Chapter 20: Whispers of Destiny

When will you ever look back at me?

She’s here! A legendary moment! Cheering internally, Lara slowly turned to look behind her. In that instant, she was completely possessed by Lilica, escaping the stifling reality.

“I never expected you to say that, Lord Robes.”

“I never knew someone who always raises their voice would have such a timid side.”

“People, like coins, always have two sides. Even the kind-hearted can be swallowed by darkness—haven’t you seen enough of that?”

“So does this mean you’ve quit being a Magical Girl and are ready to be devoured by the forces of evil?”

“Then you must save me. You’ve always coveted Erodis’ Flower, haven’t you?”

In the center of the auction hall, the two recited their lines effortlessly while die-hard fans watched in shock, as if incredulous that anyone could memorize comic dialogue so completely.

“I revealed this side only to you. Be grateful. Now, show me your true self.”

What followed was Lilica flipping Lord Robes’ hood back to reveal his handsome face—a sight that made many female fans clutch their hearts.

Instead of holding onto Lord Robes, Lara grabbed his glasses. Just as he was about to rip them off, a large hand clamped onto Lara’s wrist to stop her.

“That’s enough.”

One by one, the fans began rising as if they had just witnessed something unspeakable. An acquaintance, eyeing the situation, eventually gathered his things and stood up.

Startled by the clamor, Lara turned around and spotted this acquaintance slipping through the crowd toward the exit, snapping her back to reality.

‘This is crazy! I need to get out of here…’

But before Lara could move, a firm hand stopped her.

Was he determined to reclaim the fan comic? As Lara tried to shake off the man’s grip, something hard brushed her fingertips—the handle of a suitcase.

The man handed her the suitcase handle and then let go. In a daze, Lara looked up at him and murmured, “Huh?”

“I admit it. You’ve earned the right to have that fan comic…”

“…Are you really sure you want to hand it over like this?”

“It’s a pity, but you can always get another later. There, done.”

Though his words were nonchalant, his broad shoulders sagged wearily. It was clearly not an easy item to come by. As the man turned his back and left the now-deserted auction hall,

“Wait a minute.”

Lara called out, and her glasses, adorned with swirling patterns, spun askew as if in response.

“You seem to be quite the fan of Magical Girl Lilica… I’ll lend it to you, but let me read it first.”

“Are you sure? It’s not something you can easily lend out. A true fan would have two copies—one for keeping and one for reading…”

“Perhaps, but I trust you. I don’t believe you’d treat my fan comic carelessly.”

Normally, she wouldn’t lend her precious fan comic to even a close friend, but this time was different—he had offered first, and Lara couldn’t refuse. Despite his thick glasses obscuring his eyes, he seemed to have a kind heart.

“I’m lending this treasure only to you. Be grateful.”

Passing a tall man, Lara quoted one of Lilica’s famous lines as she headed for the exit.

When she opened the door, warm sunlight cascaded over her head and shoulders. Whether lost in thought or mildly surprised, the man’s previously silent lips curved into a long, gentle smile.

“Oh, absolutely. I’ll be forever grateful.”

The belated response washed over Lara’s back more gently than the midday sun.

Chapter 4: The Archetype of the Frail Gentleman

Morning broke. Though she despised going to work, Lara, dressed in simple menswear, opened the door and stepped out. Even after a week of sulking post-recovery, the persistent nagging of God forced her back to the Knight Order.

Those miserable hours spent in bed had, strangely, been a happy time. Standing by the staircase, an impulsive thought struck her.

‘No, I can’t sacrifice my body either.’

If she broke a finger, she wouldn’t be able to hold onto her fan comic. As she descended the stairs, she noticed her brother and mother engaged in conversation just around the corner.

“The promotion exam is coming soon. Don’t overdo it; if you stick to what you’ve been doing, you’ll surely excel.”

“Yes, Mother. I’ll give it a try.”

Her brother—who had miraculously recovered from a four-week injury—was not only ahead of her recovery but also managing his Knight Order duties without a hitch.

“Alright, then. Go on.”

After a brief bow, her brother walked past while her mother stood, silently watching his retreating figure. Seizing the moment, Lara quickly crossed over to the opposite corridor.

‘I’m on my way.’

Since that last OnlyOne event, God seemed to enjoy teasing him. Glancing briefly at the high, clear sky, Lara stepped into the bustling city streets.

She couldn’t ride the family carriage—her father would surely find out—so she walked to catch a different carriage in the busy district. Fortunately, it was a quiet time, making it easy to secure one.

“Phew.”

She wondered how long she’d be stuck in this life. She’d once dreamed of lazy afternoons, receiving massages, tea parties with Youngae, and elegant conversations, even dancing at balls in search of a future groom—but now those romantic visions seemed further away than ever.

From today onward, she’d have to wallow in dust and sweat again. Her fate felt utterly pitiful.

Then, suddenly, with a clatter, the carriage came to an abrupt stop. Lara nearly lost balance, leaning against the window frame. Peering out through a small window, she saw a woman slumped beside the carriage.

“Whoa, whoa!”

After calming the startled exclamations, the carriage driver hurried over to the woman. Just as he was about to speak, he was rendered speechless by her stunning beauty.

Even from behind, Lara recognized the woman immediately. With rare silver hair and exquisitely delicate ears that looked like fine sculptures, she was none other than Elina.

Stepping out of the carriage in place of the driver, Lara addressed her, “Lady Elina IV! That was a close call. Are you hurt?”

Elina replied, “I’m Elina V.”

With a benevolent smile, Elina V took Lara’s hand and helped her to her feet. At that moment, the kitten nestled in her arms leaped playfully onto the ground.

“…Did you rescue the kitten, by any chance…?”

“I couldn’t bear to see an innocent life harmed. Please forgive my intrusion.”

She truly seemed like an angel descended from above. Seeing Lara—a fellow human—made her feel awkwardly humbled. As Lara stood in silence, Elina V regarded her with a gentle smile and spoke first.

“Actually, I was on my way to the Daeshin Shrine for the Saintess Selection Exam.”

“The Saintess Selection Exam? Oh my, you must be joking. That’s a state exam not open to outsiders—I’d love to see it.”

“Yes, and if Raan is interested, why not join me?”

“Ah…”

Only then did Lara realize the truth. Despite her cross-dressing, she wasn’t surprised at all—she must have heard about it from Lady Elina III. The sudden reminder of reality left her feeling downcast.

“As much as I’d love to watch from the sidelines, I have to report to the Knight Order…”

With tears welling up, Lara continued, “Maybe another time.”

“I see. How’s life in the Knight Order? Are you managing? They say Lady Elina III has no issues, but living as a man must be really hard.”

“Yes, it’s killing me… Haha, but I’m managing somehow.”

Her soft, consoling words nearly made Lara reveal her true feelings—standing before the priest made confession almost inevitable.

Elina V exuded a gentle warmth reminiscent of Lady Elina I, yet she carried the poise of someone far more experienced—a seasoned queen, perhaps.

Then, lightening the mood, Elina V clapped softly, scattering a sacred smile.

“In that case, how about joining me as my escort?”

“Escort?”

“Yes. Since it’s a request from the Duke’s family, the Knight Order would surely agree, and you won’t even have to show up for work for a day.”

“But… I’m not sure I can be a good escort…”

“Don’t worry. It’s such a safe place that there won’t be much to guard. Just sit by my side during the exam. Consider it a small token of appreciation for troubling me earlier.”

Essentially, he was just to play the role of an escort, observing the exam while resting. One could tell instinctively that this angel was born to be a saint.

Elina V’s warm compassion brought tears to Lara’s eyes. And so, Lara left behind Lady Elina III at the Knight Order and followed Elina V to the Daeshin Shrine.

In the capital, the stunning Daeshin Shrine—renowned for its beautiful architecture—was divided into three sections: a public area open to everyone, an annex for the clergy, and a private central area where the Pope resided.