Chapter 12
“Anaïs?”
Ellen quickly covered the light with her hands to hide it. Surprisingly, she managed this with her right hand, which she had previously been unable to move.
But before she could even savor the joy of being able to move both arms, light burst forth from her intertwined hands.
“Why is this happening? Please, stop!”
To conceal the light, Ellen clutched Licio tightly. Well, it was more like pressing the back of his head against her chest than an actual embrace.
The more the light swelled, the faster her heart raced.
“Don’t ever let go! Do you understand?”
She felt Licio’s warm breath against her chest.
Had they pressed so close that there was no time for a reply? Licio, crumpled in her arms, brushed her back with his hand in lieu of answering.
Good heavens! Her divine power surged. Licio was channeling his mana to her.
“Not now!”
A hot shiver ran up her spine and instantly spread throughout her body.
A powerful force surged like molten lava, as if it could erupt at any moment.
Ellen’s hand, gripping Licio’s hair, trembled.
“Ugh…”
Unable to withstand the overwhelming heat, her head arched toward the ceiling.
Simultaneously, a deep, strange moan began from her lower abdomen.
“Haah…”
Her small shoulders shivered a few times, and finally, the light dissipated slowly into the air.
All that remained in the wake of the storm was shame.
She had gone mad.
Her vision blurred, and her small feet curled in embarrassment.
The flow of divine power within her was perfect. If she could maintain this flow, she could free herself from black magic.
“My legs… are free too…”
It wasn’t Licio’s mana—her own divine power had set her free.
It was a joyous moment. Yet, why did tears threaten to fall?
“So this is what you wanted to try?”
Licio’s voice resonated deeply, pressing against her lips, as if it were penetrating her very being.
The divine power has been unlocked. Don’t misunderstand!
And just now, you were blessed. You have no idea how precious this ability is, do you? No, you’ll never know in your lifetime.
The truth would be swallowed along with her tears.
“Yes… I wanted to hold anyone.”
Ellen bit her lips tightly, repeating her futile plea in her mind.
“God, please make me disappear like this.”
She could not delay any longer. She had to let him go.
Ah! In the process of holding him, Licio’s silver hair had become a mess.
“Is this… me? Oh, God.”
She had bitten her lip unconsciously, ashamed of herself.
“Did I hold you too tightly…?”
“You can hold me tighter. But the idea of ‘anyone’—that I cannot allow. Only me…”
Haah… Licio couldn’t finish his words and let out a deep sigh, covering his face with his large hand.
Seeing his reddened ear, Ellen’s own face heated up.
Thump, thump. Her breath even seemed to stop.
A throbbing discomfort.
In the silence, their eyes exchanged, and a warm, delicate tension seemed to flow slowly, transcending time.
Early the next morning, Licio appeared with a remarkable gift.
It was a chair with wheels—a wheelchair—crafted for her.
The backrest bore intricate carvings, and the elegantly curved armrests showed the artisan’s touch.
“It’s beautiful! I won’t be intimidated anywhere with this.”
“Sit,” Licio said softly, lifting Ellen into the chair.
The tightly stitched cushion was soft, and the wheels were sleek and sturdy—a perfect masterpiece with no flaws.
“Now I can go anywhere on my own,” Ellen said, gripping the wheel handles, feeling like she could sprint away at any moment.
A large hand enveloped hers.
“It’s dangerous. Always have a maid accompany you.”
Her gaze shifted from the wheels to his face.
“Understood.”
Had he seen through her thoughts? Licio’s eyes narrowed slightly.
If it weren’t for the sudden knock, he might have continued his teasing.
The visitor who saved Ellen from Licio’s scolding was her aide, Alex.
As if aware of Ellen, Alex spoke softly to Licio.
“Representatives from the Minister, Priest Nepharas and Paladin Rohan, have arrived.”
Alex’s cautious approach caught her attention.
Priest Nepharas—the Minister’s henchman, the one who handled dirty work. If he was here…
“Surely not…”
Ellen bit her nails nervously. Licio slowly released her hand and said:
“The Minister wants the criminal handed over. But I will not yield, so you needn’t worry.”
The Minister would not send Nepharas for a mere criminal transfer.
Though Ellen could anticipate what might happen, she chose to remain silent.
“Yes, I won’t worry.”
“They’ll return soon. Receive healing from the paladin in the meantime.”
When she smiled in agreement, Licio left with Alex to meet the Minister’s representatives.
Shortly after, Rohan entered her room.
After greetings and inquiries about her well-being, Rohan began to share his findings.
“Lahone was a baron managing the Matif territory. At that time, he had only one daughter.”
No wonder her appearance seemed different.
“Anaïs, what is your secret?”
“So, where did I come from?”
“All the documents were perfect, as if someone had deliberately hidden something. More time is needed.”
Ellen carefully reviewed the investigation report he handed her.
“Anaïs underwent annual divine power inspections at the temple?”
“……”
When silence fell, Ellen realized her mistake.
“Uh… so…”
Rohan replied nonchalantly.
“The last divine power check was at seventeen.”
“It’s been years, so I’d forgotten for a moment. I remember the inspection.”
Rohan’s lips curved slightly. Though subtle, he did not appear suspicious of her.
‘Phew, I couldn’t even lie about this.’
But why did Anaïs undergo divine power inspections? Even if nobles had divine power, they usually avoided temple life, making such inspections meaningless. Saints weren’t treated as prestigious positions either.
Moreover, by fifteen, if divine power hadn’t manifested, it was deemed unlikely to appear later. So why drag it out for two more years?
Lost in thought, Ellen listened as Rohan raised another point.
“Shortly after being deemed without divine power, you were engaged to Licio Debesser, who was the prince at the time. This engagement, which included breaking off a long-standing engagement with Princess Marcelle, became a topic of gossip.”
She knew Princess Carla Marcelle. Among the unmarried women of the empire, she had the highest status and was famous for her beauty.
‘Carla and Licio… They would’ve made such a perfect match…’
Ellen realized Anaïs had broken off an engagement with Carla to get engaged to Licio—no wonder he resented her so much.
Did Licio still long for Carla?
Her chest ached for no reason.
“The reason for the broken engagement isn’t listed?”
“No one knew—it was a matter of high nobility.”
The annulment was strictly secret. The only way to ask Licio would be directly.
‘No… how can I even ask that?’
Later. When the chance arises…
However the marriage came about, Licio was, after all, her husband.
Ellen was not ready to face the uncomfortable truth that her husband’s feelings might lie with another woman.
‘Let’s put this aside for now. Next… huh?’
Rohan’s gaze seemed fixed on the door. His clenched fists betrayed his tension about what might be happening outside.
“Because of the Minister’s representatives?”
As if his thoughts were seen through, Rohan exhaled shortly.
“Yes.”
“Don’t stop it.”
Ellen met Rohan’s eyes calmly and continued.
“Whatever Nepharas intends to do.”
“You… wish for that?”
Rohan seemed to expect the death of Marmonde, just as she did.
“I intend to pretend I don’t know. I hope you will do the same, Sir Rohan.”
For the righteous Rohan, that would be difficult. Ellen did not want Marmonde dead either.
She just needed an opportunity to meet him.
‘I know Marmonde better than anyone. He won’t die.’
Gritting her teeth, Ellen hated that she knew the murderer’s behavior.
Still, she could not reveal the possession to Rohan—how should she explain it?
