Episode 84. I am Bercheria, Goddess of Weather
When Lacrahan was growing up, Emperor Gerard ordered the Adkins family to relocate their territory to the vicinity of the capital.
Half a year later, when they had just completed their move, leaving the north empty, a fairly large party hosted by the imperial family was held.
It was a party to welcome the Adkins family, who had moved to their territory, and so even the young Lacrahan was eligible to attend.
There, he first saw Gerard, the Empress, and the Emperor's mistress, Lyone.
The proud man and his mistress.
And Empress Lawrence, who had hung her head weakly the entire time.
It wasn't just his imagination that had felt like someone was staring at him throughout the party.
He turned his head to find the source of the gaze, and there, unmistakably, was the Empress.
But she had already turned her face away.
So he didn't know.
What kind of woman was she?
And at that time, Lacrahan wasn't old enough to want to understand her actions.
The reason she kept lingering in his mind, a feeling he'd seen somewhere before, was because he'd never truly seen her.
Only after recalling his past life could Lacrahan piece together the scattered fragments of his memories.
"The Empress is more emotional than anyone else."
Back when Adkins had become Murk and ruled the kingdom.
Even in her previous life, Lawrence had been the Empress of the empire, and even now, despite living as the Emperor's wife, she had absurdly coveted Lacrahan.
She didn't even try to hide that greedy gaze.
In the past, and now.
"Everything she did to me was nothing but obsession."
Lacrahan sat Bercheria on his lap.
He stroked her delicate back, almost enough to cover with one hand, and she closed her eyes lazily.
The two spent a moment like that.
It was a moment when the passage of time, from the past to the present, felt fresh in his mind.
"I have something I want to ask you."
"Yes."
Bercheria slowly opened her golden eyes and met Lacrahan's.
"The very first time. So, when we first met, why did you fall in love with me?"
Lacrahan's eyes softened at the unexpected question.
He'd first seen her lying in the mud, covered in mud, in the hunting grounds.
He took off his cloak and embraced her.
Had she been left alone for a moment longer, she might have frozen to death in the rain and cold.
Just as he was about to hand Bercheria over to the knights beside him, he stopped short at the faint force he felt against his chest.
A dirty hand was pushing him away, desperate for her life.
Digging her nails into his unyielding chest, she resisted this situation with all her might.
As if she could freeze to death on the ground, she couldn't entrust her fate to a stranger.
In that gesture, he felt an indescribable will to live.
This is what it means to be human.
This woman's will to live is so desperate.
Perhaps he had known from that moment on that he couldn't escape Bercheria.
"It was fate."
But Lacrahan had no intention of saying that.
It was merely a trigger.
Since then, all he'd ever loved was Bercheria.
"I couldn't find any other way to express it."
Strictly speaking, this was blatant theft.
It didn’t matter what Bercheria’s excuses were.
What mattered was what Gerard wanted.
And with Lacrahan blatantly present, he could even sue the North for damages.
‘As expected. I liked him from the start.’
Gerard twisted his lips into a smile at Groovy.
As the three of them approached, Gerard felt his breath catch in his throat.
Bercheria’s unique scent was making his head spin.
It was the real Bercheria. There was no doubt about it.
“Emperor Gerard.”
The goddess of weather, even her voice beautiful, looked at him once, then at Lyone, who stood beside him.
Lyone trembled as if she were about to compete when her eyes met Bercheria's.
“Weather Goddess, Bercheria.”
Gerard brought Bercheria’s gaze, which had been directed at Lyone, back to him.
Though the same color as Groovy’s, her eyes were clearer and more beautiful.
They shone like jewels in his treasure trove.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Bercheria.”
Bercheria bit her lip.
Gerard felt a strange pleasure in her.
“I’m sorry, but in the Periat Imperial Court, no one would object if someone who stole from the Emperor were killed on the spot.”
“...”
“Wrong.”
“What?”
Bercheria glanced at Groovy behind her and turned forward again.
“Being born in a dungeon is a completely different story from being imprisoned for a crime.”
Gerard blinked, unable to respond. Bercheria looked at him with a calm expression.
“And even if you are the Emperor, you cannot speak carelessly to me, the guardian deity protecting the Empire.”
Gerard’s eyebrows twitched, but she paid him no mind.
"You're not qualified to give orders either."
She wasn't someone who feared the Emperor.
"I'm Bercheria, the goddess of weather."
When Lacrahan was growing up, Emperor Gerard ordered the Adkins family to relocate their territory to the vicinity of the capital.
Half a year later, when they had just completed their move, leaving the north empty, a fairly large party hosted by the imperial family was held.
It was a party to welcome the Adkins family, who had moved to their territory, and so even the young Lacrahan was eligible to attend.
There, he first saw Gerard, the Empress, and the Emperor's mistress, Lyone.
The proud man and his mistress.
And Empress Lawrence, who had hung her head weakly the entire time.
It wasn't just his imagination that had felt like someone was staring at him throughout the party.
He turned his head to find the source of the gaze, and there, unmistakably, was the Empress.
But she had already turned her face away.
So he didn't know.
What kind of woman was she?
And at that time, Lacrahan wasn't old enough to want to understand her actions.
The reason she kept lingering in his mind, a feeling he'd seen somewhere before, was because he'd never truly seen her.
Only after recalling his past life could Lacrahan piece together the scattered fragments of his memories.
"The Empress is more emotional than anyone else."
Back when Adkins had become Murk and ruled the kingdom.
Even in her previous life, Lawrence had been the Empress of the empire, and even now, despite living as the Emperor's wife, she had absurdly coveted Lacrahan.
She didn't even try to hide that greedy gaze.
In the past, and now.
"Everything she did to me was nothing but obsession."
Lacrahan sat Bercheria on his lap.
He stroked her delicate back, almost enough to cover with one hand, and she closed her eyes lazily.
The two spent a moment like that.
It was a moment when the passage of time, from the past to the present, felt fresh in his mind.
"I have something I want to ask you."
"Yes."
Bercheria slowly opened her golden eyes and met Lacrahan's.
"The very first time. So, when we first met, why did you fall in love with me?"
Lacrahan's eyes softened at the unexpected question.
He'd first seen her lying in the mud, covered in mud, in the hunting grounds.
He took off his cloak and embraced her.
Had she been left alone for a moment longer, she might have frozen to death in the rain and cold.
Just as he was about to hand Bercheria over to the knights beside him, he stopped short at the faint force he felt against his chest.
A dirty hand was pushing him away, desperate for her life.
Digging her nails into his unyielding chest, she resisted this situation with all her might.
As if she could freeze to death on the ground, she couldn't entrust her fate to a stranger.
In that gesture, he felt an indescribable will to live.
This is what it means to be human.
This woman's will to live is so desperate.
Perhaps he had known from that moment on that he couldn't escape Bercheria.
"It was fate."
But Lacrahan had no intention of saying that.
It was merely a trigger.
Since then, all he'd ever loved was Bercheria.
"I couldn't find any other way to express it."
"Fate means something that was meant to happen from the beginning."
"Yes. I know."
"Isn't it strange for someone who was a god to talk about fate?"
A smile tugged at Lacrahan's lips.
"Anyway, I don't think I've ever been sane since the moment I fell in love with you."
His hand grabbed her small head and pulled her forward.
He tilted his head and pressed his lips against Bercheria's plump lips.
The smooth, soft textures rubbed against each other and then melted into a soft, comforting sensation.
It wasn't just a kiss.
What he shared with this woman was a sincerity that had endured through time.
It was a warmth that comforted each other through difficult times.
Lacrahan pulled away and pushed back Bercheria's hair that had fallen towards him.
"It won't be easy from now on."
At his words, she breathed out a laugh.
"Surely it won't be harder than living in a tower, or enduring on a battlefield?"
“Yeah, that’s right.”
While the Supreme Being and Lyone struggled to separate them, they missed the trials Lacrahan and Bercheria had endured. Their individual lives were hell, but as one, there was nothing they couldn't survive. As long as they were together, there was no time they couldn't endure.
"The Empress must have been quite a good person for the Supreme Being to control."
"I can't believe it was the Empress who called me daughter and toyed with me all this time."
"It seems the Parallel Butterfly was being used much earlier than we thought."
Lacrahan gently stroked Bercheria's soft hair.
Her blond hair felt even more pleasant to the touch than it looked, and just touching it brought peace.
"Perhaps the Supreme Being gave it to her. Their goals must be the same."
"You mean we break up?"
"Yes. I know."
"Isn't it strange for someone who was a god to talk about fate?"
A smile tugged at Lacrahan's lips.
"Anyway, I don't think I've ever been sane since the moment I fell in love with you."
His hand grabbed her small head and pulled her forward.
He tilted his head and pressed his lips against Bercheria's plump lips.
The smooth, soft textures rubbed against each other and then melted into a soft, comforting sensation.
It wasn't just a kiss.
What he shared with this woman was a sincerity that had endured through time.
It was a warmth that comforted each other through difficult times.
Lacrahan pulled away and pushed back Bercheria's hair that had fallen towards him.
"It won't be easy from now on."
At his words, she breathed out a laugh.
"Surely it won't be harder than living in a tower, or enduring on a battlefield?"
“Yeah, that’s right.”
While the Supreme Being and Lyone struggled to separate them, they missed the trials Lacrahan and Bercheria had endured. Their individual lives were hell, but as one, there was nothing they couldn't survive. As long as they were together, there was no time they couldn't endure.
"The Empress must have been quite a good person for the Supreme Being to control."
"I can't believe it was the Empress who called me daughter and toyed with me all this time."
"It seems the Parallel Butterfly was being used much earlier than we thought."
Lacrahan gently stroked Bercheria's soft hair.
Her blond hair felt even more pleasant to the touch than it looked, and just touching it brought peace.
"Perhaps the Supreme Being gave it to her. Their goals must be the same."
"You mean we break up?"
Even though Lacrahan regained his divine power and returned to his original state, and even though he stole it from the broken Bercheria, and even though she revealed the secret of the god, no one believed him.
"Yes."
That was the Supreme Being's goal.
Lacrahan and Bercheria knew it anyway.
As long as the Supreme Being intervened between them, this love could not be realized.
Lacrahan exhaled slowly.
"So, just one last time."
"This time, we will definitely win."
Bercheria placed a hand on Lacrahan's cheek.
When she opened her other hand, a brilliant light burst into the air and vanished into her palm like smoke being absorbed.
What remained in her palm was Bercheria's staff, shining golden.
"We will definitely win."
Her voice was filled with conviction.
Gerard was now completely speechless.
The trumpet sounded, and everyone turned toward the gate, wondering who had arrived.
And then Bercheria appeared there.
"Beautiful."
Bercheria's appearance as she walked toward him was identical to the one the young Gerard had seen in the imperial library.
No, she was a hundred, a thousand times more elegant and beautiful.
Translucent white skin, long hair fluttering in the air, even her eyelashes fluttering like butterflies with every movement of her eyelids.
Gerard had never seen such a perfect creature in his entire life. Bercheria possessed a grandeur that made all the jewels he had ever collected seem insignificant.
People misunderstood. They talked as if Gerard detested Bercheria, judging his feelings arbitrarily.
They believed that since Gerard had won the war without Bercheria, he wouldn't be able to bear it if the goddess returned.
It was all nonsense.
Gerard wasn't the type to worry about losing the power he already possessed, or even the future.
Why worry about the future when the day was already boring?
Having even secured the throne with Lyone's help, Gerard had no reason to hate or envy such a beautiful goddess.
Just as he was lost in thought, Lyone, beside Gerard, stared at Bercheria with an inscrutable expression.
"How on earth..."
Lyone muttered. She turned her gaze again and saw two more men behind Bercheria.
That damn Lacrahan and Groovy.
“That bastard!”
Gerard frowned, then reconsidered.
This was, in fact, a banquet prepared just for him.
He didn’t know how they’d met, but...
‘Groovy. I can use that guy as an excuse.’
Didn’t Bercheria now have the property he’d lost?
"Yes."
That was the Supreme Being's goal.
Lacrahan and Bercheria knew it anyway.
As long as the Supreme Being intervened between them, this love could not be realized.
Lacrahan exhaled slowly.
"So, just one last time."
"This time, we will definitely win."
Bercheria placed a hand on Lacrahan's cheek.
When she opened her other hand, a brilliant light burst into the air and vanished into her palm like smoke being absorbed.
What remained in her palm was Bercheria's staff, shining golden.
"We will definitely win."
Her voice was filled with conviction.
***
Gerard was now completely speechless.
The trumpet sounded, and everyone turned toward the gate, wondering who had arrived.
And then Bercheria appeared there.
"Beautiful."
Bercheria's appearance as she walked toward him was identical to the one the young Gerard had seen in the imperial library.
No, she was a hundred, a thousand times more elegant and beautiful.
Translucent white skin, long hair fluttering in the air, even her eyelashes fluttering like butterflies with every movement of her eyelids.
Gerard had never seen such a perfect creature in his entire life. Bercheria possessed a grandeur that made all the jewels he had ever collected seem insignificant.
People misunderstood. They talked as if Gerard detested Bercheria, judging his feelings arbitrarily.
They believed that since Gerard had won the war without Bercheria, he wouldn't be able to bear it if the goddess returned.
It was all nonsense.
Gerard wasn't the type to worry about losing the power he already possessed, or even the future.
Why worry about the future when the day was already boring?
Having even secured the throne with Lyone's help, Gerard had no reason to hate or envy such a beautiful goddess.
Just as he was lost in thought, Lyone, beside Gerard, stared at Bercheria with an inscrutable expression.
"How on earth..."
Lyone muttered. She turned her gaze again and saw two more men behind Bercheria.
That damn Lacrahan and Groovy.
“That bastard!”
Gerard frowned, then reconsidered.
This was, in fact, a banquet prepared just for him.
He didn’t know how they’d met, but...
‘Groovy. I can use that guy as an excuse.’
Didn’t Bercheria now have the property he’d lost?
Strictly speaking, this was blatant theft.
It didn’t matter what Bercheria’s excuses were.
What mattered was what Gerard wanted.
And with Lacrahan blatantly present, he could even sue the North for damages.
‘As expected. I liked him from the start.’
Gerard twisted his lips into a smile at Groovy.
As the three of them approached, Gerard felt his breath catch in his throat.
Bercheria’s unique scent was making his head spin.
It was the real Bercheria. There was no doubt about it.
“Emperor Gerard.”
The goddess of weather, even her voice beautiful, looked at him once, then at Lyone, who stood beside him.
Lyone trembled as if she were about to compete when her eyes met Bercheria's.
“Weather Goddess, Bercheria.”
Gerard brought Bercheria’s gaze, which had been directed at Lyone, back to him.
Though the same color as Groovy’s, her eyes were clearer and more beautiful.
They shone like jewels in his treasure trove.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Bercheria.”
Bercheria blinked without reply at Gerard’s words.
He glared behind her, and Groovy, who had been watching her, hid behind Lacrahan.
Gerard’s lips curled upward.
“But you know.”
Even if he were the Emperor, his tone was unsuitable for addressing the weather goddess, the protector of the empire, but no one would point that out.
“Why did you steal my things?”
Bercheria’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean?”
“That child behind you? It was my things that were locked in the imperial prison. I lost him and was desperately searching for him, but I had no idea the weather goddess had stolen him.”
He glared behind her, and Groovy, who had been watching her, hid behind Lacrahan.
Gerard’s lips curled upward.
“But you know.”
Even if he were the Emperor, his tone was unsuitable for addressing the weather goddess, the protector of the empire, but no one would point that out.
“Why did you steal my things?”
Bercheria’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean?”
“That child behind you? It was my things that were locked in the imperial prison. I lost him and was desperately searching for him, but I had no idea the weather goddess had stolen him.”
Bercheria bit her lip.
Gerard felt a strange pleasure in her.
“I’m sorry, but in the Periat Imperial Court, no one would object if someone who stole from the Emperor were killed on the spot.”
“...”
“...”
“But I have absolutely no desire to harm the Weather Goddess. But that doesn’t mean I can just stand by and watch someone steal from me.”
Gerard shouted, using everyone present as witnesses.
“I imprison this Weather Goddess in the Imperial Dungeon and, through a fair trial...”
“But I have absolutely no desire to harm the Weather Goddess. But that doesn’t mean I can just stand by and watch someone steal from me.”
Gerard shouted, using everyone present as witnesses.
“I imprison this Weather Goddess in the Imperial Dungeon and, through a fair trial...”
“Wrong.”
“What?”
Bercheria glanced at Groovy behind her and turned forward again.
“Being born in a dungeon is a completely different story from being imprisoned for a crime.”
Gerard blinked, unable to respond. Bercheria looked at him with a calm expression.
“And even if you are the Emperor, you cannot speak carelessly to me, the guardian deity protecting the Empire.”
Gerard’s eyebrows twitched, but she paid him no mind.
"You're not qualified to give orders either."
She wasn't someone who feared the Emperor.
"I'm Bercheria, the goddess of weather."
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