As the chaotic days passed and he was left alone, Samuel finally found the leisure to reflect upon himself.
The god he had believed in all his life, and the very roots of that doctrine, were shaken—and on top of that, impure feelings a priest should never harbor.
The report concerning the historical materials found in the catacombs of Febrin Monastery had been submitted to the High Priest long ago. They would likely all be collected for comprehensive research.
Once those materials were studied, various discussions would probably arise regarding the existing doctrine...
Well, whether the long-forgotten goddess would be resurrected now... Samuel could not be certain.
‘But if it is discussed, perhaps her great deeds might be recorded in history this time.’
Samuel wished that the actions of the ‘Captain’ from the memories he had recovered would receive proper acclaim.
Was this feeling truly nothing more than the ‘lingering residue of a bygone past’ that Anelli had spoken of?
「I think I didn't just worship her, but desired her desperately.」
He had no objection to Anelli's remark that he must have worshipped the proxy of the past. But this desire he felt now...
This yearning could not possibly be a leftover from the past.
It was too intense to be called a leftover, and it was swelling, growing ever larger.
“Ha...”
He clenched his fist, tightly closed his eyes to suppress the rising heat.
‘It would have been better if I had never realized it at all.’
Realization was like the wind, fanning the flames within and spreading them in all directions. It seemed they would not die down until there was nothing left to burn.
‘To think such a worldly, wretched emotion...’
Perhaps from the very moment he first saw her, the moment he met the eyes of that woman who found him so bothersome, a tiny spark had been kindled.
Perhaps, while following her around under the pretext of the Resurrected One, he had nurtured a spark without even knowing it existed.
Without knowing it was a conflagration that would char his insides black, just like that.
* * *
“Why is Anelli here?”
My sister, the Phrygian, who had burst into Father’s study since morning, paled and stiffened upon discovering me.
I glanced at her, then indifferently turned my eyes back to the documents.
“Father!”
“Phrygian, you entered without knocking.”
“What is Anelli looking at right now?”
“That is none of your concern.”
It wasn’t difficult to grasp the situation.
It seemed my sister had sensed she was being pushed aside, and Father had not yet made a definitive announcement.
After all, it wouldn’t be easy to rashly announce a change in the minor duke who had held the position for so long. Especially in a situation where I had been secretly extracted from the imperial palace.
He probably intended to reveal my existence publicly only after Heinri had firmly persuaded the Emperor.
“It’s nothing, just as Father said.”
But that was the public announcement.
‘Wouldn’t it be fine to move that announcement forward within the family?’
Especially to the person concerned.
“It’s about the trousseau and dowry to be sent to the imperial palace. Since I have considerable experience with palace life, I thought I could be of some help.”
At my words, Phrygian’s complexion brightened slightly. Hearing ‘trousseau and dowry to be sent to the imperial palace,’ she seemed to understand it as mine.
Oh dear, how pitiful.
“As the eldest daughter of Roam, it should at least be presentable.”
“……What?”
Phrygian’s complexion changed drastically. Father clicked his tongue briefly and chided me in a low voice.
“Anelli, your tongue has grown loose.”
“Ah, I thought you had finished discussing it with the person concerned. Was I mistaken?”
I smiled slyly at Phrygian as I asked with feigned innocence.
“My apologies. If you had learned of it after the imperial decree was issued, you might have been more moved. I was too hasty.”
Phrygian, who had been glaring at me with trembling eyes, turned to look at Father.
“What on earth is this about? A sudden marriage? And with the imperial family?”
“Sigh...”
At Father’s voice, heavy with fatigue, I gently placed the documents I was holding on the desk.
“It seems this isn’t the appropriate atmosphere to discuss this matter. Father, it appears you have an issue to resolve first, so I shall take my leave.”
Having bid a pointed farewell to Father, I passed by Phrygian and headed for the door.
Just before exiting, my eyes briefly fell on the family portrait hanging on one side of the study, but that was all.
‘How ridiculous.’
That family portrait, soon to be torn to shreds, was a picture worse than plain wallpaper.
* * *
What a morning—causing discord the moment I arrived at the Roam residence. How utterly refreshing!
I swallowed a laugh as I heard the raised voices coming from Father’s study.
It was simply regrettable that I couldn’t leave the door wide open to broadcast their argument far and wide.
Since my mood had improved for once, I should go see the Dullahans.
“Little Sister!”
My good mood was instantly dashed to the ground.
As if it had never been good, I, now coldly rigid, frowned at the person running toward me.
At the imperial palace, I could at least have her expelled, but here, living in the same residence, I couldn’t do that—a pity.
“Little Sister, let’s talk.”
I’d heard rumors that the adoption procedures were being re-examined, so why was she still standing here so intact?
“Sister.”
Lilia pulled up the corners of her trembling lips, forcing a smile. I thought she’d recoil and disappear the moment she saw me.
It seemed she had changed her strategy.
‘Well, after being so humiliated at the imperial banquet, it must have been difficult to keep using the same tactics.’
“Please, give me some time. I want to clear up the misunderstanding.”
Lilia clung to me, her frail voice spilling out.
I could see passing servants glancing this way, but Lilia paid them no mind.
It seemed more accurate to say she was so cornered she couldn’t afford to care about their gazes, rather than deliberately trying to show this side of herself.
“Please, Sister...”
I, who had been watching Lilia with narrowed eyes, slowly nodded.
“Fine.”
Well then, let’s hear just how hard she’s been racking her brains.
* * *
The servants had prepared refreshments, but Lilia did not touch them.
Instead, she was anxiously tearing at the hem of her dress. After parting and closing her lips several times, Lilia finally spoke when I had emptied half my cup.
“I found out about the rumors about me.”
“Ah, only now?”
“If Little Sister hadn’t told me, I would never have imagined. That such... terrible rumors were circulating.”
Terrible rumors. Was the mere talk of fooling around with a few men so terrible?
‘My direct subordinate knight testified that I changed men every night.’
And the one who likely instigated that was Lilia right before me.
To hide the sneer that rose, I brought the teacup to my lips. I felt the moderately warm tea moisten my lips.
“I know you hate me. But since you warned me for my sake this time, I thought maybe Sister... might pity me a little.”
It seemed Lilia had taken my warning as being for her benefit.
For me, who had intended to provoke her, it was a most regrettable outcome.
‘Then again, at this point, such self-centered thinking might be a talent in itself.’
Calmly listing my impressions inwardly as I sipped my tea, Lilia resolutely clasped her hands together.
“I’ll be honest. I have nowhere to retreat now. Please help me not to lose my family. You can do that, can’t you? Hmm?”
“Why should I?”
“I know Sister is aiming for Big Sister’s position. I’ll help you. I can do anything you ask!”
‘That’s a dangerous statement.’
‘I can do anything you ask’—seeing her make such a promise she couldn’t possibly keep, it seems she still hasn’t come to her senses.
Lilia, who couldn’t possibly know what I was thinking, continued in a serious voice.
“It’s true, believe me.”
At Lilia’s pleading face, looking as if she might burst into tears any moment, I sighed and set down my teacup.
“The only use I could possibly acknowledge in you was your precognitive ability.”
To be precise, it wasn’t precognition but a journey walking the future as ordained by the gods.
“But you can’t do that anymore, can you?”
Just as I, muttering indifferently, was about to avert my gaze from her—
“A-actually!”
Lilia hastily opened her mouth.
“My precognitive ability has returned.”
That statement was enough to capture my attention.
And it was also good for sharply heightening my loosely strung nerves.
“I haven’t told Father or Mother yet. But it’s true. It’s a slightly different form than before, but... I’m sure.”
Lilia bowed her head. I could see her clasped hands trembling.
I couldn’t tell if she was trembling because she was lying now, or because she had revealed a great secret.
But distinguishing the truth of that statement itself wasn’t difficult.
“Prove it.”
At my cool words, Lilia sharply raised her bowed head.
“It’s easy, isn’t it? If your ability has returned, prove it.”
If those words were true, simply expelling her from the family or blocking her entry to the imperial palace would not be enough.
“If I prove it, will you help me?”
“……If I become convinced you must remain in this family.”
If the effort is required to include you in this family I am determined to destroy.
Then I could certainly protect her adoption flawlessly.
“Fine.”
Lilia’s eyes lit up. A faint madness was even visible in those pupils.
“Her Majesty the Empress will collapse five days from now.”
“……That sounds like a rather dangerous statement, depending on interpretation.”
“I plan not to set a single foot outside the residence after today. If only to prove I didn’t fabricate the prophecy.”
I narrowed my eyes and openly showed disbelief. But Lilia, unshaken, continued without hesitation.
“And the one blamed for it will be a monster.”
“A monster?”
“Yes. You would know well, Sister. As the Resurrected One who serves the will of the gods.”
Anxiety crept up from deep within. The moment the word ‘surely not’ rose to mind, Lilia declared firmly.
“A Dullahan. A Dullahan will be blamed.”
The vague anxiety began to take shape as concrete fear. To avoid showing my agitation outwardly, I instead sneered.
“Why a Dullahan, of all things? Because I captured one at the imperial palace?”
“The Temple will officially announce it soon.”
Lilia’s voice was filled with more certainty than ever before.
“That Dullahans are creatures born abandoned by the gods, to sow curses upon this world.”
That was truly a dreadful certainty.