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nI already knew that my mother was poisoned like me, but what does it have to do with his oath?

n“Your mother was found to have been poisoned much later than you. Lots of doctors as well as the High Priest came to treat her, but most of them said she would not survive. As you know, our family had no immediate children or distant relatives, but the conditions of the succession of my family were very strict. So, the only one who could be a successor at the time was me. Your mother refused me because she could not see the lineage of my family of 1,000 years disconnected because of her.”

n“Ah… ”

nI felt heartbroken because I could well understand how my mother might have felt at the time.

nHow did she feel when she had to refuse the man she loved? She must have felt so sad as if someone cut her heart. As she had to reject coldly, she couldn’t express her sorrow to anybody, swallowing it deep down.

n“Of course, I could understand how she felt, but that didn’t matter to me. I just tried hard to change her mind, and finally, I could win over her heart. Thanks to God’s blessings, I earned a beautiful daughter like you.”

n“… I see.”

n“So, Tia, I hope you won’t give up easily.”

n“Daddy.”

n“Although she was poisoned, she got pregnant and gave birth to you. I’m not saying I want to stop your decision, but I just hope you won’t act extreme. You can still get pregnant, Tia.”

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nI suddenly became curious about it when I faced his warm eyes.

nWere they happy during the seven long years of her infertility until she got pregnant with me?

n“By the way, Daddy.”

n“Um?”

n“Well, you got married to Mom, knowing that she might be infertile, right?”

n“Yes, I did.”

n“Nonetheless, didn’t you want a baby? Even though you thought you wouldn’t have any baby, were you happy? ”

n“Sure. We were happy.”

nHe said that without any hesitation. His voice was full of confidence.

n“I was happier than anyone else in the world that I could be with her.”

n“… ”

n“And when I came to learn that she had a baby, I was the happiest man in the world. Your mother felt the same way.”

nHis warm eyes, affectionate voice and navy blue eyes looking at me as if he saw the most precious thing in the world. I felt my emptiness filling up with something warm, and my frozen heart melting away.

n“Tia, I’m not going to change your mind, but don’t block the possibility itself.”

n“Ah… ”

n“There is a lot of happiness in the world, but no one can have it all. I hope you can live without missing all the happiness that you can catch.”

n“… ”

n“So, don’t give up so easily. You still can achieve lots of happiness.”

n“… Thanks, Daddy.”

nAlthough my wounded pride was not restored, and I didn’t change my mind to be the successor of my family, I still felt my heavy heart grow lighter.

nA faint smile came to his lips while he was looking at me smiling gently. The morning sun shining through the open windows lit up the room.

nA few days later, I headed for Sanctus Vita when the High Priest asked me to stop by the temple one of these days. Escorted by the apprentice priest who had been waiting in advance, I arrived at the deepest place and found the space, where I once had followed the High Priest on the day Jiun received her name with God’s prophecy.

nIt was a sacred place consisting only of white and green.

nIt was the sanctuary Sanctuarium where only the six roots of Vita could enter and those who had their permission.

nWhen I stepped into the indoor garden created in the middle of the corridor, a young man sipping tea at a table caught my eye. When he found me approaching him slowly, he greeted me with a faint smile, “May the blessings of life be with you! It’s been a while, Lady Monique.”

n“Yes, Your Eminence. I am seeing you after a long time. ”

nLooking at me nodding, he smiled, then offered tea as if he recalled something suddenly.

n“Oh, I’m sorry to treat you. Please have some tea.”

n“Oh, thank you.”

nI unwittingly opened my eyes wide, holding the mug. Light pink tea and sweet scent. Uh, this tea is …

n“Do you like it?”

n“Yes, but…”

n“Good. Actually, I have reserved this for you as a gift. Please accept this.”

n“Pardon?”

nOpening my eyes wide, I looked at the pouch he gave me. Is he going to give me this tea, and this much?

n“I think I heard that you like tea. When I saw this tea, I immediately recalled you. Please accept it. It’s a little something for you.”

n“Oh, thank you for this precious thing …”

nWatching me shaking my head, he said with a faint smile, “You don’t have to be so surprised. Of course, it is a rare tea, but it is not as expensive as you think.”

n“What do you mean… ”

nWhat he gave me was a special tea from the Sono kingdom, which had excellent taste and aroma. As very little was produced, its tax rate was hiked when the tea passed the borders, so even the imperial family found it hard to obtain. When I was the empress in the past, I enjoyed it only occasionally.

nThen, why did he give this precious tea to me?

n“As you know, all the imported goods brought to the temple here are exempt from taxes. So, you don’t have to feel burdened by it.”

n“Ah… ”

nHe was right. All the imports passing through the borders are subject to tariffs, but those used at the temple were an exception. Of course, the importers had to verify they were actually used in the temple by accompanying a priest.

nEven so, I felt a bit burdened because it was too much, but I could not refuse the favor given by the High Priest. I bowed my head to express gratitude, thinking that I should repay next time.

n“If you insist, let me accept it, Your Eminence. Thank you for your favor. ”

n“You’re welcome. In fact, I had a headache because of lots of things. I’m happy as you accept it gladly. I feel like I fully recovered from my fatigue that has built up these days.”

nIn fact, in times of uneasiness involving the change of regime, there were more people visiting the temple. Besides, these days the noble factions including the Duke Jena family were frequenting the temple.

nAs if he was pondering over something, he suddenly said while glancing down at the pink tea, “You look more shiny after going through a hardship. You are so beautiful. ”

n“…Thank you, Your Eminence.”

n“If you were like a sheltered plant in the past, you now look like a flower on a cliff that has blossomed in the midst of rain and wind. As you’re in a precarious position there, I think there are lots of people who can’t sleep, thinking of you.”

n“… ”

nI stared blankly at the man in front of me.

nWhat the heck is he talking about? Did he invite me here to talk such nonsense?

nAs if he read my look and expression, he smiled after staring at me.

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n“Oh, I got it. I hear you’re going to have a coming-of-age ceremony soon, but you’re still unfamiliar with this. Let me get to the point right away.”

n“… ”

n“Hmm, recently you have received God’s prophecy about the birth of a new root, right? ”

n“Ah, yes.”

n“Sooner or later, the baby who was born at that time, the sixth root of Vita, Sextus, will come to Sanctus Vita.”

n“Is he the new High Priest? But he is too young…”

nEven if the High Priest can use divine power, how can a baby who has not yet become one year old do anything? Besides, isn’t Sanctus Vita a temple where the High Priests’ confrontation with the top priests is very severe?

nWhen I tilted my head, the High Priest said with a mysterious smile, “You look puzzled. Well, I can understand because almost nothing is known about the new High Priest.”

n“Oh, I see.”

n“By nature it is our duty as the root of our Lord to wander around without settling in any specific place and practice the will of the Lord. However, there are exceptions to anything. Like now when there is a generational change, I’m allowed to stay in a certain place for a certain period while taking care of my new colleague.”

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