163 The Promise (1/2)

”LADY Soleil, are you waiting for Lord Nystrom?”

Soleil didn't have to turn around to know that it was Saint Alec who joined her while she was star gazing on the roof. First, she knew the saint's voice and presence very well. Second, he was the only one in the temple who would call her ”Lady Soleil” instead of ”Lady Rosenberg.”

Humans called people higher in rank with their title and last name.

But for people like them, they would just usually call their acquaintances with their title (either a 'lady' or a 'lord') and their first name. That signified their ”closeness” as ”people on the same level” even if they weren't close on a personal level.

”I'm not,” Soleil denied even though she knew that the saint knew she was lying. Right now, she was sitting on the tiled roof while wrapped in thick blanket. She wasn't really cold but her brother Winchell forced her to take the blanket so she wouldn't get sick. ”I'm just watching the moon. It looks extra pretty tonight.”

But it only looked pretty in her eyes because it was the night that she met Nystrom in that same roof five years ago.

That was also the first and last time that she saw Nystrom in Lumira Temple.

”You were never fond of the moon,” Saint Alec said with a light laugh, then he sat down next to her. ”You're the Daughter of the Sun, Lady Soleil.”

She turned to the saint.

As far as she knew, he was already a century old. But he still looked like a man in his thirties. Saint Alec had pretty light brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. Okay, he looked normal. But his divine aura made him appear very gentle and nice.

I'm sorry, Your Holiness. I was surrounded by children with very conventional beauty so my standards are quite high.

By ”children,” she meant Winchell, Elis, and Ainsworth.

And yes, she wouldn't deny that one of her negative traits was she could be too fixated on people's physical appearance. She was trying her best to teach herself that everyone was beautiful and had different unique charms.

Now that she was already a lady, she didn't have an excuse to be shallow anymore.

Anyway…

”What does being the ”Daughter of the Sun” mean, Your Holiness?” she asked curiously. ”My father isn't the sun.”

The saint just laughed it off. ”You'll understand your origin once you reach the heavens, Lady Soleil.”

”Then, I will never find it out.”

He let out a deep sigh. ”Lady Soleil, are you really sure that you want to be reincarnated instead of becoming a god?”

When the ”favored children” entered the Lumira Temple, they already gave up their physical body. It was because no living person could enter the temple except for the saint and the High Priest. After all, Lumira Temple was in the middle of mortal world and the afterlife.

All of that was a part of their preparation before ascending to the heavens.

And yes, I am giving it up.

”My childhood memories include being hunted down by humans who are afraid of our clan's fire attribute,” she said with a sad smile. ”Hiding became particularly harder for our parents because my brother and I were born with ”divine powers.””

The members of their clan could only produce small fire enough to light up a fireplace and not to use it to fight.

But she and Winchell were different. They could create big flames that could burn anything to ashes. Her brother even manifested into a red phoenix at one point. As in Winchell grew red flaming wings and flew around their land.

Yes, my dumb brother exposed himself to the humans around us.

Thankfully, Saint Alec came to them during that time. To protect her and Winchell, their parents decided to entrust their lives to the saint. She wanted to stay with her clan but her brother made a fuss until she agreed to enter the temple with him.

”I went here not because I want to be a god,” she confessed. ”I only entered the temple with my brother to lessen the burden of our clan. As long as my brother and I are here, it will be easier for them to blend in with humans.”

Her family, in particular, was very wealthy– they were ”old money.”

She was technically a princess and her brother a prince. But since their clan was known for their modesty, they tried to live as humbly as possible. Still, it didn't change the fact that they were considered royalties.

”The years I spent here only convinced me that this isn't the life that I want,” she continued in a firm voice. ”I'm grateful for everything that you've done for us, Your Holiness. But despite everything, I see the temple as nothing but a big cage.”

”Do you regret giving up your physical body to enter the temple, Lady Soleil?”

She shook her head. ”I don't,” she said. ”I love my life here. I like Brother Winchell, Elis, and Ainsworth. We all get along well even though we banter all the time. And because we share the same experience, we can depend on each other. Still, my heart feels empty.”

”You love the human clan too much, Lady Soleil,” the saint said carefully.

”I just believe that stronger people should protect the weaker ones,” she said. ”I don't want to waste the power bestowed upon me by living a comfortable life in the heavens.”

Saint Alec smiled at her. ”Alright, I won't question your decision anymore,” he said in a tone as if he already gave up convincing her to change her mind. ”I know that whatever path you choose, you'll still shine. After all, you are the Daughter of the Sun, Lady Soleil.”

Soleil smiled and looked up at the moon. ”I hope I see him again before I get reincarnated.”

***

SOLEIL let out a frustrated sigh when she found herself alone in the dining hall.

She was supposed to eat with Winchell, Elis, and Ainsworth. But obviously, they didn't have any intent to eat with her. Again.

It's been a week since they started to ignore me.

In fact, she hadn't seen the three men since they decided to ”rebel” against her. Not even their shadows. They were trying to guilt trip her for ”abandoning” them.

They're so childish.

She had enough of their tantrums so she stood up. Then, she rolled up her sleeves and was about to leave the dining hall to look for the brats when she heard that familiar deep, cold voice.

”Are you not having dinner?”

She turned to the owner of the voice…

… and she was greeted by the most handsome face that she had ever laid eyes on.

Lord Nystrom!