Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 116: Beneath the Dual Beauty Conference

First love, the most beautiful emotion in life, is often the most indelible. Regardless of gender, whether or not this affection bears fruit, it will undoubtedly be forever etched in memory, cherished deep within the heart.

Yet, the affairs of the world often twist in unexpected ways. What may be the most beautiful emotion for one person may not necessarily bring joy to another. For instance, both Jesseta and Aeloria currently frowned at the revelation of a young man's first love laid bare before them.

For Aeloria, as long as Darn's first love was not directed at her, she would be exceedingly angry, even wishing it were merely a fleeting impulse, a surge of hormones. However, with the certainty of Darn's feelings for the priestess, Aeloria could only grit her teeth and seek a way to resolve her fiancé's first love, striving to eliminate this troubling issue that plagued both Darn and herself.

In this regard, Jesseta wholeheartedly agreed. Although the priestess had always been the object of affection, she did not resent the boy's sincere feelings for her. Yet, the thought that this could jeopardize her lifelong happiness and complicate her relationship with her beloved made Jesseta eager to put an end to Darn's feelings for her.

Thus, while Aeloria candidly stated that Darn was deeply in love with Jesseta, when the girl earnestly requested Jesseta's assistance in extinguishing Darn's affections, allowing all three of them to escape the entanglements of youthful love, the priestess immediately expressed her willingness to cooperate.

Very well, since this young lady seeks to reclaim her fiancé's heart, and I wish to avoid further awkwardness and trouble, Aeloria and I can indeed collaborate. Our goals do not conflict!

With this thought, Jesseta's demeanor lightened considerably, her previous wariness of Aeloria gradually dissipating. The priestess then inquired, in a tone of harmony and anticipation, how she might assist Aeloria.

"My fiancé loves you dearly, to the extent that he will never give up pursuing you as long as there is even the slightest chance, unless he realizes that there is no possibility of winning your heart!"

As she spoke, Aeloria had walked to the back of the temple, arriving at a garden surrounded by the temple's architecture, halting before a marble statue of an angel.

"Is that so? Then what must I do to bring Darn, your fiancé, to utter despair?" Jesseta asked, hesitating slightly, feeling a bit shy as she gazed at the angelic statue, which appeared to be playing a divine melody on its harp.

"To achieve this, there are two methods. The first is for you to marry immediately and become someone else's wife!" Aeloria stated, her mind drifting to a certain man's name. Thinking of Hyman, undoubtedly Darn's rival, yet also a potential ally, a twinge of regret surfaced in the girl's heart.

"Marry? I would love to marry my beloved, but..." Jesseta's thoughts turned to the name of the major officer, eliciting feelings of sweet joy, yet simultaneously a sense of loss and resentment arose within her.

"However, your parents, the Viscount and Viscountess Michelle, would certainly not approve of your marriage to Hyman. Without their consent, you and Mr. Hyman cannot receive the blessings of the Church of Light, and your union would not be recognized by society. You are troubled by this, are you not?"

"...Yes." Jesseta nodded gently, feeling a bit flustered. Facing a noble girl several years her junior, the priestess suddenly felt exposed and vulnerable, as if her innermost thoughts had been laid bare.

Yet, Jesseta knew that Aeloria spoke the truth. She was a noble lady, while Hyman was merely a commoner, a servant to a noble family for generations. Hyman's loyalty and abilities were entirely devoted to the Sklick family, and the disparity in their backgrounds and statuses was insurmountable. Although they cherished each other, for their love to blossom into marriage...