Chapter 37…………………………………………..
I liked the teachings of the god Magnus.
Because they helped the righteous and thoroughly punished the sins of the wicked.
I also enjoyed serving as a confessor, listening to people’s worries.
There were so many unfortunate souls, and I prayed alongside them for their wishes to be fulfilled.
Many people relied on miracles.
Of course, not everyone’s problems could be solved.
Because my happiness might bring misfortune to someone else.
I had learned that if all wishes were granted, it would truly be a kind of hell.
I thought it was the right lesson, but I never managed to explain it to Sertina.
No matter the outcome, I wanted her legs to be healed.
‘With legs like these, I’d have to give up on my dreams! I won’t be able to do anything!’
Sertina’s desperate cries kept echoing in my ears, making it hard to move forward.
In the original story, she never became the Empress.
The next Emperor would be Shane, soon to be crowned Crown Prince.
But the Emperor, who loved his child and valued Sertina’s abilities, appointed her as a Duke of the South.
Becoming the master of the resource-rich South, Sertina’s talents soared.
Though she never regained the ability to walk on her own, she accomplished countless achievements.
With the Southern Duke’s sword, Lancelot would also be safe and live a prosperous life.
In truth, if I were to dedicate my sword, it would have been better to support Shane, the future Emperor.
I had chosen the best option for the safety of my family and myself.
‘I was thinking only of myself…’
I swept my wet bangs from my face as the rain poured down heavily.
The scent of rain was strong.
I thought of Cassius.
What I needed right now was his voice and warmth.
Then I felt like I could find strength.
Sertina, still agitated as if her mind had snapped, continued to fuss long after Sonia had disappeared.
A maid, waiting for her anger to subside, spoke quietly.
“Your Highness? Are you alright?”
“…Bring me water.”
A glass of cool water brought by the maid cooled her overheated head.
It was time for a brief rest.
Drip, drip.
Thick raindrops began to fall.
The air had been damp since noon, and now it seemed the rain was finally pouring.
But something was wrong.
The falling raindrops shredded the leaves in the garden.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Unusual sounds came from above, as if the roof were being pounded with metal beads.
The ceiling shook from the impact, and the crystals of the hanging chandelier fell.
“Your Highness! It’s dangerous! Move to a safe place!”
The startled maids screamed as they guided Sertina.
Along the way, they encountered the royal guards protecting the princess’s palace.
They requested permission from Sertina, then lifted her up and moved quickly.
Sertina looked out the window.
This was no ordinary rain.
The rain poured so violently it seemed capable of toppling buildings, like a barrage of cannon fire.
The guard carrying Sertina froze.
“The water has already reached this far!”
“We need to go higher!”
They moved to the highest point of the palace, but could not escape the water. The floodwater now reached Sertina’s chin and would soon cover her nose and mouth.
This was serious.
It was no ordinary rain.
It felt as if someone were intentionally directing the water.
‘Water ability…’
A name came to Sertina’s mind.
‘Sacred, Cassius Magnus.’
Cassius had spoken in a calm voice:
“Very well. But please return her quickly.”
His eyes, resting on Sonia’s shoulders, dripped with obsession.
“Before evening prayers.”
When their eyes met again, a shiver ran through her.
His tone was light, but his gaze was like a knife pressed against her neck—a warning.
Cassius sat at a vantage point with a view of the route to the princess’s palace, staring out the window.
Tap, tap, splish-splash.
The thick raindrops began to fall.
Sonia went empty-handed, he thought.
Since the princess herself had brought her guest, she’d at least have an umbrella.
But the rain was getting heavier. Even with an umbrella, her hems were getting wet.
There are no guards around the palace’s vicinity.
All the guards were stationed near the building, leaving the approach unprotected.
Seeing the torrential rain, Cassius grew worried about Sonia.
Eventually, he decided to act personally.
“Your Highness, we will escort you.”
The holy knights, including Jurgen, flanked him closely.
It was raining.
It was a day when his water-element divine power was amplified.
Even if the Emperor mobilized troops to target only Cassius, he could annihilate them all.
He refused the escort and went out alone.
No umbrella was needed.
He could use his divine power to make the raindrops avoid him.
Cassius, heading toward the palace with not a single wet collar, suddenly paused.
Near the palace, he saw someone standing in the rain alone.
Her silver hair hung down, drenched. She wiped her long eyelashes with the back of her hand as if brushing away tears.
“Sonia!”
He shouted her name and used his divine power.
A thin barrier formed around her, blocking the raindrops.
“Your Highness…?”
Sonia’s eyes widened in surprise. Her cheeks were flushed red.
She lowered her head and cupped her face with both hands. Pale green light radiated from her palms.
When she withdrew her hands, her face returned to its original soft, pale state.
He hadn’t imagined it. He had to confirm.
Cassius quickened his pace.
“What happened?”
“…I tripped while being distracted.”
It wasn’t a wound from falling.
Someone had hit her.
“Why…”
Why lie? Who are you trying to protect?
Cassius didn’t reprimand her. Her abilities had forcibly activated because he had held her tightly.
Sonia, brought to the princess’s palace, had spoken with Sertina.
Their conversation had settled deep within her heart, something he could not pry into.
For some reason, it seemed like she didn’t want to tell anyone, but he could clearly see Sertina slapping Sonia’s cheek.
Sonia’s thoughts flowed into his mind.
‘Please… don’t ask anymore…’
Cassius clenched his fist.
He liked seeing her smile. Her happiness radiated pheromones that lifted his mood.
Thus, he couldn’t bear to see her in pain.
If he could remove the pain lodged in her heart, would she smile again like before?
But he couldn’t ask what troubled her so.
She didn’t want to tell anyone.
Not even him.
Yet he couldn’t leave it as it was.
Cassius pulled Sonia into an embrace.
“Y-Your Highness, your clothes are wet.”
“It doesn’t matter. Clothes mean nothing.”
He hugged her tighter.
The water from her soaked clothes seeped onto him.
Even though the clothes he had shielded from the rain were now wet, he didn’t care.
He wanted her heart, every part of it, to be with him.
“Don’t keep it to yourself. Please tell me.”
The conversation with the princess was still unheard.
What had hurt her so deeply that she had closed her heart?
His heart grew heavy.
‘Thank you.’
Even though he had been of no help, Sonia thanked him.
That made the pain worse.
Sonia finally spoke.
“…Could you let me lean on you a bit more?”
“Of course.”
Cassius held her close, wishing he could warm her with his body.
If only his element were fire instead of water.
He wanted to warm her with a comforting flame—her body was so cold.
Hesitant, Sonia rested her hand on his back.
They could hear each other’s heartbeats.
Sonia’s thoughts flowed into Cassius.
‘Warm… I feel safe.’
As the distance closed, he could see her experiences more clearly.
Sertina had angrily slapped Sonia’s cheek multiple times. He could hear the repeated words:
“Pray for me! Can’t you? Beg immediately!”
Sonia endured the unjust treatment silently, alone.
Several maids had witnessed it.
But none stopped Sertina.
Thrown outside as if driven out, she stood stunned, heart aching.
The final image Sonia remembered was of herself.
She quickly used her healing power to act as if nothing had happened.
To endure alone.
Cassius, holding Sonia, stared at the princess’s palace before him.
‘I was clearly told to return her before evening prayers.’
She didn’t seem stupid enough not to understand that.
Whooosh!
The rain grew even heavier.
Not just a simple downpour, but an overwhelming torrent, as if trying to swallow the world.
Sonia looked around at the deafening sound of the sky falling.
The rain poured so thickly that not a drop touched her or Cassius.
But the princess’s palace was alive with noise, like a building collapsing.
Startled, Sonia glanced at Cassius.
Blue energy rippled around him.
People with both supernatural abilities and divine power could have one power surge uncontrollably if overwhelmed by a curse.
‘He saw my cheek.’
The swollen cheek had been treated quickly, but it had already caught his eye.
Thanks for hitting me, but…
Bang! With a loud crash, the palace window shattered, and water gushed in.
Judging by the state, water was also rising inside the building.
