Chapter 98 – Lily Finds Marie

Lily Finds Marie

“Kirika! That’s Fernet! He’s wearing his uniform! Let’s go say hi!”

“Cut it out. He doesn’t even remember us.”

Even as I waved desperately, Fernet disappeared into the depths without noticing me.

Kirika grabbed my arm to stop me, so he was out of sight in no time.

Darn it! If we don’t hurry, we’ll lose him!

I looked at Kirika, urging him to get going, but he had this super troubled look on his face.

“What’s wrong? Let’s tail Fernet. We might even get to see Marie!”

“Don’t make a scene; it’ll just be a bother. Fernet’s on the job, you know.”

Kirika let out a huge sigh.

He really should try enjoying himself more.

A massive line snaked through the church chapel.

The thought of Marie being back there somewhere filled me with excitement.

“Think we’ll get to meet Marie over there?”

“I said we’re just here to look, remember?”

Kirika wouldn’t let go of my arm.

Crowds of people bustled through the connecting corridor while we stood frozen in place.

“You’re blocking the way. Let’s at least walk.”

Once I said that, Kirika reluctantly started moving, and we joined the line leading into the chapel.

Kids were peeking inside from the edge of the wide-open door.

“I’m gonna take a quick peek too!”

I shook off Kirika’s hand and dashed forward with gusto.

“Hey! Get back here and line up properly with everyone!”

Sheesh, Kirika was mad the whole time.

We came all this way, and for what?

Bubbling with excitement, I blended in with the kids and peeked inside from the door’s edge.

Eh…

There, seated before the altar, was a stunning woman in a slender dress layered with folds of lace.

Her posture, her gestures, her very expression—all so graceful and captivating, like she belonged to another world.

Her half-up hair cascaded silkily with a gorgeous sheen, her skin was flawlessly pale, and even her fingertips were impeccably groomed.

“That’s…? That’s Marie?”

“She’s… beautiful…”

Somehow Kirika had snuck up to peek alongside me.

We’re twins, and yet we’re nothing alike.

Is that really Marie? She looks just like the Goddess of Light.

Next to Marie, I spotted Heart wearing the same uniform as Fernet.

“Kirika! It’s Heart! Heart!!”

“I said stop! You’re bothering everyone enough already!”

Kirika yanked my arm, dragging me right out of the chapel.

“We’ve seen her now. That’s plenty, right?”

“If it’s Heart, I could just order him to let me meet Marie.”

“No way.”

No matter how much I tugged and shook my arm, Kirika wouldn’t let go.

When I finally yelled that it hurt, he muttered an awkward “Sorry” and released me.

“Sigh… Lily. We had a deal, remember?”

“Heart’s my bodyguard, you know.”

Kirika stared at me with utter exasperation.

“Please, just come home with me now. Yeah?”

“…”

I ignored Kirika’s nonsense and headed straight for the door.

Biting back my frustration, I shoved through the line alone and slipped inside the chapel.

“Heart! Hey! Heart!”

A White Priest near the entrance hurried over to me in a panic.

“Please, no shouting.”

“Then go get Heart for me.”

The White Priest gave me a troubled look before huddling up to chat with his colleagues in the back.

A young guy in a gray uniform emerged from behind them, and the White Priests all clustered around him.

He was wearing the same uniform as Heart.

I waved, tilted my head cutely, and flashed a big smile.

The handsome guy kept glancing my way as he talked.

Hehehe.

It’s always this easy when I smile.

As I watched things unfold, he said something to Heart and walked off.

My heart pounding, I stared hard at Heart by the altar.

Hurry up and come over here already.

That’s when Heart gently touched Marie’s shoulder.

Marie noticed and looked up.

Heart gazed at her with such affection and smiled.

The shock hit me so hard, it felt like time itself slowed to a crawl.

Heart…

He only ever looked at me with those cold eyes.

He never once smiled at me.

He never showed a scrap of emotion.

I pictured myself in Marie’s place.

I want Heart to smile at me like that.

I want him to love me.

I want Heart.

Before I knew it, White Priests had surrounded me and ushered me outside the chapel.

They had no idea who I was.

All I wanted was to see my own bodyguard.

I wandered around the building, searching for an opening, and finally spotted a door that looked like it might let me in.

“Ah, it’s unlocked…”

I eased the door open and peeked inside to see a hallway.

“…Where’s the altar from here?”

The moment I cautiously stepped forward, keeping an eye on my surroundings, something smacked into my arm.

Splat!

“Ow!”

Eh? What the—? Water?

I looked around, but no one was there.

Splat! Splat! Splat!

“Hey! Cut it out; that hurts!”

The young guard from before showed up, hitting me with little bursts of water, his face blank as ever.

By the time I dodged around, I’d somehow been shoved back outside the door.

“What do you think you’re doing? Heart’s my bodyguard! Just ask him, and you’ll see!”

The guard shut the door without a word, and I heard the lock click.

“Huh?”

What was his deal? Those eyes, looking down on me like I was nothing.

And kicking me out without so much as a word? Beyond rude.

I stood there dumbfounded by it all when Kirika came running up from the front.

“Hah… hah… Geez. I told you not to cause a commotion. Time to go home.”

Kirika, doubled over and breathing raggedly, held out his right hand and looked up at me pleadingly.

“Don’t touch me!”

I smacked his hand away on reflex.

Kirika’s eyes went wide in shock. He straightened up slowly and turned his back to me.

“I’m heading back first.”

The one Heart should be gazing at like that is me.

I don’t want Marie stealing Heart from me.

I circled back to the front once more, slipped into the crowd, and this time entered the chapel quietly.

Marie vanished into a back room, shielded by Heart and the White Priests.

Her retreating figure was so infuriating, I could hardly stand it.

I was the one who received the Light Blessing!

I want to be protected too!

I stared at my arm, red from those water hits.

Frustration and sorrow welled up, tears spilling over.

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