And Thus… It All Comes to an End - Chapter 2

“Wh—!”

“Lady Eisenberg! To be able to serve Goddess Aurelia in the temple for the rest of your life. Is there any greater honor than that?!”

“Exactly! Your engagement has been annulled, and furthermore, as someone privy to state secrets, there is a risk you could be targeted. Why can you not understand His Majesty’s heart, seeking only to protect you!”

Led by the Prime Minister, Lady Sara’s adoptive father, the high officials all raised their voices at once.

“Then, I shall grant that ‘honor’ to all of you. Please, feel free to serve in the temple in my stead.”

For a moment, the air stood still. Then, a shrill voice pierced the room.

“Lady Luciana! If secrets were to leak from you, it would concern the very survival of this nation. I cannot simply overlook that!”

“Oh? My grandfather is an Archduke. His estate is an ancient castle, and the security of his territory is as strict as the Royal Palace. As someone close to the royal family, I am even willing to sign a pledge not to leak any secrets. Would that not suffice?”

Sara’s face stiffened for a second. However, she did not flinch.

“Ugh…! To refuse service in the temple, Goddess Aurelia would never allow such a thing!”

“She would allow it.”

“She would—she would never!!”

Sara’s voice cracked. Her agitation echoed clearly through the hall.

Goddess Aurelia, whom this country worships—the Goddess of Light and Fertility. The faith rooted in the people’s hearts is deep, and I, too, am one of her believers.

The Prime Minister raised his voice again, continuing his words as if to fill the gap.

“It is said that when a crisis visits the nation, the ‘Apostle of the Goddess’ shall appear! Can you deny the possibility that by leaking secrets, you might create the very seeds of that crisis?!”

“Exactly! As the Apostle of the Goddess, I judge that you should go to the temple and serve the Goddess for the rest of your life!”

Hee-hee, how grandly she speaks. It’s as if she truly believes she’s become the Goddess’s spokesperson.

“You are in no position to judge me.”

I placed my words quietly. The air froze.

“Furthermore, I only said I would not go to the temple; I never said I would not serve her. I shall serve the Goddess even after death. And that is because—”

Behind my veil, I smiled slowly.

“—I, too, am an Apostle of the Goddess.”

“…Huh?”

A stir ran through the high officials, spreading like a ripple.

“What are you saying…? Two Apostles?!”

A look of blatant disgust appeared on Sara’s face.

“Lady Eisenberg! Are you serious about that statement? Do you have proof?!”

The Prime Minister’s voice trembled. Naturally. Those who know the full extent of the legends are limited.

The Apostles of the Goddess, who receive divine revelations and bring miracles, always appear in pairs in every era.

The legends speak of a black-haired Apostle who came from another world. However, in reality, there was always another. An Apostle born in this country, existing even before the Apostle from the other world arrived.

As the protagonist of the story, perhaps only the more conspicuous one was passed down through word of mouth. But the truth has been quietly inherited.

“Yes, I have proof. The crest engraved only upon the Apostles of the Goddess. It truly dwells within this body.”

“Preposterous!”

The King’s face flushed red as he bellowed.

“No such report has ever reached me! The maids who help you bathe and dress couldn’t possibly have missed it!”

I suppose so. The only time I remove my veil during a bath is to wash my hair and face. And I have done so only once before my lady-in-waiting, Anne.

“As a lady, this is not a very commendable act but I shall show you.”

Saying so, I gently placed my fingers on the veil. In the heavy, strained atmosphere, the fabric slid down silently.

And then, I stuck out my tongue.

“Wh—! There is a crest on her tongue! B-but how do you prove that it is the real thing?!”

The Prime Minister’s voice shook.

Proof, you say? I gave a small shrug and let a smile play on my lips. They should realize that forging a crest on one’s tongue is impossible. Honestly, how troublesome.

“I can prove it. Look at that vase over there. ‘The buds shall bloom all at once, and the flowers shall flourish as if competing with one another. To be offered to the sublime existence.’”

The moment everyone’s eyes gathered on the vase—

The flowers, which had been mere buds, snapped open all at once with a crackling sound, radiating vivid colors.

“As you know, it is said that special power dwells in the part where the crest is engraved.”

I lightly wiped my lips with my fingertip and looked around.

“In my case, power dwells within my words. Hee-hee, a dangerous power, isn’t it? So much so that those in power would surely covet it. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

The King’s complexion turned pale before our eyes.

“Why have you kept this silent until now?! Why did you hide it behind a veil?!”

“I told you, it is a dangerous power. I have no desire to be imprisoned. Besides—”

I tilted my head slightly and smiled.

“Look at me. I have quite a beautiful face, don’t I? If I exposed this face recklessly and Lord Cedric fell truly in love with me, it would be a nuisance.”

Lord Cedric, his face turning bright red, stared at me in a daze. To think of all the rumors that had circulated because I wore a veil.

‘She has a massive birthmark,’ ‘She’s covered in freckles,’ ‘She’s so ugly she can’t show herself.’

Hee-hee, it was a valuable experience.

The King distorted his face in annoyance.

“At any rate, it is passed down that two Apostles shall work together to bring peace to the nation. The annulment of the engagement is temporarily suspended. Until a new decision is reached, Luciana shall remain at the palace.”

Does he intend to make us both his consorts? Don’t be ridiculous.

“Your Majesty! That is too much!”

Sara also raised her voice.

“M-my crest is behind my earlobe! I can hear evil voices and thoughts! Lady Luciana has tried to belittle me many times. I heard it!”

Oh my. What a masterful performance.

“Indeed. Under such circumstances, how much mental strain would it put on Lady Sara to work together… Truly, the Lady of Eisenberg should reflect on her heart at the temple.”

I cut the Prime Minister off sharply.

“Everyone, would you please stop speaking so selfishly? The engagement has already been annulled. And I am returning to my territory. On this point, I will not yield.”

“—It is a royal command.”

The King’s voice echoed deeply. However, I did not take a single step back, meeting his gaze head-on.