A Saint Who Was Adopted by the Grand Duke-Chapter 165: The End Is Where It Begins (IV)
Updat๐d fr๐m ๐๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐ท๐๐ซ๐๐ต.๐๐๐
Chapter 165: The End Is Where It Begins (IV)
โSo you mean we have to leave Esther alone?โ
โRight now. Meanwhile, we will keep looking for a way.โ
โIf anything goes wrong with Esther, I will not leave the temple alone.โ
Deheen was well aware that this was not the templeโs fault. fr(e)ewebnov(e)l.com
However, if it was the goddess who called Esther here, the only place that resentment could go was to the temple.
Frowning, he put his hand on his orb. And repeatedly called Estherโs name.
โEsther, donโt you want to go home? You promised to return before your birthday.โ
Hoping for his voice to reach the sleeping Esther.
โ โ โ
โMmm.โ
Esther sniffed the sweet scent that continued to flow from somewhere, then came to her senses and opened her eyes.
Before her eyes was a scene of a garden full of colorful and pretty flowers.
โWhere am I?โ
Esther looked around blankly and realized she was sitting at a table.
โWhat happened?โ
She remembered destroying the crystal ball in the basement of the Saintโs Palace, but she had no memory of escaping the collapsing building.
โโฆAm I dead?โ
Esther looked down at her hands, unable to hide her dejected expression.
โTweet, tweet!โ
Several birds chirped clearly and flew past Esther.
Seeing such a peaceful sight, somehow her pulse went numb.
โIs this really over? I couldnโt even say goodbye to everyoneโฆโ
It was unfair and empty, so she wanted to cry. The tip of her nose twitched as she was about to burst into tears.
However, the voice of someone who suddenly appeared from behind halted those tears.
โWelcome. It took me a long time to bring you here.โ
The person who spoke out of nowhere sat across from Esther.
Estherโs eyes began to shake as she checked the personโs face.
โAre you Espitos?โ
Unlike the last time where she could barely see her shape, this time she could see her so well that she could even make out her expression.
Her face was different from the one she saw every day as a stone statue, but as soon as she saw her, she realized that she was the goddess, Espitos.
It felt so sacred that the word โbeautifulโ couldnโt express it.
The eyes of Goddess Espitos looking at Esther were warm and friendly.
โYes. I am Espitos.โ
โWhere am I? Am I dead?โ
Esther had already wondered if she was really dead, so she asked in resignation, glancing at Espitos.
Espitos, who saw that, laughed like a little girl.
โNo way. Youโre definitely alive and well. I put you to sleep for a while to have a conversation.โ
โReally?โ
โOf course. You barely made it this far, I canโt just let you die, can I?โ
Estherโs eyes, which had been bloodshot red, turned round.
And the corner of her mouth, which had been drooping the whole time after waking up, went up.
โThe Saintโs Palace collapsed and I couldnโt get out of itโฆโ
โDonโt worry. I kept you safe and brought you here. Well, I was a little surprised to see a child intervening.โ
โThereโs someone who intervened?โ
โLetโs talk about that a little later. We have a lot of time.โ
As could be seen from the smiley face, Espitos was very happy to meet Esther.
โIf Iโm alive, I want to go back quickly. Dad will be worried.โ
However, unlike Espitos, who wanted to pass the time slowly, Esther wanted to go back as soon as possible.
When Esther jumped up from her seat, Espitos appeared hurt and shocked.
โWait, are you going right away? Do you know how long Iโve waited for this moment where I can talk to you like this?โ
Esther, on the other hand, was very bewildered by Espitos, who pretended to be close.
โYou waited? Even when I called for help, you never responded.โ
It was blurry now, but the 14 painful lives couldnโt be something that never happened. Wasnโt she the one who ignored her?
โWas it very difficult to respond?โ
When Esther spoke in a resentful tone, the atmosphere surrounding Espitos changed.
โI know you resent me. The hatred and anger towards me, all the feelings you have are transmitted.โ
โYes. I will never forgive you.โ
Estherโs eyes were cold.
โIโve always been sorry towards you. Because I made you go through a lot of painful things. It may sound like an excuse, but since I canโt directly get involved in your world, all I can do is bring you back to life.โ
Estherโs head tilted slightly when Espitos said that she couldnโt get involved.
โYou are a god.โ
โItโs because of the contract. I canโt reach you except in the barrier. In addition, my power was weakened by the contamination of crystal balls over hundreds of years.โ
โStill, didnโt the high priests give you an oath? If only you had transmitted your will through themโฆโ
โThat, too, has limitations. Even inside the temple, one can only reach me with divine power. But your divine power in the past was very weak, and you never tried it, right?โ
Espitos let out a deep sigh, saying she couldnโt describe how hard it was, and continued.
โHow difficult it was to enter that priestess for a short time.โ
โPriestess?โ
Esther, puzzled for a moment, realized something and gently bit her lips.
Now she knew the reason why her voice only reached the priestess, Annie, right before her death every time.
โThen what I felt before was reallyโฆโ
Whenever she fell asleep exhausted from crying alone in prison, there were times when she felt like someone was there.
She thought it was an illusion since there was no one there, but perhaps it was the energy of Espitos.
โI always wanted to tell you this. Thank you for holding out. Iโm sorry to have burdened you so much.โ
All of a sudden, the demeanor of Espitosโ that seemed like an immature child disappeared, and her voice felt deep and heavy.
Esther felt that she would start to cry, so she strained her eyes wide.
โโฆWhy did you keep bringing me back to life like that?โ
โBecause you are my only hope.โ
Espitosโ eyes were so pure and transparent that Esther felt her anger was foolish.
โIf left as it is, the empire would perish. I have seen that future 14 times already.โ
โIs it that black smoke from before?โ
โThatโs right. Itโs the beginning of the darkness that grows by feeding on peopleโs desires. If left as it is, it will pollute the barrier and plunge the entire empire into darkness.โ
Having never imagined such a terrible future, Esther embraced her arms in shock.
โIs it okay now?โ
โYes. You broke the crystal ball. You changed the future with your own hands.โ
โButโฆ As a result, the barrier is broken, so itโs still dangerous.โ
โThatโs also right. So, we should create a new barrier before it is too late.โ
As Espitos raised her arms, the birds that had been chirping in the garden swarmed around her.
The scene, which was so beautiful that it was hard to believe it was a part of the garden, was so phenomenal that it was mesmerizing for a moment.
โThis is the place where the empire was founded. Itโs where I first made a pact with Rayleigh. Rayleigh was sitting right where you were.โ
Esther looked around in surprise.
โIโve been watching the empire here for a very long time.โ
In an instant, the things Espitos had seen so far flashed quickly through Estherโs mind.
The vast land, beautiful nature, and even the daily lives of people, which was more precious because they were ordinary.
โWill you help me defend this empire once more?โ
โMe?โ
Esther, who looked at the scene as if bewitched, was startled at the request for help. She pointed at herself with her finger.
โYes. I want you to make a new pact with me.โ
When Esther kept her mouth shut instead of answering, Espitos chuckled.
โYouโre thinking that I am putting a heavy burden on you again?โ
โYes. There is no end. You revived me several times and asked me to break the crystal ball, and now, a promise.โ
Thinking it was unfair, Esther pouted and grunted. Espitos smiled happily in response.
โBecause you are special. You are a blessed child.โ
โBlessed? I thought I was cursed.โ
โNo way. There has never been a child who was born with more love from me than you.โ
Espitosโ voice was so sweet and kind that Esther wanted to believe it even if it was all lies.
After staring at her for a moment, Esther let out a thin sigh and sat down at the round table again.
โโฆHow is it done?โ
Espitos walked in front of Esther, and said with her eyes shining.
โReach your hand out.โ
โLike this?โ
โYes. Palm against palm, like this.โ
Espitosโs palm and Estherโs palm lightly touched.
Then, with a slight trembling, a bright light burst out around the hands held together.
Espitos moved their hands slowly, placing it on the round table.
The light, which had begun to grow larger, now completely enveloped the two and spread out, illuminating the entire space.
For some reason, everything around had disappeared.
Esther was alone with Espitos in the white light.
โAfter signing this contract, most of your powers as a saint will disappear.โ
โItโs what I wished for. I will live as Esther rather than a saint.โ
โStill, no new saints will appear until you die.โ
Esther agreed, and innumerable golden threads stretched from the held hands.
The long, thin threads of light filled this space, stretching far and wide and spreading all over the place.
It was a beautiful sight.
Esther stared blankly at the mysterious sight of stretched golden threads that looked like pillars of light.
โNow my power will only pass on to you and your offspring.โ
โWhat? Isnโt that a curse?โ
โCanโt you say itโs a blessing?โ ๐๐โฏโฏ๐คโฏ๐ฃ๐๐๐ทโฏ๐.๐๐๐
โโฆโฆ.โ
Esther asked to leave, saying it was nonsense, but Espitos blocked her ears, saying that an oath made could not be revoked.
โWhat kind of god is this selfish?โ
โItโs because I care for you.โ
Esther glared at Espitos as she sighed. Then tilted her head, her ears perking up.
โBut itโs been bothering me since earlier, I think someone is calling me.โ
Espitos shrugged at Estherโs words.
โYou can hear that now? My ears have been hurting from before. It was too loud to talk.โ
Espitos, who had become child-like once more, stretched out her hand in front of her with a bright smile.
โIโd like to talk more, but I should let you go now.โ
Then, a long, single road appeared in front of the two of them. It was bathed in a golden light.
โIf you walk straight, you can return to your world.โ
โGoodbye then.โ
As soon as the path was created, Esther grinned and, without hesitation, set her foot on it.
โI knew you wouldnโt regret it, but Iโm still sad.โ
Esther turned away without looking back, and Espitos watched with lonely eyes.
It was then.
Instead of walking straight ahead, Esther stopped and straightened up.
Then she turned around and strode back toward Espitos.
โโฆWhy, why, what, you donโt want to leave? Do you want to hit me? I am still a god.โ
Espitos, taken aback by Estherโs hardened face, quickly blinked and backed away.
Ame: Well, I guess, if we look at it in another wayโฆ without Espitos, Rabienne would have her way T^T โฆ.but a punch or two wouldnโt hurt
And, I donโt know about how all future saintโs will be from Estherโs bloodline. Like, the first head of Brions is definitely a good guy and look what happened. But whatever, itโs not my world xD #donโt_wanna_think_anymore