It’s been quite some time since I became Ceres.
During this time, I haven’t been idle; I’ve been gathering information in my own way.
What I’ve learned is that this world is one where the gender roles have been reversed.
As in the original work, only the roles of men and women have changed, and it seems that Ceres and the male characters’ genders have also been swapped to match that.
Rumor has it that not only Alios but also the others are all women.
…At least, there’s no danger of a man doing anything to me, so that’s a relief.
However, despite the change in gender, it seems the obsession remains unchanged.
“Ceres, how have you been?”
As declared, Alios has been visiting very frequently.
She comes by every few days. While her territory isn’t far, her dedication is exceptional.
“I was fine until just now, but not anymore.”
I responded coldly to Alios when she visited.
It was the complete opposite of Ceres, who would normally greet people warmly and gain their favor.
“Oh, it’s fine to speak casually. Please talk to me like we did the first time we met.”
However, Alios didn’t seem upset and continued to act warmly.
“You look beautiful as always. You shine like the moon.”
“The moon only shines because it reflects the light of the sun, so it doesn’t shine on its own.”
“Heh, then should I become your sun? You’re quite the interesting person.”
No matter what she said, it seemed like her favorability kept rising, which gave me chills.
Someone else who saw this might say:
“Regardless of the original work, right now she’s a blonde beauty who likes you. Why not just get along?”
But knowing the insane Alios from the original work, I could never do that.
The uncomfortable meetings continued.
“Ceres, today I’ll just greet you and leave.”
As usual, Alios didn’t come alone with just a few servants but appeared with knights in tow.
For a moment, I was shocked, thinking she was trying to take me by force, but then I realized that wasn’t the case.
“There’s a demon nearby. I’ll have to deal with that today, so I can’t stay long.”
Hearing her speak regretfully, I remembered.
The most important event from the original work in Ceres’ story.
Alios, who went to deal with demons near this territory, after a brief meeting with Ceres.
Because he had only a short interaction with Ceres, he felt regret, which caused him to let his guard down.
He caught the demon but returned with a large wound on his arm, asking for help.
That was the moment Ceres first awakened her divine power.
Her desire to heal an injured acquaintance awakened her divine power.
In other words, If I stop this event, the divine power might never awaken, which would prevent disaster!
“I’ll meet you properly from tomorrow, so today, I’ll…”
“Wait!”
I stopped Alios, who was about to leave with the knights.
“Be careful.”
“Hmm? Of course, I’ll be careful.”
“More than usual. I have a bad feeling about today. If you don’t want to get hurt, take care of yourself.”
“Are you worried about me?”
“Yes.”
I said that without meaning it but pretending to care.
Now that I had warned her, she should be careful and return safely.
Even if, like in the original, she comes back hurt, I had no intention of healing her.
I thought there wouldn’t be any divine power awakening, so I waited lazily.
“Ahhh!”
“Someone, help!”
Several hours later.
Alios appeared, leading countless injured soldiers, all in perfect condition herself.
What’s going on?!
When the knights she had taken with her returned, all injured, not just me but the entire family was shocked.
“Lady, what’s happened here?”
Even Ares, who would usually remain calm, widened her eyes in surprise.
“A stronger demon than expected appeared,” Alios explained in a fluster.
While fighting the stronger demon, it suddenly launched a massive attack, and they were hit by it.
“What were you doing? Isn’t it your responsibility to stop that?”
“Well, I had received a warning before leaving.”
Alios, avoiding Ares’ gaze, explained.
Before heading out to fight, someone had warned her, and it had been so distracting that, without realizing it, she had avoided the attack instead of blocking it. As a result, her subordinates took the hits.
Could this be my fault?
She didn’t mention my name, but since it was my warning, I was the cause.
Because of my warning, a situation that would’ve been limited to a single arm injury had turned into this catastrophe?
I stiffened my expression and surveyed the wounded.
In this world where gender roles are reversed, the knights are all women.
They were young women, but each had received horrific injuries.
“Hey, stay with me!”
Some of them were in critical condition, and their lives would be in danger if not treated immediately.
Was this the kind of attack that, in the original story, was absorbed by just a single arm injury?
How strong is Alios, really?!
“Lord, is there any way to help?”
“I’m sorry. We have potions saved for Ceres, but they are for restoring health, so they won’t be effective for major wounds.”
“That can’t be!”
Alios, realizing some were about to die, asked for help, but even Ares didn’t have a solution.
Should I treat them?
If I do, my divine power might awaken just like in the original work, and things might unfold as they did in the story.
But if I don’t act, everyone might die.
As I was conflicted.
“Ceres?”
“What?!”
Ares and Alios, who had been having a hopeless conversation, turned to look at me in surprise.
The others also had shocked expressions, as if they had forgotten the situation.
Why?
…Because divine power was emanating from my body like light.
So even though I didn’t intend to treat anyone, just by being conflicted, my power awakened?
Damn!
I have no choice.
“Step back for a moment.”
“Ceres, young master!”
I shook off the servant who tried to help and approached the dying knights while enduring the pain.
Just like in the original story, once Ceres awakens, she immediately uses her power, so there’s no need to learn how.
I raised my hand, and divine energy poured out, healing the wounds and even regenerating the missing parts.
“They’re all healed…”
“Is this divine power?”
“No way. Such powerful divine power would be hard for even a high priest to wield!”
“It’s like something out of a legend!”
The knights, who had been on the brink of death just moments ago, were now healed and looked at me in bewilderment.
“Ceres, when did you have such power?!”
“Just now!”
I replied honestly to the surprised Ares.
“I don’t know why, but it seems like I just gained the ability to heal, so I used it.”
Well, now that it’s awakened, what can I do?
I might as well try to use it to help!
“And you,”
I pointed my finger at Alios.
“I told you to be careful. I never told you to just avoid it irresponsibly. Don’t think I’ll help you next time something like this happens. Do it right next time!”
I vented my anger at Alios, but her expression was strange.
…Yes!”
Her expression seemed touched, even though she had been scolded for no reason. Her eyes were almost dripping with sweetness.
Why is she like this?
At first, it was just pure curiosity.
The frail young master of the Hyperion family, who could never leave the mansion.
People called him the most beautiful man in the empire just from the rumors the servants spread, but what would the real person be like?
Alios came to see Ceres for that lighthearted reason.
So, when she happened to meet Ceres collapsed, she was both surprised and impressed.
‘Just as the rumors said!’
Silver hair shining like light. Skin as white as snow. Features like a work of art.
Her beauty, as if rejecting any filth, captivated her attention.
But soon, her admiration turned into astonishment and laughter.
‘Did I really think I’d get him pregnant after falling for him ?’
It was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard, but it left a strong impression.
‘She’s not just beautiful; she’s an interesting person too.’
It wasn’t just her appearance; Alios found herself fascinated by Ceres as a person.
She wanted to get to know him more.
Half-playful, but still, she even did things she wouldn’t normally do, like making requests forcefully.
Although she could sense that Ceres didn’t like it, she ignored it.
She actually wanted to see his reaction even more.
‘She reacts so amusingly.’
Alios thought it was all just for fun, but she didn’t realize that she was behaving that way to grab Ceres’ attention.
She hadn’t fully realized it, but Alios had already become very conscious of Ceres.
That’s why she paid attention to Ceres’ sudden warning.
That warning, however, led to a disastrous result for her subordinates.
‘What should I do? What should I do?!’
Alios, who had somehow brought her wounded subordinates back to the Hyperion family, felt a headache.
Because she had instinctively avoided the attack, her subordinates were now in this state.
Meanwhile, the demon, her target, had escaped.
It was her first major mistake in her life, even though she had been on the path of success as the heir to the duke and the strongest knight!
‘Ceres, will he be disappointed in me?’
She was scared of how people would react, especially Ceres.
She was so afraid of what expression Ceres would have that she purposely avoided eye contact and only spoke to Ares.
“What?!”
Then Ceres suddenly demonstrated her powerful healing ability and healed her subordinates.
Not only that, “I told you to be careful. I never told you to just avoid it irresponsibly. Don’t think I’ll help you next time something like this happens. Do it right next time!”
Ceres scolded Alios, but Alios focused on something else.
‘Does that mean… he helped me with my mistake? By pushing his own body to the limit to heal me?’
Alios thought Ceres had healed her for his sake.
‘I thought he hated me, but he actually warned me and surprisingly cared for me.’
When she realized that Ceres had been concerned for her, Alios couldn’t calm down.
She felt strange and her heart started beating erratically.
‘This?’
At first, Alios had been flustered, but soon she realized what was happening.
‘I see. This isn’t just liking her; it’s love!!’
This was the moment Alios first became aware of her feelings.
It was a result that came months earlier than in the original work.
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