Chapter 125: Fire Mark

‘Waking up to the ceiling again.’

Once again, I found myself lying on the carpeted floor. After opening the third portal from the temple to the Duke’s residence and returning, this was my state again. My vision was blurry, and the ceiling appeared hazy.

I only managed to tell Pope Melvin that Lonicera was the cure. Everything else, I couldn’t say even if I wanted to.

‘Damn author.’

Apparently, my favorite author brought me here as the protagonist of a remake.

‘And if I can’t change the ending of this world, it will repeat again… So, as the protagonist, I have to break the curse and protect the Beast Kingdom?’

This is a proper misery novel. Damn it.

While cursing, my overlapping vision gradually became clearer. The familiar ceiling of my room came into sharp focus.

‘In any case, the conclusion is… I have to go to the Cursed Land. What’s the most important thing for me as a saintess?’

Myself? My parents in Pins? Xavier? Maya?

Suddenly, an image of Rosetta flashed through my mind.

I was scared. Terrified. My limbs, which still hadn’t regained sensation, trembled uncontrollably on their own.

I fiddled with the needle clenched in my fist. Before leaving the holy temple, Goddess Maha had told me to create this needle, and I had received it.

I lightly pricked my thigh with the needle, drawing blood. A tingling sensation spread, and golden light shimmered on the ceiling. My mind cleared, and strength returned to my body. Only then was I able to turn my head to the side.

‘I should only use the portal once a day. Or maybe I should ask Dr. Daniel to modify the portal device?’

“My lady!”

“Oh, Maya.”

Maya, who had opened the door and entered, saw me pricking my thigh with the needle and rushed over with a face as heavy as lead.

“Blood, there’s blood!”

“It’s fine.”

“Fine? How can it be fine! Why are you stabbing your leg with a needle? …Don’t tell me.”

Seeing the golden light and me suddenly sitting up, Maya’s jaw dropped in shock.

“Yes, this is the best way to recover.”

“The best? It’s neither efficient nor humane! Goddess Maha is truly incompetent. Making her saintess resort to such cruel methods! Ugh, I’m so upset! If I ever meet her, I’ll kick her!”

Maya’s blunt words, second to none, were unexpectedly comforting.

I seriously considered bringing Maya to Maha’s temple next time.

“Maya, could you say the same thing in front of the goddess?”

“What?”

Maya was still fussing over the wound on my leg.

“Those words, could you say them honestly?”

“Of course. Even if the goddess were standing here right now, I’d say it directly to her face.”

Her eyes burned fiercely with determination.

“You truly are the best maid.”

“Really?”

As Maya blushed with happiness, I smiled. Just then, the voices of the servants and the sound of hurried footsteps from downstairs reached my ears.

“Your Grace!”

“Quick, bring a towel!”

My ears perked up.

“Xavier?”

“Yes, it seems His Grace has arrived.”

I sprang up like a spring and ran downstairs. The dizziness that had plagued me moments ago was gone, thanks to my holy power, and my steps were light.

From the top of the central staircase leading to the lobby, I saw a large snowman entering through the door.

The servants, who had rushed over, were brushing off the snow from Xavier’s body and taking his coat. Even so, he seemed to be looking for something.

‘Is he looking for me? I’m right here.’

I called out loudly to him, who was looking around.

“Xavier, I’m back!”

“I’m back too, Yuria.”

Xavier smiled brightly.

His nose was red, and he was grinning foolishly. Without hesitation, I ran down the stairs.

I opened my arms and threw myself into his embrace. He spread his large arms and held me, spinning me around once.

The cold air from his large body hit me all at once. My heart pounded wildly. When Xavier finally set me down on the floor, I asked breathlessly.

“Where did you go?”

“The Pins region.”

“Oh, right. I asked you to go, didn’t I? It must have been so cold. Thank you.”

“It’s fine. Mother was very pleased. By the way, did you meet the goddess?”

Xavier looked at me and asked. Although he had heard that the goddess existed, he seemed skeptical.

“I went into Maha’s temple and met her. The goddess really exists. She even said she was waiting for me.”

“Hmm, is that so? What was your impression of her?”

“I got angry and hit her twice.”

In the end, I hit her one more time before coming back.

Xavier’s eyes widened, and he clutched his stomach, laughing heartily.

“Hahaha. That’s so like you. Did you ask about Lonicera?”

“Yes, it’s the right herb. We can use it to make a cure.”

“That’s a relief. We’ll be able to end this plague sooner than expected.”

“Dr. Daniel will make it quickly. And I’ll have to ask him if he can tweak the portal device a bit.”

Hearing my words, Xavier’s expression darkened, and he muttered.

“…I forgot about that guy.”

I thought I heard him mumble something about how lucky that man was.

“What?”

“It’s nothing. He’s a helpful person, isn’t he? He’ll make the cure, after all.”

“Thank you for thinking that way. And Xavier.”

“Yes?”

“Come closer.”

The servants were still around.

I gestured for him to lower his head, and Xavier obediently leaned down slightly. Standing on tiptoes, I whispered into his ear.

“Don’t worry. I like Kiki.”

“……”

He seemed quite surprised, staring at me with his mouth slightly open. Just as I thought how prettily his lips curled upward—

Gently, Xavier’s lips touched mine and then pulled away.

The cold sensation of his lips made me frown slightly, and Xavier pressed his fingers against my forehead, smoothing it out. As I stared at him in surprise, he said something unbelievable.

“Kiki asked me to tell you that he likes you too.”

“……”

This time, I was at a loss for words and simply stared into his emerald eyes. He gently brushed his thumb under my eye, like he’s handling something precious.

“You look tired. Go get some rest.”

“Already? It’s still the afternoon.”

“No.”

A smile, incongruent with his firm tone, appeared on his face. Suddenly, he scooped me up in his arms.

“Ah! People are watching!”

The servants, startled, widened their eyes and scattered like cockroaches.

“This is your punishment for using the portal three times in one day.”

“You knew?”

“Of course. Isn’t it obvious? You must have used the portal again to come back from the temple. Who told you to push yourself so hard? It’s good to help others, but sometimes you need to think about yourself.”

“I’m doing it all for myself.”

“Sure, Yuria. You always say that.”

Xavier carried me up the stairs and into the bedroom, where he gently laid me on the bed. Maya, who had been arranging the bedding, quickly fled the room.

She’s going to misunderstand again.

“Sleep well.”

Xavier kindly pulled the blanket up to my shoulders.

“Yes. You too, Xavier. Will you be okay at night without me?”

“I have this.”

Xavier raised his hand, showing a patch with a yawning Kiki drawn on it.

“So don’t worry and sleep. We’ll think about the cure tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

“And sometimes, think about me too.”

“…What?”

“I’m joking. Half-joking.”

Xavier’s teal eyes seemed distant as he said that. Looking into those eyes, my heart ached slightly.

If I fail to change the ending, this beautiful man might end up loving another saintess instead of me. The thought made me deeply anxious.

I already knew.

That sweet smile lingering on his lips. Those intense eyes had already left a fire mark on my heart.

“You’ll only smile like that for me, right?”

“……”

His wide eyes trembled slightly.

I must be crazy.

Maybe it was because of what Goddess Maha had told me. Normally, I wouldn’t have dared to ask such a bold question. The answer came faster than I expected.

“Have I ever smiled like this at another woman besides you?”

“…No.”

Yes, that’s right. Never do it in the future either.

I swallowed those words and shook my head.

So, goodnight. Xavier brushed aside the hair falling over my forehead and stood up.

I watched his dark figure as he turned off the lights and left the room, unable to take my eyes off him until I drifted to sleep.

＊

“Ugh… sob…”

The wide Butterfly Palace was filled with the sound of crying. The maids standing in the hallway of the Crown Princess’s chambers were at a loss, flustered and unsure of what to do.

“Your Highness, please calm down.”

Only Rosetta’s exclusive maid sat on the bed, trying to soothe her. Rosetta, who had been thrashing and crying, suddenly lifted her head and raised her voice at the maid.

“Do you think I can calm down?”

At the same time, Rosetta’s black eyes crumpled and darkened even further.

‘There’s only one way to reverse this. Can you kill the saintess?’

‘I brought something useless.’

‘I hate incompetent people the most in this world.’

Arthur’s cruel words echoed endlessly, stabbing Rosetta’s heart.

The pain in her heart made her realize she must have loved him, which only made her feel more sorrowful. But she didn’t want to harm Yuria, the Duchess.

In the end, the emotional turmoil turned into anguish, crushing Rosetta.

“Ahhhh!”

“Your Highness? What’s wrong, Your Highness?”

The exclusive maid held her as she convulsed. If not, Rosetta might have hurt herself against the bedposts.

“Why is this happening to me? Why?”

Foaming at the mouth, Rosetta ripped the crown from her head and threw it to the floor. In her haste to remove it, chunks of her black hair were torn out.

“Your Highness!”

Her exclusive maid, horrified, grabbed Rosetta’s hands. Her sharp nails had left long scratches on her once-beautiful face.

“Ugh… sob… Why is this happening to me? Am I not worthy of love if I’m not a saintess?”

“……”

“I thought… I thought I’d be happy here. But I’m so miserable. Sob…”

Rosetta clung to the exclusive maid, sobbing uncontrollably.

“I never wanted to be a saintess… I never wanted to know about such things. Sob…”

The exclusive maid listened silently to Rosetta’s incoherent words.

She offered no warm words, no gentle touch. She simply fulfilled her duties as a maid.

When Rosetta’s sobs showed no sign of subsiding, the exclusive maid quietly stood up.

“Your Highness, this is a patch containing holy power provided by the saintess. Please be sure to use it.”

With those words, she left a patch and withdrew.

Rosetta stared at the patch with tear-filled eyes. Her trembling hands picked it up, and she began to cry bitterly, unable to suppress her emotions.

The red blood from the scratches on her face stained the pillow faintly.

That afternoon, the Butterfly Palace was filled only with the sound of the Crown Princess’s sobs, and no one came to her side.