My time with Lilia continued.

  After a while, my body became stronger. I could lightly run around the hut.

  We continued our routine.

  We played board games together. I drank the tea she brewed. Those were blessed times.

  I was ignorantly drowned in my little world.

  I forgot the outside world.

  I forgot those who worked tirelessly for my safe being.

  I really just wanted to enjoy my little peace with Lilia.

  Then, today, our peace was interrupted by a person.

  For this whole week, I did not fall into a coma.

  I could stay awake and sleep like a normal person.

  It was this morning. After I woke up, I strolled around the hut.

  I did not bother to call Duke Raven.

  Seeing him would remind me of the outside world.

  So, I avoided meeting him.

  After that, I went into my hut.

  I was lazily practicing the new card game Lilia left for me when I heard a person knock on my door.

  I knew it was not Lilia. After all, it was still early in the morning.

  We already agreed that we would only meet in the evening and at night.

  So, I thought it was Duke Raven.

  That was why I did not reply to it.

  I really wanted to minimize my meeting with him.

  I thought that if I stayed silent, he would back away.

  Then, the door opened without my permission.

  Hearing the sound of the door open, I turned to look at it.

  There stood a girl dressed in a white robe, her hair adorned by a luxury hairband.

  She even carried a basket.

  As I sat in my chair, looking at her in perplexity, she, too, stood still, petrified, staring back at me.

  I was not sure how long we stayed like that.

  At the end, it was I who broke the silence. “Who are you?” I was wary of her.

  For so many years, it was only Duke Raven and Lilia who had been here.

  “…” Then she did not answer. She just stood there, lost for words.

  I could sense her eyes were scanning me from head to toe. It made me uncomfortable.

  Then I asked her again, this time, I changed my question. My tone became more aggressive. “What are you doing here?”

  Only then did she reply to me.

  I could see that she has not yet recovered from the confusion. “Ah, please forgive me, Your Highness. My name is Aria, a saintess candidate, and I came here for－”

  When I heard her introduce herself as Aria, I began to feel doubt.

  That name was the name of the daughter of our enemy.

  Due to the tragedy of that time, not many people gave their children that name.

  It has become an uncommon name for children.

  However, I remembered it immediately when I heard her name.

  It was drilled into me by my family.

  Not only my mother and sister, but also my father, told me to remember this name and never forget it.

  They told me to treat her ‘well’.

  They might want me to remember our enemy.

  They might want me to take revenge on our enemy.

  I would never forget it.

  Thinking to that point, my blood began to boil. However, I forced myself to calm down. I told myself that I should not act before I confirm her identity.

  Yet, when she added that she was a saintess candidate, my doubt was confirmed.

  She was, after all, that man’s daughter.

  That meant she, too, was our enemy.

  Then, I began to lose myself to my wrath.

  I slowly stood up and walked to her.

  I thought she was saying something, but I couldn't hear it.

  I was thinking about the reason why she was there.

  Was she there to kill me?

  Was she there to harm me?

  Was she there to mock me?

  Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

  Was she there to use me to threaten my family?

  Then, before she could finish her sentence, I came to stand still in front of her.

  Then, with a cold voice, I asked her.

  “Why are you here?”

  “that… I am here…” I could see confusion in her eyes.

  However, I had already run out of patience by then.

  In front of me was my enemy.

  She stood there defenseless.

  I could kill her if I had a weapon.

  Then I realized something.

  Ah, I could not, for the place we stood was the land without death.

  However, at least I could make her feel pain.

  Even with just a fraction, just one ten-thousandth of our pain was enough.

  I tried to take revenge at that time.

  Then, I extended my hands to grab her neck.

  I tried to strangle her.

  She just stood there defenseless.

  She just looked into my eyes with sadness and pity.

  Why did she have to feel sad?

  What right did she have to pity me?

  Was she thinking she was already the winner?

  Was she mocking me?

  Then, when I tried to tighten my hands, I saw her crying.

  Was she afraid of death?

  Did I scare her to tears?

  Was she going to beg for mercy in tears?

  Seeing her like that, I began to feel exhilarated.

  It was satisfying.

  It was satisfying to see your enemy in tears, begging for mercy.

  I thought she might have enjoyed it too.

  She might have wanted to see us bag her in tears.

  Now our position was reversed.

  She would be the one beneath us.

  I could feel my face smiling as I began to tighten my grip on her neck.

  At that time, I finally heard her beg me for mercy, tears streaming down her face.

  With a crying face, she muttered, “Please don’t.”

  Upon hearing that, my smile turned into a grin.

  Without hesitation, I gripped her neck hard.

  Then I was pushed back.

  I felt an invincible force push me back.

  I crashed into my chair.

  I crashed into my desk.

  I was momentarily confused about it at first.

  Then, I tatteredly stood up.

  I saw her still standing there with a crying face.

  I could see a shield deployed around her.

  In that instance, I realized it.

  From the very beginning, she was not defenseless.

  She was not at my mercy.

  It was I who was at her mercy.

  She could crash me at any time I wanted.

  She was playing with me.

  Then my wrath reached another point.

  I shout at her. I could hear that my voice broke at that time.

  “WHY? WHY?”

  Yet, she stood there and silently took it.

  Then I tried to hit her with the chair as I shouted, “Why are you doing this? Why are you here? Are you here to mock me? Is tearing our family apart not enough for you? Why? Why? Answer me, you fiend.”

  As I violently attack her, I forgot that my voice might attract Duke Raven.

  “Why only us? Why do we have to suffer? Why don’t you suffer too?”

  Then the chair slipped out of my hand. So, I continued with my hand.

  “Why are you here? Was it not enough for you? Have we not suffered enough?”

  I could feel my tears falling down. And I could see her tear falling down too.

  “I, for once, could be happy. I could finally find some happiness. Why do you have to come here now?”

  Then, finally, I could hear her response. “…I am sorry”

  I could also see that she muttered something else. Yet, her tears did not stop.

  “Why don’t you answer me? Why?”

  Then, she ignores me.

  “I curse you. I hope you and your father all go to hell. I hope you will suffer as we do one day. I curse you. Why don’t you die here? Just die.”

  Then, at the last moment, as if my plea for her suffering was answered, my attack penetrated her shield,

  Seeing that I shouted. “I cursed you. You will never be forgiven. The goddess will judge you for your sin.”

  Then, at that moment, I realized it wasn't that my attack was walking; it was because she had deactivated her shield.

  She might do so to mock me.

  However, I could see that my attack could finally land on her.

  I could succeed in my revenge.

  Then, at the last minute, the moment my attack was an inch away from her head, I was stopped.

  It was Duke Raven who stopped me.

  He was looking at me with rage. “What do you think you are doing, Your Highness?”

  His rage was not directed at her but at me.

  Realizing that, I shouted back, “What are you doing, Duke Raven? She is our enemy.”

  Then he opened his eyes wide. Still, he did not let go of my hand.

  Then, I continued. “Let go of your hand at once. Are you betraying us?”

  “Please calm down first, Your Holiness.” With this, he pinched me down.

  Then, I thrashed around trying to get away. “Let go. Let go of me. Duke Raven, let go of me.”

  I could see her looking down at me with pity.

  Seeing her face, I tried to curse her.

  “Why are you looking at me like that? Are you mocking me?”

  I knew it was a futile attempt.

  Then, I began to look at myself, to look at my miserable self.

  Perhaps her pity for me was not unfounded.

  I would never have found my happiness.

  I would continue to torment us.

  What have we done wrong? What have I done wrong to desire this?

  And why me? Why only me?

  It became unbearable for me to keep it in.

  So, I shout out loud. I shout my inner thought. I shout out my pain.

  I did not direct it to her. I direct it to no one.

  Because I knew no one would bother to listen to it.

  “Why? Why only me? Why do I have to suffer? Why don’t you suffer too? I could finally meet Lilia. I could finally－.”

  Yet, when I reached that part, as if perceiving my intention to curse her again, Duke Raven also pinched my head to the floor and said to me. “Could you stay still for a bit?” Then he turned to address me. “Did you get hurt, Lady Aria?” he even called her Lady. My suspicion of him betraying us grows more and more.

  “… Lily… For how long have you hidden it from me?” Then I could hear her voice, calmly asking him back.

  It was also a relief that she misheard Lilia’s name.

  It was my blunder to bring Lilia’s name. However, the goddess has mercy. She did not catch on to Lilia. She might have thought of someone else.

  Upon hearing her question, Duke Raven appeared to be panicking. He replied to her as if petitioning her. “Do forgive me, Lady Aria. Please don't be mad. I didn't mean to hide the fact. I have a reason.”

  Then, with a weak voice, she continued, “... I have nothing to forgive you. It is my own fault. I thought I had gathered enough trust from the emperor.” I could feel her gaze on the back of my head.

  “Please do not misunderstand. This is not the stand of the emperor. It is my own doing.” After he said that, I could feel his grip on me loosen; thus, I took the opportunity to free myself.

  As I stood up, I directed my question at him. “Why do you bring Father here?”

  Then I shifted my gaze to her. “You, what have you blackmailed my father?”

  “Please shut up for one, your highness.” Duke hurriedly stopped me from throwing myself at her again.

  However, she appeared to be unfazed by my action as she was about to turn back. “... I think it was about time for me to leave. I will uphold my end of the bargain. As I hope everyone will follow the contract, too.”

  Before she was completely gone, she gave us a priest salute. “... I bid you farewell, Your highness, Duke Raven.”

  As she turned around, although her face was wet with tears, I could see her smile.

  She was really a good actor.

  She may have fooled an upright person like Duke Raven; however, she would never fool me.

  She might have appeared sad to him. Yet, she was actually happy to see us suffer like that.

  When he saw her retreat, Duke Raven tried to chase after her, who was running fast. “Lady Aria, please wait.”

  I tried to run after him, too; however, I fell forward. “What, arg.. ”

  Upon seeing me fall, Duke Raven turned back and helped me get up. Then he asked me in concern. “Your highness…”

  His behavior was in contrast to his previous treatment of me.

  Seeing him turn back to the person I'm familiar with, I was really relieved. “I am fine.”

  Then he brought me to my bed. After he helped me lie down, he asked me, “Please hold here. I will be back soon.”

  After that, he ran off.

  Seeing him running off like that, I could not bring myself to sit still.

  Thus, I brought my tattered body to run after him.

  As I ran, I began to hear a voice ahead of me. It was the voice of a man.

  “Please stop it here. Duke Raven. I don't know what happened there. And, I won't ask you the question. However, Milady seems to be deeply hurt by something. So, please allow us to escort Milady back.”

  In response to that man's words, I could hear Duke Raven shout out loud. He seemed to direct it to that girl. “... Lady Aria, everything is my doing. It has nothing to do with His Majesty.”

  At the end, he seemed to be trying to defend my father.

  At least, I could see that his loyalty to my father was unwavering.

  “... I understand. …. It was immature of me to lash out at you. However, please allow us to leave. Paul. Let's go.” After that, I could hear her soft voice.

  At the end, Duke Raven could only let them go. “Please, have a safe journey back.”

  Then I heard a carriage moving away from us.

  Thus, I stopped running toward them.

  Then, I turned back to my hut to wait for Duke Raven.