I Became the Heroine’s Stand-in - Chapter 47

Diana regained consciousness, still crouched in the same position, gazing at the lake’s surface.

She had clearly been submerged in the water, yet not a single trace of it remained on her.

‘This place is truly unfathomable…’

Still dazed, she rose to her feet and approached the cleric. The man, who had been sitting silently in wait, greeted her with a warm smile.

“Congratulations. It seems you have passed the trial.”

“Is there a way for you to know that?”

“I can hear the voice of the gods.”

A voice that only he could hear—one that was inaudible to others.

Diana found herself wondering if such an ability was truly a blessing or rather a curse in disguise. Being special wasn’t always a good thing.

After all, she alone knew the empire’s future, and that knowledge felt more like a burden than a gift.

“That necklace… Did you bring it from the lake?”

The cleric gestured toward the pendant resting against her neck.

Diana instinctively lifted it, allowing the pearl to rest in her palm. Its surface shimmered with an iridescent glow, reflecting a spectrum of colors in a mesmerizing display.

“Yes. Is that… forbidden?”

“No, not at all. It’s not uncommon for people to return with artifacts, much like trophies. The one who resides there is known to be quite generous.”

At the very least, she wouldn’t have to worry about it being confiscated—a relief.

Humans were truly fickle creatures. What had felt like a burdensome gift just moments ago suddenly seemed too precious to part with at the thought of losing it.

“Still, I’d like to conduct a brief inspection, just to be sure.”

The cleric explained that divine artifacts sometimes had unintended effects on humans.

Placing his hand over the pendant, he closed his eyes in concentration. A moment later, he gave a small nod.

“There don’t appear to be any issues.”

“May I ask what you just did? It didn’t seem like magic.”

The cleric’s actions had been distinctly different from spellcasting—there had been no incantation or formula.

“It was divine power—a blessing borrowed from the gods.”

“Oh…”

For a brief moment, Diana wondered if she could learn such a power herself.

But realization dawned soon after, and a quiet sigh escaped her lips.

Unlike magic, divine power wasn’t something one could simply study and master.

“There isn’t much difference between magic and divine power, so don’t be too disheartened.”

“…It’s just that I don’t seem to have any aptitude for magic.”

She had once subtly hinted at her desire to learn magic to Madam Henshu, rather than bringing it up directly with Ersivan, who was focused on training her in swordsmanship.

That had been a long time ago. She understood Madam Henshu’s unspoken reluctance to bring up the subject again.

The only logical conclusion was simple—Diana had no talent for magic.

She had come to terms with it long ago, yet the cleric now dismissed her belief outright, offering her encouragement instead.

“Not being able to use magic? That’s unheard of. It might be difficult to learn, but to be completely incapable of using it… I’ve never seen such a case before.”

“Really?”

“If you don’t mind, would you allow me to conduct an assessment?”

Would it be similar to the test Madam Henshu had performed before?

There was no reason to refuse, so Diana nodded without hesitation.

“Please close your eyes for a moment.”

[…]

“You may open them now.”

The moment the cleric released her hands, Diana instinctively blinked several times.

A faint sensation of something slipping away lingered in her awareness.

As her vision gradually cleared, she found herself staring at the cleric, who now looked noticeably uneasy.

Gone was his earlier confidence—he now resembled a young foal caught in an awkward predicament.

Sensing his discomfort, Diana decided to speak first to ease the tension.

“I suppose that means I failed.”

“I… regret to say, yes.”

“Do you know why?”

If anyone would tell her the truth, it would be him.

“Magic is a power rooted in imagination. The stronger and more vivid one’s imagination, the more naturally magic manifests. In fact, magicians refer to this quality as ‘childlike wonder’—a pure and boundless imagination. That’s why learning magic is easiest at a young age.”

So, in short…

Diana lacked that childlike wonder.

She had often been told she was emotionally reserved for her age. And after learning the brutal truth about the world, she had made a conscious effort to cast aside whatever fragments of sentimentality remained.

It made sense, in a way.

Yet, there was something she couldn’t accept.

‘Even His Highness can use magic. How is it that I can’t?’

That cold, calculating Ersivan was capable of wielding magic—but not her?

Was that truly possible?

If there was anyone who seemed devoid of warmth, it was him. In fact, if anything, he was worse than her.

Seeing Diana’s serious expression, the cleric misunderstood her concern and hurried to explain further.

“However, most people still retain at least some level of childhood imagination. Even as adults, remnants of their youthful fantasies remain. That’s why many begin with the basics—drawing upon what little wonder still lingers.”

“But I… have none at all, is that it?”

“Cases where the amount is too minimal to be developed do exist, but, my lady… your level is nearly nonexistent.”

He hesitated for a moment before finally gathering the courage to continue.

“I apologize if this is inappropriate, but… may I ask you something?”

“You may ask anything. Please don’t hesitate.”

“I’ve heard that cases like yours usually occur when one has no recollection of their childhood. However, even then, some fragments of childlike wonder remain buried deep within the heart.”

“But you said I have absolutely none left, didn’t you?”

“That’s why I suspect that perhaps your memories were erased. When memories are artificially removed, they tend to take that inner innocence with them. If I may ask—do you remember your childhood?”

This was precisely why Diana disliked people who were too perceptive.

They uncovered her vulnerabilities too easily, exposing secrets she had no intention of revealing.

“No, I remember everything clearly. It must be due to something else.”

The cleric accepted her answer surprisingly easily. It made sense—after all, there were only a handful of mages in the empire capable of performing such a powerful spell.

If his theory was correct, it meant that one of those few had deliberately altered her memories.

‘Of all things, they could have used their talent for something good, like contributing to society… but instead, they erased my memories?’

The absurdity of the situation was almost laughable.

Diana simply smiled—it was the kind of reaction that suited Lillian.

Her next destination was the grand cathedral within the temple, the place where betrothed couples received the High Priest’s blessing.

After dismissing the cleric who had accompanied her, Diana stepped inside the cathedral.

Through the delicate lace of her veil, she caught glimpses of the cathedral’s breathtaking interior, unable to contain her admiration.

She walked down the crimson carpet, her steps light, until she reached the altar.

Just ahead of her, a familiar head of dark hair caught her eye.

Among the sacred colors refracting through the stained glass, that jet-black obsidian stood out unmistakably.

Yet, the light softened it—hints of blue and violet shimmered within, resembling a galaxy suspended in the night sky.

His attire was nearly identical to hers, adjusted only for their respective genders.

She had noticed before—Ersivan’s striking features became even more pronounced whenever he wore light-colored clothing.

As she approached, he turned slightly and smiled.

Through the small gap in her veil, his subtle yet enchanting smile peeked through.

Diana found herself instinctively closing her eyes.

The realization that such thoughts had crept into her mind inside a sacred place filled her with guilt.

If only she had known that he was feeling the same way, perhaps she wouldn’t have felt so sinful.

Beneath his composed demeanor, an unspoken urgency burned.

It was like a heatwave rippling over scorching sand, an anxious energy pressing against his restraint.

For a fleeting moment, the two stole secret glances at each other from behind their veils.

Their silent exchange was abruptly cut short by the High Priest’s voice.

“I congratulate you both on the union you are about to forge.”

“It is an honor, Your Eminence.”

The High Priest placed a thick tome atop the altar, preparing to begin the ceremonial blessing.

His aged fingers skimmed the pages before he took a deep breath, then began the invocation.

“Ersivan Valencia. Lillian Mernard. I bestow upon you the sacred words of blessing.”

A gentle breeze drifted through the open windows, lifting Diana’s veil ever so slightly.

The lace fluttered delicately, brushing against the fine, barely visible baby hairs on her skin.

“You were once complete strangers, and now, you shall become the most intimately bound. There is no bond more romantic than this.”

The cathedral was silent, save for the aged priest’s voice and the quiet, steady breaths of the couple.

“May this pure and beautiful union remain unbroken for eternity. With the power of the divine, I bless you both. May the path ahead be one of light, not darkness, and when the shadows come, may your wisdom guide you through them together.”

Despite the strict prohibition against physical contact between men and women within the temple, Ersivan’s fingers kept inching toward hers.

Like a fledgling bird repeatedly bumping its head against a window, his large hand hovered dangerously close to hers, brushing against her fingertips.

This was supposed to be a solemn and sacred moment.

Yet, Diana had to bite her lip to suppress the urge to laugh.

Ersivan, too, seemed to be struggling, his shoulders subtly shaking.

“You, O Divine One, shall reach out your hand and bestow your blessings upon them. Through your grace, their future shall shine bright, and one day, their children shall inherit their destined path.”

This was a once-in-a-lifetime blessing.

Both quickly composed themselves and refocused on the High Priest’s words.

“This is my solemn request to you, O Divine One, and I firmly believe this shall be the fate you bestow upon them. I pray, grant your blessings to Ersivan Valencia and Lillian Mernard.”

As the priest’s voice faded, Diana’s hearing became attuned to the other sounds around her.

The gentle rustling of fabric, the faint chirping of birds from beyond the window, the dry cough of the priest, and finally, the heavy thud of the book being closed, marking the end of the ceremony.

Ah…

Truly…

It was a perfectly romantic afternoon, fitting for a blessing.

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