3 - The Festival

This festival was the biggest event of the temple and was held once a year.

During this time, many people visited the temple, especially the family heads of the four prominent families.

It was an excellent opportunity for the Dynah, who could not leave the temple, to see many outsiders who came in.

‘The Grand Duke Deuwin. That person will also come.’ 

A person appeared in Dynah’s mind hazily. His image was like a fog. It was Grand Duke Deuwin.

He was the head of the Grand Duchy of Tersia, one of the four great families that supported the empire.

He was especially good at fighting and was always at the forefront when he went into battle.

He never lost a battle he led, and he was notorious for not leaving even a single blade of grass alive where he passed.

People called him “a killer with a passion for war and slaughter”. He was the subject of a cruel rumour that as long as the opposing party was the enemy, even a newborn infant would be taken and brutally killed from the arms of its mother. 

-If one were to attack a person such as him, who came to attend the event at the temple.

Between the orphan Dynah of commoner status and the Grand Duke, there was an astronomical difference in class. It would not be surprising for Dynah to die on the spot if she were to assassinate the Grand Duke.

Furthermore, Grand Duke Deuwin’s relationship with the temple was strained. In the past, a priestess who had given him a blessing had fainted in fear.

For several reasons, Dynah’s best opponent to choose was him, who could easily kill her.

She knew it was a silly idea, but she was desperate.*

*metaphor here meaning ‘grasp at straws’ for a person who’s drowning, i.e. willing to do almost anything in a desperate situation.

“I want to try.”

Dynah wanted to break the damn regression cycle.

She couldn’t miss the opportunity as her regression accelerated. She had to die at the hands of the monster Grand Duke crazy about slaughter.

♔♔♔

Dynah walked out of the church with her shoulders slumped. Slowly walking down the corridor, Dynah’s eyes reflected the temple; it was a meaningless gaze.

As she wandered around the streets of Goara, for Dynah, this was her hometown and the temple, her home. Home- it was a precious space. But now, staying at the temple only brought pain.

She felt sick every passing moment and disgusted with all those she met.

“Ugh…”

Her head started to feel dizzy again. “I need to hurry and get to my room.” 

Dynah’s thin face was now pale.

Behind her, danger like embers seemed to lick at her. A person crept up, the sound of footsteps almost inaudible.

Too preoccupied with other matters, Dynah didn’t notice him.

“Dynah!”

A man standing behind Dynah tapped her on the shoulder.

Dynah jumped at the sudden touch and froze on the spot.

She didn’t scream, but her body stiffened with surprise.

Because of the memory of being subject to abuse, even if someone touched her, Dynah would have still been surprised.

The more the painful life repeated itself, the worse it became. “Why are you so surprised? It’s me, Khalid.” Khalid was one of the people involved in her terrible abuse.

Brilliant blond hair, as if bathed in sunlight, filled Dynah’s eyes. ‘Khalid Dimaroye.’ He looked the same as Dynah had always liked. Although a little slanted, his half-moon eyes were attractive to anyone, and Dynah was no exception. 

Khalid, a fourteen-year-old who hadn’t yet been transformed by Lavienne, locked eyes with Dynah. Her palm started to throb. At the same time, the memory of the unhesitant stabbing vividly came to mind.

‘I don’t want this.’

Dynah backed away from Khalid, firmly rejecting him.

“Dynah?”

Khalid thought Dynah was acting strange and tried to come closer. Feeling embarrassed, Dynah hurriedly stood up straight.

“Hello.”

It was lucky that Dynah’s voice came out more casual than expected. 

“What happened? You don’t look so good. You’re pale.” 

“No? Nothing... I’m the same as usual.” Khalid, two years older than Dynah, was an apprentice of the Holy Knights. 

He was the son of a prestigious noble family, and his skills were the best amongst his peers, so there were many people around him. 

It was a coincidence that Khalid became acquainted with Dynah. Khalid took care of Dynah, who was ostracised among the candidates. Dynah liked Khalid because of that. He was her first love, but she kept that to herself because she dared not associate with him.

But after becoming Lavienne’s knight, he turned into a completely different person. 

He did whatever Lavienne told him to do. He didn’t hesitate to hurt Dynah. 

He stabbed her with a sword and stood on the sidelines. In her many lives, he had never once saved Dynah. 

‘Hypocrite.’

Dynah’s heart no longer beat for Khalid. He was nothing more than a hateful being to Dynah. 

“Dynah? What are you thinking about? Did the senior candidates bother you again? Is that it?” 

“It’s really not. Can I leave now?”

“Huh? Y, yeah.” Khalid stuttered, embarrassed by Dynah’s blunt attitude. 

As soon as Khalid’s permission was obtained, Dynah turned around. She didn’t want to face him for a second, so she took a quick step away. 

Khalid, who was trying to follow after Dynah, took a step forward but stopped. He felt that Dynah was avoiding him for some reason. 

“Did I do something wrong?” Khalid scratched the back of his head in confusion. As her figure receded, his eyes chased Dynah’s back persistently.

♔♔♔