C159
Although she had thought about it a thousand times since Mikhail left, Liena could never understand it.
What did she do so wrong? Is it wrong to use the abilities that the Goddess gave her to use?
Do they feel bad because their emotions are being manipulated?
"Even if that's the case, does that mean it's a serious enough offense to be accused of a fraud I didn't commit?"
It was clearly unjust retaliation.
Moreover, Liena was not the only one who benefited from the Goddess's blessing.
Those who received the blessing also experienced the utmost happiness loving themselves.
Liena returned joy to Duke Cassius, who had closed his heart after losing his wife, and taught people like Roland and Isaac, who had lived their whole lives without knowing love, what love is.
What she did was not wrong.
Because she believed so, Liena believed her other followers would soon offer her a hand.
But after a few days, there was no news.
No one even designated a lawyer for her.
"Those traitors…!"
The sadness that arose from being abandoned by Mikhail gradually turned into hatred.
When things were going well for her, they were eager because they couldn't see her, but when she faced a crisis, they immediately turned their backs on her.
"Just because I initially used the goddess's blessing, does that make the time we spent together a lie?"
Liena made a promise as she bit her nails, all crushed from constantly biting them. She would never let it end like this.
All of these were just tests organized by the goddess to help Liena grow even more. So the only thing left to do is lightly jump over it.
"Now I have no choice but to use the last resort."
And the last resort would be a public trial, which would be held soon.
One early morning, while Liena was distressed thinking about how to use her last resort more effectively.
"—Miss Liena, are you awake?"
A voice came from outside the door that was neither the inspector's nor the food service manager's.
Liena knew the owner of this voice.
"—Cardinal Morton!"
As a representative of the temple, he was the person who signed a contract with Liena regarding the trade of magic stones.
"I was worried, so I came to pray for Miss Liena."
"How did you get here…?"
"There are many people with deep faith even within the imperial palace."
In other words, it meant he stealthily entered through the back door with the help of an official.
"Do you believe in me?"
"Of course I do. Miss Liena is good and kind."
"Cardinal…"
"Then, I believe you'll offer everything you have left to the Goddess before washing away your sins."
At that moment, Liena's heart grew cold.
"Do you want me to give you money?"
"I'm not necessarily saying that, but if there is money among what's left, that would be correct too."
"Hah, you can't hire a lawyer for me, but you can get money?"
"Isn't it wealth collected illegally anyway? If you offer it to the goddess, your soul will also be saved."
The cardinal spoke in a disgustingly kind tone.
"When we were discussing the contract before, Miss Liena said, 'I'll use the funds for bribes I've hidden when the time comes, so don't worry about Bunny going bankrupt.'"
"Was that something you really wanted?"
"It's not about personal greed, it's about benefiting people in general. Isn't this money something you can't spend if you're stuck here anyway?"
"That's funny. If it really was for a pure purpose, is there any reason to come here secretly?"
Liena called out through the door.
"If I give it to you, it'll end up in your pocket!"
That's why she disliked temple members so much.
In her previous life, Liena had lost a lot of money after being deceived by a priest who promised to increase her wealth.
Although she usually donated less than other believers, that person spoke kindly to her, so she trusted him and entrusted it to him.
At that moment, Liena's antipathy toward the temple did not disappear even after she returned and turned the priest into a street vagabond and starved him to death.
Furthermore, due to certain circumstances, Liena couldn't feel favorable towards the temple.
Because of this, she really didn't want to be loved, so the goddess's blessings didn't apply to those connected to the temple.
"Well, that's enough."
Just because she wasn't loved didn't mean she couldn't make use of it.
"Cardinal Morton."
Liena spoke softly to the man who was probably cursing her in his mind.
"I can give you something more valuable than a few pennies."
"That's absurd…"
"Do you want to succeed? If you cooperate with me, you will."
The cardinal looked at Liena as if she were crazy.
* * *
A few days later, the date of Liena's trial finally arrived.
"The roads are frozen from the snow that fell yesterday. Be careful."
Terence got off the carriage first, looked down the street, then reached out his hand to me.
"Whoa!"
Although I was careful, my body leaned because the ground was slippery.
But Terence wrapped his arm around my waist and held me steady.
"Are you okay?"
His face right in front of you.
"... I'm fine. Thank you for catching me."
I smiled and stepped away from him.
"Ethel."
He looked at his arm, which was touching me a moment ago, and spoke softly.
"Isn't there something you want to tell me?"
It was a question as sharp as a knife.
The memories the real Ethel had of Terence, whom she had seen a few days ago, kept uncomfortably pressing on her heart.
After that, I tried to act as normal as possible, but it seems I couldn't completely avoid his eyes.
As I got to know him well, I suppose he also came to know me intimately.
"Well. Is there nothing specific?"
But I had no idea how to talk about this wonderful memory.
"... I really don't want to talk about that."
Terence didn't seem convinced by my words, but he took my hand without asking any further questions.
"It's okay if there isn't. Instead, if there's something troubling your heart, make sure to tell me."
There was a warm look in his eyes that completely trusted me.
"I can't guarantee that I'll be able to solve it, but if it's just to share the burden of your heart, I'll be with you anytime."
"I'll keep that in mind."
I'm sorry, Terence. Please give me a little more time. I swallowed my apology internally.
When more memories of Ethel come back, and I'm sure about how her relationship was in her past life, then I'll tell him everything.
My memories were still too fragmented, so it wasn't the right time to talk to him.
"Let's go. If we keep this up, the trial will begin."
I led him towards the courtroom.
Soon, a huge outdoor courtroom appeared before us, in the central square of the capital.
This trial was special, so unlike other trials, it wasn't held in a courtroom.
A public trial. It was a trial that was usually held when there was a major national case, such as a case of treason.
This incident was fraud, but the magnitude of the damage was so great that the reputation of the empire was damaged, and there were suspicions that the prince was involved, so a public trial was held.
"I hope nothing goes wrong."
In fact, I hoped this trial would be held privately. That way, even if variables arise, I could avoid them.
Terence also agreed with this, but it was difficult even for the imperial family to ignore the will of the people who unanimously wanted a public trial.
They had the right to know, and if the imperial family arbitrarily decided to hold a closed-door trial, there was the possibility of arousing unnecessary suspicions.
I wonder if he's protecting Prince Mikhail.
To avoid these suspicions and clarify Liena's crime, the emperor decided to hold a public trial.
"Your Royal Highness, allow me to guide you."
The officials who saw us approached and tried to guide Terence to the seats where the royal family sat.
"See you later."
"Yes, I'll come pick you up when the trial is over."
After bidding Terence farewell with a remorseful attitude, he followed the officials.
Since the last time he heard my confession, he's tried to stay with me as much as possible.
Whenever he had time, he came to the annex and stayed by my side until late at night.
He tried to sleep in the annex, but Jack dissuaded him, saying that if he kept doing this, strange rumors would arise.
"Honestly, I'm happy too. I would've been happier if I hadn't had that dream..."
Lost in my thoughts, I made my way to the nobles' table.
"Oh, Viscountess Lucibiu!"
"You're here too? Wow, what an incredible coincidence."
But I saw some familiar faces.
Roland Cassius and Isaac Cassius were sitting right behind me in my assigned seat.
"Would you like a glass of wine, Viscountess?"
"Hey, why are you ignoring me again?!"
I wanted to pretend I didn't know them, so I sat down and pretended not to hear, but they still offered me a glass of wine.
"Did you come to play? It's not some kind of festival."
I whispered, and Roland chuckled.
"Why isn't it a festival? It's a festival for us. When I think of the humiliation I suffered because of that witch..."
Isaac patted his trembling father's shoulder.
"Oh, father. Is it that hard? Just seeing this cute baby fox makes me feel better."
"Shut up!"
When Roland saw his son mimicking the way he talked when he was brainwashed, he got angry and shook his fist.
With baby fox, does he mean himself? He's clueless. What does he mean by baby?
Meanwhile, Isaac, who was dodging Roland's fist, let out a rather excited voice.
"Perhaps even the cardinal came because of the incident."
I followed his gaze and saw a man dressed in the robes of a cardinal.
"That person is Cardinal Morton."
We met at a banquet celebrating the founding of Bunny.
When I announced I would lower the price of magic stones, he looked at me disapprovingly.
"Wait a moment, who's beside him?"
"Priests, I suppose."
"No, among the priests, I mean the one with the robe over there."
"......"
I felt like I knew who he was, but there was no need to tell Isaac at that moment.
At that moment, the judge appeared.
Regardless of social status, the people filling the room and making noise focused their attention on the judge.
"From now on, the case number..."
"Wait a moment!"
Even before the judge finished speaking, Liena, who was sitting in the defendant's seat, stood up.
"I have something important to tell the people gathered here!"
There were loud boos everywhere, but Liena stood up and shouted.
"I'm innocent! Because I am the messenger of the Goddess, that is, a saint!"
Immediately, a huge amount of divine power surged from her body and began to spread in all directions.