Kabanata XVII
Saintess

***

CLEOBELLE / SINCLAIR

"Is she really uneducated? I heard she was left alone in a basement all her life, and yet the way she's managing the dukedom is as if she's been our duchess for years! Isn't that insane?" One of the maids exclaimed as I overheard their conversation.

"Huwag ka ngang maingay diyan. Baka gusto mong magaya kay head maid Koopal?" iritang sambit ng isa pang maid.

Nailing na lang ako doon.

It's been a few weeks since we've been married. Aslan is still doing his job, eradicating the monsters of the north.

Me on the other hand is busy managing the estate and the whole dukedom itself.

Bukod doon ay nagwawaldas lang ako ng pera.

"Money therapy really is the best," I grinned as I looked at the things I bought.

"Wala pa din ba ang asawa mo?" tanong sa akin ni Elsa.

Umiling ako doon.

"The Emperor asked him to be his Escort knight while he's visiting the holy kingdom to get the people's sympathy. However, the empire doesn't get along well with the holy sh*ts, which is why he needs an escort" I shrugged.

Thinking about it, should I pay them a visit?

I grinned at that thought. 

"Pretend to be me. I'm just gonna go out for awhile," i ordered the ice spirit queen.

"Yes, my King," she bowed down.

After that, I managed to sneak out effortlessly. Then I unleashed my aether outside, changing my appearance to the ice witch, everyone feared.

I casually walked outside as the commoners just ran away at the sight of me. 

"Ice witch!" some bugs called my attention as they pointed their weapon at me. 

It's a bunch of beastmen, living here in Glacialis. 

Right, the north is filled with different races as it is the only place that accepts them with warmth. 

"Think about your lives, fools. Be thankful I don't think any of you are worth my time."

Masungit kong saad saka naglaho na nang tuluyan papuntang Holy kingddom.

I might be wicked, but I won't kill just anyone. May taste din ako noh.

I looked around and it seemed like I teleported to Saintess' temple's garden.

In my past life, I used to stay here when I tried a different route as a Saintess. It's so darn boring here. Everyone respects you but at the same time they all just wanted to use you.

I tried to paint the image of a kind Saintess back then, but I ended up being betrayed by the people who claimed they're children of god.

Turns out, they were just bunch of dogs who'd bit the owner who fed them. So I just killed all of them.

I bet Saintess Asteria would face the same fate from the very people she cherishes. 

"Sinclair?" a voice called my name.

Natigilan ako doon.

Nakapagtatakang nakilala niya ako sapagkat ibang-iba ang anyo ko bilang si 'Ice witch'.

"Saintess, that is not my name," I said in a cold manner.

"Hindi." Umiling siya sa akin.  "Nakapagtatakang iba ang iyong anyo ngunit alam kong ikaw iyan. Parehong pareho kayo ng awra at mukhang palakas lamang ng palakas ang anino ng kamatayang nakadikit sa iyo," sambit niya. 

Walang emosyon ko siyang binalingan ng tingin saka ko inilabas ang Halberd ko mula sa kawalan at itinutok iyon sa kanya. 

"Is it because you're living a life like a prisoner inside this temple that you're not aware of who I am?" I asked.

Ngumiti lamang siya doon.

"The ice witch, feared by many. If you're worried I'm gonna reveal your true identity, be assured that I'm not planning to do so," she sighed.

Her eyes looked at me gently as she bravely walked towards my direction.

"I can feel how drained your life force is. As if you've lived for a very long time that it's almost empty. Your soul doesn't seem to be originated in this world and only half of it is left in your body, as if it was forcedfully teared by some entity," she stated making me halt.

Ibinaba ko ang aking sandata at mariin siyang tinitigan.

"What do you know?" I asked.

"My divine power allows me to see the purity of one's soul. I can see someone's lifeforce and its origin. In my whole life, the four of you have the most odd souls I've ever seen," the saintess stated.

"I don't know that much, but you're the fourth one that I've seen. I don't know how you four from another world got here, but if you stay here longer, there won't be any way to get out," she revealed.

There are four of us? The f*ck?

"What does that mean? Who are those other three?" I asked.

"I'm not quite sure since you're the only one I've managed to speak with, but despite having the same origins, your soul is the most drained out. As if you've tormented to experience life and death multiple times," Asteria responded.

That's not surprising at all.

"May paraan ba upang makalabas dito?" diretsahang tanong ko.

Hindi siya agad na nakasagot doon.

"Sumagot ka Asteria," mariing sambit ko.

"I do not know," she sighed. "But one thing is for sure; This might be your last chance. If you don't get out, you'll be forever stuck in a loop that not even death could stop," Asteria warned with a grim expression on her face.

"Ha. . ." I let out a harsh breath followed by a deranged laugh.

My laugh slowly faded as I looked at her dead in the eyes. "That's f*cked up," I said in a cold manner.

I'm aware that I'm already insane but this is dragging me more to the brink of insanity.

This might be my last chance to change my fate huh?

"I'll spare your worthless life because of that information, but don't let your guard down yet, Saintess. . . Let it ingrave in your mind that this encounter never happened. You didn't see me; You didn't speak with me; You don't know me; You will not tell a soul. . ." I threatened.

Napayuko siya doon at tumango. "Understood," she said in a gentle manner.

I just hissed as I walked away.

Now I'm in a bad mood.

Sakto namang natanaw ko mula sa kinaroroonan ang Emperor kasama si Aslan na nagpangisi lang sa akin.

Maybe I should play with the bastard for a bit.

Gamit ang matulis na yelo ay tinusok ko ang aking hintuturo, kasabay ng pagpatak ng dugo mula rito.

The drop of my blood floated toward his direction and landed on his forehead. Then a magic circle was formed as I chanted a curse for the lowly Emperor.

"I wonder what could I turn him into?" I grinned.

I suddenly remember that movie character in my first life. I don't remember who that character is but I do remember that it's a King turned into a frog.

I think it'll be funny if Lumina will be ruled by a talking frog.

That made me chuckle as I began whispering the chant.

With that, he started feeling weird. His body shrank and became slimy; his color is also turning green.

"W-what's happ—kroakak—ening?!" I laughed when he started croaking in between his words.

"Duke! Do—kroakak—something!"

With that, he completely turned into a man size frog, making him squeal, terrified by his transformation.

Then, I decided to reveal myself in front of them with a wicked grin on my face as I clapped slowly.

"You look fabulous, your majesty," I mocked, amused by the way he looks.

Sa itsura niya ngayon ay parang gusto niya na akong paslangin.

"Duke! —kroakak—kill—kroakak—that d*mn witch!" he ordered.

Aslan immediately switched into a fighting stance. I did see him secretly laugh for a moment but managed to hide it which made it funnier.

He then started to attack me which I immediately dodged.

Napakabilis ng aming mga galaw na halos hindi na makita ng kanilang mga mata.

"Kroakak," I whispered to Aslan, mocking the Emperor.

Napabunghalit ito ng tawa habang patuloy kami sa pag atake sa isa't isa. 

"Stop it," he hissed as he tried stopping himself from laughing.

I giggled. "Kroakak."

Natawa na naman ito doon.

Well at least my mood is better now at the cost of the bastard Emperor's life.