Chapter 76

The cries of crows echoed faintly in the distance.

The sky was dyed in ash-gray, covered by heavy clouds, and everything was shrouded in an endless gray veil.

During the day, the sharp clanging of metal and the clamor of crowds filled the surroundings, and at night, only a gloomy silence resonated. This was the eastern outskirts of the continent ruled by the Solaris Empire.

It was the front line facing the Kingdom of Kaladwen, hostile to the empire.

*Step— step—*

A woman with black hair walked out of the military camp, smoking a cigarette.

With each step on the ashen ground, a faint sound, like stepping on snow, spread. Her sharp purple eyes held an indescribable loneliness and regret.

Soon, her steps halted in front of a quiet tent.

After flicking her cigarette a few times and tossing it to the ground, she opened the tent and peeked inside.

“Saintess, do you have a moment?”

The purple eyes were directed at another woman sitting inside. A woman with bright pink hair, contrasting with the gloomy atmosphere.

“Ah, of course. What brings you here, Princess…?”

The woman called the princess glanced at the book the other was holding.

It was a thick book filled with information about demons.

‘…Is she interested in demons?’

Though curious, she quickly set aside her interest and returned to the main topic.

“There’s an officer with a critical injury. I’ve done emergency treatment, but if you’re not busy, I’d like you to take a look.”

“Ah, of course. I’ll come right away.”

“Then I’ll guide you.”

The woman called the saintess.

Lillian smiled softly as she rose from her seat.

As she stepped out of the tent, the smell of iron and the faint scent of blood brushed past her nose, enveloping her.

Under the dark sky, the smell of the battlefield was overwhelmingly heavy.

Yet, Lillian felt more at ease here than in the social circle.

In the social gatherings, she was always a traitor, an unworthy saintess.

Sometimes, she was called foolish for being of common birth, and at worst, she was even accused of being a prostitute, enduring the scornful gazes of everyone.

Cold eyes always looked down on her, and no one ever extended a helping hand.

Even the friend she once trusted.

But here on the battlefield, it was different.

Here, everyone welcomed Lillian and needed her.

Their trust made her feel warmth among people again.

Of course, after being betrayed by the friend she once trusted, she still couldn’t fully trust others.

“Is there anything uncomfortable?”

Walking side by side on the ashen ground, the black-haired woman quietly asked.

Lillian nodded with a smile still on her face.

“Yes, thanks to you, Viviana, I’ve been very comfortable.”

The black-haired woman, Viviana, chuckled softly.

“Honestly, it’s unexpected. I thought you’d run away within a month.”

Lillian also let out a light laugh, following Viviana.

“Oh, it’s a bit disappointing that you thought that.”

Viviana looked at her with a calm expression and nodded.

“But seeing you endure this long, you must be stronger than I thought.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Viviana took out a cigarette and put it in her mouth.

A flame flickered at her fingertips, and the cigarette slowly began to burn.

As Viviana exhaled, the smoke dispersed into the air, mingling with the atmosphere of the battlefield.

“I was quite surprised when the saintess, who should be praying in the temple, suddenly came to the front lines.”

Lillian smiled softly and replied.

“Is that so? His Majesty the Emperor was very pleased.”

“That’s not a good thing.”

“I know. I’ve already realized I’m just a disposable tool, so there’s no need to worry.”

Viviana raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at Lillian again.

Contrary to the rumors of a pure and bright saintess, she was surprisingly more realistic.

“May I ask why you came to this battlefield, Saintess?”

Viviana asked quietly.

Lillian paused for a moment, but her smile remained steady.

“The soldiers are fighting and sacrificing their lives for us. How could I just sit back and relax in the empire?”

Her voice was warm and gentle.

But Viviana’s eyes grew cold, contrasting with her kind words.

“Saintess, I really hate lies.”

Lillian’s smile faltered for a moment.

“……”

“There’s only one person on this continent who can lie to my face so brazenly. Be careful.”

At Viviana’s cold words, Lillian gave a hollow smile.

“Haha, as expected, I can’t deceive you, Princess.”

Shrugging, Lillian walked in silence for a while before finally speaking, gazing at the ashen ground.

“Actually, I came to grow my power as a saintess.”

Viviana looked at her with a puzzled expression and asked again.

“Power?”

“Yes, there are constantly people here who need healing. It’s the perfect place to grow my abilities as a saintess.”

Lillian’s gaze fell on a soldier in the distance, bandaging his wounds.

Soon, her pink eyes filled with sadness and compassion.

“Of course, my desire to help those fighting for us is also genuine.”

Lillian closed her eyes sorrowfully.

“It’s also true that I can live comfortably in the empire thanks to their sacrifices.”

Viviana watched her for a moment before quietly asking.

“…Is there another reason you want to grow your power?”

Lillian nodded quietly.

“Yes. I want to save someone.”

Viviana frowned, pondering Lillian’s words.

“Save?”

Lillian smiled faintly, looking into the distance.

“Yes, perhaps I became a saintess to save that person, haha.”

Viviana didn’t respond to her words.

Under the ashen sky, the two women walked in silence for a while.

Viviana glanced at Lillian.

At first glance, she seemed to be smiling lightly, but the emotions hidden within were all too clear.

What burned in her eyes, which had lost their light.

It was unmistakable resentment.

Something only those consumed by vengeance would have.

‘How dare she talk about salvation with those eyes.’

Viviana chuckled inwardly and slowly exhaled cigarette smoke.

“It’s my turn now. Why do you always fight on the front lines, Princess?”

It was Lillian who broke the silence first.

“It’s family business.”

“Eh, is that all? That’s too bland.”

Viviana paused and took a deep drag of her cigarette.

There was no need to say it, but there was also no reason to hide it.

Strangely, Viviana felt an inexplicable sense of kinship with the saintess.

“There’s a debt I must repay.”

“A debt? You, Princess?”

“Yes, I committed an irredeemable sin.”

“…But what does that have to do with being on the battlefield?”

At Lillian’s puzzled question, Viviana suddenly recalled a letter she received a few months ago.

A single envelope stamped with the seal of her precious family.

The words inside were short and concise, but heavy nonetheless.

“I was promised that if I defeat the allied forces of the enemy and bring peace to the empire, my sins would be forgiven.”

“Oh my…”

Lillian’s eyes wavered.

She made a thoughtful expression for a moment before looking at Viviana with a cautious gaze.

“From my perspective, it sounds like you’re just being used, Princess.”

Viviana took a deep drag of her last cigarette. As the smoke dispersed, her voice became more resolute.

“That might be true. But it doesn’t matter.”

Sensing it was wrong to probe further, Lillian smiled softly and looked ahead again.

“Haha, in the end, we both came here to fight for someone precious to us.”

“Maybe so.”

“Since this is fate, how about we show each other our precious people someday?”

Viviana frowned slightly and replied.

“…That seems pointless.”

“Haha, I see.”

Lillian laughed softly, brushing off the comment.

Viviana no longer paid attention to Lillian and continued walking forward.

It was the first meeting of two tragic protagonists, bound by sin and vengeance.

※

Though not as grand as other mansions, it was the place on this continent where I could rest most comfortably.

The Blanchard Family’s Mansion.

“I can do it… I can do it…”

I took a deep breath in front of the office door.

Even outside, the faint, sweet scent of my mother lingered at the tip of my nose.

I felt like a pervert for recognizing my mother’s scent from afar, but I couldn’t help it.

I loved her that much.

Even if everyone here was just a game character, my mother was incomparably precious to me.

I wished she would love me even more passionately.

I wished she would want me so much that she couldn’t live without me.

That’s why I was doing this.

“Ugh… She has to like it, right…”

I glanced at my reflection in the window.

A faint blush spread across my face, and the cat ears on my head twitched slightly.

It was me, wearing the cat headband I received at a recent banquet.

Seeing the enthusiastic reactions from the other young ladies, I hoped my mother might like it too.

If not for that hope, I would never have worn this strange thing again.

After taking one last short breath, I knocked on the office door.

“Mother… May I come in?”

The answer didn’t take long.

“Of course, come in, Tina.”

Hearing my mother’s warm voice, I slowly opened the office door.

My mother was sitting at her desk, engrossed in her work as usual.

Perhaps her eyesight had worsened, as she was wearing glasses with a golden frame.

Seeing my mother so focused made my heart beat a little faster.

“Just sit for a moment. I’ll finish this quickly.”

My mother said that and began moving her hand again.

The sound of the pen scratching filled the office, and I smiled brightly as I watched her.

While waiting, a mischievous thought popped into my head.

I pressed down on the cat ears on my head and slowly approached my mother.

Even as I got close, my mother, engrossed in her documents, didn’t notice me at all.

I quietly knelt down and crawled on all fours.

Fortunately, the desk’s structure allowed me to sneak underneath, and I hid beneath my mother’s desk.

Before I knew it, my mother’s pure white thighs were in front of me, and I slowly poked my face between them.

Then, I gently rested my cheek against her thigh.

*Thud—*

“Ugh?!”

My mother’s startled scream echoed through the office.

As she quickly lowered her head, her eyes met mine, hidden under the desk.

“Hehe… Did I surprise you, Mother?”

I rubbed my cheek against her soft thigh and looked up at her with wide eyes.

“W-what are you doing all of a sudden…! Huh…?”

My mother raised her voice as if to scold me, but it was only for a moment.

As soon as she saw the cat ears on my head, she froze as if struck by lightning.

“T-those ears…”

“They’re a new accessory. The young ladies said they were cute… I wanted to show you, Mother.”

My mother didn’t respond to my words.

She just stared at me with wide eyes.

A natural silence began to envelop the room.

In that stillness, my face grew hotter and hotter.

I knew she wouldn’t make a fuss like the other young ladies, but I didn’t expect her to be so silent.

Could it be that she doesn’t like it…?

“H-how do you like it…?”

My mother’s silence was too uncomfortable.

Unable to bear the awkwardness, I shyly took her hand and pulled it to my head, urging her to pet me.

Her hand, which would usually stroke my head, remained cold and motionless.

With teary eyes, I looked up at her and asked in a trembling voice.

“D-do you not like it…?”

“…..”

Only a cold silence answered.

But in that silence, I sensed something was about to happen.

And soon, it did.

My mother stared at me without blinking.

Her blue eyes, which seemed dazed, gradually lost their rationality.

And then.

*Drip—*

Red blood flowed from her nose.

“M-Mother?!”

“A…an angel…”

A short gasp escaped my mother’s lips.

Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

“Mother?!?!”

---