Diego let out a deep sigh once, then rubbed his younger sister’s head gently so it wouldn’t hurt, as she was preoccupied with laughing.
“Don’t! You’ll mess up my hair!”
Quickly taking a step back, Emily burst into laughter again and started walking a few steps ahead.
Though he’d inadvertently become a laughingstock, he didn’t feel displeased at all. Rather, thinking it had been a long time since he’d seen her laugh so big, he belatedly unwrapped the scarf. Almost simultaneously, something heavy was draped over his right shoulder. When he turned his head, he could see Antonio’s face.
“Why did you take it off? Even from behind, it suited you perfectly.”
“Then you wear it.”
The person who had suggested meeting today first was Antonio. At his words to come have a drink because he’d treat generously, Diego had answered that he was going to the temple. Then he said let’s go together and have dinner, so they’d arranged to meet in front of the temple.
Walking while having trivial conversation, the destination was soon right in front of them. Emily, who had arrived first and was waiting, gave Antonio a warm greeting, and the three people passed through the entrance door as solid as a castle gate side by side.
An atmosphere distinctly different from before wafted with the white stone wall as the boundary. The temple was quiet. Perhaps because it wasn’t a special day like New Year’s or a public holiday, hardly any people coming and going could be seen.
“I’ll wait here.”
Antonio spoke when they had nearly climbed all the stairs. Since it was up to the guy whether to enter or not, Diego nodded and entered the temple interior with Emily.
A splendid yet solemn, and somewhat more cozy feeling atmosphere welcomed the two people. Diego, who had approached close to the platform, took out the offering he’d prepared from his bosom. Emily was already praying with both hands clasped. Diego also closed his eyes to give thanks to his parents and prayed for the safety and happiness of his family.
Unlike Diego, who finished praying briefly, Emily continued with her eyes closed. …What is she praying for so earnestly? Though he couldn’t know, hoping it would all come true, Diego shifted his gaze forward. Looking at the silver vessel containing holy water and the sacred flame burning without being extinguished all day, a very old memory came to mind.
In the kingdom, there was a custom of visiting the temple with a guardian when the first day of the new year one turns five dawned. Diego too had visited a temple near their home holding his parents’ hands at that time, and heard a prophecy in a solemn atmosphere just like now that he would have a lifetime blessing of health. Since it was so long ago, other memories were hazy, but his mother’s touch as she smiled brightly and stroked his head even with a slightly swollen belly from having a sibling could never be forgotten.
And Emily was…
‘They said she would have a blessing of encounters.’
The image of his young sister running with a big smile despite missing her front teeth every time he visited his uncle’s house about once a month was still vivid in his memory. But thinking that she would soon become an adult who could start a family, while he was grateful she’d grown up well, he already felt bitter. Among many prophecies, she had also received a blessing of encounters, so he didn’t know what kind of partner she would meet in the future, but any guy who seemed even a little off was absolutely out of the question.
After that, it was quite a long time before Emily’s voice asking in a whisper could be heard.
“Are you done praying?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s go out. Antonio must be bored.”
He nodded and turned around. At the same time, a small “Oh” sound flowed from Emily’s mouth. A priestess in black holy robes could be seen standing in the passage between the chairs that had definitely been empty when they came.
Thud thud, Diego, who had walked toward the entrance, bowed his head toward the priestess leaving an appropriate distance. He hadn’t known from afar, but he could see a lisianthus embroidered in gold thread on the white veil covering her forehead. It was a pattern that only the high priestess, the only one in the entire temple, could wear.
Eventually, along with a kind smile, a voice with deep resonance reached Diego’s ears.
“Thank you for visiting us like this. I pray that the Lord’s blessing will always be with you.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you, High Priestess.”
A light blush bloomed on Emily’s face. It was the first time seeing the high priestess this close, so her heart was pounding. Without knowing more, she must have considerable divine power, and thinking she’d heard words of blessing from such a person made her feel so good she could fly. What followed next was even more surprising.
“If you don’t mind, may I look at your future with the crystal orb?”
“What?!”
The head that had been bowed shot up. Diego was just as surprised. Hearing prophetic words from the high priestess. It was no exaggeration to say it happened only once in a lifetime for commoners, so he wondered what this sudden turn of events was.
“A-are you serious?”
Emily was just as bewildered. Only after asking back did she think “oops,” but fortunately, instead of showing displeasure, the high priestess smiled kindly and answered yes.
“Follow me.”
Eventually, the high priestess moved her steps first, and Emily looked up at Diego and whispered in a small voice.
“Let’s go, brother.”
“I’m fine.”
“What do you mean fine? Who knows when we’ll get such a good opportunity again.”
While pulling his arm like that, Diego reluctantly followed. Entering a small space that looked like an office, the priestess was sitting behind a table.
A brilliant purple crystal orb caught the eye. When they sat side by side opposite her, a request to place their hands on the crystal orb followed, and Emily carefully moved her hand first.
Next was Diego’s turn. When he placed his hand as if covering the crystal orb just as Emily had done, the priestess’s two hands were layered on top. There was not the slightest change in her expression. Others might scold him for blasphemy, but in truth, Diego didn’t greatly trust divination or prophecy.
The year Emily turned five, Diego begged the aunt who was at least less scary and took Emily to visit the temple. Her tiny hand was placed on top of the crystal orb. Looking at Emily, whose hands and cheeks were all chapped from exposure to the cold, the priestess whose face he didn’t even remember said this:
‘You will receive many blessings through family in the future.’
He shouldn’t have turned his gaze away then. The aunt’s face, clearly full of ridicule that he happened to look up at, was unforgettable even now. Thinking back, he had the same doubts about the prophecy he received. Since he was judged to be a Benic, it was obvious he would have a basically good physique, and words like receiving a blessing of health were something anyone could say.
Shortly after, the priestess opened her eyes. When the person’s hand that had been touching the surface fell away, the light quickly faded. Eventually, words spoken in a warm voice followed.
“I saw a vision of lush, fully bloomed lilac flowers. Very close by too. It’s interpreted to mean you will have a good connection in the future.”
The person who reacted was Emily. Her face, full of joy as if she’d never been nervous, turned toward the priestess.
“A good connection… Does that perhaps mean a partner?”
“It can be seen that way. I pray that the Lord’s protection will be with both of you.”
“Why are you so late?”
As soon as they exited the temple building, Antonio’s nagging flew at them. Since even he thought it had taken quite a long time, Diego briefly apologized and added:
“Let’s go. I’ll buy you something delicious.”
“Wait a moment, brother. Can I go to the bathroom real quick?”
“Go ahead.”
“Then I’ll go quickly too.”
“Let’s go together, Antonio.”
The sound of the two chattering grew distant. Diego, left alone, leaned his body against the building wall. As he stared ahead blankly, a tiny flower blooming under the wall of the building across the way caught his eye.
‘A good connection… Does that perhaps mean a partner?’
‘It can be seen that way.’
The priestess’s words he’d just heard came to mind. Though he didn’t particularly trust divination, it was true that his heart had momentarily wavered at Emily’s question of whether it meant a partner.
If by any chance the priestess’s prophecy was correct. Then…
He soon let out a long sigh and closed his eyes. Words that he could meet a partner. These too were nothing more than broad and completely unspecial words, just like the prophecy blessing health.
