“Is it really you?”

“Yes! It’s good to see you!”

Sebastian, who had been blinking his green eyes while half-buried in the snow, transformed into a neat-looking servant and greeted her cheerfully.

Diana, slightly startled by the tall man waving at her in an unfamiliar appearance, staggered.

As her back fell backwards with her feet stuck in the snow, Sebastian quickly put his hand behind her waist to support her.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes…!”

Surprised by the close proximity, Diana pushed Sebastian’s shoulders away.

Standing upright, she put strength in her toes to avoid falling and thoroughly scanned the front, back, and sides.

Fortunately, not even an ant passed by near the secluded rear garden. The only footprints visible on the thick snow were those of the two people.

Lively gestures flew over her tense shoulders with a tap, tap!

“It’s okay. This is an abandoned tower, so there are no separate caretakers or guards. Naturally, the servants don’t come here either!”

“Ah… I see…”

“Don’t be nervous, it’s just the two of us. I won’t suddenly rush in and kiss you either. I remember.”

Diana blushed bright red from the momentary embarrassment. She felt sorry for treating a pure spirit like Sebastian as a pervert.

However, she was no longer a young girl and could become the subject of unpleasant rumors at any time.

There’s no harm in being careful…

Diana quickly changed the subject while looking at the mischievously opened mouth cave.

“By the way, what brings you here? You’ve been in and out of the castle countless times, but you never showed up…”

“Today, I received special instructions!”

“What…”

Before Diana could finish her question, Sebastian’s eyes curved like a crescent moon as he put his hand between his armpits.

Feet buried in the snow dangled in the air, and in the blink of an eye, the two arrived at the entrance of the tower.

Thud!

Diana, who landed on the floor, hurriedly stepped back and glared at Sebastian.

“Wh-what are you doing!”

“Sorry! I was told to escort you so you don’t get wet!”

“By Lady Dilaia…?”

“That’s right!”

“But why bring me here…”

Diana shivered from the rising chills and looked around.

The spiral stone stairs were stained with old blood, and the footprints left by someone were not of a typical size.

Although it was said to be an abandoned tower, there were traces of people coming and going until recently. Diana tucked her neck into her wool coat and remained wary of Sebastian.

“If it’s a conversation, we can have it in the bedroom or study. Is there a need to meet in such a creepy space?”

“Well, she asked if she could seek your understanding as there is another guest coming? She said to forgive her for not being able to invite you to a suitable place!”

“I’d appreciate it if you could tell me what this is about first…”

Sebastian, who relayed the message while scratching his cheek, conveyed the returned answer as it was.

“She said it’s not a matter to be carelessly disclosed, so she’ll do it in a safe place!”

Diana shook her head and stepped back.

The reason she attended the prayer meeting today was to understand the progress of the original story.

Those who prophesied the sacred object were left with an indelible mark, and in the original story, Dilaia had three neat dots on her neck.

To hide this fact, she always wore dresses with long necks…

Now that Raoul had left earlier than in the original story, if Dilaia’s oracle was also brought forward, it would be a problem for Dunkel, which was supposed to bear fruit in two years.

Diana had to confirm it even at the risk of danger.

However, that was only when Dilaia was an ordinary friend.

If she had already joined the rebel army? If God’s will had changed and she received an oracle to hand over Diana to them?

Her mouth was parched. The innocent Sebastian didn’t even know Diana was terrified and remained brightly clueless.

“Since the tower is high, she told me to escort you?”

“I’m fine. If there’s something to say, let’s do it in a bright place… Gasp! What are you doing!”

“She said to forgive the rudeness!”

The moment her body was lifted, Diana closed her eyes tightly. Nausea welled up from the speed of running as fast as the wind.

The neatly braided half-up hair fluttered in the air, and the fox fur coat tied with a string slipped off.

“Ugh! Sebastian!”

By the time Diana could open her tight vocal cords and let out a short scream, they had already reached the top floor.

Her stomach ached terribly from being carried like a sack on his pointed shoulders.

As Diana bent her waist and glared, Sebastian muttered in surprise.

“I can’t disobey Dilaia’s orders. We’re fairy mates…”

Diana picked up the fallen coat, put it on her arm, and exhaled roughly while rubbing her abdomen. The iron door located in front of the stairs opened with an unpleasant sound.

Creak.

The person who appeared from inside was, of course, Dilaia.

Standing on the last step and turning her head, Diana faced the saint who, as always, had not lost her elegant atmosphere with her blue hair hanging down.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Diana quickly moved her eyes to examine the exposed neck over the seasonally inappropriate temple dress.

The flawless skin was shining without a single blemish.

“Come in.”

It was fortunate in misfortune. Dilaia was before she prophesied the location of the sacred object.

Following Dilaia’s guidance, Diana entered the room and scanned the space that looked like someone’s bedroom with a tense gaze.

Under the conical ceiling, she saw an old bed, discarded clothes, and a rusted candlestick.

Perhaps this was a prison tower, and the top floor was a solitary cell used by a high-ranking prisoner.

Dilaia looked at the terrified Diana and did something unexpected.

She solemnly knelt in a spot where the light came in and began to pray.

Diana, who was bewildered, shifted her gaze towards Sebastian, but he too was reciting a prayer with a serious expression, unlike his usual self.

Diana was extremely confused and broke out in a cold sweat.

‘What, what are they doing? Are they performing a ritual of atonement before harming me?’

As she instinctively sensed danger and took a step back, Dilaia opened her eyes at that moment.

She approached Diana, who was moving away, as if using teleportation, and grabbed her hand.

Diana, startled, widened her eyes and muttered.

“Uh… Lady Dilaia. I don’t know what you have to say, but can’t we do it in the main palace? If it’s in the bedroom or study, there won’t be anyone listening…”

Dilaia shook her head and led Diana to the bedside.

“Sit down. It will probably be a long story. Once you hear it, you will understand why I’m being mindful of security even at the cost of being rude.”

Sitting on someone else’s bed, Diana stuck out her tongue and moistened her dry lips.

For some reason, her heart shrank with an ominous feeling that it would be a burdensome story.

The musty sensation transmitted to her hand and Dilaia’s eyes burning with unknown ecstasy made her tense.

And the story Diana heard gave her a shock far beyond her expectations.

Dilaia, who had finished speaking, waited for Diana’s answer.

“My story ends here.”

Diana, whose face had turned pale with bewilderment, asked again while fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

“Isn’t there something wrong? It doesn’t make sense that I’m the hero who will save the world.”

Dilaia shook her head while kneeling.

“There has never been a case where the prophecy has gone astray. Goddess Aiona has designated you as the hero who will save the country.”

“That’s impossible…”

Diana grasped her throbbing head and buried her face between her knees. Everything that came out of Dilaia’s mouth sounded like a lie.

‘Me, a hero? The hero in the prophecy book?’

Dilaia rose from her kneeling position and took a seat next to Diana.

The hand stroking her trembling back was as soft as a breeze. Dilaia kissed Diana’s hair as she agonized and whispered.

“When the time comes, you will understand God’s will.”

“That can’t be.”

Diana pleaded earnestly, hoping it was a lie.

“What ability do I have to save this world? I want to live a quiet and peaceful life with the people I love. That’s all I wish for…”

“The epic of a hero usually starts from small aspirations. What would you do if you had to save the world for their happiness?”

“…I’ll think about running away together. How can an ordinary person without spiritual power or magical power even think about fighting?”

“It’s different now. The Goddess said she will share her power with you. She even asked you to come directly to inherit the power.”

Dilaia uttered the words that completely shook Diana’s life as if it was nothing.

“Of course, it won’t be easy.”

“I, I…”

“You are both a hero and a guide to the hero’s path. It will probably be quite heartbreaking to fulfill both roles. The journey to find the Goddess will not be smooth either.”

Diana stood up abruptly, unable to handle the overwhelming truth.

“I need time to think…”

“There is plenty of time. We haven’t found the location of the sea mentioned in the prophecy yet. I saw a glimpse of the scene and those who boarded the ship together, so it will take quite some time to identify their identities and find out the common destination.”

It was when Diana rubbed her eyelids with her dry hand and let out a suppressed sigh.

Thump. Thump.

Heavy footsteps approached.

The moment Diana turned her head in surprise, the tightly closed iron door opened with a clang, and time stopped.

“Diana…?”

Before the impact of the shock she received today had subsided.

Diana’s body froze at the sight of the blue eyes she met, and she couldn’t even open her mouth.

It was Raoul, whom she met again after a year and a half.