CHAPTER 153…………………..
The brilliant sunlight passed through the stained glass window, transforming into countless colors that embroidered his silver hair.
It was like a scene painted with care by God himself, as if it were a single watercolor masterpiece.
Above his head, I could see a statue of God.
A figure with closed eyes, smiling kindly at his creations, ruling the world with fairness.
The whole scene seemed to symbolically show that Zion was a human chosen by God.
I found myself mesmerized by the unreal sight. Zion extended his hand, clad in a white glove, toward me.
It felt exactly like the hand of salvation described in the Bible, and I wondered, of all times, could this really happen now?
But that didn’t change reality. My mind quickly assessed the situation.
Ah, I’d heard that the crown prince’s palace had a small yet fairly grand private chapel. So this was it.
Since realizing my true identity, I’d somehow felt embarrassed to stand before God, so I rarely visited the temple. Even though I had worked here for years, it was my first time entering the chapel.
Hesitating for a moment, I took Zion’s hand, and he gently helped me to my feet.
“Are you alright? Can you walk?”
At the same time, my stomach churned again.
‘Ah… it’s not because I’m nervous, it’s because Zion is nearby.’
With that small realization, I forced a smile.
“I’m… okay. I think I just need to sit and rest a little.”
“Come this way.”
Zion guided me to a nearby chair. Sitting at the edge of the chapel, I finally felt a bit better.
As I took a deep breath, Zion brought me some cold water.
After taking a sip and holding the cup, he sat beside me, watching me with a worried gaze.
“…I didn’t expect to meet Zion here. I heard you returned to the Vatican.”
“I had an unofficial schedule that required a brief visit. As you know, the world is in such chaos right now… I didn’t want to cause unnecessary commotion.”
The Vatican must be at the forefront of the war against the Dark Sorcerers.
The saint, a symbol of God himself, was often used in various ways to boost morale.
“Since I came so discreetly, I didn’t expect anything else… yet here I am, meeting Emily by chance.”
Zion smiled softly.
“I wanted to see you.”
“…!”
Didn’t that nuance feel… a little strange just now? I must be imagining it.
Conscious of my right shoulder touching him, I subtly leaned back and laughed.
“I guess so. I didn’t even realize it was a chapel, and Zion must’ve been surprised to see me.”
“Didn’t you want to see me, Emily?”
“Huh?”
“You didn’t say you wanted to see me, so I wondered if I was the only one happy to meet.”
Then Zion’s eyebrows softened, and in an instant, he looked like a pitiful little puppy caught in the rain.
‘This guy again?’
He couldn’t resist using his charm. I wanted to tell him, ‘That doesn’t work on me!’ but…
‘…I guess it’s understandable to feel a bit hurt.’
Unlike before, it was hard to cut him off so coldly. When Zion used his face to manipulate me, I could build a wall.
‘This time it’s not like that. He doesn’t seem to be expecting anything from me… Does he just get a bit more affectionate when he’s close to someone?’
I thought that might be the case. Being a saint, Zion probably had a hard time making friends.
Above all, when I looked into his bright, sparkling pale blue eyes… I felt like I’d be cruel if I didn’t respond to him.
“I wanted to see you too.”
When I answered that, Zion’s eyes softened as he smiled.
“Really?”
“I felt a bit disappointed when I heard you went to the Vatican before I woke up.”
I felt a little awkward, like I’d acted too familiar.
“Of course, you were busy, so I can’t blame you… after I woke up, so many things had changed.”
Like Lord Huril and Zeke. Starting with the breaking of the barrier on Thanatos Island, and even my relationship with Tristan.
“That’s why I was so confused.”
Thinking back, my voice sank.
Confessing honestly to Tristan? That wasn’t even an option.
I had always hidden everything, and if caught, I’d run. That principle had guided me so far.
“Don’t worry.”
Zion gently wrapped his arm around my shoulder. His hair brushed against my nape.
He naturally rested his head on my shoulder. Before I could even process what was happening, he had already claimed my shoulder.
“The more chaotic the world, the rarer the things that don’t change.”
Considering his height, leaning on me must have been uncomfortable, yet Zion spoke in a calm tone, giving no sign of it.
“And I don’t miss opportunities when they present themselves.”
“Huh?”
“It’s nothing. By the way, if you’re not feeling well, you should’ve gone to the infirmary. Why the chapel?”
Was it my imagination, or was his voice a half-step lower than usual?
“Well…”
“Oh, right. You said you didn’t realize it was a chapel, and you even gagged without knowing I was here.”
“……”
“I guess you didn’t want to be noticed while feeling sick, so you tried to enter anywhere… am I wrong?”
Everything he said was correct, so I had nothing to say. Avoiding his gaze, I stayed silent, and his eyes grew more insistent.
I couldn’t escape his scolding like this!
My long-honed scold-detection radar went off. I hastily changed the subject.
“Ah, by the way, did Luca come with you this time? Last time, you brought Luca along.”
“……”
Zion looked at me quietly, then reluctantly went along with the conversation.
“This time, I came alone. I was only planning a short stay and will return to the Vatican tonight.”
“Ah…”
“Luca is doing well… though he struggles with the stigmata at times.”
Suddenly, Claude came to mind.
The image of him writhing in pain, unable to escape the divine power, and the sweet smile he gave me.
But then, terrible mistakes flashed in my mind.
“Because of the war with the Dark Sorcerers, Luca must have a lot on his mind.”
I mean.
“Probably. He doesn’t show it to me, but… even at his young age, he acts mature. I feel pity and admiration at the same time.”
His expression was surprisingly tender.
“You must care for Luca a lot… even though he’s a Dark Sorcerer.”
“At first, I felt strong resistance. Once his body recovered, I planned to decide his fate afterward.”
Zion smiled wryly. Knowing his backstory, I nodded, understanding that even postponing the decision during Luca’s suffering was a great act of mercy.
“As I said, I often check on the children at the academy, so I know kids well… Luca isn’t much different from other children.”
“……”
“He cries when sad, laughs when happy. Watching him jump around excitedly over a snack, I realized I don’t see anything that makes him different from other kids.”
His calm tone mixed with complicated emotions.
“I’ve spent my life hating Dark Sorcerers. They took the lives of my family when they were younger than me. I believed they were born as embodiments of evil, beings who could never coexist with humans.”
Zion scratched the back of his head as he spoke.
“But thinking about it, I realized I didn’t truly know Dark Sorcerers. Luca is the first I’ve observed closely for so long.”
Hmm… there’s probably one more.
“Isn’t it funny? I devoted my life to hating something I didn’t even understand.”
He let out a small sigh, and I felt unfamiliarity at the sight of him.
“…But Dark Sorcerers grow by feeding on human death. How could herbivores and carnivores coexist? …Perhaps humans hating Dark Sorcerers is inevitable.”
“Maybe.”
Zion admitted readily.
“However…”
I lifted my head and looked at the statue smiling kindly at us.
“When I watch Luca, I can’t help but think that… not all humans are kinder than Dark Sorcerers. Not all Dark Sorcerers…”
I felt tears threatening to fall.
“…might not be humanity’s enemies.”
Ridiculously enough.
At this moment, I found comfort in the most unexpected place.
In the embrace of God, whom I thought had abandoned me.
“Maybe it’s a foolish illusion… Emily?”
I felt Zion looking at me in surprise as tears ran down my cheeks, falling to my collarbone.
“……”
Seeing me cry like a broken faucet, he hesitated for a moment, then silently hugged me.
Pat, pat.
My heart thumped at his comforting touch.
I liked the care. His delicate manner of not asking why I was crying allowed me to let it all out freely.
