⊱Je crois en vous⊰

I believe in you

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"Dearest sisters..."

"And brother," Diligence coughed, interrupting Humility for a second.

"...and brother," the gray haired man sighed. "This is a formal meeting. We are all aware of Kindness's situation regarding the agreement she has with the Sin of Envy."

The Virtues glanced at me and I swallowed thickly. I knew this meeting was about me.

"We're here to discuss about it because..." Humility heaved a deep sigh and turned to me. "I'm worried about you, Kindness. We all are... There's not much time left, and we thought we should leave this to you but we can't."

Biting my lips, I looked down at my interlocked fingers on my lap. "I'm sorry..."

"You're very important to us," Patience said, her voice brittle. "We all know what happened when one of us made an agreement before... We're all very scared..."

"Not to mention, your time is nearly up," Temperance raised her voice as if forcing her tears at bay. "How much progress did you make? Is it... unlikely that you'll find a human?"

With trembling hands, I clenched the material of my skirt. My lips were burning from all the biting and skins ripping.

Even without me saying, they knew it.

It was upsetting how I had them distressed over my situation. Like a nuisance.

"Can't we make an agreement to nullify this one? Or at least change the conditions to-"

"No more agreements," Humility silenced Charity, slamming his hands on the round table, making me jolt. "Agreements among us are strictly and irreversibly binding and not amendable. We can't change anything. Which is why Kindness is in serious danger."

Silence drowned the whole room.

The only sound was the turbulence of my heart beating in my ears.

"Then, what should we do?" Charity whimpered. "We still have time! It's just one human we have to find. Tell us what we should do, Humility, please!"

"You shouldn't do anything," I finally gathered enough courage to speak, turning all of their heads to myself. Their expressions were heartbreaking to say the least. "This is what I tangled myself in. I'm extremely grateful that you're all worried, but... I have to deal with it myself."

"Kindness..."

"Don't beat yourselves over this." I smiled softly. "It's already enough that you care about me, guys. I'll do whatever I can, so just leave it to me."

"Excuse my intrusion."

The door suddenly opened and God walked in, a little distraught. "Apologies for being late to the meeting. Please continue."

Everyone fell silent, glancing at each other, waiting for anyone to say something. I immediately stood up before anyone could. There was nothing left to say anyway.

"The meeting is actually over." I scanned the others with a small smile. "Right, guys?"

Another beat of silence passed as everyone stared blankly at nothing.

"Then, I'd like to have a word with you in private, Kindness," God said, gesturing to the door, and I nodded, following him out of the room.

"Later, guys," I whispered on the way and Humility nodded slowly, his eyes devoid of light. I wanted to say something but what could I?

The hallway was empty as I walked beside God. It had been such a long time since I was last in his presence.

It was rather comforting to just walk with him.

"I figure you won't be giving up on this?"

Taken aback by the hint of me giving up, I breathed out a humorless chuckle. "Well... I can't afford to. I... How do I say this... To get what I want from the agreement, the thought of giving up must not cross my mind even."

He nodded, looking straight ahead. "To have the Sin of Envy reborn... He was quite the blessed individual as a human... Too blessed according to the others."

I grimaced. "I wouldn't put it like that. He worked hard, he never took anything for granted. He used to share his blessings with others if he had them. He was just like everyone, only kinder and more humane."

"Ah, but the others wouldn't see him as you do, dear Kindness." A gentle smile tugged his lips. "There's always envy in every human, no matter how big or small. Counting someone else's blessings just comes automatically to them. That doesn't mean he or she is doomed. Whether the envy is a slight one or a destructive one depends on the human."

"I've seen that... wherever I went..." I shook my head when faces flashed before my eyes with green haze enveloping them in disgusting swirls. "Is it... Is it too cowardly of me to say that I'm afraid I won't find anyone? Envy is just so... enviable no matter who sees him."

He stopped when we reached the garden of sempiternal flowers with the fountain of bliss standing gloriously among them. It was enchantingly peaceful that I realized I missed being here. Everything was impossibly idyllic.

Was it impossible to have Envy experience this rapturous feeling that I was feeling?

I looked up at God when a hand was placed on my shoulder.

"It's not impossible." My lips trembled at the tender smile he was giving me. "I believe in you. All of you. I believe in my children."

Everyone else was doubting me, but he somehow... believed in me. It was enough for me to regain the resolve I had lost.

I had to uphold my virtue.

After he left, Temperance and Patience appeared in my line of sight, murmuring among themselves, and walked towards me when I waved at them. They were still troubled from the meeting.

"Seoyun, are you going back now?"

I hummed, breathing in the sweet fragrance of the flowers. "Not yet. I need some time to think about what I should do so I'll head back home."

"Are you okay?" Patience scanned my face with a small pout. "We can help with anything you want, you know?"

Grinning, I poked her cheek for looking so adorable. "After talking to God, I'm more than okay. Don't worry. I can do this."

Even if they seemed more worried now, they still nodded and put their trusts in me. I couldn't possibly bother them when they already had their plates full with their respective Sins.

After a long talk about their life in heaven after I left to earth for nearly a year and shenanigans they had with angels and demons, we parted ways and I wasted no time to teleport to my home.

I had forgotten about how Envy was supposed to be near me all the time that I jumped in shock when I found the emerald haired man in my room. He was still clad in the same clothes he was wearing when Humility came to take me away.

"Oh- Y-You're here?"

As if I was invisible, he didn't turn to me.

Instead, his eyes were glued to my painting of him with black hair.

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"Did you paint this?"

Oh no...

"...Who is this supposed to be?"

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Seoyun:

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