COARV Chapter 5

In Berke territory with its frozen lake, a Stern's importance stood out far more than elsewhere. Yet across the entire continent, Sterns numbered only one or two, and most carried themselves with arrogance. Among them, Seria Stern had particularly strong villainess attributes.

But that was ancient history now.

Baron Aison, who taught the divine representative Lina, said with a smile, "Lady Seria changed considerably starting a year ago."

Her attendance at balls—once a near-daily occurrence—had gradually declined.

Not that she'd withdrawn from society entirely into seclusion.

Still, anyone worth knowing was aware that Seria Stern had slowly transformed over the past year. A sudden dramatic change would have raised suspicions, but Seria had evolved gradually, within boundaries others found believable.

"Her relationship with Marquess Kallis Haneton also improved after that day."

Precious few knew that Seria had healed Kallis's arm. Naturally, Baron Aison remained ignorant of this fact.

Lina, who had asked for detailed information about 'Lady Seria Stern,' nodded at Baron Aison's words.

"I see. So that's why she could become engaged to Kallis..."

During their short break, Lina pressed close to the window frame as noise erupted outside. Baron Aison startled at the sight of her clinging to the window like a child.

"Saint! That's dangerous!"

"Ah. I'm sorry."

"Your body is already so frail..."

Baron Aison spoke truly. Lina remained extremely weak due to divine power rampaging inside her body. Even now, expensive bandages wound tightly around both arms, legs, and thighs. Yellow bruises mottled her skin everywhere—her body couldn't contain the divine power.

At least Marquess Kallis Haneton and Grand Duke Lesche Berke were here. They were among the heads of the Empire's seventeen families. Meaning they possessed enough power to control divine energy to some degree.

Lina's bruises remaining merely yellow instead of worse was thanks to Marquess Kallis Haneton's devoted efforts.

"You seem quite close with the Marquess."

"Yes. Kallis has such a good personality."

"Mm..."

Baron Aison's expression turned slightly troubled at Lina's casual familiarity.

"Saint? Please don't address the Marquess by his given name in public."

"Huh? Why not?"

"The Marquess will marry soon. Rumors could spread."

"What? No way!"

Lina burst into laughter.

"Kallis and I are just friends?"

"The nobles here don't think that way, you see."

"But..."

Lina murmured in a bewildered voice, "Kallis calls me by my name too..." Baron Aison nodded. "I see."

'I should speak with the Marquess privately later.'

Just then, the noise outside the window surged. Naturally, both their gazes turned toward it.

Baron Aison said, "Lady Seria Stern must have returned from the glacier."

Baron Aison was right.

Seria Stern had just returned on horseback. She wore a pure white fur cloak. Even her cheeks were flushed bright red from the cold. From what Lina had heard, Seria inspected the glacier daily these days.

And the person who came out to greet Seria was a face Lina knew well. Marquess Kallis Haneton. At the welcome sight, a smile bloomed across Lina's face. She waved both hands vigorously from the window.

"Kalli—!"

Lina's call died unfinished. Kallis rushed straight to Seria as she dismounted, cupping her undoubtedly frozen cheeks with both hands.

Then some conversation. The words didn't carry clearly, but Kallis often worried about his fiancée catching cold, so this was probably similar affectionate nagging.

Anyone could see they looked like an affectionate couple.

Lina lowered her hands. She watched them silently for a moment before asking abruptly, "Why does Kallis's fiancée go out to the glacier every day?"

Baron Aison had been about to scold her again, but Lina's eyes were too innocent. Well, she did say she came from another world.

This kind of thing could be taught gradually.

"Because she's a Stern. It's a kind of charity only a Stern can provide in winter. She's been very diligent about it lately, earning considerable praise throughout Berke territory."

"I'm jealous..."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing."

Lina, who'd been muttering to herself, asked carefully, "Teacher."

"Yes, Saint?"

"What kind of family is Stern? Is it a ducal house? Is Kallis's fiancée a duke's daughter?"

"Lady Seria Stern is the daughter of the prestigious Keliden Marquessate in the west."

"Wow. Kallis's fiancée really has everything."

Having said that much, Lina grew puzzled.

"But why is she called Lady Stern instead of Lady Keliden?"

"Stern is a title bestowed by divine oracle from the Holy Kingdom. Lady Seria is an extremely precious Stern recognized by the high priests."

"Aha. Like a baptismal name in Catholicism."

"Baptismal name?"

"Something that existed in my original world... like that."

Lina said that much, then tilted her head.

"Could I receive that title too?"

"What? But you're already the Saint?"

"But Stern sounds cooler?"

"The title of Stern might seem more impressive to you, Saint."

Given the timing, Baron Aison mulled over his thoughts.

The most prominent lady in Berke Castle right now was undoubtedly Seria Stern. Natural, given her wedding to the Marquess was mere days away.

The castle bustled constantly preparing the wedding venue for Seria, and nobles from Haneton territory and other vested interests kept arriving to attend the ceremony. Every one of them tried to make an impression on Seria, so the annex where she stayed constantly teemed with people.

"But you'll receive a very lavish welcome banquet in half a year, Saint. Though you'll need to master all the required etiquette first."

Lina answered sulkily, "Still, I want to become a Stern like Kallis's fiancée."

Baron Aison spoke with a smile, "You must meet certain criteria to become a Stern."

"Criteria? What are they? I'm actually really good at memorization!"

"Ahaha. It's nothing you learn."

Baron Aison laughed and explained kindly.

"First, a Stern must have a star-shaped mark somewhere on their body. It's not present from birth—it manifests at age fifteen. And they must be born on a winter Wednesday and possess divine power."

So Lina probably wasn't a Stern. Because if she were, the maids who'd helped her bathe on the first day would have surely discovered the star-shaped mark and reported it. No such report had come yet.

"Star-shaped mark... winter Wednesday..."

Lina fell deep in thought, counting on her fingers. Seeing her so absorbed, continuing the lesson seemed pointless.

Baron Aison dismissed class earlier than usual.

"Then, let's stop here for today, Saint."

"Lady Seria's birthday is coming up soon. 'Winter Wednesday,' they call it."

At the priestess's smiling words as she gave me cold medicine, Dame Abigail nodded.

"Time flies."

I counted back the days. I'd forgotten.

"You're right. I've been too busy."

Tomorrow alone, I'd agreed to tour the wedding venue with noble ladies who'd come up from Haneton territory, then host a small tea party.

Winter Wednesday.

The temple had a song about it.

Monday's child is fair of face.

Monday's child has a pretty face,

Tuesday's child is full of grace,

Wednesday's child is full of woe,

Thursday's child has far to go,

Friday's child is loving and giving,

Saturday's child works hard for a living,

And Sunday's child is bonny and blithe, good and gay.

'Isn't Wednesday's child getting totally screwed?'

If only all that woe came with money...

Seria Stern was born on a winter Wednesday. On her fifteenth birthday, a small star-shaped mark appeared on her previously unblemished white neck, and she possessed divine power besides, so she officially became a Stern. That's what the original story explained.

A Stern's divine power was an entirely different type from a priest's divine power. But Sterns were so rare that people didn't bother distinguishing.

The pleasant conversation about birthdays suddenly shifted toward Lina. The priestess sighed deeply.

"Come to think of it, the Saint keeps showing interest in celestium, which is concerning."

"The Saint? Isn't it dangerous if her divine power isn't stabilized?"

"I tell her that, but she's quite curious by nature."

That was true in the original too. Lina, as a lively and lovely orthodox heroine, was very curious.

Which led to various incidents. This happened around the original story's midpoint.

After every hardship imaginable, Lina finally achieved perfect divine power stabilization. You should have seen how happy she was when her constantly bruised skin cleared completely.

But that joy was short-lived. New trials struck Lina. She touched a celestium monument.

The rare celestium monuments were sometimes used to identify Sterns. Lina touched one, activating latent Stern divine power dormant in her body.

She fell gravely ill, which became the catalyst for male lead Lesche to properly recognize his feelings.

In the original, the person who made Lina touch the celestium was...

'Seria Stern. Damn it.'

Me.

Me again.