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“I can sense it! This is surely a divine miracle bestowed by the Goddess herself!”

A small, petite figure radiating a holy aura emerged from the path cleared by the crowd. It was Irene, the Saintess of the Church of Light.

Her expression was solemn as she moved forward, each step deliberate and reverent. With every step, she left glowing golden footprints in her wake. From each glowing print, golden flowers bloomed miraculously, radiating an overwhelming holy aura that left the crowd stunned.

‘She’s like a discount Buddha with those tricks. Irene, you should’ve been a charlatan—oh wait, you already are,’ Yaeger mused from the rooftop with a smirk.

The crowd stood in stunned silence, their awe palpable in the air. The Saintess before them was the embodiment of purity, the chosen servant of the Goddess herself. Little did they know, the sweet and radiant Saintess harbored thoughts far from saintly.

“Aurora, I am Irene, Saintess of the Church of Light. I heard the Goddess has performed a miracle by healing you, and I’ve come to witness it. Praise be to the Goddess.”

Irene tapped lightly on the door, her expression composed. Inside, Aurora and Fiat exchanged uncertain glances.

“Brother, what should we do?” Aurora asked anxiously.

“Since Her Highness is here, everything will be fine. If she confirms that your recovery is a miracle, we won’t face as much trouble going forward,” Fiat reassured her.

“But it was Princess who cured me…” Aurora murmured, biting her lip reluctantly.
“Princess specifically told you not to reveal that, remember?” Fiat reminded her gently.
“I know… It just feels wrong,” Aurora pouted.
“Come on, we don’t want to cause trouble for Princess, right?” Fiat gave her shoulder a reassuring pat.
“Okay,” Aurora nodded reluctantly. “I’ll meet the Saintess.”
“I’ll come with you,” Fiat added.

Together, they walked toward the door. Fiat let out a deep breath before gripping the handle.

Honestly, Fiat had no clue what the Saintess intended to do, but waiting in silence wasn’t going to help their situation. Sooner or later, the crowd outside would force their way in if they stayed hidden any longer.

Fiat could only curse his lack of power and connections—if he had either, they wouldn’t be in this situation. After letting out a weary sigh, Fiat slowly turned the handle and opened the door.

As the door opened, a brilliant golden light poured in, making him squint. Aurora raised her hand to shield her eyes, lowering it only when her vision adjusted.

Before them stood Irene, her petite figure dressed in a white blouse embroidered with golden threads. A delicate flower garland adorned her head, and she radiated an aura of pure light.

Aurora had seen this figure from a distance before, and there was no mistaking her now. The petite yet elegant woman standing before them was none other than Saintess Irene herself.

“Your Highness, Saintess!” Fiat greeted her with a respectful bow, his tone filled with reverence. Since most citizens of Jade City worshipped the Goddess of Light, showing respect toward the Saintess was second nature to him.

“Be at ease. You know why I’ve come today. Aurora, you fortunate child, step forward.” Irene beckoned her gently.

Hesitant but obedient, Aurora took a cautious step forward, unease flickering across her face.

At that moment, the crowd stood in stunned silence, their expressions a mixture of shock and awe. Could this truly be Aurora? The woman who had once hovered at death’s door?

Her once-pale complexion now glowed with life, her smooth, porcelain-like skin flawless. Bright, lively eyes sparkled from her radiant face. Aurora wasn’t just alive; she was dazzling.

“It’s really Aurora!” someone in the crowd exclaimed, their voice thick with disbelief.

“She’s really been cured!”
“My God, this must be a miracle!”
“No other explanation could make sense—how could she recover so completely?”
“And in such a short time!”
“Can I… touch her?”
“I want to be blessed by this miracle too!”

“Silence! Her Highness, the Saintess, is about to speak!” a stern voice cut through the growing commotion. The middle-aged Holy Knight’s sharp command silenced the crowd before he even finished.

“Come, let me take a look,” Irene said softly, extending her hand toward Aurora. The young woman hesitated for a moment before nervously offering her hand.

Irene clasped Aurora’s hand, and in the same instant, a flicker of green light surged between their palms, vanishing in the blink of an eye. The subtle exchange went unnoticed by the crowd, but Aurora flinched slightly, feeling a sharp twinge in her palm.

Aurora’s eyes widened in alarm. ‘Did the Saintess just stab me?’ A flash of panic gripped her heart—until Irene gave her a subtle wink and leaned in to whisper, “Princess.”

Her voice was so soft it barely reached Aurora’s ears.

‘Did Princess plan this?’ Aurora wondered, her thoughts swirling. Then, a rush of vibrant, familiar energy surged through her body, washing away all doubt. ‘She really got the Saintess to help me. Just what I’d expect from Princess!’

“I feel it! This is truly the power of a miracle!” Irene’s voice rang out, instantly commanding the crowd’s attention.

All eyes turned toward the petite, angelic Saintess, now radiating a brilliant holy light. The overwhelming aura she emitted pressed down on everyone like a palpable force.

As the Saintess’ light shone, a vivid green glow burst forth from Aurora, radiating pure life energy. The crowd stirred, their spirits invigorated as if they had been injected with boundless vitality.

“This is the power of a miracle! It must be!” someone cried out.
“I can feel it—it’s surging through me!”
“I’ve never felt so alive!”
“My body feels light, so free!”
“This is divine intervention!”

“Praise the Goddess!”
“Praise the Goddess!”
“Praise the Goddess!”

One by one, people dropped to their knees, their voices rising in fervent devotion until they merged into a unified chant.

“The Jade Empire’s royalty may hold more power than the church, but the church still commands significant influence. I can’t afford to underestimate them,” Yaeger murmured from her vantage point atop a nearby rooftop, her eyes narrowing.

Soon, the brilliant green glow around Aurora faded. At that very moment, as if perfectly synchronized, Irene allowed the holy light enveloping her to dissolve as well.

“At the darkest, most desperate moment of your life, the Goddess has blessed you, granting you renewed hope and the strength to grow strong once more. Aurora, you are truly fortunate. From this day forward, the Church of Light shall be your pillar of support, your guiding sanctuary.”

With that, Irene bent forward and kissed the back of Aurora’s hand.

Straightening herself, Irene turned to the crowd and declared, “Praise the Goddess!”

Without missing a beat, the crowd echoed in unison,
“Praise the Goddess!”
“Praise the Goddess!”
“Praise…”

Watching from the shadows, Yaeger’s expression darkened. “Alicia, this rebellion may not be as easy as we anticipated.”

Bathed in sunlight, her form slowly melted into the shadows, vanishing from sight.