Aularis, widely known as the sun god. The Aularis Empire had long been allied with the Penteria Empire. Because of this alliance, the sun god's holy church had been expanding its influence within the territory.
Rosalyn, as one of the Empire's holy church graduates, was assigned the task of establishing a temple in one of the territories.
It had been about two weeks since her arrival. Rosalyn diligently noted her observations, as she was also tasked with documenting everything she witnessed in the territory.
What she witnessed was beyond plausible. It was known that the new Count of Genest, a "lucky bastard," had somehow managed to sustain the territory, which was suffering from economic collapse.
Upon her arrival at the gates, she noticed the decorations on the walls and houses. Although the festival had long ended, the decorations remained intact.
Not only that, the hospitality was far beyond her expectations. The servants were all properly trained, and the food was nothing short of delightful.
She encountered new types of dishes she didn't know existed. There were many shops, including one that sold fried chicken, which quickly became her favorite lunch.
She also tried the famous new deli, savoring her fill. With the generous sum provided by the church, she freely indulged her appetite.
From cute new accessories to cosmetics she adored, Rosalyn spent freely. She even sported a new dress and met numerous people, each as lively as the next.
The streets were bustling with people coming and going. They offered an array of fruits and produce.
After five days of nonstop spending, she almost forgot her primary objective. She eventually attempted to discuss church matters with the count. However, he flatly rejected her.
"As you can see, I am currently busy with numerous affairs," the count repeated, the same response each time.
Although she wished to press further, Rosalyn couldn't be direct, especially in the count's presence. She sighed in defeat.
She knew she had to send a few information to the church regarding the count's territory.
Thus, she decided to talk with the people in the territory to acquire information and insight about what they think of the new count.
"What do I think of the count?" a young man replied with a smile. "I think he's amazing!"
"Oh, the count has done so much for us," another man added. "He's introduced new forms of entertainment and types of food!"
"The count is such an incredible man," an elderly woman stated. "I really thought our territory would perish, but thanks to him, we're moving forward."
"I think the count is super great! One day, I'll be a knight and serve the county!" a little boy exclaimed.
All the statements she gathered were filled with praise, devotion, or admiration.
Not a single complaint or critique surfaced about the count's conduct.
Rosalyn sighed, resting in her quarters, and sent her usual letter to the church.
Not even a single world or stain in the count's name. She had at least thought that there was one, yet she hasn't found any. Even the overworked officials who seemed to have not slept for weeks simply smiled and stated that everything they had was given by the count.
"Although the paperwork's are draining, I am simply glad that the count has faith in me in managing certain aspects of the territory." Stated by none other than, Tristan.
---
Stephen reviewed the documents before him. For now, everything was smooth sailing. The products he created had become a sensation, prompting him to open a shop.
Because of this, the treasure room was gradually filling with gold coins, easing his financial concerns.
However, despite the profits, he remained focused on the territory's welfare. Only ten shops had reopened, and although there was a modest influx of tourists, it wasn't enough to sustain the territory.
He needed to open at least one entire street of shops.
The waste management system was under construction; they had completed one street, thanks to numerous contributions.
However, Stephen faced another problem: the church girl. She had been repeatedly entering his office, seeking an audience to discuss church matters. This, of course, was a source of frustration.
Not only that, she had been asking questions about him among the locals. On the upside, Stephen had gained valuable insights into how the people viewed him.
He was now seen as a capable leader. All his hard work has bore fruit.
"When will that church girl leave?" Veronica asked, sipping her tea.
Another issue was his mother's constant nagging about Rosalyn. Although Stephen shared similar sentiments, he couldn't simply tell her to leave, as that would be terribly rude and might anger the church.
"Mother, have some patience," he replied, trying to soothe her frustration.
"Patience? She's been here for two weeks! I don't want her to stay another day!" Veronica retorted.
Stephen sighed. "Fine, I'll handle it to quell your irritation."
"Good." Veronica stood and left the office.
Stephen has been avoiding Rosalyn, since of course he doesn't want to speak regarding the church. But, if this goes on, the church will also find it rude to make them wait.
Thus, he needed to sort it out. Stephen summoned Rosalyn. After a short wait, the two sat across from one another.
"Regarding the church," Stephen began.
"Ah, are we finally going to discuss it, Lord Genest?" Rosalyn responded, adding, "The church has already submitted a proposal." She handed him a paper, placing it on the table.
"Ah, yes," Stephen muttered, picking up the document. His brows furrowed as he read.
The proposal stated that the count would fund the church's construction, cover the labor costs, and, absurdly, pay additional fees to the church.
Stephen found it preposterous.
"Also, my lord." Rosalyn placed a small square-shaped device on the table. "Could you please place your hand on this?"
Stephen, not particularly intrigued, placed his hand on the device.
"I'll turn it on," Rosalyn said.
Before she could say more, a sudden flash of bright light engulfed them, causing her to shield her eyes.
"What the—!" Stephen tried to pull his hand away, his eyes blinded by the intense light.
---
Stephen blinked, slowly adjusting to the scene. He found himself in an all-white space. In front of him stood a woman with long black hair, violet eyes, and a rather revealing outfit.
"Oh, you're awake!"
Stephen held his head, rising slowly. He cast a glance at the woman, who stared at him intently. "Who are you?"
The woman giggled, taking his arm. "Come, I have something to show you!" she urged. She led Stephen to a well. "I've been watching you for some time, Lee Yeon-woo!"
Stephen froze. "How did—" He paused, clearing his throat. "Who are you?" he asked again, more guardedly.
"My name is Aera! I am the goddess of the moon!" she declared proudly, her chin held high.
Stephen started to respond but stayed silent, instead gazing into the well. In its reflection, he saw himself passed out at his desk, with Rosalyn calling for assistance.
"Am I dead?" he asked.
"What? Of course not, silly!" Aera chuckled, giving his arm a playful slap. "You're so funny!" She smiled and explained. "When you touched that device, I managed to open a portal to bring your soul here!"
"Here?" Stephen asked, glancing around at the white void.
"Yes! I haven't seen a human in so long—especially one blessed by the system!" Aera beamed.
"You know about the system?" Stephen asked, intrigued.
"Of course I know! I'm also blessed by the system!" Aera replied with a smile. "It's been ages since I saw anyone from home."
Stephen hesitated before asking. "A-Are you from Earth, too?"
"Of course I am! I'm Korean!" Aera said proudly. "Anyway, I wanted to discuss something with you."
Stephen noticed her voice turn shy. "Please, speak freely," he invited.
Aera smiled, snapping her fingers. Two chairs and a table laden with sweets appeared. They both sat.
"Let's start with the basics. My name is Aera, and I'm currently about…" Aera counted on her fingers, chuckling awkwardly. "Let's skip my age. I was born in Korea, in the year…" She trailed off. "Sorry, I don't remember much."
"It's fine," Stephen replied, though he was still light-headed.
"Hehe, anyways." Aera cleared her throat and started. "To start off, I arrived here when the world was first created, along with other gods to aid humanity."
Aera snapped her finger, and on the table, a few miniature toys began to interact with one another. "Each god was tasked with establishing empires and kingdoms. I was assigned the area now known as the Penteria Empire."
"Penalver was my student and the child I entrusted to rule the empire," Aera continued with a nostalgic smile. "It's been a long time since he passed and reentered the cycle of birth and death. It gets lonely here, especially since we gods have our own realms."
Stephen listened then asked. "Then why did you brought me here?"
"I was surprised to find a foreign soul in the Penteria Empire, especially one blessed with a divine system," Aera smiled. "Actually, I called you here to discuss something important."
Stephen grew curious. "What would that be?"
Aera hesitated, her cheeks reddening. "Um… would you marry me?"