CHAPTER 58…………………………………………
“It’s about feelings.”
“…….”
“It’s gratitude for the fact that the grandchildren who almost got into serious trouble returned safely. How can you use something like that carelessly?”
Lady Emerne opened her mouth in disbelief. Just as she was about to scowl and retort, Hubert stopped her.
“Let’s stop. There’s no need to get your face red over this.”
“Wait a minute, Count. So you really intend to give all of that to Igraine?”
“She received it. Do you have anything to say?”
Under Hubert’s cold gaze, Lady Emerne fumbled, embarrassed, and covered her face entirely with her fan, leaving only her eyes visible.
Her eyes—first on Hubert, then on me—were piercing and sharp.
“Hmph!”
In the end, she turned away in anger.
Hubert paid no attention to her reaction and instead looked at me.
“You did well, Igraine. Go inside and rest.”
His gaze shifted to the rear. There, Sir Heren’s servants were waiting.
Hubert had restrained Lady Emerne for their sake.
It could not be allowed for rumors to spread that the Countess of Lorenst was trying to seize her foster daughter’s wealth.
Hubert spoke gently.
“The servants should return home as well.”
I, naturally, did not refuse.
“Alright, I will.”
As I moved, Jenny and Sir Heren’s servants followed behind me.
I silently applauded Sir Heren’s wise choice to leave a servant under the pretext of carrying the jewelry box.
‘I should deposit it in the bank quickly.’
Before I completely disappeared to the second floor, Hubert spoke in a small voice.
“The situation will become much more difficult. At times like this, it’s important that the whole family works together to overcome it.”
I pretended not to hear him and kept walking without stopping.
Hubert had been right about the situation worsening.
Although the rain had stopped, the damage was not yet resolved, and there were still many problems. The Lorenst family’s situation had actually worsened.
Collapsed buildings and roads. Crops ruined by flooding could not be easily restored, and the anger and blame fell on Aris and the Lorenst family. The cost of repairing the damages alone was enough to shake the foundation of the household.
And above all, the king’s punishment remained.
At the trial jointly held by the temple and the royal court, Aris was banned from entering social circles and salons.
The court determined that her body and mind were not strong enough to withstand such control, and instead of enjoying parties, wine, and dancing, Aris was forced to pray.
For Aris, this ruling was horrifying, but to many others, it was considered rather lenient.
They whispered that it was because she was a priestess, a treasure of the kingdom, that the court had shown mercy.
Being punished and insulted at the same time. Unable to accept this reality, Aris eventually fainted backward.
Aris was not the only one with problems.
The rain-invoking ritual meant to resolve the drought had almost turned into another disaster, and the Lorenst family’s reputation fell to the ground.
On the other hand, my reputation unexpectedly rose.
Not only did Sir Heren openly praise me, but people I had helped enthusiastically recounted that day’s events to others.
The king even sent a handwritten letter praising my efforts—my reputation was bound to rise.
In any case, having a better image was advantageous in many ways.
Separate from that, the family atmosphere was the worst.
Lady Emerne held resentment toward me over Sir Heren’s gift.
Hubert, having incurred the king’s disappointment, had become irritable. Aris, conserving her strength, stayed locked in her room and did not show her face even at mealtimes.
Except for Viscount Bakenin, who was pleased with his new connection with Sir Heren, no one benefited from these events.
Especially not Aris. I was curious about what she was doing in her room, but it wasn’t worth going to see her face, so I ignored it.
‘Predictable. She’s probably thinking all of this is my fault.’
I wondered if she had realized her powers were gone yet.
Creak.
The door opened cautiously. The inside was extremely quiet and gloomy.
The air in the room felt as if it had settled to the floor.
The stale atmosphere wrapped around my limbs.
Georgiana, wearing an uneasy expression, set a tray on the small table beside the bed.
Then, she whispered toward the mound of blankets rising from the bed.
“Please eat, Miss.”
The blanket did not stir. Just as she was about to sigh and speak again, the door opened once more.
“Trying to starve yourself again, huh?”
“Lady Emerne.”
Startled, Georgiana jumped up.
Lady Emerne entered, looking displeased as she scanned the room.
Her gaze soon returned to the bed. With a gesture, Georgiana shut her mouth.
When she shook her head fearfully, Lady Emerne’s eyes immediately became sharp.
“Hurry up!”
Pale and hesitant, Georgiana took a long moment, but when Lady Emerne glared, she finally grabbed the mound of blankets and pulled.
As the blanket was removed, the emaciated figure of Aris appeared. She frowned at the light shining on her face and snapped in a ragged voice.
“Who told you to touch me!”
“Get up and eat, Aris.”
Aris flinched and turned her head. It had been a long time since I had last seen her face since the trial.
Lady Emerne openly clicked her tongue at her pitiful appearance.
“You look terrible.”
“What brings you here?”
Brushing her hair back irritably, Aris snapped.
Her now gaunt chin and pale skin were beautiful in their own way, but the hollow eyes beneath and the emptiness of her gaze were unsettling.
This was not the glamorous Aris we knew.
Thinking it was merely a health issue, Lady Emerne repeatedly clicked her tongue.
“Take care of your health. You managed to control your strength at the end thanks to fortune, but no one can guarantee what might happen next. Don’t just lie here—pray a little. Don’t neglect your devotions. You know the water god is watching from everywhere, don’t you?”
Lady Emerne was also a devoted follower of Marta.
To others, she framed this as an accident, but inwardly she thought differently.
‘She must have done something wrong. Perhaps something impious?’
Thinking that, Aris seemed even more displeasing.
If she had done wrong, she should confess and seek forgiveness, yet she lay there doing nothing. Lady Emerne could not understand it.
Having cared for her relative’s daughter Aris since childhood, Aris had always been a pretty and proud child to her.
But now…
‘Was she always like this?’
A wave of disappointment rose.
Aris simply lowered her head without saying a word.
‘Well, I suppose she’s just as surprised as I am.’
Lady Emerne steadied herself and softly whispered to Aris, whose thin golden hair fell over her shoulders.
“I know your heart is heavy. But don’t worry too much. The fact that it ended here means the god still blesses you. The trial’s outcome was favorable too.”
Her hair swayed slightly.
Aris’s face was hidden behind the strands of hair.
“Meanwhile, that troublesome Igraine has been running around everywhere. I didn’t realize she was so cunning and greedy. Praises here and gifts there… Hmph, let’s see how long that lasts. After all, she’s of low birth.”
“…….”
“Anyway, pull yourself together and eat properly. Or else I’ll come again.”
Lady Emerne emphasized to Georgiana as well.
“Make sure Aris eats well.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
After Lady Emerne left, Georgiana turned to Aris and flinched.
A flash of blue light shone through the curtain-like hair.
But it lasted only a moment.
Soon the sharpness of her gaze dulled, and her pupils began to tremble.
“Miss, are you alright?”
Georgiana cautiously approached and gently shook her shoulder, but Aris seemed oblivious.
And that was true.
Aris had indeed fallen into a state of panic.
‘What am I supposed to do now?’
Tears streamed down her face. For the first time, they were not fake—truly tears of sorrow and fear.
‘The god still blesses me? Don’t make me laugh. It’s gone… the blessing is gone!’
She bit her lips to keep from screaming.
Frustration made her feel like she might go mad, but this was a secret she could not tell anyone. Not even her faithful Georgiana, nor Hubert, who was on her side.
The loss of power.
This devastating reality had confined her to her room for several days.
Being banned from social circles? Of course, terrible.
Daily prayers? Annoying, but she could do them if told.
But all that was nothing compared to the fact she could no longer wield her power.
If she had strength, if she had a chance to act, such punishments would vanish as if they never existed.
But now… it was completely gone.
“Are you sick? Shall I bring medicine?”
“Leave….”
“Pardon?”
“Leave!”
Swinging her arms and shouting, Georgiana fled the room in a panic.
Bang!
The sound of the door closing brought both relief and emptiness.
Aris bit her lips. Tears gushed out. Fearful that someone would see, she hastily covered herself with the blanket.
Biting her lips repeatedly.
‘Has God really abandoned me, just as people say? Why? What did I do wrong?’
A helpless fear of the unknown swept over Aris.
Even Princess Laratu could not possibly be above her.
Yet even Aris was ultimately a citizen of the kingdom.
The fact that the one god, Marta, had taken away her power and blessing shook her proud, confident spirit. It was that shocking.
How could it not be? The love of the god, the evidence of the blessing, vanished overnight!
But as time passed, a sense of incongruity grew. A major disaster had occurred—the loss of her power—but that was all.
Nothing else happened.
All she heard were stories of the annoying Igraine causing mischief. Just like Lady Emerne’s unnecessary words earlier.
Then, amid fear, anxiety, and despair, a new, subtler thought began to surface.
