After Fulfilling My Sister's Dream to Be the Saintess of Vexwood Frontier

The Palace sent many servants to greet us.

But in front of all those servants, Lira Arden extended her delicate hands and pointed right at me.

"I want Moira Arden to be my handmaiden and accompany me into the Palace."

'I'd assumed Lira was going to brave this treacherous path on her own.'

'I never imagined she'd drag me along as her shield.'

Although the clan Elders looked displeased, they deferred to her status as the Saintess and accepted on my behalf.

The journey from the Vexwood Frontier to the Palace was long.

Though I traveled with Lira Arden, I was not allowed to ride in the carriage.

As her handmaiden, I could only walk the entire way.

Walking on the rugged mountain roads, my feet blistered, and the pain was unbearable.

I don't know how long I walked, or how much blood soaked through my shoes.

In a daze, I finally saw the glittering gold of the Imperial Palace.

But to me, the Imperial Palace looked like a gilded cage.

"The Saintess has arrived—"

Standing at the very back of the procession, I saw Julius Valerius in the distance, dressed in his Dragon Robe.

Lira Arden was beautiful. With her face half-veiled, she descended from the carriage and glided gracefully to the side of Julius Valerius.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Julius Valerius took Lira Arden's hands to help her up, and the two entered the hall together.

I don't know what happened after that.

I only know that for several nights afterward, Julius Valerius stayed with Lira Arden, lost in nights of revelry.

During the day, Lira Arden always punished me with grueling, menial labor.

And at night, I would be left alone in her quarters at the Serenity Hall.

A smile was often on Lira Arden's face.

However, good times never last.

Lira Arden, after all, was the Saintess of the Vexwood Frontier clan.

The "saint" in Saintess signified purity and flawlessness.

The court ministers began submitting memorials, one after another, arguing that the Saintess of the Vexwood Frontier should not be treated like one of the concubines, nor should the Emperor show her such exclusive favor.

Slowly, Julius Valerius began to heed their counsel.

To be favored or to be cast aside—it all depended on a single thought from the Emperor.

For more than ten days straight, I didn't see Julius Valerius visit the Serenity Hall.

Instead, many of the other concubines came to "offer their congratulations."

Among them was the familiar face of Imperial Consort Crestwell.

In my previous life in the Palace, she had poisoned me countless times.

If not for my Immunity to all poisons, I don't know how many times I would have died.

Facing Imperial Consort Crestwell, Lira Arden was utterly disdainful.

"You see me and do not bow?"

Imperial Consort Crestwell, rather than getting angry, just laughed.

"You're just some girl from the backwoods, and I should bow to you? Even the Princess from the Western Reaches has to serve me tea. But you—you've been in the Palace for a month and haven't once paid your respects to me!"

"Insolence! I am the Saintess of the Vexwood Frontier!"

Imperial Consort Crestwell casually picked up a nearby cup of tea and violently splashed it at Lira Arden's feet.

"When His Majesty favors you, you are indeed a Saintess. But now, you have lost his favor."

She smiled, examining the empty teacup with a puzzled look.

"Oh? Why is there no tea in this cup? Little sister, your hospitality is so lacking. Why don't you serve me some tea?"

I saw Lira Arden's knuckles turn white as she clenched her fists.

The fury on her face was impossible to hide.

"Sylvia Crestwell, don't you go too far!"

Imperial Consort Crestwell stood, took the hand of her handmaiden, and swaggered out of the Serenity Hall.

As she left, she tossed a final sentence over her shoulder.

"Lira Arden, if you want to live a long life, don't make an enemy of me."

Lira Arden watched Imperial Consort Crestwell's departing figure.

Overcome with fury, she reached out and swept the teacup beside her off the table.

The teacup shattered, and Lira Arden began to cough violently.

With each cough, the dark mark between her eyebrows grew more distinct.

"COUGH, COUGH... Sylvia Crestwell, you just wait..."

When she finished coughing, she whipped her head around and glared at me viciously.

"Moira Arden, tell me the art of Scourgecraft, now! Or I'll kill you, just like in our last life!"

I slipped my hand into my sleeve, stroking the restless little creature on my arm.

"If a Scourge is used improperly, it will turn on its master."

Lira Arden took a deep breath and smiled smugly.

"I don't care! I'm the Saintess of the Vexwood Frontier now. All those creatures have to obey me, don't they?"

I didn't answer. I just held out my hand.

A spider crawled down my sleeve and into my palm.

I looked at the spider and said to Lira Arden, "Whatever you want to do, just tell it."

The spider seemed to understand my words.

With a single leap, it jumped onto Lira Arden.