26 SAINTESS: PART V

Father Roland's hopeless words caused everyone into despair.

Diana heard the news and was crying when he saw how pale the girl was and was not responding to her voice. "Tina, please wake up. Didn't you promise you'll help us. Please, you can't-"

"Diana, what happened?" The Elder Chief calmly walked inside as he went to comfort his granddaughter when one of the villagers informed him of the situation.

Hearing the sound of Diana crying caused Gran to burst running inside. "Is Lady Tina dead?"

The sound of the woman crying and the boy yelling brought life back to the girl as she slowly opened her eyes.

Ah- my head hurts. That stupid assassin, I can't believe the Queen is that desperate to kill me.

The girl's whole body felt numb as she could barely move a finger. At the same time, she couldn't cast any spell on herself as well. She sensed her mana has completely depleted and would take days to recover again.

Athena turned around and noticed Diana all covered in tears beside her, "Diana, why are you crying?"

Diana was startled when the girl called for her name. She continues to cry as she embraces the girl who was resting in the bed, "Tina, you- you're awake. I thought, we, we lost you."

"My Lady…" Serfred's eyes were all red as he tried to stop his tears from falling. He was so pleased that the girl was still alive and had not left them.

"Lady Tina, how do you feel?" Gran asked, seeing everyone was in a state of shock from seeing the girl finally awake.

"Hmm, I'm fine. Everyone, don't worry about me. I only need to rest and soon I'll be able to recover and be back to my usual self." She explained as she started hearing another voice from outside, "Please, tell the villagers I'm fine and to go back to their work."

They noticed the color on the girl's cheeks were changing, she was also smiling, which put everyone at ease. Diana, Gran and the rest left as they informed the villagers how the girl was doing.

Once everyone left apart from Serfred, seeing the coast was clear, Athena could no longer hold it in the truth as she started coughing blood out.

"My Lady?" Serfred panicked seeing the girl cough out a lot of blood. He didn't know what to do, as he was about to run and call for some help. The girl grabbed hold of his wrist.

"Stop, don't tell anyone. You'll just worry them more." She frowned as she didn't want to bother the church and the villagers about her situation.

Serfred obeyed what she asked, but he did not let things slide as he questioned the girl about what happened, "But tell me, who was the man who tried to kill you?"

"I don't know who he is, but I am sure he was a man sent by the Empire to kill me." Since she promised Serfred before, she didn't hesitate and told him the truth. She didn't have a choice as well since her life was being threatened, she worries that the villagers might be involved.

"Why?" He clenched his fist as he seal the anger he was feeling.

"I'm sure you're aware of who I am right, to which family I belong."

"If I'm not wrong, your Duke Adolphus daughter. Since, you have the same exact eyes. I have served him a couple of times, and so…"

"Hmm, that's right. Are you aware of my identity? About the daughter of House Adolphus."

"From what I know, the girl…" Serfred was shocked from what he just realized. He couldn't finish his words so the girl did.

"That's right, his Holiness has prophecies that the daughter of House Adolphus would turn into a Saintess. Which is why…" She couldn't finish as well as she started coughing again.

Serfred went closer to the girl to check on her situation, as he saw how terrible the girl looked. He started cursing the people who tried to kill the girl, 'I'll kill them, I'll kill every single one of them with my own hand. How dare they, how dare they lay their hands on my lady?'

"Don't worry about me, and go help the village in completing their task."

Serfred grabbed hold of the girl as he moved her closer to his chest, he embraced her as he softly said, "Fine, but call the priest if you feel like you can't handle it. Promise me you'll call for help."

"I will, now go."

"Alright, take care."

Athena could hear the beating of Serfred's heart as her face started to turn slightly red. The man walked out of the room, leaving Athena to herself.

Time after time, a priest would come to check on the girl. They would bring food and water for her, but seeing the girl was too weak. The nuns would feed the girl. At the same time, the priest would each come and visit the girl as they tried to heal her. But, still none of the spell they know of worked.

It was sunset when Athena started shivering and having cold sweat.

Since the priest was out with the nuns to feed the villagers, the girl was left all alone.

Her body started to burn as her heart beat irregularly. Her throat felt so dry as she couldn't barely speak at all.

'Ah- water, I need water…'

But what she was thinking of her mouth couldn't say at all.

As her vision started to blur, she realized her body could no longer cope. The poison she received from the assassin must be very strong that it now triggers the other poison dormant in her body.

'I didn't expect I'll die again, what a life.'

A single tear came rolling down her face as she regretted and thought back of her life. Her previous life, she lived her life for others, now with her second, she wanted to live her own life by helping others, yet, she failed to even achieve her goal.

What a sad life she has indeed.

Soon her vision started to darken, she started losing her hearing as well.

'Who's there?'

She senses a person entering the room.

As the person went closer to her, he grabbed hold of her and slightly lifted her up in order to bring the potion in his hand.

"Drink this." His voice was deep with a bit of coldness in them. But, the girl was barely hearing what he was saying.

In the end, the stranger had no choice but to force the liquid down on the girl's throat as she finished the whole bottle.

Athena started coughing again as she finished what was being poured into her mouth. She didn't know if it was another poison and if the person is an assassin. But, since she had already lost control of her own body, she had no choice, but to swallow what was being poured down her throat.

As the potion started to take effect, Athena felt her body was getting slightly better. Before she lost consciousness of herself, she mustered to ask, "Who are you?"

But before the man could even say a word, the girl had already gone to sleep.

The man played the girl back to rest as he vanished without leaving a trace behind.

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