My Ruin to You - Chapter 173

Like any temple, the day at this chapel begins early.

Though small and modest compared to the capital’s temple, the chapel, with its sharply pointed bell tower and the goddess statue watching over it, held a cozy and peaceful atmosphere.

From the early morning, the faithful who had come to the chapel sat on aged chairs bearing the marks of time and offered their share of prayers, while the central goddess statue embraced them with a benevolent expression. It was a scene no different from any other day. Except for the firmly closed confessional booth at the very back of the chapel.

It was a rare occurrence. Those who began their day with confession were uncommon, and today, the confession of the first parishioner to step into the booth was particularly unique.

“……Let me summarize what you’ve said. You, parishioner, accidentally overheard someone speaking, and the person speaking said that the cousin of a friend of someone else’s wife had regressed, and that cousin’s lover had also regressed together—is that correct?”

“Yes, Father. I heard that this person encountered a snake in their past life. They believed that snake was a messenger of the goddess. But I find it hard to believe such a thing is truly possible.”

“Hmm.”

A small sound came from beyond the curtain. Roseline, kneeling with her hands clasped together, begged the goddess for forgiveness. Please forgive weak me for lying, Goddess.

Lying in the confessional was taboo, but sometimes the nearby royalty was more fearsome than a distant goddess.

Frankly, the fallout if this secret got out was more terrifying than Valen himself. Even if she told the truth, the priest wouldn’t uncover her identity or go around gossiping about her confession, but caution was still necessary.

“Parishioner, do you know why the goddess’s messenger took the form of a snake?”

The gentle voice tapped against the curtain. After a moment’s thought, Roseline answered honestly, “No.”

“Originally, the snake is a creature despised by humans. It is easy to show favor to a small, pretty creature, but how rare are those who would extend a hand to a snake?”

Of course, I have heard there are those who take in and raise snakes or lizards, the priest added with a soft laugh. Roseline had heard similar things and nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It is said that when a messenger meets a worthy person, they leave a mark of grace. They say the mark grants the deepest wish of the person it is bestowed upon. Perhaps the person you mentioned desperately wished for another life?”

This time, it was difficult to readily agree. It seemed like she had desperately wished to return to a time before meeting Valen. But since she had met Valen again, it seemed that wish hadn’t been granted.

“Um, if I may be so bold, I heard that what this person desired wasn’t another life, but to return to a time before meeting a certain someone. But for some reason, it seems they returned with that someone.”

“Hmm. Are you certain they returned together?”

“……I’m not entirely sure, but I believe I overheard that this ‘someone’ also remembers their entire past life.”

“Perhaps this ‘someone’ also became a worthy person in the eyes of the messenger.”

Roseline, who had been looking down at her clasped hands, glanced at the curtain. It was a plausible opinion, but the idea of Valen, of all people, being a ‘worthy person’… It was unimaginable. Him, care for an animal? Hunting it to skin it, maybe. But the sin of lying in the solemn confessional was heavy enough, and she felt uneasy contradicting every point, so she acquiesced, “Yes, you speak wisely.”

“Ah, perhaps a destined task remains unfinished. Thus, the goddess has granted them a second chance.”

Well, this was troublesome. She had just resolved not to contradict every point, but the idea of being bound by fate to Valen was unbearable.
“Does the goddess give a second chance to everyone bound by a bad fate?”

“With my limited insight, it seems the goddess bestows her grace not because it is a bad fate. Hearing this interesting story makes me suddenly curious. If regressors exist, is their memory a blessing for them, or a burden?”

Roseline couldn’t offer any answer.

◇◇◇

It’s a blessing.

The answer came to her the moment she opened the chapel door and stepped outside. More precisely, the man standing by the small fountain became the answer. If she had no memory, she would have been captivated by that man’s striking looks, silhouetted against the sunlight, and fallen for him all over again.

Fortunately, such a mishap did not occur. However, she was curious about the intentions of this man, who had appeared at the chapel early in the morning, even bringing knights. If he had come for personal reasons, she might have roughly ignored him and passed by, but judging by the knights stationed everywhere and the peculiar tension among them, it looked exactly like they were raiding a criminal’s hideout. For some reason, she had a sinking feeling that she was that criminal.

It was just as Roseline was looking around the courtyard with a sour expression.

“Not even a greeting. How insolent.”