Chapter 30

It was the next day that Julia met Matheus at the mass.

Knowing in advance the fact that all the women of the imperial family had gathered, Matheus was not surprised to see Julia.

After the mass was over, Matheus quietly approached her.

"Julia, how have you been?"

Facing her for the first time since her visit to the temple, Matheus had a uniformly compassionate look on his face. There were many implications to his question.

Do you still have the same desire to escape, or is there any problem with your future plans?

Julia couldn’t answer easily.

"That….”

There were many eyes around to explain everything. Julia eventually gave a normal answer.

"Yes, thanks to you. And you, Matheus, have you been well?"

"Of course."

But Matheus, who had already noticed Julia's dark expression, seemed to have grasped the situation to some extent.

The fact that she was here at the Imperial Palace was proof that her plans were not going well.

Matheus spoke quietly.

“Julia, I will be staying at the palace for a month.”

"Yes, Priest Cedric told me.”

Matheus nodded, looking slightly surprised at her reply.

"I see you’ve already met Cedric.”

Lifting his lips gently, Matheus said in a hushed voice.

"He's going to help Julia while I'm away."

"Oh…the boy?"

While Julia was nodding her head, a tall man came near them. He was a young priest with auburn hair and light green eyes.

He sat down as he looked at Julia. For some reason, the smile on the man's face was familiar for some reason.

"Master Matheus, may I explain the rest?"

The man asked Matheus for permission. Matheus nodded without hesitation.

Julia looked puzzled, alternating between the man and Matheus, while the man smiled, just as he had earlier.

“Your Grace, it is now the appointed time, shall we go together to the garden?"

“If it is the appointed time….”

Indeed Julia had an appointment with priest Cedric in the afternoon after mass. Perhaps that was what the man meant.

Julia nodded gently, thinking that the boy had told the man about his  meeting with her.

"Yes, that's right. Priest Cedric is waiting for you."

"…"

Matheus, who was listening to their conversation, had a strange look on his face, but said nothing.

After the mass, it was time to perform the blessing ceremony for Veronica, so Matheus greeted Julia first.

“Well then, Julia, I will see you again at the next Mass.”

Nodding, Julia walked out of the mass room with the man.

Julia glanced at him delicately as they walked to the garden.

It was because the man looked an awful lot like that boy yesterday.

"Are you Priest Cedric’s brother?"

And for some reason the man started laughing with a pleasant face.

Staring back at her, the man shrugged .

“We're not siblings, but we're related in a similar way.”

"Ah…so maybe you have power?"

The man looked very young, but the question contained a reasonable guess that he, like Matheus, could change their age and appearance.

Immediately the man began to laugh aloud, covering his mouth. She could see the round curve of his eyes.

While Julia looked at him with a slightly puzzled face, they soon reached yesterday's maze garden.

"Your Grace is very observant.”

As they rounded a corner in the middle of the maze, a man suddenly stopped.

Julia stopped and stared at him. He smiled and gently touched the ring on his finger.

"I remember you asked about my age. I’m 22 this year."

"…..what?”

Julia blinked at the unexpected words. At that moment, a green light began to glimmer momentarily from his ring.

While Julia opened her eyes wide and stared at the figure, the bright light blocked her vision.

When she closed her eyes reflexively and raised her eyelids slowly, the man standing in front of her disappeared without a trace.

Instead, standing in front of her was the boy she had met yesterday, Cedric.

"…Huh?"

Julia's mouth opened as she finally began to grasp the situation a little more.

The child's delicate features were a perfect match the man’s from earlier. Their eyes and the color of their hair were the same.

Even the smile was the same.

"So, the priest is now, um…"

As Julia stammered and opened her mouth, Cedric, who had a smile, nodded his head.

"Yes, I can change my appearance. What I looked like a while ago is my true form."

Julia’s eyes went wide as she covered her mouth with her hand.

So, it meant that this child was the same person as the man from earlier.

That was why the child said he was older than he looked. That was also why he had a mature manner…

While Julia could not hide her surprise, Cedric walked up to her.

“Did I startle you? I wasn't trying to deceive you, so take it with a grain of salt."

The child who resembled a plant chuckled like it was yesterday.

Julia nodded with a possessed look on her face. It was a moment when she realized once again the mystery of divine power.

How is this possible? It was difficult to calm down the pounding heart.

"I am not as great a priest as Matheus, but I will be enough to help Julia."

"…Oh, yes. I heard you’re going to help me. …."

Julia finally came to her senses and opened her mouth. Matheus was sure that this child would help her.

"Master Matheus is the leader of the temple, so it's difficult for him to leave his seat except for official business. So…"

Stopping speaking, Cedric suddenly held out his hand. The child flicked his hand lightly as if spreading something, and a bright light spread over his small hand.

The green divine power spread in his hand, mixing with the wind.

A small bead appeared on the palm of the hand where the light had completely dissipated.

The child held it out to Julia, who was standing there in a daze.

"This is my property. Please place the bead with the pendant.”

Julia listened to Cedric while receiving the transparent bead.

"I've placed the detailed message inside the bead. Because there are a lot of ears in here."

Cedric's voice trailed off and he flicked his hand lightly again. This time, a white daffodil formed from the light. It was a magical sight. While Julia watched the gesture with an possessed look on her face, Cedric held out the flower to her.

"Do you know what it is? Holy power is not a power that can be given to just anyone."

"…"

"Those who have holy power are also those who are loved by God."

A faint, gentle voice drifted into Julia’s ear.

"So you are also loved by God, Julia."

She wondered if Cedric could see the weariness in her eyes. Julia realized that this boy was comforting her. As she held the daffodil still, Cedric continued to speak slowly. 

"Everything will be fine."

Julia nodded, remaining silent. The words somehow soothed her tired heart. Cedric's warm gaze made her feel like everything was going to be alright at this moment.

***

It was the last day at the Imperial Palace.

On the carriage ride back to the estate, Julia took out the bead that Cedric had given her.

As soon as she returned home, she would try to find out what message he had for her right away.

The other day, Matheus had told her how to use the holy power, but Julia wasn't sure if she could handle it properly.

But if Cedric, a skilled priest, could help her, things shall be better now.

"Everything will be fine.”

Julia closed her eyes as she recalled Cedric's words as they quietly descended.

As she leaned back against the rattling carriage and emptied her mind, she gradually began to feel sleepy.

After a long time in this way, it was midnight when they arrived at the castle.

The horseman hurriedly opened the door and waited for Julia to come out. However, after a long time, there was no movement inside.

The horseman straightened his bent back and glanced inside. Then he saw Julia who was sleeping deeply leaning against the window.

“Um, Your Grace…….”

While he was cautiously trying to wake her, someone blocked him.

Fernan, who had an expressionless face, sent the horseman away  with his chin gesture.

After the horseman disappeared, Fernan bent down and stepped into the carriage. He then looked for a moment at Julia, who was sleeping soundly.

Perhaps she was tired, she was breathing ever so softly.

Even when Fernan picked her up and stepped out of the carriage, Julia didn’t even open her eyes.

His arms were completely covered with her warmth. Fernan quietly strode into the castle with a brighter face.

The anxiety that filled his mind gradually disappeared when he saw Julia safely back home.