Astria was submerged in water. Warm and comforting water.
-‘You have changed, Your Majesty. If permitted, may I return to your side?’
It was Isabella’s voice. Astria chuckled. The woman who had just stabbed her wouldn’t say such a thing.
However, it didn’t feel bad. She had never heard such words, even in dreams.
-‘I permit it. However, you must never leave my side again.’
Even though it was just a delusion, Astria felt a sense of relief.
After the execution incident, Isabella had left. Since then, they had been like enemies. However, neither Astria nor Isabella had ever turned their swords completely against each other.
Isabella might have left the palace with the intention of rebelling, but she couldn’t bring herself to draw a sword against her former lord.
-‘Were you the type to let a traitorous knight live?’
Perhaps that was why Isabella had always seemed to want Astria to kill her first.
At that time, Astria had said:
-‘You say you live holding your breath. As long as you don’t get in my way, I will spare your short life.’
Isabella wouldn’t have known. Hidden within those words was the permission to return anytime.
After she left, her absence was significant.
No, the absence of all the knights who had left was significant.
Perhaps it was lonely. The only solace in the lonely position of an empress was the knights who crossed the line of life and death with her.
Now, only a few remained. Each had left Astria’s side for their own reasons.
Then, Astria’s world turned white.
-‘Your Majesty, have you been well?’
-‘Kahaha! Could it be that you have forgotten the face of this Gert?’
-‘Welcome. However, isn’t it a bit too soon?’
The faces of the departed knights floated to the surface. Astria smiled as she looked at their familiar faces.
“I have protected the Empire well without you all. So you can return anytime.”
-‘That is fortunate.’
-‘You have changed. I never imagined you would allow Isabella to strike.’
-‘It’s a good change. Now we can go.’
“…Come anytime. Heroes who fell for the empire. The empire has never forgotten you, not even for a moment.”
With a gentle smile, Astria closed her eyes.
She could finally say the words she wanted to say, even if only in a dream.
For the first time in a while, she had a good dream.
But as an empress, she couldn’t dream for long.
It was time to wake up.
Astria opened her eyes with a peaceful mind.
‘Am I not dead?’
She touched her stomach. The place where there should have been a hole was smooth.
Feeling a sense of strangeness, Astria lifted her head.
A silver-haired boy was lying on the ground.
The strong scent of divine power and blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
“…Sena?”
Astria’s mind went blank for a moment.
She hurriedly stood up and shouted loudly.
“Betty! Betty! Call for a priest!”
**
“What happened to Sena?”
Astria spoke, unable to take her eyes off Sena, who lay quietly on the bed with his eyes closed.
Around her were a group of priests dispatched from the Church, bowing their heads.
“Well…”
The priest who had checked Sena’s condition lowered his head apologetically.
“…There appears to be no external abnormalities.”
“No abnormalities?”
Astria slowly turned her head to look at the priest.
“Even a layman can see that Sena’s condition is serious. Yet, you say there are no abnormalities?”
“We have already performed advanced holy magic several times. But judging by the lack of response, it seems certain there are no abnormalities in his body.”
“Then why isn’t he waking up!”
Astria grabbed the priest by the collar roughly. Anger flickered in her eyes.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
Astria wanted to kill him right then and there. A person who exists to save lives couldn’t even identify the cause, let alone save someone?
What purpose does such a person serve?
“…Check again, properly.”
“Your Majesty, may I check?”
Another priest stepped forward. Astria nodded.
He knelt on one knee and carefully took Sena’s hand. Then he closed his eyes.
“Oh…”
Soon, the priest opened his eyes. Astria asked.
“How is it?”
The priest looked up. He had a look of ecstasy on his face.
“He is a saint, undoubtedly. To think the love of Justitia is so abundant here. I had only heard rumors, but this… this is surely the Messiah.”
“…What?”
“Your Majesty! Please, allow the Church to take custody of Sena’s body! This is a treasure for all humanity…”
Astria couldn’t hold back any longer. She swung her fist at the priest.
Thud!
The priest’s head snapped to the side. Astria kicked him hard in the abdomen.
“Ugh…!”
The room was instantly filled with a murderous aura. The priests trembled in fear, and Astria grabbed the head of the priest who had dared to speak such disgusting words.
“Now I understand why Sena despised you guys so much. Your existence is a blight.”
She was about to kill him when she hesitated. Astria looked at Sena.
…Would this be what Sena wanted? Astria knew the answer.
“Get out.”
“Yes.”
The priests exited the room like the tide ebbing away. Astria bit her lip and sat down beside Sena.
She placed her hand on his forehead. It was hot. He definitely had a high fever.
“Don’t worry.”
Astria lowered her gaze.
“I will use all the Empire’s power to ensure I won’t lose you like this.”
-Your Majesty, Archbishop Cruyff is here.
Betty’s voice came from outside the room. Astria stood up abruptly.
If it was Cruyff, known as the ‘miracle worker’, there must be a way.
“Bring him in quickly.”
Creak.
The door creaked open, and Cruyff led a group inside. Seria was with them.
As soon as Seria saw Sena lying there, she froze. Cruyff walked in calmly and bowed.
“Your Majesty…”
“Never mind that. What about Sena’s condition? Is it very serious?”
“Before that, I need to ask one thing.”
Cruyff’s eyes lowered.
“Did Sena use his divine power?”
“Yes. When I woke up, the air was already filled with divine power.”
“As I suspected. Only Sena could produce such an amount.”
Cruyff took something out from his robe. It was a book with an ominous appearance.
“Seria, first check the divine power within Sena. See how much it has increased. Consciousness comes after that.”
“Yes.”
Seria swallowed nervously and approached Sena.
“What happened to Sena?”
Astria asked, tense with anxiety. Cruyff pondered briefly.
He wasn’t ready to reveal the truth yet. It would disrupt his plans. It wasn’t the right time.
But…
“Sena.”
Cruyff clenched his fist tightly.
Despite all the warnings, Sena had used his divine power.
His son’s life was already hanging by a thread.
How much shorter had it become because of this incident?
Indeed, this child needed intervention.
“Have you heard of the divine illness?”
“Divine illness?”
“It’s a condition that occurs when one rejects the love of God.”
“Are you saying Sena has this illness?”
“No, it’s a bit different. But the essence is similar, Your Majesty.”
Cruyff looked at Astria seriously.
“The more Sena uses his divine power, the shorter his lifespan becomes. I don’t know what happened this time, but you must prevent it from happening again.”
“…!”
His lifespan shortens every time he uses divine power? Such an absurd thing…
“Then…”
“So, are you saying the reason Sena is suffering right now is because of me?”
Astria was struck with shock.
There was no answer to her question.
Suddenly, Seria, who was examining Sena, coughed up blood.
“Seria!”
Cruyff rushed to support her. Tears welled up in Seria’s eyes.
“Are you an idiot…?”
Transparent tears streamed down Seria’s cheeks.
‘You said you were going back home. Is this the action of someone returning home?’
It was foolish. Beyond foolish, it was idiotic.
Seria barely suppressed her flowing tears.
She reported Sena’s condition to Cruyff.
“Twice as much.”
“……”
“The divine power has doubled. In short, to save Her Majesty this time, he used all his divine power.”
“Cruyff.”
Astria wasn’t interested in anything else. She just wanted the conclusion.
“Tell me what I need to do. Whatever is needed, I will get it.”
“…It’s fine.”
Cruyff spoke so softly that Astria couldn’t hear him.
“What?”
“Your intention is enough.”
“…?”
“Would you promise to maintain the intention you have right now?”
Cruyff smiled gently even in this situation.
“That’s enough.”
“…Sena has saved my life twice.”
Astria turned her gaze away.
“You don’t need to say it. I already plan to do so.”
Cruyff nodded.
“That reassures me. If you don’t mind, could you leave the room for a moment?”
“Am I in the way?”
“Haha, not at all.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“Sena is suffering because Justitia desires it.”
Cruyff looked up at the sky outside the window.
“So, the only way is to pray earnestly.”
Astria barely restrained herself from suggesting she could bring Justitia’s head right now.
