Chapter 31
“…Maybe that’s true. Lady Lilia, you’re really more mature than children your age.”
Melissa gently stroked Lilia’s hair as she spoke.
“My lady, may I give you a hug?”
When Lilia nodded, Melissa pulled her into a warm embrace.
It felt soft and cozy, like being wrapped in clouds. With her cheeks squished, Lilia called out to her.
“You know, maybe it’s because of the holy power in the chamomile flowers you gave me, but Father’s complexion looks much better!”
“I’m glad it helped. If it’s for you, Lady Lilia, I can give you fresh flowers anytime.”
“Okay! Oh, and there’s one more thing I want to ask…”
After slipping out of Melissa’s arms, Lilia picked up Kiki the ferret, who had come trotting to her feet.
Judging by the way he shook his head with his usual indifferent expression, it seemed he hadn’t found anything.
“What are you curious about?” Melissa asked.
“I want to pray for my father. They say there’s no temple inside Roberk. Is there somewhere I can pray? If possible, somewhere with strong holy power!”
The place Melissa led her to was a spring in the forest near the village chapel.
“The place where the holy power feels strongest is this spring. It’s also called the Sacred Spring.”
“The Sacred Spring?”
“This water has the same effect as holy water. They say it’s because a holy relic has long been resting at the bottom.”
Maybe it was because she had heard that, but as Lilia stepped closer, something felt different.
A clear and mysterious energy surrounded the spring, as if purifying the area. The stray thoughts in her head faded away, leaving her mind light and refreshed.
“It really feels like my head has cleared.”
“To prevent this sacred place from being contaminated, only the elders of the village know about it. They even built the chapel nearby.”
“I see. It looks quite deep.”
“Oh my! Be careful, my lady.”
“It’s okay, Yupi.”
Lilia crouched on a wide rock and peered into the calm surface of the water.
The jade-colored spring was clearer and more transparent than any jewel.
So clear that she could almost see straight to the bottom.
Is there really a holy relic inside?
She couldn’t see it right away.
Lilia cupped her hands, scooped up some water, and held it out toward Kiki.
“Want to try?”
Slurp.
Kiki trotted closer, tasted the water, and immediately widened his black eyes as if to say, This is it. His ears perked up.
“Kyuk! Kyuk!”
Kiki tapped the back of Lilia’s hand and tilted his head.
“You’re telling me to drink it too?”
“Pi!”
Encouraged by Kiki, Lilia took a sip as well.
At once, a sacred and warm energy flowed into her heart—into her mana heart—like a gentle wave.
She instinctively knew it was holy power.
“Melissa, Yupi. I want to pray alone for a moment.”
“It’s a secluded place, so please finish quickly.”
“My lady, are you sure you’ll be alright alone?”
“Yes, don’t worry. Kiki is with me.”
When Melissa and Yupi disappeared into the bushes on the other side, Lilia immediately released her mana.
Flash.
Light burst from the summoned book, and its pages flipped rapidly.
Lilia quickly read the newly appearing words.
[There is a sacred object nearby. Use the Key of Authority to obtain a new key.]
So what Melissa said was true. A holy relic really had sunk into this spring.
Then I have to find it. Should I call an adult to pull it out?
She quickly shook her head.
No. Then I won’t be able to touch the relic with the magic key. It’s better to handle it now while I’m alone.
As she pondered—
The Key of Authority shot a beam of light into the spring.
As if pointing out that a new key lay inside.
Holding the Key of Authority tightly, Lilia carefully dipped her head into the water.
Far below, at the bottom of the deep, transparent spring, something sparkled brightly.
“I knew it!”
That was when it happened.
The moment the Key of Authority made contact, the spring surged and formed a whirlpool.
“Eh?”
Splash!
Before she could react, Lilia’s body was caught in the current and dragged into the spring.
“Ulp— I—!”
Water rushed into her mouth, making it impossible to scream.
I’m doomed.
Ghk! I can’t even swim…!
As she flailed her arms and legs wildly, Lilia cried out in her heart again and again.
Someone help me, please save me!
No. I can’t die here before the original story even begins.
I still have so many things to do.
I have to save Father, our family, and the male lead too…!
Struggling desperately, Lilia’s body soon went limp.
Just when she thought she was truly going to die—
“Pi-pi!”
Swimming toward her in a panic was Kiki.
He smacked Lilia’s cheek just as she was about to lose consciousness.
Her eyes snapped open.
Huh? I’m alive?
Only then did Lilia regain her senses and see what was in front of her.
It was Kiki—the spirit of the key.
“Pi!”
“Kiki! Waaah! I thought I was going to die…”
Half relieved and half frightened, Lilia began to tear up. Kiki patted her shoulder as if telling her to trust him.
“But what’s going on? How can I breathe and talk underwater?”
That wasn’t all.
She didn’t even have to struggle to move through the water.
“Pi!”
Smiling at Lilia’s wide-eyed chatter, Kiki pointed around them with his little paw, looking very relaxed.
Only then did Lilia look around properly.
They were inside a large blue mana bubble.
“Oh my…! Did you make this?”
“Kyuk!”
Who would’ve thought Kiki, who usually just slept or chewed on jerky, had such incredible power hidden away?
“Wow, I see you in a new light. You’re amazing!”
Today, his tiny shoulders looked unusually big.
“Thank you for saving me. But… can I poke this?”
“Sniff! Hooong!”
As if to say there was nothing to worry about, Kiki nodded and spun his paws in circles.
Mana burst from his body, and the bubble glowed an even deeper blue.
“Oh!”
It felt sturdy enough that even when Lilia pressed and touched it, it didn’t burst.
Once her instinctive fear faded, she finally had the composure to look ahead.
The Key of Authority continued shining, pulling her downward as if guiding her.
At last, they reached the very bottom of the spring.
There, something glittered.
A shining water jar.
The moment she saw it, she remembered an item from the Empire’s myth in the original story.
“The Water Jar of Goddess Eona.”
Goddess Eona was the goddess of dawn and hope, who drove away darkness and opened the path to light.
Inside her water jar were thousands of years’ worth of collected dawn dew and morning stars—
and the earnest wishes of people.
The jar, clear as glass, shimmered with rainbow light like a prism whenever light touched it.
It’s definitely a real holy relic!
Bubble, bubble.
Kiki, swimming beside her, lightly tapped the jar.
Like ripples spreading, a clear and sacred power radiated outward.
Then, at the center of the jar, a glowing keyhole appeared.
Instinctively, Lilia inserted the Key of Authority into the water jar.
Click.
The sound of two objects locking together echoed softly.
