How to Tame That Gentle Male Lead - Chapter 6.11
Lorona’s expression had become somber by now. Seeing this expression, Resena felt an intuition that she should somehow explain her current situation as a dream. Whatever might await her ahead, if Lorona was having dreams according to the original story, she wouldn’t display the spirit of sacrifice by throwing herself in front of the dark mage Zergard.
“Listen, Saint. I…”
Resena clasped Lorona’s hands with both of hers.
“I frequently dream of His Highness the Crown Prince using Sernaus’s light to reduce the world to ashes. In this vision, you, Saint Lorona, sacrifice yourself by shielding him from a dark mage with your own body. …In the dream, His Highness Eldis is your lover, and, devastated by losing his last remaining connection—one that was already fleeting—he incinerates the world in his fury towards humanity.”
At these words, Lorona’s eyes widened. The trembling pupils seemed to tell that she too had such dreams. Resena continued speaking.
“In fact, that’s not all. I’ve also dreamed of His Highness the Crown Prince losing people important to him due to dark mages or serial killers. Moreover, one of the dreams I had once even came true at the actual summer ball.”
“…Oh, Sernaus.”
Lorona’s eyelids trembled and closed. Watching her eyelashes quiver, Resena could tell that the dreams Lorona was having were according to the original story.
But before Resena could wait, Lorona opened her lips and confessed to her.
“If you’ve had such dreams, I’ll be honest too. In my dreams, he and I are lovers. We even say embarrassing things to each other. But it always ends with my death. I throw myself in front of dark mages or killers without hesitation. Considering my personality, I feel this dream might be prophetic because it’s entirely possible.”
“Saint…”
“Ah. But truly, all I can do is lament. That’s all that’s shown to me… Moreover, I used to have this dream once a month, but now I’m having it every other day.”
Lorona grasped Resena’s hands and shed tears drop by drop.
“When you danced with His Highness the Crown Prince before, I had given up my romantic feelings for him. Now, I confess, though it’s embarrassing. I’m in a relationship with Sir Ian, the holy knight. But I swear I haven’t done anything shameful in the eyes of heaven. However… I’ve been tormented thinking that these continuing dreams might be due to some lingering attachment. But now that you’ve had such dreams too, I think I can be certain.”
“Certain of what?”
“That this dream is a prophecy of a future that must not come to pass, Lady.”
Resena was startled by Lorona’s insight.
She was right.
Perhaps Lorona was having these prophetic dreams as a warning from the god who couldn’t bear to see the world’s destruction. Because of this, Resena decided to give Lorona even more information.
“Then do you think you should not associate with His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m thankful that I gave up the romantic feelings I had. Moreover, Sir Ian is so kind only to me that, forgive me for saying this, but he makes me feel more stable than His Highness the Crown Prince who is kind to everyone.”
That’s certainly true. That’s both Eldis’s strength and weakness. Resena smiled bitterly inside but didn’t argue.
After all, what’s right is right.
“Actually, I think I started having these dreams after becoming emotionally entangled with His Highness the Crown Prince. In my opinion, it seems like the god is telling us to prevent that from happening.”
“Oh, Sernaus.”
Lorona’s large eyes were painted with tears. While feeling pity for her, Resena continued speaking.
“So, at my recent birthday ball, I advised His Highness the Crown Prince. I told him that by being kind to everyone, he might fail to protect the truly important people.”
“Ah, I see. Then, what exactly did you say?”
Resena recalled her memory and honestly told Lorona.
“Rather than being gentle to everyone, you need to be someone who can protect just one person. If not, you will surely regret it someday.”
“Ah…”
Thank you, Sernaus. At Lorona’s prayer, Resena felt a pang in a corner of her heart.
Although she had the flaw of having a strong spirit of sacrifice, Lorona was an incredibly kind person otherwise. Although her best efforts were quite humble compared to other nobles’ best efforts, that must have been the best she could do.
‘To the extent of revealing a method to break Sernaus’s oath to help me, whom she once kept at a distance…’
It must have been a method that couldn’t be carelessly shared.
To give out a method that even fellow priests don’t share, for the sake of one person’s life.
Although she had driven some noble families to bankruptcy, Resena thought that might be something that could be corrected if she gave advice to Lorona.
“Lady. Then what do you plan to do from now on? Will you take action to prevent this prophecy?”
Resena nodded vigorously.
“Not only to break the oath I was forced to make by the dark mage, but I can’t just stand by and watch the world be destroyed. I will stay by His Highness the Crown Prince’s side, advising him not to lose the people dear to him, and sometimes not sparing my criticism.”
Lorona smiled kindly at those words.
“It must be because of kind people like you that this world is sustained. Of course, His Highness the Crown Prince protects people from monsters with his powerful strength, but it’s because he receives support from other people around him who sustain him that he can properly exert his powerful strength.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“That’s why preventing such a person from losing all his dear ones and going berserk is an extremely kind act. You’re truly amazing, Lady. I’ll pray that Sernaus’s light always be with you.”
“Saint…”
Lorona smiled, her eyes beautifully creasing.
“I bless your action of not just fearing the prophecy but taking action. Lady, from now on, if you ever feel shaken because of that prophecy, come to the temple. I’ll counsel you anytime… No matter what time, no matter what happens, talk to me without hesitation. You understand, right?”
“…Saint…”
Resena stared at Lorona, too moved to continue speaking. Until now, she had kept it secret from everyone or lied to prevent the world’s destruction, but now she had someone to whom she could pour out her heart and consult when she felt stuck. Feeling the uncomfortable emotions she had felt towards Lorona completely washed away, Resena took her hand.
“Now… then, before you go, let’s make the oath to Sernaus. Because you shouldn’t be bound by the oath the dark mage forced on you if you’re going to prevent His Highness the Crown Prince from going berserk in the future.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much, Saint.”
Lorona said with a bright smile.
“Please, call me Lorona. Feel free to be informal. After all, we’ll be seeing each other frequently from now on, won’t we?”
“Lorona… Please call me Resena too, instead of Lady. I think that would be more comfortable.”
“Yes, Resena.”
The two looked at each other and smiled brightly.
It was as if flowers were blooming brightly, entwining like vines. Resena and Lorona covered their mouths and chuckled.
“Well then. I look forward to our relationship, Resena.”
“Yes, Lorona. Then…”
Resena slowly began to weave the words for a new oath to overturn the forced oath to Sernaus.
“I swear, under the light of the main god Sernaus…”
As Resena continued speaking, sunlight was creeping in through the window inside the prayer room. The light chirping of birds tickled their ears pleasantly.
And so, Resena covered the dark mage’s oath with another oath to Sernaus.
Indeed, it was a good time when she unexpectedly gained an ally.
