n

n

nDrip drip

nThe beautiful green carpet of grass set upon a hill, under the tree and the vast blue sky changed its color to red, the opposite color of the blue eyes which were opened wide staring at the little girl in front of him.

nThe hill which three children used to play together, but none of them ever set their feet on that hill ever again after the accident.

n

"Richard, you're hurt!!! Who did this to you??

" the soft voice coming from the girl with the small lip just like her innocent pink eyes as she ran to grab ahold of the little Richard as she saw him in pain.

nThe edge of his chin grew red and the knee was scratched. His clothes were as if someone pushed him off the small hill.

n

"Diana...??

"

n

"What's wrong?? Let me get some bandage for you...

" her eyes were teary as if she was in pain. Her heart couldn't handle seeing Richard hurt.

nRichard shook his head to reassure Diana with the smile and the dimple on his cheek, he softly spoke,

"Don't worry...it's nothing.

" while looking straight into her eyes making her blush.

nSomehow it was awkward for him to see the new side he discovered in Diana that day.

n

nIn the present,

n

"Priestess Irene, I finally found you.

" the woman with the long orange hair fluttering along the wind turned back to the follower who ran to her panting with the letter on his hand.

n

"Are you alright?? Let's talk inside.

" she went to him ignoring the strange nostalgic feeling when she stared at the green hill she saw from the church's balcony.

nThe follower shook his head and handed her the letter, it was the reply letter she got back from the dukedom led by duke Asher.

nShe took the letter but didn't open it right away as she took the hand of the man who delivered the letter inside and got him to sit comfortably in her new office of the church.

n

"Thank you, priestess.

" the fake title priestess was weird to Irene since it was the title she got from lying to everyone in the empire.

nShe sat on the other side of that guy on the couch reading the letter with the cold sweat dripping on her forehead afraid of the worst reply she could get.

nCongratulation on becoming the priestess, lady Irene. We're honored to work with you in the years to come. From: Asher Vellimion.

nHer worry vanished after reading the content of the letter, another stone finally got out of her way. The main source of the church's income came from the Vellimion dukedom until the church started relying on the money donated by Asher.

nAfter getting the priestess's position, Irene knew the finance of the church wasn't well as the church only got money from duke Asher's support and the money those nobles bribed the priest. And most of the money vanished alongside the priest's death.

nUntil she got a hand on another source of income, she had to rely on the support of Asher in the current time.

nDuke Asher and duke Jellal, those two almost stood beside each other. Asher's business bloomed just like the roses continued making money in each and every second making him the richest nobles in the empire. Without the military, duke Jellal won't be able to compare to Asher.

nHe started donating the money ever since the late duke, his father died.

n

"Priestess, you're really a nice person. I was really wrong for doubting you that day.

"

n

"...nice...?? I just did what everyone would do.

" she shook her head trying to deny it in a polite manner.

n

"No...without you, everyone wouldn't see any hope by themselves. It thanks to you and lady Aurora.

"

n

"...

" they both became quiet when mentioning Aurora.

n

"Lady Aurora's going to be fine, I hope...

"

n

"Yeah...she's a strong person after all.

" no one would be able to predict the future as there wasn't any news coming from the army sent to the border at all. It was as if those armies vanished into thin air.

n

"If you excuse me, I will take my leave to prepare for the ceremony tomorrow.

"

n

"Go on, don't tire yourself like earlier. Stay strong, okay??

" the follower's face grew red couldn't handle the smile like the arrow's cupid struck deep into his heart from Irene.

nHe ran away immediately.

nIrene sighed shaking her head and organized the pile of paperwork on the desk by herself. They were all the paperworks the late priest didn't bother to care about.

n

"I hope my mother gets the money I sent...

" she walked slowly to the balcony and put her hand together to send her prayer to god even though she knew God wouldn't even care about such prayer.

n'Please make my mother healthy.'

nIrene...

nOut of a sudden, a familiar voice called her from her back. Her eyes shook terribly wishing she was only hallucinating to hear that voice. She didn't want her fear to come true for that voice sounded like that.

nShe turned her back to the desk but no person was there. She was relieved.

n'I thought it was my mother...calling me.' she shook her head trying to think positive and ran from her office to cool her head.

n

"Greeting, priestess.

"

n

"Good morning, priestess~

"

n

"Priestess, good morning~

" the followers started opening up to her as they stayed and spent time together in the church for the past few days. The church became livelier and the structure on the mountain was cleaned turning the concrete pillar full of most to the brand new pillar.

nMany nobles started seeing the church in the new light, with the respect for the new priestess, they came to the church to wish and send their prayer to god.

n

"Priestess, you forget your crown.

"

n

"I was only going for a walk~

"

n

"Still, you're our priestess now. Besides, you would look even more beautiful with this crown.

" Irene smiled lowering herself down for the follower to put the gold leaf crown on her head.

nIt kinda blended in with her orange hair.

nShe waved her hand goodbye and walked freely outside of the church to the hill she was staring at from the balcony earlier.

n

"I feel like I used to come to this hill before.

" the tree with the purple flowers hanging down from the branches was the same as the tree she used to see in her dream. She sat down under the tree enjoying the fresh air on the hill staring at the full views of the three beautiful buildings of the capital, the royal palace, the church, and the Mortel manor.

nIt was only that hill that could allow seeing such beautiful things. She wished from the bottom of her heart that she could share it with Marinette and Aurora.

nHer eyes were full of worry for those two girls, one vanished and one went to a battlefield fighting the demon.

nHaa...

nStep step step step

n

"Is that all you could find in duke Asher's manor???!

"

n

"Yes, your highness. There's nothing special to report.

"

n

"Though, you stayed there for quite a long time. How can it be nothing, Flynn??

"

n

"Except a strange woman in the strange clothes, there was nothing else, your highness. I stayed there only to follow her.

"

n

"Well, if it comes from you, I got nothing to worry about. It looks like I don't have to worry about duke Asher--

"

nThey both stopped talking when the hill which was supposed to be a remote place had another person sleeping under the tree with the crown on her head fell down to her shoulder.

n

"I saw that person before, your highness.

"

n

"Let's go!! Let's go back!!!

" the prince turned his back immediately hiding his face walking down the hill in a rush when he noticed Irene was there.

n

"Your highness???!!

" Flynn followed Richard behind in confusion.

n

"She's the new priestess. I just don't want to involve with that person.

"

n

"...yes...

"

n

"And about your next mission, you should follow the strange woman you told me about.

"

n

"What about the new priestess?? She can be quite a trouble for you, your highness.

"

n

"I'll handle her myself.

"

n

nBack to Irene who was 'sleeping', after Richard and Flynn left, she opened her trembling eyes panting out of fear.

nShe didn't expect the knight who stood beside Marinette would also serve Richard at the same time, and the half conversation she heard was something she didn't expect from a trustworthy man like Flynn.

nIf he intruded the manor of Asher without anyone noticing and got quite the information, didn't that mean he was spying on Marinette the whole time??

nShe clenched her hands standing on the hill looking down at those two men walking in the other direction. Once again, even the man who looked trustworthy turned out like that.

nThe person one trusted the most could turn to the worst enemy.

nIrene put her crown on top of her head and ran back to the church in a hurry as she finally knew what she should do in the meantime to help both Aurora and Marinette while they were gone.

n

"Lady Herod, I know you're in there. Let me in!!!

" she knocked on the white door of the room reserved for the VIP guest.

n

"Urgh...it's you again.

" Herod came out of the door with the bed hair even though the sun had already ascended up and soon to be lunchtime, Herod was still in the pajama.

n

"I want to help lady Marinette.

" Herod scratched his head yawning listening to Irene.

n

"What do you want to do...??

"

n

"I want to meet duke Jellal!! I know you're a friend of his.

"

n

"A friend?? How did you get that idea??

"

n

"Well...well...you...you always visit him in the hospital.

"

n

"A friend, that br--

" Herod almost called duke Jellal who looked ten years older than him a brat.

n

"I already finished all my works, how about I go with you today??

"

n

"Alright, alright. And change your clothes, I don't want to deal with the crowd.

"

n

"Okay!!

"

nHerod sighed staring at Irene running and tripping along the way to change her clothes, he pouted and ruffled his long annoying hair then entered the room.

n

"Being a woman is such a pain...urgh...I really want to stay in bed all day...

" he muttered with the annoying expression on his face, he really wished to jump on the bed, but for the first time, his bed wasn't dirty from the enemy's blood but from his blood instead.

n

"How do women deal with this period thingy...urgh...

" he continued sleeping on the floor when the embarrassing thought crossed his mind of how he thought someone cursed him making him in pain, he ran for many miles to Irene to clear the curse and it turned out to be the women's period.

n

"Urgh...when that brat Marinette is back, I'm gonna hit her for making me deal with this...

"

nTo be continued....!

n