Villainess X Villain: They are obsessed with each other!-Chapter 62 -: 61 Uriel’s Identity.[1]

The moment the Pope said the name "Uriel," the biggest cheer yet exploded from the crowd.

It was so loud the ground almost shook!

"Hmm?" Elizabeth turned her head toward the far end of the platform where the saint candidate would appear.

She looked very curious.

’Who could this person be, someone brave enough to face the famous (and scary) Saint Trial after 500 years?’

Not just her, everyone on the platform (except the church devotees who already knew) leaned forward with wide eyes and excited faces.

Step... step... step...

Even with all the noise, they could clearly hear the soft clink of boots on the stone floor.

Everyone held their breath and leaned in more.

Creak!

The big door at the end slowly opened. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

First, one foot stepped out into the sunlight.

Then another.

Then two hands appeared, pushing the door wider.

With smooth, calm steps, the person walked fully into view.

The second he appeared... everything stopped.

The cheers died down instantly.

Everyone, the crowd, the Pope, the Emperor, Elizabeth, Lucian, Dean Orin, everyone, just stared.

It was a boy, maybe 15 years old.

He wore a pure white robe with shiny golden patterns sewn along the edges.

The robe looked soft and holy, glowing a little in the bright sun.

His long blonde hair fell straight down to his waist, shining like real gold.

His blue eyes were bright and clear, like perfect blue gems.

They sparkled and reflected the light back gently.

His face was incredibly beautiful, soft, kind, and peaceful.

There was zero arrogance, zero pride. Just pure warmth and gentleness.

He walked straight forward with easy steps and a small, friendly smile.

He looked at everyone sitting on the platform and smiled at them too.

They all stared back, mouths open, completely stunned.

He kept smiling as he reached the edge of the small sacred platform, the spot where only he was allowed to stand.

He stopped, raised both hands gently toward the crowd, and spoke in a soft, clear voice that somehow reached every ear.

"May Goddess Benigore love you all!"

That broke the spell.

The crowd snapped out of their daze and went absolutely wild!

"Uriel! Uriel! Uriel! Uriel!"

"Saint! Saint! Saint!"

The cheers rolled like thunder.

People jumped up and down, waved their arms, cried happy tears, and shouted his name over and over.

On the platform, Elizabeth blinked slowly.

Lucian whispered, "That’s... him?"

The boy, Uriel, stood there calmly, still smiling, hands raised like he was giving a quiet blessing.

Dean Orin stroked his neatly trimmed beard (which, for once, wasn’t a wild mess) and muttered under his breath,

"No wonder the church is so confident this time."

"Right?" Professor Jaya Balan whispered back, eyes still wide.

"He looks like the Goddess herself decided to walk around in human form."

"Yeah," Orin agreed with a slow nod.

"That’s exactly why they’re acting so sure. Kid might actually pass the trial."

"It’d be more surprising if he failed," Jaya added. "What do you think, Lady Elizabeth?"

Lucian turned toward her too, waiting for her usual sharp, confident opinion.

Elizabeth was still staring straight ahead at the boy on the small platform.

Her mouth was slightly open.

Her hands gripped the arms of her chair so hard her knuckles had turned white.

She didn’t blink.

Lucian gently touched her elbow. "Lady Elizabeth?"

She jolted like someone had dumped cold water on her.

"H-huh?" She blinked rapidly, forced an awkward smile that looked more like a grimace, and tried to speak normally.

"Well... I think he... he can. Yes. Definitely... can."

Her voice cracked on the last word.

Her face twisted, not in anger or disgust, but in something much worse: pure, raw disbelief mixed with rising panic.

Her breathing had gone shallow and fast.

Lucian frowned, concerned. "Are you alright, Lady Elizabeth? You look... unwell."

Elizabeth swallowed hard.

She pressed one hand to her chest as if trying to physically hold her heart in place.

"My... apologies," she managed, voice barely above a whisper.

"I—I think I need to use the bathroom. Right now."

She shot to her feet so fast her chair scraped loudly against the stone.

Without waiting for anyone to reply, without even glancing back, she hurried away from the row of seats, almost running, her elegant dress swishing behind her like she was fleeing something terrifying.

Lucian watched her go, eyebrows raised.

He let out a long, quiet sigh.

"Poor soul," he murmured to himself.

"She’s trying so hard to act normal... but she still hasn’t recovered from the shock of her son falling head-over-heels for their family’s worst enemy."

He clicked his tongue. "Regrettable. Tsk."

Then he turned his attention back to the saint candidate.

Uriel stood calmly in the center of the sacred circle, golden hair catching the light, blue eyes gentle and steady.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth burst through the bathroom door with a loud ’thud’, slamming it shut behind her so hard the mirror rattled.

The fancy marble room was empty, thank the Goddess, but she didn’t care.

She grabbed her head with both hands like her skull was about to split open.

"No fucking way. No fucking way. No fucking way."

She yanked at her perfect hair, fingers twisting strands until they hurt.

"What have you done, Julius?! You son of a bitch!!!"

Her voice cracked into a raw scream, the kind you only hear when someone’s most precious thing gets ripped away.

"You fucking idiot! Why the hell did you send your avatar as the saint candidate, you absolute asshole?!"

She screamed it at the top of her lungs, voice bouncing off the polished walls.

She paced in tight circles, heels clicking furiously.

"Why would you even do that?! Why be so bold? Why risk everything?! What the fuck are you planning?!"

*Huff! Huff! Huff! Huff!*

Her chest heaved. Sweat beaded on her forehead. She forced herself to stop moving.

"Okay. Okay. Calm down, Elizabeth. Calm the hell down."

She pressed her palms flat against the cold sink and stared at her own wild-eyed reflection.

"Breathe. In... haaa... out. In... out. In... out."

She repeated it over and over until her breathing slowed.

The panic in her eyes faded bit by bit.

Her shoulders dropped.

She looked almost normal again — almost.

Then Julius’s face flashed in her mind.

That cheeky, innocent grin from when he was little... but older now.

"It’s a secret, so don’t tell anyone, Mom." Wink.

Elizabeth’s calm shattered like glass.

"You son of a gun!!!!"

She slammed both palms on the sink so hard the faucets rattled.

Her reflection stared back, furious, horrified, and somehow... a tiny bit impressed against her will.

She dragged her hands down her face.

"How am I supposed to explain this to your father? To anyone? The Hayes heir just became the face of the church."

She let out a shaky, half-laugh, half-sob.

"My genius, one-in-a-billion, handsome idiot of a son... what kind of insane game are you playing?"

She straightened up, smoothed her dress with trembling hands, fixed her hair as best she could.

Deep breath.

"I have to go back out there. Act normal. Pretend I didn’t just have a mental breakdown in a holy bathroom."

She pointed at her reflection like it was Julius himself.

"But when I see you again, young man... you are so grounded. For life."