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His towering height, which overwhelmed those around him, and his dazzling silver hair—combined with the unrealistically clear turquoise eyes that met the gaze of the crowd—elicited faint gasps of admiration.
Valentin's looks truly are a blessing from God. As I stared at him, entranced, my eyes briefly met his as he scanned the audience. I tried to look like I wasn't spellbound, wearing an expression like a boiled fish, though I wasn't sure if I hid it well.
“First, I solemnly promise to receive the grace of the Holy Savior and serve all believers and citizens as is my duty. Furthermore, I wish to express my gratitude to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and Her Imperial Majesty the Empress for granting me the opportunity to worship in the beautiful city of Makhachkala.”
My father and mother gave short, approving nods.
“In days past, God gave a revelation. It was a revelation that a vast amount of gold and silver treasures were buried in the southwestern part of Kotelchini, to be used for the unfortunate neighbors and the faithful believers.”
“My goodness.”
Emma, looking aghast, whispered with her hand covering her mouth.
“Gold and silver treasures... could it be diamonds? Kotelchini is such a small city... It would be amazing if a diamond mine were actually discovered. No, it surely will be. For the Savior always looks after the unfortunate.”
Moved by the prophecy, people closed their eyes and began to pray. The once-silent plaza instantly became cluttered with the sounds of prayers and voices reciting verses. Even the Pope closed his eyes tightly to recite a prayer, leaving only Valentin and me as the ones with eyes open and heads held high.
People couldn't possibly imagine. That Valentin's prophecies are merely the past he has already lived through.
Only Valentin and I share that secret in this world. Suddenly, it felt as if only the two of us remained in this vast plaza.
While everyone else sought to reach God through Valentin, the man himself gazed at me without a hint of agitation.
Why did his serene face look so lonely?
Suddenly, the stories of his past lives that Valentin had told me came to mind. All of Valentin's prophecies exist in that past. Valentin's prophecies were all lies, yet they were also truths. The prophecy was not a blessing God had bestowed upon him, but a curse.
My heart grew heavy, and I quietly gave him a thumbs-up. Whether he had been watching me this whole time or not, a shallow smile played across his usually calm face. It was a smile of absurdity, but it was far better to see than an expression that seemed to have attained enlightenment of all things.
The commotion, which seemed as if it would last forever, returned to a dawn-like silence at his next words.
“Your Highness Vasily, the Ohala Empire in the era of your reign shall be a time of great peace and prosperity.”
It was a moment that brought back memories of the banquet four years ago.
“Your Highness Tatyana, you shall become the magnificent right hand of Prince Vasily, who will eventually ascend the imperial throne.”
“Your Highness Ivan, the lamp lit by your will shall illuminate only the righteous path, so do not hesitate.”
Some prophecies were markedly different from four years ago, while others remained unchanged. Thump, thump. My heart began to beat rapidly.
“Next.”
Just like back then, Valentin's beautiful turquoise eyes turned toward me.
“Princess Larisa.”
My breath hitched at his polite gesture. At his call, I stood up abruptly, making no effort to hide my nervousness, and ascended the platform with steps that were stiff beyond measure.
I could see nothing but Valentin's face, and I could hear nothing but his voice.
Valentin, his arm wrapping around my waist, slowly leaned his upper body down and whispered lowly.
“I thought an angel had descended. Those pearl earrings suit you wonderfully.”
What is this? My heart hasn't melted, has it? How can I still be alive when it's beating this crazily?
Like an idiot, I couldn't say a word and simply stared into Valentin's eyes, wishing this moment would stop forever.
“Your Highness's future... is not decided. You can unfold any great dream and achieve every wish. There are no exceptions. Because I will make it so.”
Dark clouds gathered.
The sun was obscured, the sky was hidden, and the whole world was dyed in darkness. While all my senses felt muffled, as if sunk beneath a lake, there existed one vividly clear light.
Valentin.
He alone was my only star lighting up this night.
“Therefore, Your Highness, please stay right here. Just as you are now.”
I finally realized it.
Ah, it's love.
I love Valentin. This trembling—this is the emotion called love that the poets and musicians wandering Makhachkala sang about so tirelessly.
This is impossible.
It's a lie.
This is love? This is what they call love!
All that shameful and petty jealousy and resentment I felt toward Valentin was all because of love?
Waiting for his contact all day, swinging between heaven and hell with a single conversation, and the struggling that led me to beat my pillow over trivial matters—all of that was because of love?
It... it makes too much sense.
I can't believe it.
Since when did I fall in love with Valentin? The imperial ball? Illin's ball? Or the letters we exchanged over four years? Or... or perhaps from the very first moment we met? Surely not since the moment I was born?
In my world, fallen into a state of ecstasy and confusion, the only shining star spoke again.
“Lastly... no matter what happens to me, you must not be flustered.”
In an instant, the darkness lifted, and my five senses returned to reality.
Flustered?
In response to my questioning gaze, Valentin's eyes had sunk coldly, as if the previous tenderness had been an illusion.
“Do not look away from me. Yes, keep looking at me like that and listen. Among the cardinals sitting in the back, there is a man with blonde hair. He is about to shoot me.”
“...What?”
A gun. At the incomprehensible word, I felt as if the world before my eyes was spinning dizzily.
“There is only one bullet, and since I will protect Your Highness, not a single hair on your head will be harmed. However, considering Your Highness's height, it would be better to lower your head a bit more... impressed... crying...”
I could see past Valentin's shoulder.
One of the cardinals, who should have been sitting in line, was standing in an awkward posture. It was the blonde cardinal who had been bothering me all along.
With a hand trembling aimlessly, he rummaged through the inside of the red velvet cloth supporting the Diary of Roo.
He drew the bewildered gazes of the Pope, the cardinals, and the choir, but he showed no sign of stopping. In his unfocused eyes, only fear and urgency were clear.
...So that was it.
That man's goal is to assassinate Valentin.
That's why he was trembling.
The guards, who had noticed the cardinal's strange behavior, began to approach the platform quickly. The opponent's movements became more frantic, and Valentin, pretending not to know, pulled me deeper into his embrace.
The entire scene felt infinitely slow.
Are you just going to stay still?
Do you have to be hit by the gun that man fires?
Is that your grand plan?
Valentin's embrace is ample. Held in these arms, I must helplessly watch him collapse, drenched in blood.
That was my role. That was my...
...But Valentin, how can a person be like that?
I've just realized for the first time in my life that I love you; how could I just watch stupidly?
A gunshot rang out.
Amidst the sudden silence, it felt as if someone had called my name.
I couldn't properly hear that scream-like shout, for a terrible pain surged through my mind. It was the hottest and most agonizing pain I had ever felt in my life. The panicked culprit pulled the trigger repeatedly with trembling hands, but no further gunshots fired.
Valentin is safe.
Ah, thank goodness.
I'm so glad. Nothing happened to the one I love. Nothing at all...
Perhaps because of the immense relief, I drifted into unconsciousness.
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