Chapter 226 - Su Luxi (16)

"She... The Goddess... has given me an oracle..."

The Pope dropped the quill pen grasped in his hand and stared wide eyed at the Saintess who suddenly strode inside his office.

He held his breath for some time and blinked, before exclaiming in shock, "W-what did you say? An oracle?!"

The girl was a bit dumbfounded by the reaction of the Pope. Then for a moment, she didn't speak, remembering the old man dressed in all white was a devotee of his faith, or else, he would not have reached his position.

How could it be easy to suppress the guilt that suddenly gnawed on her heart for her deceit?

He must be very ecstatic upon hearing the object of his fanatism responded to somebody from the church he was leading. It was moreso after considering that the person who received the oracle was not like Jiang Li who was not even as half-devoted as a normal priest, but truly a member of the Church.

'The Goddess has opened her eyes for real this time and recognized Her devout followers' devotion!' he exclaimed to himself in glee.

The old was not aware that his excitement blinded him for a while, hence he failed to notice the black-haired girl's oddness. She lowered her head and looked away before nodding. "Y-yes..."

He asked in excitement, "Dearest Saintess, w-what did the esteemed Goddess told you?"

Even under the urging of the other, it took a while before the lie came out of the delicate Saintess' mouth. The wait was taken by the Pope as her hesitation because it was an oracle not only concerning her fate, but others.

She parted her red lips to say, "... I heard a voice in my head saying... Before she would give me her next instructions, I, I first have to be the most respected woman in the Empire. I, I don't know what it means. Is being the Saintess not what the Goddess wanted me to be? Does she want me to... to be... like Miss Bolden?"

There was no need for the villainess obsessed with the male lead to pretend she was nervous because she was indeed nervous, for a reason not in line with what the Pope was thinking.

The old man assumed she was feeling tense because the oracle was implying her to be an Empress.

The position of the Church's highest-ranked girl was already heavy. Now, she had to assume the position of the Empress? Which lady wouldn't be overwhelmed and worried?

"Your Highness The Saintess. Indeed, as you thought the message is stating you are to be Empress." The Pope spoke unhurriedly as he confirmed. "I'm certain the Goddess has a reason why you have to assume that role before telling you the next step in Her grand plan. As the Goddess' servants, we have to do our best to act on her will. Each of us has a purpose and role to play. So please don't worry and focus on learning your future duties. Leave the preparation to us!"

Determination flickered in the other person's eyes.

Meanwhile, the smile on Su Luxi's face was awkward, same with her curtsy which was still not as elegant as those noble ladies who had been trained since young.

"Thank you, Your Holiness." Her voice faintly trembled.

Don't worry?

Su Luxi was nervous because she just lied to him, the Highest Authority of the Holy Church. She knew her reason was not glorious at all.

However, the black-haired woman was determined to be with the person she fell in love with. It was love at first sight, an attraction of unimaginable degree. Although she tried to reason she should not let her fall, it proved futile because her heart already decided.

The prince was a person of the noblest status, handsome, and rich. He was so good to her and was also one of the few who looked after her when she was feeling insecure, afraid, and confused in this world. How could she not want him?

He might have a fiancee. But was that enough for her to give up?

She was a modern woman. From her former world equality prevailed. She picked up from childhood through various sources of media that everything was fair in love. Once you fall in love, seize the chance to pursue it. She was only following it, fighting for a man she liked. Anyway, he was not tied to anyone yet. And... it has to be said that even a married man could be snatched away...

While the Saintess was busy justifying her current and future actions, the Pope began to tell her the various steps they would have to take to accomplish the goal and explained what should be noted.

"The first problem we will encounter is the opposition of the House Bolden. The crown princess has long been prepared and promised to be the Empress..."

Su Luxi drew in a cold breath, looking at the serious-looking Pope with a glazed pair of eyes.

The guilt for making an innocent and devout old man paved way for her disappeared. Her heart was small and now it was occupied by anxiousness... envy and disliked for that seemingly perfect fiancee of the crown prince.

...

The female lead received a break from her training from the palace. She immediately headed back home, seeing her father in the study busy writing.

Instead of announcing her presence there, she merely stood by the doorway in a daze. Her father's back was hunched as he dealt with paperworks from their territory.

She then remembered there was only a year left before she would be accussed of causing the future Empress' miscarriage which would then prompt her father to get beheaded as punishment for raising a 'malicious' woman like her.

After silently returning to her room, she took a bath and changed into a maid's clothes before sneaking into the prophet's home. She stayed there for some time and then wandered around the suburbs, her maid and guards following her from a distance.

The talk with Duke Wade's heir was as dull and depressing as usual, but every other day she found herself returning there, holding a one-way chat with Luke Wade.

She once again tried to request him to help her escape from the embarrassing and dreadful marriage. And then when Luke Wade refused in silence, she only pursed her lips and then talked about the closeness of the Saintess and the crown prince.

Those two were getting closer steadily, just like in the previous life. In a month, she knew the old Emperor would step down and alongside the crown prince, that other girl would be crowned Empress instead of her.

Heart cold and a bit weary, Rumina murmured to herself, '... If I don't do anything, the tragedy of my House will take place in a year. In a month's time, I will be made a lowly concubine.'

She was back to the Bolden Household. Inside the stand-alone mini-chapel, the girl sat on a pew bench, staring blankly at the statue of the Goddess in the middle of the altar.

Behind her, outside, the two maids kept stealing worried glances at her. The guards maintained their vigilant and serious look.

Rumina did not pay them attention as she was busy questioning about life and making plans for her and her family. The Goddess knew how many times she planned to ruin her reputation before marriage, but while that might successfully help cancel the wedding, her whole family would either be demoted or executed, depending on how vicious Rome Natividad had already become.

How could she be willing to witness her clan's demise again?

Without her notice, tears were already streaming down her cheeks. Memories of the previous life's suffering surged in her brain, followed by this life's ambiguous interaction with the prince.

So what if Rome had gotten a lot better to her than before?

'... In the end, won't he still abandon me and kill my whole family, including my father and me? I will never forgive him!'

Slowly, the light in her eyes returned, glowing sharper and sharper every passing second. She didn't want to experience that hell again.

She stood up and used magic to erase all the traces of tears in her face.

"I would like to have dinner with father. Please inform him of my request." As she walked down the corridor leading to her room, she told one of her guards. The other party saluted and then went to the Duke's study.

There were two sure methods to cancel the engagement without getting killed.

This time, she hardened her heart to do one of them.

'With the prophet as a fiance long promised to me, I should have no problem escaping from the grim fate!' A look of determination and desperation flashed across the eyes of the sixteen years old female lead.

'A written agreement between my grandparents and Luke's grandparents… Even if I have to forge one, I'll gladly do it!'