Chapter 13: Natalie and the fruit

 

     “Take away Liz’s fruit…?” Natalie muttered as a whisper.

     It’s something that Natalie has never thought of doing, she was stunned.

     “Yes,” Grace nodded with an elegant smile, “it’s a great honor to be appointed by the chief priest. Natalie, whom I’m very close to, I’m proud of you.”

     Honestly, how come she doesn’t feel happy when she was told that it’s a great honor.

     “I beg your pardon, but the priest has really said so… right?” Natalie timidly began.

     Suddenly, Grace’s complexion changed, “Do you think I’m lying?” 

     Natalie quickly shook her head in denial, “No, no way! I just couldn’t believe that I’m nominated for such a big role…”

     “It’s alright. He has said so. I assure you.”

     Since Grace is far more superior in rank than Natalie, she could not refuse. There’s no reason to decline. The task was entrusted to her by the chief priest and the daughter of a duke. How could there be no honor.

     ―If it is true…

 

     When did she start thinking about this? To doubt Grace, whom she had admired and longed for her existence to be known.

     Because she met Liz.

     When she had arrived at the temple, Natalie believed that Grace spoke to Liz . Of course, Grace did not speak ill about her, she spoke with concern and yet you can see and feel the underlying sinister malice.

     She thought it was true since Liz is a commoner and not even a magician. And yet she was able to grow the largest plant, even the chief priest was astonished. Above all, she’s very close to the kindhearted Prince Keefa. She isn’t close and friendly with her. In addition, she’s bold and has a big attitude, and doesn’t get along with other people.

     Natalie had thought so but―.

     Everyone was terrified of Natalie’s sacred flowers and  told her that they were ‘okay’. ‘It’s a beautiful flower.’ Liz herself was quite anxious and impatient since her flower has not yet bloomed and yet she was happy and pleased that Natalie’s flowers had.

     She knew during the time when they still had it as a “sacred seed”, Liz worked hard to help a candidate named Claire. 

     Grace’s “Liz” is different from Natalie’s “Liz”.

 

     Take the fruit off?――

     Liz will be disqualified.

     Natalie took a breath and stared at Grace, ‘Should I trust her…Is it okay? ――I don’t know..’

 

     Duke Igner, Grace’s father, frequents the palace every so often, and is quite known to be close to senior priests. As Grace mentioned earlier, she knows more information that came from the priests since she’s the duke’s daughter. But to get rid of Liz’s fruit like that―.

     Grace, who had been looking at the troubled Natalie, sighed, “Natalie doesn’t trust me afterall.”

     “That’s……!”

     “Very well. Since you don’t believe it. I think you’ll trust me when you hear it from him.”

     Toma,  A senior priest with long hair who brought Natalie to the temple as a potential saint candidate, entered the room.

     “Sir Toma!?”

     “Natalie, what Miss Grace said is true. The chief priest secretly told me that he wanted you to take away Liz’s fruit. The other candidates and of course Liz wouldn’t know. Unfortunately for Liz, everyone’s safety comes as a priority. I came here to tell you that.”

     It’s different from his usual behavior, but he did say it was an order from the chief priest.

     ‘It’s true….?’

     Natalie snapped herself out of it. Oh god, how could she have doubted Grace, “I’m sorry Grace! I’ll do my best!”

     “Very well.” Grace’s eyes shone quietly in front of Natalie, who’s bowing down her head.

 

     That night in the darkness, Natalie quietly opened the hall door. There were no stars present and the moon was hidden beneath dense clouds. From the window, darkness can only be seen. She felt a shiver run down her spine, it was like the darkness represented what she was.

     She has a torch with her, but she can only see her feet. Aside from her breathing and the chirping of insects, the area is fully silent.

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     ‘Is this really right?’ 

     She believed it earlier, but once again, she started to wonder and question it. They said that the sooner it is to be done, the better. Both Grace and Toma, the priest, were impatient which is why she’s doing it this night. Yet, she hasn’t even met the chief priest for approval.

     It somehow seems suspicious. However, priest Toma did mention that he was asked by the chief priest as his proxy, so to speak. Above all, as a low ranking noble, she shouldn’t doubt the grace of a high ranking one.

     ‘It’s fine. This is the right thing to do.’

     Natalie walked cautiously while convincing herself. There were no priest guards present as Grace mentioned.

     As she went closer, a lined up array of the candidate’s sacred plants appeared from the darkness. She’s surprised to see Liz’s plant at the very end. The fruit is twice its size than it had been in the morning.

     ‘Amazing…’

     She took a breath and took one step closer. Her heart’s beating so fast that it felt like it was going to explode. She took a few more deep breaths and gingerly placed her hand on the fruit.

     On the white surface of the fruit, there were streaks like a mesh, almost invisible, it feels as if the inside is tightly packed.

     ‘Quickly! I have to get it out fast!’

     Her heart was beating fast, her mind trying to urge herself to do it, but her body does not move, as if her whole body is frozen.

     “Natalie, hurry up!” Grace’s strong voice resonated through the hall from the door. Natalie’s whole body broke out with cold sweat.

     “It’s a beautiful flower.”  Liz’s smiling face appeared in her mind. Everyone was terrified and laughed at Natalie’s sacred flower.

      ‘Would Liz remove such fruit? Why can’t we just do something else without taking it? Rather than being at someone’s mercy, I should think of other ways myself without having to remove it.’

     ‘No! This is wrong!’ Natalie strongly thought.

 

     “Grace, I can’t do it!”

     “What are you talking about?! You’re going to ignore the orders of the chief priest?”

     “But Liz wouldn’t do this….!” 

     The moment Natalie cried those words out, her eyes suddenly met with “it”.

     “Eh?” At first, she couldn’t make out what it was. Suddenly, eyes opened up in the fruit. Big red beast-like eyes. There’s something in the fruit that seemed to be cramped up inside. And that ‘something’ opened its eyes and saw Natalie.

     “Oh my god!” Her knees lost strength and she collapsed on the floor, sitting. 

     “What’s the matter?” Grace called out but she had no intention of going to Natalie.

     ‘What’s this? It’s alive?!’

     Natalie panicked and shouted, ” Eyes! There’s eyes in Liz’s fruit, something akin to a living creature!”

     “You have the torch. So burn it down!”

     “But, Grace—!”

     “Burn it before you go out! I told you it’s dangerous. This is an order coming from a duchess, Natalie!”

     Natalie was so scared to move even a step, the red eyes in the fruit moved slowly. It gazed at Natalie’s flame. She wondered if it knew that she’ll burn it. Suddenly, its red eyes glowed. The fruit violently moved as if trying to break out through its surface.

     “No—!”

     Natalie was so scared that she held out the torch blindly. The upper part of the fruit—the part hanging from the branch is lit. The thick branches flamed up but then with an ominous sound, the fruit fell on the floor, rolling on the cold floor.

     Its eyes were burning, Natalie knew that it’s angry. The moment she caught its eye, the flame of the torch suddenly blazed. The fire on the fruit dissipated, but the flame seemed to soar like magic.

     “What is this..?”

     In astonishment, Natalie threw the torch, but the flame had spread fast and fell on her cheek. She screamed. Heat, stinging pain, and fear hit Natalie. If her face burns, then she wouldn’t have any future as a noble. She’ll never be able to marry anyone. She was more scared of that heat than the pain.

     “Help me, Grace!” she screamed, desperately crying for help, but there were no signs of Grace coming near her.

     Natalie desperately held onto her right cheek in an attempt to save herself. She can smell burning flesh. Although the fire quickly extinguished, she could feel a piercing sharp pain spreading on her right cheek.

 

 

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