Chapter 28: Two Love Letters

Bold!

Truly, how bold!

No matter what, Queen Flandre never expected Isavel to dare wrap her waist in front of everyone, making such an intimate gesture!

A flush spread quickly from her cheeks to her earlobes. She didn’t respond to Isavel’s words, only silently lowered her head, as if unwilling to draw any more attention.

It was somewhat like burying her head in the sand.

But as a queen, how could she go unnoticed?

Many nobles’ gazes flickered at the scene, their thoughts inscrutable, while Isavel inwardly snorted with disdain at their petty schemes.

Ever since the Prophecy of the Abyssal Seal’s impending break spread, many imperial nobles had rekindled their ambitions.

They sought to seize the throne amid the possible chaos and become the new ruler of the Aos Empire.

This caused Queen Flandre a great deal of trouble, especially with the nobles’ duplicity, which blocked many of her policies and stirred complaints among the people.

Now, with Isavel holding Flandre’s waist in front of those nobles, she was sending a clear message: the Oracle Hall stood with the queen.

If they remained obstinate, the Oracle Hall would not hesitate to punish evil and uphold justice in the name of the Goddess.

A slight curve of her lips, Isavel clearly sensed the nobles’ gazes behind her growing tinged with awe and hesitation.

Afterward, holding the Bouquet of the Hundred Flowers, she departed the Divine Oracle Hall accompanied by countless maidens.

Behind the Oracle Hall stood a sacred mountain, flanked on both sides by the living quarters.

The mountain wasn’t tall, but atop it stood a massive Goddess Statue carved in stone.

At the foot of the statue, Isavel placed the bouquet and then knelt before it, hands clasped together, closing her eyes in prayer.

This was the final step of the Hundred Flowers Ritual—offering flowers to the Goddess.

As her prayer ended, the Goddess Statue seemed to respond to the wishes of the people, releasing a seven-colored beam of light shooting into the sky.

Gradually, the Hundred Flowers filled the sky over the Imperial Capital, petals drifting down like raindrops.

Amid this sea of flowers, a pure, graceful figure appeared.

That figure was Isavel.

At this moment, the entire Imperial Capital truly sank into the sea of white lilies.

Countless people knelt, praying to the Goddess Statue on the sacred mountain, hoping the Goddess who spreads miracles would grant their wishes.

What they did not know was that this miracle had nothing to do with the Goddess.

All of this was the work of the Oracle Hall.

……

Within the living quarters of the Oracle Hall.

Fili stood on the second-floor balcony, reaching out to catch a few scattered petals.

White ones, golden ones—they emitted a faint, delicate fragrance, much like the scent she remembered from Saintess Isavel’s presence in the bathhouse.

Just then, two maidens passed behind her, each holding a bouquet of lilies.

“Lady Viel sure is a flirt, giving flowers to every single one of us.”

Though the maiden said this, her smile held a strange sweetness.

“Be careful! If the Head Maid hears you say that, you might find yourself in trouble!”

“Hmph, I’m just joking. Everyone knows what Lady Viel’s true intentions are.”

The maiden brought the lilies to her nose and sniffed.

“She gives us flowers because she’s afraid we’ll feel unloved here… She seems so cold on the surface, but she’s actually kinder than anyone. If I were Lady Viel’s beloved, I’d be the happiest person alive!”

“Hmph, you don’t know. There have been rumors circulating in the Imperial Capital recently, saying Lady Viel framed Saintess Selis. It’s ridiculous! Lady Viel could never be that kind of person!”

“Ah? Is that true?!”

The other maiden was shocked, unable to understand how such rumors could spread in the capital.

Her shock soon turned to anger, as if she wanted to punch those who spread the lies.

Fili’s gaze darkened.

Born a noble lady herself, she understood the power of such rumors.

But she also knew how powerless she was; even Saintess Isavel of the Oracle Hall could not silence everyone’s tongues.

Besides, she felt an inexplicable loneliness.

Looking down at the petals in her palm, the smile on her lips slowly faded.

The Hundred Flowers Festival had a tradition: on this day, people gave a flower to someone they cared about.

This was a custom she only recently learned.

Because all her life, she had never received a flower from anyone on the Hundred Flowers Festival.

Maybe when her parents were still alive, she had received one? But back then, she was too young to remember—just a crying infant.

Lowering her eyes to the balcony below, she saw many maidens playing among the falling petals, all holding bouquets of lilies without exception.

She felt a twinge of envy.

If only she hadn’t been born into a noble family, but into the Oracle Hall instead, would her life be as carefree and happy as theirs?

Probably.

But alas, no one could choose their own birth.

Pulling back her gaze, Fili left the balcony and drew the curtains.

She knew—she did not belong to the Oracle Hall.

She was an outsider, and seeing their smiles only made her heart ache.

With a hint of sorrow, she rounded the corner and collided with Renia.

“Oof!”

Falling awkwardly to the ground, she looked up to see Renia panting softly, sweat glistening on her forehead, her dress a bit disheveled.

Biting her lip, Fili stood and brushed off her dress, feigning casualness as she asked, “Renia? Where were you just now? You just came back?”

Renia did not answer but instead held out a bouquet of lilies behind her.

Fili blinked.

“Is this… for me?”

“Take it.”

Renia’s tone was somewhat cold, laced with a hint of command, but Fili didn’t feel offended.

She accepted the lilies, her eyes instantly reddening.

“Renia…”

Renia turned her gaze away.

“Don’t misunderstand, this isn’t from me.”

“Then…”

“Lady Viel asked me to give it to you.”

“But I still want to thank you, Renia.”

“Then thank Lady Viel.”

Waving her hand and ignoring Fili’s tearful smile, Renia turned and left.

She didn’t want Fili to thank her.

After all, even now she could recall how her own lady once gave Fili a back massage.

To Renia, that was unheard of—she had never enjoyed such favors from her lady!

An enemy.

Fili was a true enemy!

With this thought, she passed by the door to the Saint’s Rest Chamber.

Pausing for a moment, an icy smile suddenly appeared on her cold face.

White petals drifted in on the breeze through the window.

On the desk inside lay two pure and beautiful bouquets of lilies, quietly resting like two delicate love letters.