Chapter 51
More time passed, and before she knew it, it was the end of midsummer.
It was still hot even at night, but the starlight in the sky was unusually clear.
That night, unable to sleep, Elise stood on the balcony and stared blankly at the night sky.
The hot summer breeze gently shook her pale golden hair.
For a long time, she had been accustomed to watching the movement of the stars.
For a Saintess, it was as familiar as praying. One of the Saintess’s duties was to deliver prophecies of the heavens by observing the moon’s position or the direction of the Big Dipper.
As Elise gazed at the night sky, she slowly exhaled.
At the same time, her eyes narrowed.
In the northern sky, the paths of seven stars resembling the Big Dipper were perfectly overlapping with the scene she remembered.
“Haa……”
Her breath caught for a moment, and she took a deep breath before slowly letting it out.
The suffocating smell, the red flames that had filled her vision, and the shouts of the people telling her to die—all of it vividly flashed through her mind.
Elise’s fingertips slowly stiffened against the railing.
“There isn’t much time left……”
A low murmur slipped from between her lips.
Her intuition as a Saintess told her. The day of the prophecy she had seen in her dream was drawing near.
But her heart did not race.
Instead, she became strangely calm.
She felt no fear.
Rather, her eyes sparkled as if she were someone who had been waiting for this day for a very long time.
She clenched both fists tightly.
This time will be different.
This time, I won’t be the one driven into the flames.
Who she would drag down and how far, and at what moment she would turn the tables—it was all in her hands.
Elise slowly closed and opened her eyes.
Then she turned around with a determined expression.
“Seria.”
At her quiet call, Seria, who had been waiting outside the room, immediately appeared.
“Yes, Saintess.”
“Right now.”
Elise looked up at the stars outside the window one more time, then smiled coldly.
“Could you call Damien?”
Seria’s eyes sparkled.
“Secretly?”
“Of course.”
Elise slowly raised the corners of her lips.
“Without anyone knowing.”
The midsummer night sky passed over her violet eyes.
Soon, everything would begin.
And this time, she would never suffer the same fate as before.
She simply smiled as saintly as ever.
There was now only one week left until the execution by burning.
The Imperial Palace in midsummer was dazzling enough to take one’s breath away.
Whenever the sun reached its highest point, the gold-decorated window frames shone so brightly that they were almost blinding. At night, the fountains and lanterns of the Imperial Palace flickered like stars.
From the outside, this place looked like the most magnificent place in the world.
Perhaps someone might even envy those who lived in the Imperial Palace.
But no matter how much rich food and wine a bird in a cage was given in a garden full of fragrant roses, it meant nothing to the bird.
It was the same for Elise.
“The wind is hot today, so it would be better to postpone your walk in the garden until evening.”
As the execution drew closer, Esit watched her so openly that it was almost obvious.
More precisely, he always spoke indirectly, disguising his surveillance so that it did not look like surveillance.
“The corridor of the eastern palace receives too much sunlight, so use the western garden instead.”
And he came to tell her such things once every hour.
“It would be better not to hire any more maids. It would be best to keep familiar faces around the Saintess. Don’t you agree?”
Anyone listening might think his words were endlessly caring.
But she knew better.
All of his words ultimately meant the same thing.
‘Don’t go outside. Stay within my sight.’
Esit even increased the amount of time he spent eating with her.
During the day, he made her sit beside him while pretending to read official documents, and in the evening, he acted so affectionately that he personally peeled grapes and placed them on her plate.
It was almost as if they had just begun dating.
“Elise.”
It was the same today.
He placed a cup of cocoa he had personally prepared in front of Elise and called her name affectionately.
“Next week.”
His red eyes gleamed with carefully disguised obsession.
“……Why next week?”
So, the time has finally come.
She already knew exactly what Esit was going to say, but Elise smiled casually and asked.
“I think I’ve been too harsh on you until now. So, I was thinking of holding a festival for the Saintess.”
“A festival for me?”
“Yes. I intend to make it even more magnificent than the Spring Festival.”
He continued excitedly.
“You know the bracelet you said was pretty? I’m thinking of inviting those artisans again and having them make jewelry especially for you.”
At those words, one of her eyebrows slowly rose.
The way he was trying so desperately to win her favor was utterly disgusting.
“Really?”
Elise deliberately widened her eyes in surprise and blinked.
“Esit.”
She suddenly stood up and carefully took Esit’s hand.
“I suppose I’ve misunderstood you a little until now.”
“Elise.”
“Perhaps it was because of what happened with the holy water back then.”
Her lowered eyelashes trembled slightly.
At the mention of the holy water, his brows furrowed slightly, as though he was displeased.
“Actually, I think I was jealous without realizing it.”
Elise let out a small sigh and raised her eyes.
Her brilliant violet eyes met Esit’s.
“That you were taking care of the other consorts instead of me. I’m a terrible Saintess, aren’t I?”
“Hah.”
A hollow laugh escaped him before he could stop himself.
In the end, was even the Saintess nothing more than a woman?
Esit quickly hid his mockery deep inside and instead put a generous smile on his lips.
“I’m sorry, Elise.”
Then he gently stroked her hair.
“I didn’t realize you were thinking that way.”
“You know, Esit. You and Ian and Leon are practically like older brothers to me, since I have no family.”
She smiled bitterly and continued slowly.
“I only wanted to rebel for a little while because I was immaturely jealous and upset. I don’t want to have some kind of battle of pride with you.”
Hearing her honest words, Esit looked at Elise with slight surprise.
“From now on, if you need the holy water, I’ll gladly give it to you. I may suffer a little……”
“Elise.”
He firmly shook his head.
“We don’t need the holy water anymore. I also……”
Then, with the relaxed smile of a merciful emperor, he raised the corners of his lips and spoke to her.
“From now on, I’ll pay more attention to you.”
“Thank you, Esit.”
Their two wistful gazes met.
Yes. Smile even more like that, Esit.
The moment you think you’ve succeeded completely, I’ll break your wings.
Holding a thought as sharp as a blade in her heart, she simply smiled as saintly and sacredly as ever.
