To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“What is that…?”

“It’s the sea!”

“That’s the sea?”

Before her eyes, the deep blue sea, which could be called the largest and deepest among the things humans could see, was spread out.

“That’s right, sister. We’re going to the navy’s departure ceremony today. Didn’t the Countess tell you yesterday?”

“The sea… I… Ugh!”

Liv couldn’t continue her words and retched. It felt like the gods’ pressure was crushing her and her body shape was oddly changing, and it felt like space-time would distort at any moment.

In this world, there were a few places where the power of the gods became stronger. People called those places ‘sacred grounds.’

In sacred grounds, the power of the Holy Church’s god could become stronger, the power of Lufahidism’s god could become stronger, or the power of multiple gods could become stronger simultaneously. However, each religion believed that only the power of the god they believed in became stronger.

Since sacred grounds usually had bizarre shapes that ordinary humans couldn’t understand, people easily noticed where they were and typically prohibited entry to those places.

However, there was one sacred ground that people didn’t know about.

It was none other than the sea. The sea itself was a vast sacred ground and a place where the power of all gods intensified.

For Liv, who was exceptionally sensitive to the power of the gods, it meant it was a place she absolutely couldn’t endure.

The carriage stopped, and Hildegard supported Liv as they got off, but Liv was becoming increasingly unable to come to her senses.

“Ugh… Ah!”

As Liv screamed in pain that felt like her brain would burst, Hildegard asked in a worried tone.

“Sister, if you’re in a lot of pain, do you want to go back first?”

“Yes, I want to go back, go back…”

When Liv said that with a face that had turned bright red with tears welling up, Hildegard seemed flustered.

“I’m sorry, sister. I didn’t know you were feeling unwell today.”

“Why… Why did you bring me here?”

“Because participating in the departure ceremony is the duty of nobles. And today… I thought sister Liv would be happy to know that Duke Lartman is also coming…”

“Duke Lartman?”

At those words, Liv’s eyes widened.

She raised her head and looked around. In front of the huge ship that the navy would board, noble ladies dressed lavishly were standing.

And behind them were the noble men. Liv looked around, trying to find Duke Lartman among them, but he wasn’t visible due to the distance.

“I want to go…”

“What? You’re going home?”

“No, I want to stay here…”

It felt like a huge lump of iron was crushing her, and her body seemed like it would burst at any moment, unable to withstand the pressure, but Liv decided to stay here nonetheless.

The only way to overcome this pain was through love.

Hildegard, who had gotten off the carriage, linked arms with the stumbling Liv and guided her among the noble ladies. As Liv appeared, everyone started whispering again.

“She didn’t come to these kinds of events before, what’s the occasion…”

“She must have finally decided to fulfill her duty.”

Meanwhile, the devout lady who had talked to Liv last time held Liv’s hand as if glad to see her and said.

“Miss Hamelsvoort, it’s really great that you came here! You should also do volunteer work according to the Supreme God’s will!”

“Miss Corina, sister Liv is not feeling well today…”

“Oh, I’m sorry! But you came despite being ill, the Supreme God will find it admirable too!”

‘The Supreme God dislikes this kind of thing.’

Thinking that, Liv focused on the voices of the gods that had been ringing loudly from earlier.

Child, if you’re in pain, we can heal you right away. Come to our sacred ground.

Baby, jump into the sea.

Jump.

The gods were urging Liv to jump into the sea. They were gods who usually didn’t intervene in the human world and could only destroy the world when Liv, designated as the ‘beloved child,’ died. But if Liv set foot in the sacred ground, they could pass on the power of the gods to her.

‘I won’t jump.’

Liv tried to resist, but they were completely ignoring her words.

“Ugh.”

Perhaps because she had gotten even closer to the sea, her physical condition was worse than before. She felt like she would faint at any moment, but Liv looked around, determined to find Duke Lartman somehow.

However, Duke Lartman’s face was nowhere to be seen, and Liv’s face was getting darker. That’s when it happened.

“Huh?”

She felt someone pushing her body forward. Liv looked back, but no one was there. Only then did Liv realize the identity of the force pushing her.

It was the power of the gods.

As she got closer to the sacred ground and their power intensified, the gods were pushing Liv to drag her into the sea.

Go to the sea.

We will make you healthy. We will bestow upon you the power of the gods. We will give you all kinds of rare things.

Come to us.

‘I won’t go. I said I won’t go!’

However, the force pushing Liv grew stronger, and there was no way for a human to escape from that violent and cruel power, no matter how much they struggled. In the end, Liv completely lost control of her body like a puppet with its strings cut and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

“Sister?”

“Ah!”

The pain that felt like her head was being flattened intensified even more, and Liv abruptly got up from her spot. And taking advantage of the moment when the gods’ power weakened due to her collapsed state, she began to walk unsteadily in the opposite direction of the sea.

“Ugh, hic…”

Tears began to flow from her eyes due to the terrible pain. Her body was being pushed back on its own, but Liv tried her best to put strength into her legs and walk in the opposite direction.

Liv glanced back for a moment and then began to cry out loud in shock. An unbelievably enormous and vast sea was spread out right behind her. It seemed like it would swallow her up at any moment and take her to a place so deep that no one would know.

“Hic, uuh…”

Now almost wailing, as Liv was putting strength into her legs, someone grabbed her arm tightly.

Perhaps due to the strong force supporting her arm, Liv’s body was no longer being pushed back. Liv raised her head to see the owner of that arm. And she cried out in a voice more delighted than ever.

“Duke Lartman…”

Liv, who had been crying, smiled brightly. It must have looked strange for sure.

“Miss Hamelsvoort?”

Duke Lartman was frowning with a very perplexed look. He quickly looked Liv up and down.

“Are you hurt somewhere? What happened?”

“No…”

“Then are you in pain somewhere? It would be better for you to go back quickly instead of being like this.”

Seeing that Liv’s condition didn’t look good, he spoke firmly. Liv shook her head at his words.

“That’s not it.”

“Then…”

“The sea… The sea is scary.”

After saying that, Liv cried again as if unable to overcome her anxiety. She was so afraid of the dark and immense sea.

‘The Duke will never understand me. All humans have been like that.’

Thinking that, when Liv raised her head, Duke Lartman had an unexpected expression. Surprisingly, he was showing a kind face towards Liv.

“I see. It’s alright, Miss Hamelsvoort. Let’s get away from here.”

“Really?”

“Yes, if you’re so afraid of the sea, there’s no need to be near it.”

After saying that, he carefully extended his hand to Liv. Liv looked down at it with a puzzled face, then quickly took his hand with a brightened expression. Duke Lartman began to walk towards the parked carriages, escorting Liv.

“For now, it would be best for you to get in my family’s carriage and rest. Will you be okay if you can’t see the sea?”

“Mm, better than now…”

“I understand.”

As they walked together, Duke Lartman opened his mouth again.

“…Miss Hamelsvoort.”

“Yes.”

“Does no one in the Hamelsvoort family know that you’re afraid of the sea?”

“Yes…”

“…”

He fell silent for a moment, then looked into Liv’s eyes with a determined face.

“I understand now.”

“What?”

Liv tilted her head at the incomprehensible words, but he continued in a solemn tone.

“I now understand that you are being treated in a way you shouldn’t be within your family. And I also know that it’s even harder to escape such a situation between family members.”

“What does that mean?”

When Liv asked as if puzzled, Duke Lartman looked at Liv and said.

“Miss Hamelsvoort, you need outside help right now.”

After saying that, Duke Lartman opened his mouth as if he had made a decision.

“Miss Hamelsvoort, I will help you from now on.”

“What?”

“If there’s anything I can do, I will help you anytime. So…”

Duke Lartman tightened his grip on Liv’s hand and said.

“Please allow me to help you by your side for the time being.”

Although she didn’t know what those words meant, anyway, he said he would be by Liv’s ‘side’ from now on! Realizing that fact, Liv’s face brightened. A joy stronger than ever before filled her, coloring her inside.

Duke Lartman took off the coat he was wearing and wrapped it around Liv. Wearing a coat much larger than her own body size, it looked like the coat was wearing Liv.

Liv hesitated a little at the coat dragging on the ground, but she decided to be satisfied with the warmth of Duke Lartman anyway.

The carriage with the crest of the Lartman family, a castle wall and falcon, came into view. As Liv was about to get into that carriage, escorted by Duke Lartman, the sound of someone running in a hurry was heard.

“Sister Liv!”

It was Hildegard, lifting her dress and running in haste.

“Huff, huff…”

As Hildegard approached, she saw the Duke’s coat draped over Liv’s body and became flustered. She greeted Duke Lartman in a cautious tone.

“Hello, Your Grace. I’m Hildegard from the Hamelsvoort family.”

“I’m Emmett Lartman. Have you come to take Miss Hamelsvoort?”

“Yes… But why are you two together?”

Then Duke Lartman’s face hardened a little, and he said.

“Miss Hamelsvoort was afraid of the sea, did you know that?”