The temple was lively but it wasn't as lively as a party but more of gossip and chat. A place use for prayer and the nobility like to gossip. As I greeted nobles and fellow friends of the social circle I saw a familar face.
"Mitzy!"
I called out to a girl with wavey red hair and green eyes. The girl face turned from a frown to a smile.
"Oriana, what are you doing here? The Duchess has finay decided to act nice judging by the bandages on your hands."
"Yeah, she brought her niece to the house so she's happy about that. Her niece is the apple of her eye."
"Do you want to sit with my family?"
"No, I promise the Duchess that I wouldn't cause trouble."
Mitzy eyes shifted to Emily as if she saw something disgusting. It almost looks offense to wear the goddess primordial outfit if you are not the designated goddess.
"Is that her niece?"
"Yes, her niece is the Princess of Nyx, the Duchess made her wear that dress. She thinks Emily will be the one."
"I heard the Duchess is insane but smart didn't think the rumors will be true."
"Yeah."
Mitzy and I talked for what seems like forever but we really catch up with life. Mitzy is my closest friend and knows about the abuse of the household. She was adopted from the same orphanage but in her family life she was loved and cherished by all. With that Mitzy grew up beautiful and fair. I grew up to look like scraggly looking cat when I'm not in fair lady mode.
"The Eclipse is starting, we should take our seats the head priest is coming out soon."
"Yes, we should, see you Mitzy."
I rushed to our seats and waited for my family to finish talking and boosting about Emily but the feeling in the temple feels heavy to me. It should be light and full of peace. As I looked over to Emily who stared down at me with the same look from earlier. Purple eyes turned into black voids. I did a double-take again and her eyes were blue and she was smiling cheerfully.
'Something is not right.' I thought as I held on to my seat.
◇◆◇◇◆◇◇◆◇◇◆◇◇◆◇◇◆◇◇◆◇
A young man with red hair and black eyes was standing at the alter in royal attire, he was the crown prince.
The Crown prince was watching from the alter as he looked around to see all the fine ladies dress in dresses that revealed their back. Especially Emily who was dressed like the primordial Goddess.
"Lantus, is that girl the Goddess?"
"No, she's not but I've been watching her since she entered the temple. She has a power that is ominous. It grows stronger as the Eclipse grows near.
"The girl who looks sick is being oppressed by that energy. I see a faint light glowing out of her. She might be the goddess, I have to get her to spill her blood in this holy water. If the liquid turns gold it will shows that she is the goddess."
"Go ahead, head priest, but to be fair do it to every girl. Not to suspect a thing."
"Yes, your highness."
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
The Head priest walked out and greeted everyone as I grew weak all of a sudden. I tried my best to listen.
"This year is the year to look for the goddess. Please, everyone maiden, Noble or not must participate. Ages 13-16 must arise. When the eclipse start, I will stop the blood test and turn my direction to possible canidates that have the markings on their back."
'Ah, I must walk up there. I'm not feeling well.'
"But first let's pray."
The prayer went on for what seems like hours to me but it was actually a few minutes. Finally the words of the hour have arrived.
"Everyone send up your noble young women. Quickly while the eclipse is forming. It slowly it is getting darker."
I stood up woozy but I waited in line, right behind Emily. Emily smiled as she walked up to the Alter but the Priest seemed off.
"You are new little one what is your name?"
"Emily Chausiku."
"Chausiku, as in the royal family of Nyx?"
"Yes, your holiness"
"Which family do you represent?"
"Duke Oaklee's. I am the Duchess niece."
"Do you know, you can not participate in this festival?"
The temple went silent as Emily eyes widened at the statement. The Duchess looked concerned as she fanned her face. She didn't think that the priest will notice Emily being there.
"Why?"
"You are the decendant of the Goddess of Night! Your power is omnipotent during eclipses. You are scarying and weakening the goddess."
Emily knees trembled as she backed away from the altar. As she ran back to her Aunt. I watched in horror as the Duchess wanted to faint for the embarrassing scene.
"Also wearing a dress mocking of the primordial Divine own but you are a decendant of the Night, how callous!"
I slowly walked up the Altar I was last and the sun have vanished as the sky turns purple, I felt weaker.
"My dear child give me your hand."
I weakly moved my hand as I was about to faint I felt a strong grip on me. In the back I hear Mitzy calling my name.
"Crown Prince, please raise the young lady hand."
I was in a daze as I felt the stinging of a knife run across my hand. After a few minutes I felt a warmth immenting from my back.
"She has the mark and the water is glowing, we have found the goddess of the century!"
'What, I am the goddess?'
I blacked out from the overwhelming sensation around me. Like energy have released from my body to suppress the darkness.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
Emily remained silent in the carriage with the Duke and Duchess alone.
"So that girl was the goddess, who would knew. Luckily we adopted her. You embarrassed us, Ramona."
"Jonas, I thought my bribe will work, I never thought that head priest could knew."
"No, you knew Emily was the decendant of Night yet you sent her to the alter to be humiliated."
"Your grace please, my aunt wanted to do what's best for me, she means no harm."
"Yeah, but your reputation is ruin how are you going to socialize? We were going to throw a banquet to announce you into our family."
"I know, let's wait until that chi- I mean the Goddess comes back to clear the misunderstanding!"
"She's with the Crown prince, we have to wait a few days for her to come back."
"Why? Let's go into the palace and get her we are still her gaurdians."
"Unfortunately, after the goddess is found she must remain in the palace for a few days to be crowned goddess. She will be inspected for wounds and diseases. Usually the goddess will learn to heal in that aspect."
The Duchess heart dropped as she heard the inspection and health part. If only she didn't allow the servants to abuse Oriana. She wouldn't be implicated if they found any grave wounds. The Duke continue on with the information he knew.
"Then she, the goddess, bless the royal family, she can ease the curse and possibly break it. The issue is, the curse is not easy to break. It took so many girls before Oriana to break the curse. If she manage to break the curse the family that represent her which is us will be even more powerful. But she must marry the prince to continue on."
"Well, that child wasn't useless after all, we got our money's worth maybe we can marry Emily to the second prince as an alliance." The Duchess said with hope as she looked at her husband with pleading eyes.
"Let's see, about that."
The Duke said as they pulled up to the the mansion. Emily frowned a bit then smiled at the thought. She wanted to be closer to Oriana but to wreck her life she failed earlier now she knows next what to do.
'Steal her family away, steal the Duke's attention from her, steal the Crown prince, I don't want a secondary choice!'