Lara was eating. She got up from her seat with a welcoming face when she saw Demian opening the door and coming in.
“Demian! You’re early, I thought you were coming tomorrow.”
“He’s here.”
“Who?”
“Acerus.”
The door opened once again. Acerus looked very nervous. He was so cunning that he was nicknamed Freshwater Eel among the Imperial Palace ladies-in-waiting, but on this cold day, he was nervous with cold sweat dripping on his forehead.
Acerus was a man with defined facial features and strong charm. His height was similar to Demian’s but he had a larger frame. His skin color was dark, his eyebrows were black, and he was full of scars. At first glance, his face looked violent.
However, Lara remembered the conversations she had with him using the magic lamp, so she was able to greet him with a smile without being nervous.
“Hello.”
“Hah, hello.”
“I’m not familiar with the etiquette of the Tarragon Empire. Can I keep it simple?”
“You don’t have to follow etiquette or whatever. As a saintess, you have no reason to bow to anyone except His Majesty in Tarragon.”
Is a saintess that great?
Lara nodded to Acerus while giving him an awkward smile. It was only then when he finally moved his feet into the room.
“Let me officially introduce myself. I’m the Emperor’s successor, Acerus Elin Tarragon. Thank you so much for coming all the way here.”
Acerus padded over and grabbed Lara’s hand, he then tried to kiss the back of her hand. However, Demian quickly approached and gave a strong hit to the Crown Prince on the back of his head. Until then, he had only watched and stood still. Then, he got in between Lara and Acerus and blocked their greetings with his body.
“What the hell?”
Asked Acerus.
His head did not feel hurt but he still looked at Demian with a dumbfounded face.
Demian had a blank expression on his face. He neither smiled nor did he frown. He just reached out his hand and handed it to Acerus.
“Kiss here.”
“What, you crazy bastard?”
“Not Lara.”
“Huh?”
“If you do it to her, I will kill you.”
“What… You bastard? You, hey you… You punk… Huh? Oi! You bastard!”
No proper words were spoken, but everyone there knew what he meant.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
Upon hearing the news that the Crown Prince had secretly visited, the manager tried to prepare a simple meal, but Lara had to politely reject his offer. She had something important to deal with right away.
“Prince Sidhar is wanted in Hautean. But if I send him there, I feel like something bad will happen while I’m away. So I had no choice but to bring him here.”
“That’s a good decision.”
“I’d like to talk to you for a bit longer, but I’d like to ask you a favor.”
“Yes, you can say anything.”
“I want to go into the sanctum.”
The sanctum, otherwise known as the House of God, was the only place that had the statue of the God of Fate. Even in the Temple of Glory in Dandelion, there was no such statue to be found. So Lara had to enter the sanctum to meet God.
“I heard that it is a place where not just anyone can enter. I have to hide my identity as a saintess until we know whether the temple is trustworthy or not, so please help me enter the sanctum secretly.”
“Of course.”
“At first, I tried to go there by any means myself… But now that you have come all the way here, please help me.”
“Great. Then, let’s move now.”
Acerus was impatient. He was already out into the hallway before Lara reached for her coat. Thinking that she could not keep the Crown Prince waiting, Lara hurriedly moved.
The Temple of Glory in Tarragon’s capital was located at the foot of a high mountain. Lara entered the temple with Demian under Acerus’ guidance.
The sanctum was at the top of the temple area, it was a house that was perched on the edge of a cliff. No one knew how it was built.
“Is it there?”
“Yes, it is.”
They went to the front of the sanctum as unnoticeable as possible. As they got closer, the solemn atmosphere unique to the temple flowed. The priests guarding the sanctum approached them, wondering why there were visitors at this late hour, but they quietly retreated after checking Acerus’ face.
“This way.”
Upon entering, there were thousands of candles in different sizes surrounding the statue. This was a place where God stayed for a while. People called this place the House of God, but they did not know who he was.
Lara approached the statue. It was a much more beautiful and elaborate sculpture than the one in Hautean. The image of God was engraved on a stone that was as smooth and shiny as a jewel. Above it was the candle of the sanctum, giving off a faint light. It felt like the statue could come alive at any time.
“It’s me.”
Lara spoke to God.
<You’re finally here.>
The God of Fate answered.
<Have you found my name?>
God asked.
Instead of answering, Lara quietly shook her head. Silence filled the sanctum.
<Lara, I have been waiting for you to come.>
It was a strange feeling. Lara stood in front of the statue and had a conversation with him, while Demian and Acerus stood at the entrance of the sanctum far away. They could hear God’s voice. They could also feel God appearing as if he was waiting for Lara, unable to hide his delight as soon as Lara spoke to him.
There was a strange affection for Lara in God’s voice. It was like the affection of a parent looking at their child, and it was also like the feeling of an artist who was looking at the best work of their life.
On the other hand, Lara did not change. She was still with her usual expression, tone, and gestures.
<Lara, when a demon comes to this world and accumulates karma, God is justified to intervene. Valac is playing it safe at the moment.>
The God of Fate was smiling. Even Demian and Acerus could tell that he sounded happy. No one knew whether he was having fun talking to Lara or whether he was smiling because of how pathetic Valac was.
Lara asked.
“Will demons accumulate karma when they use their strength?”
<When Valac harms you, I will bestow upon you a fire that will be able to burn him.>
Lara’s prediction was right. According to God, whenever Valac or any other demons came to the land and used their strength, they would accumulate a certain amount of karma. And God said that he would give as much of a miracle as the accumulated karma so that humans could fight against the demon.
That was the reason the demons had not descended directly on this land. They created black sorcerers and demon worshippers to cause indirect effects.
“Holy shit…”
Acerus was so excited that he ended up cursing. But then, he immediately slapped his mouth with his own hand.
<Come here often. It’s nice to see you at my house.>
The God of Fate only spoke to the saintess. He did not say a word to Demian or Acerus. He only let them hear his voice but he was not interested in them at all.
Lara asked her last question.
“Where can I find your name?”
<You called me life and death. Sometimes I’m born from nothing, sometimes I snatch away great things. I am fate.>
Lara let out a sigh. Demian realized that she muttered that God was having his head in the clouds again. Even that sight made Acerus thrill and punch his chest with tears.
“I will come back again.”
Lara said in a sweet tone. It felt as if the energy of God in the statue had nodded.
The candles that filled the sanctum shook once. It was an amazing sight in a place without a single wind blowing. When the fire returned to its original state, God had already left.
