“No, wait. I’m too far from the saint…”

“Distance isn’t the issue. Ariadeline, your current situation is the problem.”

Dorothea had a serious expression.

“I-I’m a sinner?”

“That’s part of it, but you were a black magician who used black magic.”

Ariadeline replied ambiguously.

“That is true, isn’t it?”

“I’ve never seen anyone who has used black magic become a saint. So I believe there will be side effects in some way.”

Ariadeline nodded at Dorothea’s serious face. Carlothian interjected with a question.

“So what should we do?”

“What I can do is…”

Dorothea looked at Ariadeline. Ariadeline swallowed nervously.

“First, I’ll tell you how to contain the divine power that is leaking out.”

“Really?”

Ariadeline’s eyes widened, Dorothea nodded.

“If you leave it like this, the temple will soon notice the truth. I’ll take the blame for the divine power surrounding the capital today.”

“Th-thank you.”

“Ariadeline should first learn how to contain your divine power and prepare for any side effects.”

“I understand.”

“And Carlothian.”

At Dorothea’s call, Carlothian, who had his arms crossed, raised an eyebrow instead of responding.

“It would be better for you to return first. This will take a while.”

“No, I’ll stay…”

“Please go back.”

There was a strange pressure in Dorothea’s bright expression. Of course, Carlothian wouldn’t back down easily.

“That’s right. You must be tired; go back first; I’ll return to the mansion soon!”

With Ariadeline saying this, Carlothian reluctantly clicked his tongue and stood up.

“Send someone if anything happens.”

“Got it.”

Only after receiving that response from Ariadeline did Carlothian leave the parlor. Dorothea watched Carlothian’s back as he disappeared outside and smiled briefly.

“Is Carlothian treating you well?”

“Excuse me?”

Ariadeline’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected question. Her expression resembled a startled rabbit, which made Dorothea laugh even more.

“When you were married, he acted as if a cold wind was blowing. Now, what’s with him being so nice?”

“Hahaha.”

She couldn’t help but laugh at that. Dorothea didn’t know that Carlothian loved her.

Although the rumor circulated widely in society, it was just enough to circulate below the surface so that they didn’t know.

“Maybe he just feels pity for me.”

“Hmm, pity.”

Dorothea tilted her head. The reason she initially protected Ariadeline was, as she said, out of pity.

But did that man really have such feelings? If asked, she could certainly answer no.

“Let’s just wait and see.”

Dorothea took Ariadeline’s hand and began to move to another room.

“Where are we going?”

“To my practice room.”

“To your practice room…?”

“Yes. I have a room where I practice hymns.”

“Oh.”

At that, Ariadeline’s cheeks turned slightly pink.

Could she learn songs here? The thought made her heart race.

‘Maybe my throat won’t hurt at all now?’

Holding onto her excitement, Ariadeline arrived at Dorothea’s practice room on the upper floor.

In the empty room, a large piano stood alone.

The piano, with a color resembling a carved giant seashell, looked incredibly expensive just from its appearance.

“The piano is really beautiful.”

“Isn’t it? Luciano gave it to me as a birthday present.”

Her face was filled with love as she spoke. Knowing how much the two loved each other, Ariadeline chuckled softly and momentarily looked away from the piano.

She wasn’t that curious about the romance of a man who seemed like he would devour her.

Dorothea sat on the piano bench and opened the lid of the piano. Then she gestured for Ariadeline to sit beside her.

“Can you read sheet music?”

“A little.”

As Ariadeline sat down, Dorothea took a few sheets of music from the stand next to the piano.

“Do you know this song?”

“Is it a hymn?”

“Yes, it’s the most famous hymn.”

Ariadeline rummaged through her memory for a moment. However, she couldn’t recall exactly what this song was. It seemed she hadn’t participated in any events where such songs were sung.

‘Because.’

Ariadeline glanced at Dorothea discreetly. She probably avoided it because the chances of her being there were high.

“Unfortunately, I don’t know it well.”

“Still, it’s an easy song to sing, so would you like to try?”

“Um, sure.”

She received the sheet music and examined it carefully. Fortunately, the format wasn’t very different from modern music.

“I think I can manage to sing it.”

“Then I’ll provide the accompaniment.”

“But does learning hymns have anything to do with divine power?”

“Yes, it’s about finding the right way for you to handle divine power. Among those methods, I chose singing, so I’ll teach you how I can do that.”

“I see.”

“The High Priest used divine power through his eyes.”

“With his eyes?”

“Yes, so he can see wicked hearts better than anyone.”

“I see.”

Ariadeline thought about this. Why couldn’t such a person read her own wicked heart? Reflecting on her past self, who only wished to die, Ariadeline fell into doubt.

But before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, Dorothea began playing the accompaniment. The song was not much different from the well-known hymns of modern times.

Ariadeline cleared her throat for a moment and opened her mouth where the lyrics began.

[The angels are playing-.]

Her voice was a bit soft, as if she lacked confidence.

Everyone who sang for the first time was like that, so Dorothea sang slowly along with her while playing the piano. Ariadeline’s small voice blended with Dorothea’s.

Following Dorothea’s gentle lead, Ariadeline’s voice gradually grew more confident.

[The land of sin they tread upon, in the name of God, we shall punish.]

[The spear of the angel shall pierce, and nothing shall remain in that land of sinners.]

The piano accompaniment grew increasingly intense, and the pitch rose higher and higher.

Ariadeline thought to herself. Her throat didn’t hurt.

Even when she opened her mouth wide and sang loudly, she didn’t feel any blood rushing to her head. There was no sensation of her throat tightening.

At that moment, she realized. She could now sing fully.

The black magic that had constricted her throat had been consumed and vanished by her divine power.

‘Ah, this might be a bit difficult for Ariadeline.’

Dorothea thought as she glanced at the next part of the sheet music. The climax of the song was approaching.

[And so, anew…]

Next was the highest part.

[Shall be born!]

The voices of Dorothea and Ariadeline overlapped. Dorothea’s voice rose gently, while Ariadeline’s soared as if it were piercing through the air.

Dorothea’s eyes widened in surprise.

[Shall be born in that land!]

The song continued like a scream. Her voice echoed through the vast room, sharp and cutting like a knight wielding a sword. She was more like an actress than a singer.

Like an angel piercing the sin-laden human with a sharp spear, her voice rang out sharply as if it were the song of that very angel.

Dorothea, taken aback, stopped singing. The accompaniment ceased as well. But Ariadeline did not stop.

She stood up, spread her arms wide, and sang with a ringing voice, filling the entire room with her melody.

Dorothea looked at Ariadeline’s face and saw a blend of emotions.

Happiness, wonder, tears.

On a face that couldn’t be defined by a single emotion, no tears flowed. Yet, Dorothea felt that she was crying.

Through the song, she felt as if she were pouring everything into the melody itself.