To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

Knock, knock.

“Sister, there’s a letter for you!”

Hildegard’s voice came from outside the door. 

Liv struggled to lift her heavy body, weighed down by the oppressive presence of the gods and her melancholy mood. She just wanted to lie here and simply breathe for eons, but she well knew that living life was a privilege granted to humans.

“A letter…?”

“Yes, a letter!”

Even though she clearly knew Liv had fought with the Hamelsvoort couple yesterday, Hildegard held out the letter to Liv with an incongruously cheerful face.

“It’s from Duke Lartman!”

“What?”

At those words, Liv quickly took the letter. She seemed to have completely forgotten her vow from yesterday to not put her hopes in humans.

[To Miss Liv,

Miss Liv, what happened yesterday?

I looked for you but was told you had already left, so I was worried. You have a weak constitution, so I’m concerned you may be ill again. If you are unwell, please write back. If you are alright, I will come visit you.

If you were not ill, I’d like to invite you to the Ducal residence. Some nice tea has come in. I’m sure it will be a good time for you as well.

—Sent by Emmett Lartman]

“Emmett invited me over again.”

Forgetting her heavy body, Liv jumped up from her spot. Her movements had become as light as a winged angel’s.

“Oh my, congratulations Sister! So will you be going to the Duke’s residence now?”

“Yes, that’s the plan.”

“Then you should wear a pretty dress!”

Saying this, Hildegard took Liv’s hand and led her to her own room, then dramatically opened the wardrobe doors. As the ‘Real Saintess’ who was treated well, she owned several times more dresses than Liv did.

“Lovely dresses really suit you, Sister.”

Hildegard held up various light-colored dresses to Liv. Curiously, just as Hildegard said, each time a light dress was held up to her, vitality bloomed on Liv’s face like spring flowers.

“What color do you like?”

Liv bashfully looked at the dresses in Hildegard’s hands. She liked bright colors and loved hues that only existed under the light. But the color Liv liked most of all was…

“Yellow.”

Liv liked yellow that resembled sunlight and loved the sun.

“Good choice. It will look really cute on you, Sister!”

Hildegard even hummed as she helped Liv get ready. The Hamelsvoort often nagged at Hildegard to learn how to utilize maids, but she enjoyed doing things on her own like this. 

Finally, after applying a pink tint to Liv’s cheeks, Hildegard dramatically pointed to the mirror.

“How is it, Sister?”

“Good…”

Seeing her reflection, Liv blushed. The tint on her cheeks and lips emphasized her white skin while making her look lively, and the yellow dress highlighted a bright and cute impression. The pearl accessories here and there went well with the dress.

After Liv got ready with almost solemn determination and headed to the carriage, Hildegard waved to her.

“Have a good trip, Sister!”

Hearing those words, Liv felt a bit better. Hildegard’s attitude toward her hadn’t changed, and she was still treating Liv with kindness and affection. It’s not like there were absolutely no humans who loved her. So maybe Emmett could love her too, even if just as a friend.

As the jolting carriage stopped in front of the Lartman Ducal residence, the guard who had become accustomed to the Hamelsvoort crest opened the gate. And when Liv got out in front of the mansion, the butler she often saw greeted her.

“You’re here? His Grace is currently working in his office, so please wait in the reception room.”

“Okay.”

Liv followed him and sat in the reception room. Having visited many times now, she had become familiar with the Lartman’s reception room.

As Liv was waiting for Emmett, the sound of approaching footsteps could be heard. And Emmett’s voice as well, as if talking to someone.

“So you’re saying the drought in the Denburg region is severe…”

“Yes, what do you think about sending the Saintess?”

“Let’s continue this discussion later.”

Finally the door opened, revealing Emmett looking a bit tired. However, as soon as he faced Liv, he had a calm expression as if nothing was wrong.

“Emmett.”

As if forgetting he had said he didn’t love her, Liv greeted him in a bright voice. Her appearance was no different from animals yearning for affection, but what could be done about Liv’s warped values regarding love?

“Ah, Liv, you were already here.”

“Yes, but…”

Recalling his conversation from a bit ago, Liv blinked.

“Sending the Saintess, what does that mean?”

Hildegard was one of the few people who treated her well. She couldn’t help but be interested in something related to Hildegard. In response to Liv’s question, Emmett replied with a slightly troubled expression.

“Ah… A severe drought has hit the Denburg region. There are whispers that the gods have definitely cursed it.”

“A curse…”

Impertinent humans, I have done no such thing. Why would I expend my power on matters unrelated to my child?

The voice of the ‘Supreme God’ of the Holy Church rang in Liv’s ears. Sometimes even more human-like than humans, gods were beings that easily exploded in anger. Not being able to readily intervene in the human world seemed to make their temperaments even more eccentric.

“It doesn’t seem to be a curse… There’s no reason for that…”

“Yes, but the people believe so. That’s why there’s talk about dispatching the Saintess there.”

“Hmm…”

“Of course, the important thing is Saintess Hamelsvoort’s will. However, since Miss Hamelsvoort has good intentions and cares about the lives of the people, I think she will readily step up.”

“I see…”

While nodding, Liv felt a bit worried. She didn’t like that Hildegard, whom she cherished, had to go to a drought-stricken region.

“Will Hildegard be able to stay there without discomfort?”

“She will inevitably have to conserve drinking water and be unable to wash properly. It will be hard to eat proper meals too. So I’m not sure if Miss Hamelsvoort will accept this proposal.”

“Ah…”

“What would you do if you were her, Miss Liv? Do you have any inkling of how Miss Hamelsvoort will react?”

“Me?”

Liv opened her eyes wide. She felt a bit absurd about him asking her that question. Because…

“If I were Hildegard, I obviously wouldn’t go.”

Liv’s answer was already determined.

“What?”

Emmett seemed a little taken aback, but Liv calmly continued.

“I wouldn’t go if it were me. I learned that if you can’t wash, you’re more susceptible to bacterial infections. You could get sick and die if you can’t eat or drink properly.”

“But… it won’t be dangerous to that degree.”

“Still, I hate it even if there’s just a possibility.”

Liv spoke as if it was a matter of course.

“I absolutely never do anything even slightly dangerous to myself. The most important thing is my own life.”

“I see… Of course, you’re entitled to that stance, but still…”

“You don’t understand me at all, Emmett.”

Since this was the first time someone asked Liv about her position in this way, she wanted to explain her thoughts in more detail. She needed someone who would understand her.

“What happens if Hildegard doesn’t go there?”

“If the drought isn’t resolved, hundreds, no, thousands of people may die.”

Liv imagined what would happen if she herself died there. The gods directly punish those who come into contact with Liv’s blood, but it wasn’t always limited to that.

For example, in the past when Liv died from an epidemic, the gods said they completely erased the existence of the person who transmitted the disease to her. The moment someone became the ’cause’ of Liv’s death, the gods acted mercilessly.

So if Liv were to die there, they might kill all the people of that region. No, perhaps an even greater divine punishment would befall them.

The most important thing for maintaining this world was Liv’s well-being.

“I think an individual’s life is more important than my own, that is, than the collective.”

“Well, I believe the collective is more important than the individual.”

At words that didn’t align with her values, Emmett’s expression became a bit strange. He had felt for a while that Liv was a somewhat different person from himself, but if they were this different, he wasn’t confident they could get along going forward.

“But Miss Liv, you still don’t know much about the world and your thinking may change in the future.”

“No, this is one belief I’m not wrong about.”

Liv replied with utmost confidence. It’s fine even if everyone besides her dies. Liv can turn back time by killing herself to bring those people back to life. But Liv must not die. There’s no telling how many people would die then.

However, it was only natural that Emmett, who had no idea about those circumstances, couldn’t understand Liv’s words at all.

Perhaps he might ask Liv why she doesn’t honestly talk about her position. But the reason Liv never spoke to anyone about the gods was simple.

People would never believe her.

Most religions in this world worship a single god. Everyone believes there is only one god in this world, so if she said hundreds of gods actually exist, they would charge her with blasphemy and punish her. It would obviously sound even more absurd that all those gods love Liv and would destroy this world if she died.

“Honestly, I’ve felt this for a while, but our views really don’t align…”

Emmett continued, looking a bit displeased.

“All human lives are equal. Especially when it comes to this Empire. Everyone must fulfill their duties for the sake of the holy Hilysid Empire.”

“But my life is far more important than this nation…”

At those words, the way Emmett looked at Liv had completely changed to that of someone looking at an utter ignoramus.

“You really do tend to only think of yourself, Miss Liv…”