Chapter – 28
The reasons for visiting the Aeterna Temple were originally threefold.
First, to make contact with the princess of Tenebrin.
Second, to measure her exact rank.
And finally, to determine her precise compatibility with the villain.
The amount of power an ability user can output changes depending on compatibility.
It was necessary to know this in advance in case of emergencies.
“If I’m going to make an imprint, I also need to know the exact numbers.”
By putting a drop of the controller’s blood and a drop of the ability user’s blood into a holy water scale, it would work.
However, it consumed much more divine energy than a standard measuring relic.
So she could only use it after dealing with the princess’s matter.
The priest addressed Lilian, who was wearing a black veil.
“Controller, everything is ready.”
“Thank you, priest.”
“You can check multiple people with just a single drop of blood, so take your time.”
Oh, this is the first time I’m using something like this—it’s fascinating.
“However, the readings might be unstable a few times in the beginning.”
“Ah… understood.”
It would be best to check with others before testing with the villain.
She raised her head and surveyed the people around her.
Her gaze first met Jeanne’s, so she decided to test her first.
“The result is 80.”
“…! It’s an honor, my lady.”
Jeanne’s face lit up at the reading displayed in the center of the scale.
Since 60 is considered “barely usable,” that was an extremely high number.
The shadows gently lined up behind Jeanne upon seeing the number.
“I-I want to try too!”
“No cutting in line!”
“Hey, line up.”
When Lilian turned back, she saw that all the shadows had lined up neatly, waiting to check their compatibility.
‘How cute, all of them…’
Under such a lord, how could these subordinates…
“80!”
“I’m 85.”
“I got 75…!”
One after another, above-average numbers appeared, leaving Lilian silently surprised.
‘Higher rank improves the quality of control.’
Even so, the fact that so many people had an average of 80…
‘Is it because of that infinity symbol?’
Could her control be evenly effective on everyone above average?
“Sir Elias, would you like to try the test with me as well?”
“…Yes, my lady…”
Elias stepped forward, but for some reason, after looking at Lilian’s back, he stepped back again.
“…No, my lady. I appreciate the offer, but I’ll decline.”
“Really?”
Well, someone like Elias would naturally have a controller more compatible with him.
It was just a courtesy offer.
More importantly, the person whose numbers really needed to be confirmed was…
The one standing behind.
The long-awaited opponent finally approached.
‘It can’t be helped.’
She had made the imprint, so the numbers shouldn’t be low.
If Lilian herself couldn’t get 100, then 100 was unlikely.
Evrin’s drop of blood fell onto the ability user’s scale.
Gulp.
The previously cheerful atmosphere vanished instantly, leaving the surroundings dead silent.
After what felt like an eternity of seconds, Lilian frowned.
“…?”
What was this?
The result was unexpected.
After the compatibility test was finished,
the ‘shadows’ were on high alert.
They waited for Jeanne to check on Lilian’s condition.
When their companion returned, the shadows swarmed like clouds.
“How is the situation?”
Shaking their heads.
It was very serious.
“It seems my lady is deeply distressed.”
Everyone’s expression turned grave.
“Ha…”
“By the Creator…”
“How… how could it have been exactly 60?”
That was the compatibility number between Lilian and Evrin—the crux of the problem in this situation.
With the other ability users, the numbers generally exceeded 80, but of all people, it had to be him.
“My lady… will she be alright?”
The shadows weren’t particularly worried about Evrin.
Their lord was far too strong to worry about.
Even if the number was low, he probably wouldn’t care…
But Lilian?
The young lady whose cousin had chased her, assaulted her, and whose family knights had mocked her…
A shadow’s face darkened as they muttered,
“…I actually heard Sir Elias talking to my lady.”
“What about?”
“That she lost her will to live because her fiancé was fooling around with Iris Tillard…”
Gulp…!
Several shadows covered their mouths.
So all the wandering near the borders, giving out precious pepper freely… that was all just collateral?
Everything finally clicked into place like a puzzle.
“That rotten Pavil bastard!”
“May lightning strike you, Pavil scum!”
“Ugh, Tillard is disgusting!”
It was normal to hate someone just for breathing in your presence, but apparently, they could be hated even more.
And the more they hated him, the more they cared for the one oppressed by the hated person.
“Surely, His Majesty wouldn’t drive my lady away…”
“No way…”
Nobody really knew the emperor’s heart.
Even the first controller to stop a rampage couldn’t be sure how much he valued her.
Margaret quietly carried a meal to Lilian’s room.
Lilian sat on the bed, back to the door.
“Um, my lady, I brought you some food.”
“….”
Margaret summoned courage and approached.
When she had rolled around wildly in a frenzy, she had honestly been scary.
Her face was mesmerizingly beautiful, and her temper was fierce…
‘I’d been trapped in prejudice all along.’
Judging Lilian’s personality just by her looks…
‘It’s what they teach in Tillard family training. Maybe I’d even studied that myself.’
Even Margaret, an A-rank top controller, hadn’t done that.
‘I’d been too careless.’
But Lilian, in her unmanifested days, had found lessons even in mundane tasks.
Even leaving aside the forgiveness she had received for nearly ruining an artifact, she was remarkable.
Margaret whispered, fidgeting by the door.
“My lady, please don’t worry too much about the compatibility earlier.”
“….”
“None of the other shadows are concerned, and neither are we…”
“….”
“And also… His Majesty—”
She wanted to say he seemed to like Lilian.
After all, the mood had been awkward when the number came out as 60.
‘It doesn’t seem like my lady was the only one disappointed…’
But saying something like that was too embarrassing.
She had never even talked about romance before…!
Margaret hurriedly placed the plate on the nightstand.
“P-please eat this and rest today. Don’t think about it anymore—you have to depart soon.”
“….”
“I’ll leave now, my lady!”
Margaret dashed out.
Lilian slowly lifted her head from her hands, which had been covering her face.
‘…Did Margaret just come?’
Sir Jeanne had also been by, saying something, it seemed.
But she had been too lost in thought to pay attention to what was being said.
When you’re overly happy, that happens.
Trying to hide extreme joy uses up all your muscles.
‘By the Creator…!’
For the first time here, her prayer had been answered.
Now she understood why people in her “previous life” celebrated 60th birthdays—kanreki, isshun, etc.
It was such a precious and beautiful number.
‘From now on, my favorite number is you, sixty.’
She was a little surprised, though.
‘I thought it would be around 70 since I stopped the rampage myself.’
But it was 60.
“Well, fine.”
That was enough to lift the imprint and replace it.
“Wow, when did the food even arrive?”
Had Margaret just brought it?
“Hoho, it’s delicious.”
Lilian happily finished her meal.
Her sleep that night was incredibly sweet.
Evrin, however, could not close his eyes that night.
