Trust is hard to get. Break it once and it will be harder to build. Despite giving your all to other people without even saving some for yourself, people would tend to take advantage of you and exploit your kindness. Yes, not everyone could be blind to such deception. But what could I say; Love does make a person blind. Which caused my pitiful death.
"Your holiness?"
Seriously, it's not even funny. If you think about it deeply, it would reflect how pathetic I am. I can't just blame them. I also have part of the fault. But their fault was much greater than mine.
"How dare they," I whispered under my breath with a shaking voice.
Just remembering it back makes my blood boil once again. I unknowingly clenched both of my hands. I gritted my teeth as I remembered what happened to me just a few hours ago.
"Your holiness. The son of Viscount Gregorio is waiting before you."
Upon hearing that, I turned my head at the person beside me. The man with long light green hair wearing an apprentice temple robe whispered to my side. It was Wayne Staghart.
He is one of the apprentices of the temple that was appointed by the high priest to be my deacon. He has been serving me since I stepped in to be educated in the temple.
Wayne reminded me once again as he stared at me with a troubled look on his face. Upon calling my attention, he slowly backed away from me and faced the child in front of us. With both of his hands properly on his torso, the apprentice turned at the child and gave it a reassuring smile as he nodded softly.
With that being said, I shifted my line of sight to the small child sitting on a chair before me. He looked like seven years old. He stared at me with restlessness in his demeanor. The child was fidgeting his small hands in nervousness due to my sudden silence upon his arrival.
"Oh p-priestess, Will I truly be able to w-walk again?" The child stuttered as he looked up at me with a tense look on his face.
Hearing that innocent question, my anger diminished as I stared at the child's expression. Just what am I doing right now? I should be focusing on my job.
I then squatted down and leveled my line of sight with the child as he watched my every movement. I lifted my hand and gently patted the crown of the child's head. "Fear not, sweet child. The Goddess is watching for you. Pray for blessing and you shall be healed."
I responded with a sweet smile on my face as I watched the expression of the child before me contort to a hopeful expression.
He nodded excitedly as I stood back up while maintaining a smile on my face and began the healing process. With his head slightly down, he then proceeded to say the line. "I pray for the mercy of our dear goddess Ahdea…"
The child chanted loudly enough for me to hear with a hopeful tone of voice as he closed his eyes shut and clasped his hands tightly. Upon hearing so, I hovered my left hand above the child's chestnut colored hair with my palm facing him down.
'Hear thy child's call, my beloved goddess. Take heed for your vessel and lend me your strength.' I prayed on my own as I can feel a surge of energy within my body travel through my body across my arm to the palm of my hand.
A ray of light flashed from my palm as it shined to the child who was still intently praying with his head down. Gentle white orbs then surrounded the child as the child gleamed despite being in the open temple on a bright morning.
After a while, the light coming from my palm slowly vanished and so did the orbs surrounding the boy.
"Is it…done?" The child asked, unsure of what to do next.
Hearing that, I retracted my hand back as I responded right away, "Open your eyes and see for yourself, dear child."
And upon hearing that, the child looked up at me with his eyes gleaming. I smiled at him once again to reassure him and give him courage. He hesitated for a while if he should stand up with his broken and casted right ankle. But after a few seconds, the child planted his hands on the armchair with a firm grip; slowly and surely trying to stand up with wobbly knees. Wayne approached the child and assisted him.
And when the child did properly stand up, his eyes widened. With his attention solely on his severely injured ankle, the child couldn't help but react emotionally.
"The doctors said that I couldn't use my right foot again. But I…I am healed!" He cried out of happiness as tears formed on the corner of his eyes.
"P-priestess, Thank you so mu—"
"HAHAHAHA!! Our priestess never ceases to amaze me!"
A loud voice interrupted the warm atmosphere with its boisterous tone of voice. The three of us turned our heads right away at the owner of the voice. It was a noble man in his late 30's. Though I wanted to beat the crap out of that man, I held back. I have an image that everyone expects to see in me. The Saintess of Antacia, Dianne Vonn Albrecht. I used to be proud of that certain title and glory. But I can't say the same now.
"Lord Gregorio, please maintain the tranquility inside the holy vicinity." I reminded the man calmly with my same practiced business smile.
The Viscount just let out a chuckle as he bent his body to bow and give respect to me.
Viscount Jonathan Gregorio. I will never forget this man. He has sharp features on his face and is known for his intelligence. That is why the king favored this man. Aside from the fact he is the first cousin of the empress, the Viscount elevated to his current status due to his usefulness in the royal court.
"Please understand priestess, my emotions get the best out of me. Still, there is no reason for me to raise my voice in front of our saintess. I do apologize for such behavior of mine when you just healed my only son's injury." He explained with a cheerful tone of voice as he approached his son and held his shoulders gently and affectionately.
Now who would have thought that this very man was one of the people who pushed for my death? "I am elated for your appreciation but I should be the one thanking you, my lord. You have always been generous with your donations to our orphanages."
I responded back as I placed my hand on my chest and bobbed my head down, making a graceful gesture. Wayne also followed my lead; he leaned his body down giving a deeper bow at the nobleman. The Viscount looked pleased upon seeing how I acted around him.
With that, he grinned widely as he puffed his chest out proudly with just a few of my flattery. "What could I say, priestess? It's the duty of a noble to help those commoners. Speaking of which, maybe we could talk more about the donations over a cup of tea?" He proposed out of courtesy as he stared at me with the same expression.
Upon hearing that, I immediately declined his offer as I let out my same business face. "That's a lovely offer but I have to decline, my lord. My body started to get weary after the healing process." I excused myself as I put my left hand on my temple and I massaged it gently, acting as if I was indeed not feeling well.
I could do this all day but the temple wouldn't let me. Such power should not be given for free, they say. And being the mere puppet I am, I did as they said. Now looking back at this rule, I realized how naive I was to be a pushover at this extent.
With that, the Viscount dismissed the offer. Along with his son, they exited the temple and rode their fancy carriage. As I watched their departure through the big window of the second floor, I noticed another carriage in the distance on their way to the temple. Just like how I remembered it to be. I crossed my arms as I leaned to my side, gazing with a serious expression at the scene outside. Wayne, who was seeing off the Viscount, then appeared behind me also noticing the incoming guest. And we both know who is inside that carriage. "You must be over the moon, priestess. I heard Sir Mateo has been selected as the captain of the royal palace. And being placed in the king's elite first squad at that. What a remarkable deed, I must say." Wayne said with amazement in his voice as the carriage stopped in front the main entrance.
A man with light brown hair wearing royal knight clothing stepped out of the said carriage holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand. He then looked up at my direction, as if he knew that I always expected for his arrival in this same window spot. He flashed a big smile and he gave a big wave at me.
I narrowed my eyes as I saw his face again. I responded, trying to sound happy.
"Yes. I'm happy for him."