EITAB - Chapter 4 Fake and Real
Even if it is Trampled and Broken
"If you express it like that, what will Hestia lose face?"
"That doesn't mean I said something wrong!"
Those words naturally revealed that Hestia, the former Saintess, was lacking in abilities, and people implicitly looked down on her qualities. As the conflict between the two factions intensified within the temple, Hestia became impatient. So she tried to get along better with Anette.
She thought that if Anette and she were friendly, the people under her would be influenced by it and stop the bickering. But that was all she wanted.
Everyone checked each other's forces, and in the meantime, slander continued. Moreover, Hestia's goodwill towards Anette was distorted and was often seen as persecuting her.
"Saint Anette gets hives all over her body when she eats the figs! But she gives me figs as a gift!"
"I didn't know. I heard the last time she brushed off that she likes the smell of figs....... That's why she just gave it as a present."
" Saint Anette even ate it, saying that she should repay Hestia's sincerity! She almost got in trouble because her prayer was blocked!"
"At the banquet held in the royal palace. Saint Hestia! Ignoring Saint Anette's greetings! Is she being territorial right now?"
How dare she? Just according to the protocol.......
"Were you not trying to embarrass Saint Anette by depriving her of a place among the nobility? Disappointed!"
Sorry. That was not Hestia's intention. She thought briefly. Hestia apologized more and more. No matter how much she is a Saintess, she is still only human.
The more she tried, the more she got tired of the troubles that only increased rather than lessened. So, at some point, she was just silent.
'Maybe it's better for everyone if do this.'
Hestia completely became a shadow, swallowing all her hatred and sadness alone. So that the light of Anette stands out more. She had no choice but to do it too. While Anette's divine power grew stronger day by day, Hestia's power, which was already lacking, began to fade.
'Why are you doing this?'
It was as if Anette was absorbing Hestia's divine power.
'What will happen to me if all the divine power disappears like this?'
Hestia was afraid.
'I am...... I have no place to return to.'
She has lived in the temple since she was a child. Before she became a Saintess, she had the status of a Princess, but she honestly said that, too, was only her title.
Because Ellsworth's King was her uncle, not her father. It was clear that Yorgos, who valued her face, would be terribly reluctant to take on the role of an excommunicated recruit who had lost her divine power. He said,
'No matter how weak she is, she must do her duty as a saint.'
So Hestia headed to the lowest place. She embraced all of the clinics and relief centers in her district that Anette was unable to care for. She walked every day to shelters for the sick and the poor and sincerely prayed that those nearing death would be embraced by God.
'I only have this much strength left. Until this power is gone....... At least I'll do what I can as a Saintess to the end! '
Hestia, at her lowest, prayed for the sick more sincerely than anyone else.
"Thanks to the Saintess, the end goes without pain. Thank you sincerely."
"I sincerely wish Lady Hestia that there will be only happiness in the future. Please be happy."
Every time the sick people closed their eyes after leaving a short word of thanks, Hestia shed tears as if leaving a close friend she had known for a long time. She was close to death every day, so there was not a day when her eyes were not sore.
Anette, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy all the public events as if it were her nature to appear in front of others.
She proudly took part in national events and diligently attended social events, strengthened her friendships with nobles, and made a large donation to the temple.
"After Saintess Anette comes, only good things happen to the temple. Heh heh heh."
The cliques of the temple, following Anette, held her up, raising her voice as if to Hestia to hear. Each time, the group that followed Hestia subtly put pressure on her. They wanted her to do something that stood out too like Anette.
However, Hestia did not neglect her original mission. For a year she lived like that.
March 11, 1099, in the kingdom calendar. Hestia attended a dinner held to mark the one-year anniversary of Anette's coming to the temple.
As it was a holiday, the atmosphere did not stand still, and the meal proceeded in a rather friendly atmosphere. But Anette got up by the end of the meal.
"I have something to tell you by borrowing this seat."
Anette paused her words for a moment and then glanced at Hestia, who was sitting across from her. As their eyes met, Anette stared at her with eyes of pity, her lips twisting slightly as if to show her words.
'Why are you like that?'
Hestia tilted her head for a moment, unable to even guess why she felt sorry for me.
"At dawn, I received a new oracle."
"Are you talking about a new oracle? What the hell is that?"
Anette passed the paper she had brought to the High Priest. He rose from his seat, clearing his voice and unfolding the paper.
The priest, who was the first to scan the contents with his eyes, looked back at Anette with surprised eyes. Anette looked straight at Hestia and said calmly in a gloomy voice that was clearly made up on purpose.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this."
"Yes?"
"But we cannot prioritize our personal acquaintance over the will of God. I hope that Hestia will understand my decision."
Hestia absentmindedly nodded her head. Hestia couldn't understand what Anette meant at all, so there was no action she could take right away other than that.
Then, as if she had waited, Anette gave a short nod to the priest holding the oracle, and as a signal, he read the contents.
'Since my true child has found its place, I will gather the flowers that have taken root in the wrong place and level the ground.'
"What is this.......!"
Everyone at the banquet hall was agitated. Hestia's face also turned white.
"The word of the oracle is, so...... Are you saying that Saintess Hestia is a fake? Is Saintess Anette real?"
When people's eyes gathered at once, Hestia unknowingly made her whole body tremble. She seemed to be rebuking me.
"I-......."
Hestia tried to say something, but her voice didn't come out. Everyone's eyes looking at her seemed to contain the meaning of rebuke, saying, "Did you dare to deceive us?"
"Oh, poor Hestia."
As Anette told her that she had heard the oracle, Anette exaggeratedly lowered her eyebrows and clicked her tongue in pity as if she were hearing the story for the first time.
Anette rose from her seat and came to Hestia's side. Then she grabbed her hand and opened her mouth again in a bright voice.
"Lady Hestia, don't worry too much. I've been asking God for a way for Lady Hestia to live."
"I...... I am. I am...... that is..... ."
Hestia trembled as her face turned white as if she was about to die.
"Sorry."
With her bewildered face, she pulled her hand away from Anette's.
"This much...... I will go."
Hestia, barely holding on to her trembling legs, turned around and quickly ran out of her banquet hall.
"Saintess!"
She heard Anette calling from behind, but she couldn't stop. Hestia knew very well that it was like running away. But then there was nothing else she could choose.
***
"Saintess Hestia?"
At Nacia's call, Hestia woke up from her past thoughts and lifted her eyelids. She wondered how long she had been holding my breath. Taking a long breath, she focused on Nacia. In the meantime, the apprentice priest took out a robe that had been ironed and came closer.
"You need to hurry up and get ready."
"...... Why?"
Hestia asked in a hushed voice, like someone who had just woken up. Then she replied slowly, with her face as if Nacia was asking because she didn't know.
"Yeah...... Today is Saint Anette's feast day to commemorate her birth. She decided to dine with the others."
"Ah."
Hestia let out a short exclamation. After choosing her words for a moment, she calmly asked again.
"Do I have to go?"
"... Yes?"
Nacia asked, puzzled, with her eyes wide open. But Hestia, unlike usual, was adamant.
"I don't want to go because I'm not feeling well."
"Saintess, but......"
She extended her words with her face saying that Nacia was in trouble for her, but Hestia turned her head away as if to turn away.
"I want to rest."
Given her rather obstinate attitude, Nacia gave up trying to persuade her any further. She then bowed her head to Hestia, as if to obey her will, with her hands respectfully brought together in front of her.
"Yes. then...... I will put it like that."
"Yes, please."
"Just rest."
She even greeted her, but Nacia turned to Hestia several times with her face full of regret. The Hestia she knew had a weak heart, and she was the type who couldn't ignore the difficulties she caused others.
So, if she sees Nacia's tear-stained face even now, she will give up her will and get up and get ready. But no matter how many times she glanced at her side, Hestia was adamant about her, and she didn't look at her going.
'You really don't want to go.'
Only then did Nacia put aside all her lingering feelings and quietly opened the door and left, widely. The sound of the door closing reached Hestia's ears. When she was finally left alone in her room, she turned her head back into place.
"Whoa.......".
Returning the breath she had been holding back to normal, she cleared her troubled stomach.
"Did I really go back in time?"
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