowly began to rise. She stumbled.

Someone rushed to support her, a tall man with black hair.

“Isn’t that Duke Carlothian Denaves?”

“Wait, if that’s the case…”

Her ex-husband? Why is he here? Before the question could be resolved, Ariadeline’s maid hurried over and spoke.

“How can you push yourself so hard when you’re not even in good health?”

Ariadeline’s frail body was evident to everyone without needing to be said. Her wobbling ankles were pitiful.

All eyes were on her as she sat on the temple bench.

Among them, one person was observing her closely, and that was the man who had just been explaining the statue.

His name was Silv Baselon. He was a priest affiliated with the temple, guiding visiting worshippers.

The image of her kneeling and praying in front of the statue lingered in his mind.

Though he had been here for over ten years, no one had ever shaken him up like this.

Her sparkling blue eyes, almost transparent, surrounded by golden eyelashes; her slender jawline; even her delicate fingers that she had clasped together.

He carefully approached the resting Ariadeline.

“Are you feeling better?”