To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

Obelia considered herself one of the many ordinary noble young ladies. Her status: a Viscount’s daughter. She had close friends among the young ladies. She liked pretty and fancy things. While not particularly popular, she had looks that could gain favor if she tried. Here, being ‘ordinary’ meant that her opinions didn’t differ much from others’.

It also meant that she disliked Liv Hamelsvoort, the troublemaker of high society, the lowborn from the slums, the fake Saintess.

Obelia wasn’t part of the mainstream group in high society, so she had never actively bullied Liv. That was something only prominent young ladies did; for someone like her, it was best not to stand out unnecessarily.

However, Obelia did join her group of friends in slandering and mocking Liv. She didn’t have any particular malice towards Liv, but she did it because the other young ladies did. That was all. It also helped strengthen her relationships with the other ladies. People tend to become closer when gossiping about someone.

At the same time, Obelia justified her actions. Like other common young ladies, she was also a believer of the Holy Church, and it was unforgivable for someone to impersonate a Saintess who possessed the power of God.

While badmouthing Liv, she also felt a sense of superiority over the Five Noble Houses. After all, the Hamelsvoort family had made the mistake of adopting a lowly girl from the slums, while her family hadn’t made such a stupid error.

That’s why when she heard the news of Liv’s engagement to Duke Lartman, it made her sick to her stomach. Of course, it wasn’t because she admired the fearsome Duke Lartman, but simply because it was hard to accept that someone from the slums was about to become a Duchess.

Still, she couldn’t skip attending the wedding. Her parents had sternly told her not to bully Liv Hamelsvoort anymore. So Obelia attended the wedding with a sulky face, along with the young ladies she usually hung out with.

Liv, dressed in a white gown, shone more beautifully than anyone. Even Obelia unconsciously gaped before shaking her head to come to her senses.

‘The Five Noble Houses are truly amazing…’

Her family would have to give up all their wealth to buy the dress Liv was wearing. She couldn’t understand why they were being so extravagant for a wedding, but on the other hand, thinking that this might not even be considered extravagant for them left her feeling bitter.

“The Supreme God will bless the marriage of you two.”

‘As if that would happen.’

Obelia snorted at the ridiculous statement. Would the Supreme God really bless a ‘fake Saintess’? If anything, the innocent Duke Lartman might incur God’s wrath too.

However, in the next moment, Obelia couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Wh-what…”

A halo of light was floating behind Liv Hamelsvoort’s head. It wasn’t some artificial light created by humans. It was a sacred and great light that felt like she might never witness again in her life.

‘A halo…!’

It was what was depicted behind the heads of Saints in paintings. But why was a halo floating behind Liv Hamelsvoort’s head?

“Huh?”

“What is that?”

While other nobles were confused like Obelia, the sky trembled. Yes, truly ‘the sky trembled.’ There was no other way to express it. And then, a vast voice that seemed like it would crush and kill her entire body, one that humans couldn’t possibly bear, was heard.

My beloved child. I bless you.

It was impossible to tell if it was a male or female voice. No, it wasn’t a human voice to begin with, so such distinctions were meaningless.

“Supreme God…!”

Her instinct whispered. That was the voice of God.

However, no matter whose family name you bear, you will be my child.

The moment the voice was heard again, Obelia unconsciously stood up from her chair and prostrated herself on the ground, and other nobles did the same, disregarding their uncomfortable clothes. The priest was repeatedly bowing to the ground, shouting ‘Supreme God!’ Even Duke Lartman was kneeling, and the only one standing in the midst of it all was…

‘Liv Hamelsvoort.’

She was still standing straight with the halo behind her head. At that moment, something started falling from the sky.

“Flower petals…?”

Pure white flower petals, resembling Liv, were falling from the sky.

That was the end of it. There were no more divine voices heard, nor did anything else happen. The halo behind Liv had disappeared. But everyone present knew.

“L-Lady Hamelsvoort…”

Liv Hamelsvoort.

God was behind her.

* * *

“H-how can this be…!”

Liv quietly observed the priest in front of her, who was flustered and didn’t know what to do. The priest, with white flower petals covering his head, removed one petal with trembling hands, looking as if he might fall backward at any moment.

“Th-the Supreme God has visited!”

All eyes were fixed on Liv. They couldn’t utter a word and were just watching her cautiously. Even those who hadn’t fully grasped the situation seemed to realize that it was related to Liv.

“C-could it be that you, Lady Hamelsvoort…”

“Yes.”

When she answered the priest’s trembling voice, he looked at Liv with eyes full of reverence and asked.

“Could you perhaps be the real Saintess?”

At those words, Liv frowned. How long would they continue to distinguish between real and fake Saintesss?

“No, I’m not something like a Saintess.”

“B-but…”

Liv signaled to Hildegard, who was sitting nearby, and recognizing the signal, Hildegard stood up.

“I’ll explain.”

Everyone turned their heads to look at Hildegard at once. Trying not to be swayed by their gazes, Hildegard began speaking in a calm voice.

“Just now, I received a revelation about my sister Liv.”

Hildegard continued lying without blinking an eye. However, both Liv and Hildegard knew that there was no god who would be angry at Hildegard for lying about the divine. They wouldn’t dislike what was being done for Liv.

“According to the revelation, my sister Liv is not something like a Saintess. A Saintess is a being who has obligations according to the power given by God. My sister Liv is not such a being.”

“Th-then what on earth is she?”

The priest asked on behalf of everyone, and Hildegard answered in an even clearer voice than before.

“My sister Liv simply receives God’s love.”

“G-God’s love?”

At that moment, the priest’s face turned pale as if he had realized something. Not just the priest, but others were also shaken.

The only thing that could be associated with receiving the love of the gods was the Gracia family, and the current Emperor, ‘Tyrant August,’ had forbidden mentioning the Gracia family.

As if to quell people’s anxiety, Hildegard said:

“As the priest knows, according to the scriptures, there have been beings who received God’s love before… Naturally, there could be others whom the Supreme God gives His heart to throughout the long history. Didn’t everyone just hear God say ‘My beloved child’?”

“Th-that’s right.”

“My sister Liv receives God’s love. That’s all.”

People still didn’t seem to have fully resolved their questions about Liv. How could they understand with just this revelation that Liv, who had been called a fake Saintess until now, was actually chosen by God? But at least they seemed to have accepted the proposition that Liv received God’s love. No one raised any objections to Hildegard’s words.

“Liv, you did well.”

Emmett, who had taken Liv’s hand while people were still dazed, whispered.

“You were very brave and impressive.”

“Oh, no…”

“I’m glad to see you reclaiming your rightful place like this.”

As Liv blushed at those words, Emmett spoke to the priest.

“Shouldn’t we finish the wedding ceremony?”

“Y-yes, of course.”

The priest, who had still been staring at the white flower petals on the ground, finally came to his senses and raised his voice.

“Th-the Supreme God has just visited! The Supreme God has also blessed the marriage of these two. Under the watchful eye of the Supreme God, lastly, we will exchange rings.”

Emmett took the rings from the box and put one on Liv’s finger. The sensation of him touching her finger felt unfamiliar, making Liv’s heart beat faster.

Looking at the wedding ring made of platinum with a diamond set in it, Liv smiled brightly. Seeing Liv like this, Emmett held his breath.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just…”

Still holding Liv’s hand, Emmett whispered.

“You’re beautiful.”

Even if he doesn’t love me, at least he thinks I’m beautiful, Liv thought. Even if it was just a polite remark, it didn’t feel bad. People were still looking at Liv, and it seemed like many things would happen to her in the future, but she felt that everything would be alright as long as she was with Emmett.

* * *

“Liv, Liv! How did this happen?”

As soon as Liv appeared at the reception after the wedding ceremony, the Hamelsvoort couple rushed to her. Lady Hamelsvoort carefully held Liv’s hand as if touching the most precious thing in the world.

“Really… do you really receive the love of the Supreme God?”

Liv quietly gazed into their dazed eyes. The Hamelsvoort family had been devout believers for generations, so they weren’t behaving this way because Liv receiving God’s love would benefit them. They were truly moved by Liv.

“Yes, that’s right.”

When Liv answered in a monotone voice, their eyes sparkled.

“Why didn’t you tell us earlier? Oh my, we didn’t know…”

“It was God’s will.”

“Yes, yes. How could we fathom the will of God?”

All eyes at the reception were focused on Liv, the guest of honor. Amidst their gazes, Liv continued speaking in a still calm tone.

“I’ll say it again, I’m not some kind of Saintess. I’m just…”

“Yes, we were said you have no obligations.”

The Count nodded fervently.

Liv’s eyes met Emmitt’s, who was watching her from beyond the Hamelsvoort couple. She suddenly became aware that she was wearing a bitter smile. The attention and affection from the Hamelsvoort couple that she had longed for so much in the past – why did this affection feel so unwelcome now? It was incomprehensible.

‘Their attitude has changed.’