Chapter 18

– Sebastian? What for?.. Ah! That's right, I called him, – Judy snorted and slapped his forehead with his palm.

'I called him to show him Esther, but I completely forgot about it.'

– However, there were a few words that Mr. Sebastian said to Miss Esther…

–What did he say to her? – Judy asked in a cold voice, cutting off Dorothy's scraping.

Fortunately, Dorothy had an excellent memory and she recounted Sebastian's words word for word, knowing for sure that he was wrong.

– What? Skinny? Sebastian, that fat boy, did he really say that? – Judy, who had listened to Dorothy's words in silence, instantly exploded with anger.

'He dared to offend my sister?' – Veins stood out on the boy's face. His eyes burning with anger clearly showed that he was not going to leave it just like that.

*****

At this time in the main temple.

Rabien, dressed in a pure white candidate uniform, walked down the corridor and smiled gently.

– May the Goddess bless you.

– In the name of Espitos.

Everyone who passed by greeted Rabien with honor.

It was natural, because she was the most influential candidate for the role of the next Saint.

Rabien enjoyed the attention of people. The girl believed that only she was worthy of the title of Saint, which everyone so desperately wanted.

Thanks to this brainwashing, Rabien looked much older than her 14 years.

Naturally, her confidence was extremely firm. After all, Rabien had been carefully brought up as a Saint since childhood, and her knowledge was equal to that of an adult.

'Am I late?' – Rabien, who seems to have come a little later than usual, quickened her pace, but Aina and Tara, the same candidates for Saints, noticed her:

– Oh, Rabien, where are you going?

– Ah, Aina, Tara. Saint Cespia called me, – Rabien's irritation intensified when the candidates blocked her path, but the girl only smiled gently, without expressing her emotions.

Her real face was always hidden behind a mask.

– It's amazing, Saint Cespia always calls Rabien, – Aina pressed her hands to her chest in admiration. She pretended that everything was fine, but her voice was full of envy.

– It's not like that. Other candidates also get her attention, – Rabien began to get bored with this conversation. Only she opened her mouth to quickly say goodbye to the girls, but Tara was faster:

– Ah, Rabien, have you heard the rumors?

– What rumors?

Tara's eyes lit up and, looking around, she spoke in a very low voice:

– About one of the lower candidates who sometimes visited you, Rabien. There are rumors that she is missing.

Without realizing it, Rabien held her breath. However, she quickly threw off the tension and regained her firmness:

– Are you talking about Daine? I haven't seen her for a long time.

– They say that she left with an old aristocrat working in the government, is that true?

– Some girls say that they saw her meeting a man in the temple.

'Considering Daina's age, this is naturally not true,' – however, Rabien lowered her gaze, as if something had surfaced in her memory:

– Yes, Daina said she met someone last time, but could it be related…

A light half-glance was enough.

Rabien's words instantly aroused the two candidates:

– Tc, I knew it. That's why becoming an orphan candidate is a big problem.

– Exactly. That's what happens when there are incapable children among us.

– We need to tell the Priest not to accept orphans anymore!

For Tara and Aina, the rumors about Daina have become true.

'I can say whatever I want.

After all, whatever it was, the morning Daina left, only I saw her.'

Rabien was determined to hide the fact that the insignificant Daina had gone to the Grand Duke's family.

'I'm still wondering what the hell they saw in her that they took the Grand Duke into the family? I am concerned about this issue, and I even sent someone to find out everything, but there is no news yet…

She had her own value.

It was enough just to talk to Daina, who was ignored by everyone, and pretend that I was close to her, as respect easily appeared in everyone's eyes. It's funny,' – Rabien thought, barely suppressing a laugh that was about to break out.

– I think we should leave Rabien, because the Lady Saint is waiting for her!

– Rabien, I'm really sorry that we detained you! Go quickly.

As soon as Rabien finished shuffling with the candidates, she immediately left them at a brisk pace.

The chambers of Saint Cespia were located in the southern part of the temple. It was a place where no one could enter, but Rabien was an exception.

Rabien, who was not stopped by anyone, went inside and called Verdo, who was standing in front of Cespia's room:

– Priest Verdo.

– Glad to meet you.

Verdo was the one who looked after Saint Cespia. He, living in her residence, waited every day for the arrival of Rabien, who came at the same time.

The medicine that Verdo had prepared in advance was handed over to Rabien. It was a deep bowl filled with a black liquid.

A low, deep laugh escaped Rabien's lips.

The girl smiled and pulled out a small glass bottle from her pocket. She carefully opened the stopper and dropped two drops of its contents into the medicine bowl.

Only two drops were completely invisible inside the medicine.

For a moment, Rabien and Verdo's eyes furtively crossed:

– I'm coming in.

– Thank you so much for your help.

In Cespia's room, in order to somehow enliven the atmosphere, pots with a wide variety of medicinal plants were placed.

There was a large bed in the very center of the green room. On it, as if dead, but barely breathing, lay Cespia.

Despite the fact that her strength was similar to that of the Emperor, the woman had an extremely pitiful appearance. Her body was so dry that the bones were clearly visible through the skin.

In fact, Cespia has changed quite recently. Although she was ill, however, her illness, which in recent years has not been so severe, has grown dramatically.

– Holy One, I'm here, – pulling out a chair for visitors, Rabien sat down next to the bed and spoke to the Saint so that she would recognize her.

– Ah... Rabien, you've come.

– Yes. How are you feeling today?

Cespia's eyelids fluttered and opened slightly. She reached out her hand, trying to touch Rabien, but she failed to do so:

– Well... it looks like I don't have much left…

– Don't say that, you'll get better, – Rabien said decisively, squeezing Cespia's hand tightly.

– I won't be able to recover anymore... cough... ha... – without finishing her sentence, Cespia suddenly coughed. It was not a simple cough, because blood flowed down her lips.

– Holy God, hurry up, drink the medicine.

– What is the use of this medicine? – Cespia shook her head.

'I know I have very little time left. Now, I want to spend the time I have left in full consciousness, and when I take this medicine, it seems to me that I lose myself…'

Rabien, displeased with Saint Cespia's refusal, pursed her lips.

'The last phase is almost over, but if she does not take the medicine now, then all efforts will go in vain.'

– No. I can't bear to see you suffer, Saint Cespia. Please take the medicine if you think about me even a little bit, okay? – Tears streamed down Rabien's cheeks, and she scooped up the medicine she had brought with a spoon.

Cespia didn't want to take the medicine, but Rabien forced her to open her mouth. She couldn't refuse the girl who brought her the medicine.

'Rabien is a very good kid. She always takes care of others, she is special,' – after thinking, Cespia forced herself to drink all the medicine. That's just when she drank the medicine, her consciousness immediately clouded.

– ...thank you. If it wasn't for you, I would have been punished.

– Good. Now... I need to rest... – Cespia's eyes, which had regained their sparkling light for a second, immediately lost it. The blue eyes immediately disappeared under her heavy eyelids.

Rabien smiled broadly as she watched Saint Cespia. She couldn't contain her emotions, as everything inside her was overflowing with pleasure.

– Tomorrow I will come again, – the girl said softly, bending over the head of the sleeping Cespia.

*****

– Ah, – frowning, Esther woke up.

As soon as the girl opened her eyes, the bright light pouring between her palms immediately clouded her vision for a second. Blinking, Esther looked around in confusion:

– Do I sleep in bed?

'In bed, under a soft blanket...' – the girl tried to remember what happened after meeting Judy, but immediately got upset:

– I don't remember anything... – Esther sighed.

'No matter how tired I was, I couldn't lose consciousness and fall asleep. Rather, it was a signal of an increase in Holy Power.

It seems that there is very little time left ...' – thinking, the girl shook her head.

Esther wanted to drink water, so she immediately got out of bed, however, at the same moment, something fell next to her.

'What is this adorable white rabbit doll?' – Esther grabbed the rabbit doll with both hands and thoughtlessly picked it up.

'Where is she from here?' – looking at the doll, the girl bowed her head, but it suddenly became very noisy outside.

Esther's gaze immediately darted to the door. The door opened and Judy's head appeared in the crack.

Looking around the room, Judy smiled broadly:

– Ah! I'm awake!

As soon as these words were uttered, many people immediately entered the room.

Right behind Judy was Dennis, Darwin, Dorothy and other people.

– Why are you all?.. – the girl muttered in confusion.

– Finally, it happened.

– Are you okay?

Judy and Dennis spoke at the same time.

Judy immediately went up to Esther and, grabbing her chin, twisted her sister's face in different directions.

– W–what... what's going on? – the girl stammered.

– You were sick.

– Me?

– Yes. You haven't woken up in two days.

Thanks to Dennis's kind explanation, Esther realized that she had been sleeping for two days.

'So, everything has already happened...' – Esther clutched the blanket. 'No matter how much I go through this, I always rush around in a fever for two days…'

– I'm sorry.

As soon as Esther apologized, Duke Dehsin's expression instantly turned cruel:

– You don't have to apologize for being sick, – Darwin's eyes burned with bloodlust despite the soft words.

It even seemed to Esther that the Duke was expressing dissatisfaction with his whole body. Ben looked exactly like Darwin.

The girl was still standing when the Duke's right hand reached out to her. Seeing this, Esther suppressed the urge to shout a request not to hit her.

However, Darwin's huge palm touched only the girl's forehead, giving her warmth.

– Fortunately, your temperature has subsided, – at this moment, the Duke's voice softened a little. – Do you feel weak?

– No, I'm fine, – Esther's cheeks instantly flushed.

Such attention seemed strange and painful to her.

– Is it because of the long journey? Since you've finally woken up, it's time to take care of your health, – Darwin muttered and turned to the door.

At the same moment, the door opened and the first doctor came into the room.