The moon hung high in the velvety sky, casting its pale glow across the room. The silvery light filtered through the ornate windows, creating intricate patterns on the polished stone floor. Marie sat opposite Ravenna, her voice trembling as she reted her story. Though the tale was one Ravenna already knew from the novel in her past life, she listened ily, her expression a careful mix of empathy aermination.
When Marie finally finished, her voice barely a whisper, Ravenna leaned forward, her deep bck eyes shining with resolve. “It must have been hard for you,” she said, her tole yet firm. “But worry no more. sinow you are my disciple!”
Marie’s eyes widened, shimmering with uears. She nodded, her lips trembling as she whispered, “Thank you, Yhness.”
As she shifted in her seat, her hand moved instinctively to the slit of her skirt, attempting to pull the fabric over her exposed leg. Ravenna noticed and arched an eyebrow, a teasing smile curving her lips. “What’s the matter? Feeling shy about showing some skin?”
Marie’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She hesitated, her initial instinct to deny it, but decided hoy was better. Slowly, she nodded.
Ravenna chuckled, the sound warm and reassuring. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she said, her voice carrying an air of fidence. “It’s an honor for others to witness beauty, not something to hide. Own it.”
Marie lowered her gaze, still u visibly forted by Ravenna’s words.
Ravenna cpped her hands, drawing Marie’s attention back to her. “Now, let’s discuss your responsibilities and schedule as my disciple.”
Marie swallowed hard, her nerves showing in the way her hands ched in her p. Ravenna’s tourned authoritative as she tinued. “First, your living arras. You’ll have a room on the same floor as mine, just a short walk away. Sed, you will be granted a le on your 16th birthday. As the lord of this dukedom and an imperial princess, it’s within my rights, and I io bestow it upon you then.”
Marie’s eyes widened in disbelief. A le? Her mind raced, struggling to prehend the magnitude of such a gift for a mere former sve.
“Of course,” Ravenna added, her tone sharpening, “this won’t e without effort. You’ll o work hard to maintain your status and prove your worth.”
Marie nodded eagerly, determination flickering in her eyes despite her lingering nervousness.
Ravenna tinued, “Your ms will begin with lessons iiquette, reading, and writing under Alice’s guidance. You mentioned you read and write but aren’t fident, so we’ll address that. Afterward, you’ll join me for breakfast.”
Marie listened ily, her surprise growing as Ravenna outlihe part of her schedule. “Following breakfast, Dame Aisha, one of my most skilled knights, will train you in bat.”
Marie’s brows furrowed in fusion. bat training? She had expected that Ravenna wanted her to bee a schor or perhaps assist with administrative tasks, but wielding a on?
Ravenna smirked, clearly catg the fusion in Marie’s expression. “My disciples must be profit in all aspects, not just one. You will bee well-rounded—perfe every way.”
She tinued, “After bat training, you’ll join me for lun the dining hall. Iernoon, you’ll assist me in my offid learricacies of managing a territory. Before dinner, you’ll patrol the town to uand its people and their needs. Then, you’ll rest for the night.”
Marie’s head swam with the sheer scope of the schedule, but she nodded resolutely. This was the life she had longed for—a ce to learn, grorove herself. “Yes, Yhness! I won’t let you down!”
Ravenna’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Good. For now, take the rest of the evening to explore the castle and the town. You have a lot to do starting tomorrow, so get some rest.”
Marie stood, bowing deeply. “Thank you, Yhness.” With that, she left the room, her steps lighter than they had been in years.
As the door closed, a panel appeared before Ravenna.
[Reputation Points System]
Earned 10 Points: Saintess Marie Leon has started admiring you. (Effect of Title: Raven of the Sun Pace)“Well,” Ravenna mused, a smirk pying on her lips as she studied the panel, “that’s quite the haul of points from one person.”
Satisfied, she turned her attention to her desk, calg strategies and refining her pns for the future. Finally, she retired to bed, her mind still rag.
Lying uhe b of her bed, Ravenna reflected on the significe of taking Marie in as her disciple. It wasn’t a mere act of charity—it was a calcuted move.
In Light’s quest, the Saintess was the face of every majion, her presenevitably triggering rge-scale wars between nations and faiths. In the inal story, Marie had been taken to the Western ti’s Herptian Church Headquarters, where she was found to be the Saintess of this era after she rose to high priest position. This revetion had sparked a devastating war between the Solious aian faiths, plunging the world into chaos.
Now, with Marie in Jo, the stage was set for a simir flice Marie eventually rises to being a high priest here in Jo’s Church. Ravenna couldn’t allow that. Rejeg all the sves ht had been an option in her mind, but it would have disrupted the novel’s key events, including Marie’s eventual alliah Eugeo defeat the Witch of the West.
“I ’t afford to ge the main story too much,” Ravenna murmured to herself, the dry desert heat pressing against her skin. “A predictable path is the safest.”
By taking Marie in, Ravenna thought of guidis, ensuring the novel’s core storylines remained intact while proteg Jo from unnecessary devastation. Whech of the West appears, Ravenna will reveal Marie as the Saintess, orchestrating a meeting with Eugeo set the inal story ba course.
For now, this deviation was manageable—a calcuted risk with long-term bes. With a final sigh, Ravenna closed her eyes, her thoughts finally slowing as she drifted into sleep.
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