Chapter 11
A line, silver or perhaps gray, was scribbled messily across her shoulder, like careless graffiti.
At first, she thought it was just a mark left from being pressed against something, so she leaned closer to the mirror. But this was a pattern.
She couldn’t tell exactly what kind of pattern it was, but since it spread out in a V-shape like a spiderweb, it reminded her of wings.
Each time the burning pain intensified, the pattern turned pure white, then darkened again, repeating over and over.
“I’m sure it wasn’t there until this morning…”
It was a huge relief that she had come wearing a dress that covered her shoulders.
It couldn’t be a sudden oracle or revelation. She had never seen or heard of Theos or Tenia causing a mark like this. If she had revealed her shoulder in front of people, it would surely have raised suspicion.
What on earth is this?
No matter how hard she rubbed it with her hand, or soaked a handkerchief with water from a cup on the table and scrubbed it, it wouldn’t come off.
As if it were engraved…
“An engraving? That’s impossible.”
There was no way such a thing existed. Engraved with what, exactly?
But the anxious thought that had taken root refused to fade.
The strange pain she had felt since the night she spent with him.
The way it subsided the moment Caliph’s lips touched her.
The pain added to her blocked holy power, and this unexplainable light.
No matter how she looked at it, the cause was that man.
Her anxiety—her instincts—were telling her so.
Litia bit her lip. Surely this wasn’t why he had been so confident. But what if she couldn’t fix this? What if she couldn’t use her power at all? And if it was discovered that she wasn’t the real Litia—then what?
Worrisome thoughts piled on one another. Could she really die this time? Things she had once taken lightly suddenly felt unbearably heavy.
“I should go back first and think.”
Maybe it was fortunate that she had said she hadn’t fully recovered yet.
First, go back…
But Litia froze, her hand stopping just short of the doorknob.
Today’s incident would likely be reported to Duke Mont, and if she didn’t do something, she would be the first to be suspected.
If she returned like this, not only Duke Mont, but even the priest who had helped her earlier might fall under suspicion.
If rumors spread that someone praised for her overwhelming power couldn’t use it at all, that would be truly dangerous.
Then should she find that man first?
But how?
She had thought she would never see him again after he took her home, so she hadn’t even asked how to contact him.
Why would she? She hadn’t needed to.
Her bold declaration of “one week” now felt hollow as Litia found herself desperately searching for a way to find him.
The only person who could clearly explain this was that man.
“How am I supposed to find him?”
Should she go back to that banquet hall?
But they hadn’t met inside the hall in the first place—they had met outside on the terrace. He had even said he wouldn’t be going inside. So even if she went to that terrace now, there was no guarantee he would be there.
Litia bit her lip again.
Caliph. His face surfaced in her mind. She never imagined she would need him this badly.
“Please… please…”
As if praying, Litia clasped her hands tightly and shut her eyes.
Just once—just enough to confirm that I’m okay…!
At that moment, a small sense of release flowed through her, as if a dam had opened.
That was when the refreshing sensation began to fill her again.
“Haa…”
Litia let out the breath she had been holding and opened her eyes wide.
Trying not to forget the feeling, she spread both palms again.
As if light were drawn to light, a white glow gathered little by little, forming a small mass. It flowed like water, trailing light along the floor before disappearing.
There was still a faint, unpleasant tingling, like a shock, but it felt much cleaner than the first time she had tried in the room.
“…It worked.”
First, she needed to show this in front of others—before the power got blocked again. After that, she could look for him.
Litia hurriedly grabbed the doorknob and opened the door, then headed back to where the people had gathered earlier.
Almost running, afraid the power might vanish, Litia returned to her spot. When a priest noticed her and approached, she gave a small smile.
“Did you get some rest?”
“Yes, thank you. Since it was a rare visit, I’m sure you were worried.”
When Litia said she would give blessings again, the priest looked concerned for a moment, then nodded willingly and returned to his place.
Litia took a deep breath as another person stood before her.
“May the blessing of light dwell within you.”
She gently scattered her holy power over the head of the man who had come to receive a blessing.
Slowly, and for a long time—long enough for everyone to see.
After finishing the donation activities and returning home, Litia could think of nothing but how to find Caliph. Duke Mont was pleased to hear that she had completed the donations safely, but ironically, once she returned home, her power stopped responding again.
She casually described his appearance to Emilia and asked if he might be among the nobles, but it didn’t help.
This time, it had happened at the temple.
She knew that once the Tenia candidates’ activities truly began, there would be many donation activities outside.
The most important of these was traveling across the empire to inspect places with holy power and spread the influence of Theos.
From the central capital, Bistium, to the east, Terium; the south, Morium; the north, Raum; and the west, Weitas.
The Tenia candidates would each take a region and carry out their roles.
It was something all of them would have to do once they became Tenia.
The knights assigned to the candidates were called “Themes.” Together with them, the candidates would inspect neglected areas, repel monster attacks, and hope to be chosen by Ates.
At the very least, until Litia gained the power to protect herself, she had to stay active—and to do that, she had to resolve this issue first.
“How do I meet him?”
After that, Litia attended large and small banquets held almost every evening. Since she had always avoided banquets and parties, the attention on her doubled, but she kept searching.
One day, two days, three days…
Nearly a week had passed. Finally, with the deadline just ahead, Litia attended another banquet and leaned against a terrace corner, muttering in frustration.
“Where am I supposed to find him?”
No matter how much she thought, there was no clear solution. She had even gone through all the noble registries. The name he gave her must have been an alias—there wasn’t even a trace of “Caliph.”
She had only thought about avoiding him, never that he would be this hard to find.
The moonlight shone brightly.
The week was almost over.
“Please show up. Please.”
Caliph.
Litia leaned her elbows on the terrace railing, clasped her hands like a prayer, and rested her forehead against them as she murmured.
That was when it happened.
A firm arm gently wrapped around her waist, and she felt someone’s presence behind her.
“I win.”
An infuriatingly relaxed voice whispered near her ear.
He had appeared.
Relief washed over her, and at the same time, Litia spun around sharply. Resentment flashed in her eyes as her pale hand grabbed Caliph by the collar.
“Why are you only showing up now?”
She shouted, almost screaming.
“Was I that late?”
Unlike her, the man was completely relaxed. His lazy, unhurried tone made anger flare up inside her.
If he had even the slightest idea how agonizing her days had been, he wouldn’t be smiling like this. Litia had truly lived through nerve-wracking days.
“How can you even say that? You knew everything already!”
She knew that night had been mutual. But if he had given her even a small hint, she wouldn’t have suffered this much.
The resentment she had bottled up burst out, remembering how she had feared being discovered and killed. Unbothered, Caliph calmly caught her hand and placed it against his cheek. Warmth spread across the back of her hand.
She tried to pull away, but it wasn’t easy.
Caliph, on the other hand, looked almost pleased, as if her anger didn’t affect him at all.
“Sorry. I didn’t know you’d be this angry.”
Litia couldn’t tell why he was in such a good mood.
Because he won the bet? Or was that just his personality?
His calm confidence only annoyed her more. Still, deep down, she was relieved he had appeared.
Even if he was supposed to show up after a week, she had to use her holy power again the very next day. If the same thing happened, Duke Mont would surely grow suspicious. And there was no guarantee Caliph would even appear.
Now that she had met him, it was time to ask him to give her power back.
Litia let out a sigh.
Her power wasn’t completely gone. It felt more like it was being firmly suppressed, which meant he had sealed it or done something to it. If Caliph undid that, it should be possible even here.
The curtains were drawn—no one would suddenly come in, right? Still gripping his collar, Litia glanced around the balcony.
“Shall we move somewhere else?”
At Caliph’s words, Litia looked up.
She hesitated for a moment. Would it take long?
If so, she didn’t like the idea, but it seemed better than here.
“I can’t be gone for long.”
“It won’t take long.”
Litia nodded.
Caliph wrapped an arm around her waist.
In an instant, they were enveloped in dark energy. When she opened her eyes again, the familiar space came into view. She turned her head, taking it all in—it was the place where she had spent the night with him.
She had thought they would go somewhere near the banquet hall again.
Why here, of all places? But it didn’t really matter. Once she got her power back, she could return.
Litia turned sharply to face him.
“Give it back. Now.”
