I will not die a Villainess's death

'I head wrong. Surely I heard wrong. Or maybe, this is all a dream and I will wake up tomorrow feeling like a fool.'

When Elysia had come to the Head Priest to look for a solution, she had never expected to be handed another problem instead.

Out of everything he could have suggested Elysia do, he suggested the one thing Elysia least wanted to do.

"Tell them that you will accept their feeling temporarily but look for a way to get them together. It is only something you can do now."

Elysia felt those words enter her mind but not register in it. She was rather numb right now trying to make sense of what she had just heard.

"Excuse me? I think I heard wrong-"

"No, you did not hear wrong. I am asking you to let both Adam and Eve sate their curiosity about you so that they can get together. You are like a novelty to them for now, a thing they cannot possess, and that makes them chase you."

"However, once they get used to you it will wear off. It will also be safer for you to let it all play out."

Somehow, what the Head Priest said made sense to Elysia. It was not supposed to but it did make sense to her.

If she considered what was supposed to happen in the original future, Elysia had been a constant presence that both Adam and Eve had outgrown.

But it was not like that with the current situation. Elysia had used every opportunity to avoid them so it did make sense why they were curious about her.

"It doesn't feel right to lead them on like this though."

Elysia's mouth said that this was for Adam and Eve but she knew that she was talking about herself.

There was a high chance that Elysia would be the one who ended up hurt by the end of all this.

Elysia knew there was a high chance for her to develop feelings if she pretended to humor her two important people.

But it was worth it in the end, right? At least Elysia would get to live until the end.

"Right or not right, this is what we have to do. Think of why you are doing this and what it means for the future. And Elysia, do not forget your responsibility and debts. You cannot let your emotions sway you away."

Head Priest Yohan was right. Emotions were dangerous as they could sway you in different directions than the one you wanted to go in.

And Elysia had a lot more to protect now than before. She had her brother to think about as well.

"I will let them know then. But how long would I have to pretend to be in this relationship?"

"As long as it takes to get them to marry. I have made all the preparations to establish Eve as the next saintess on the day of the Royal Banquet that will be held for the foreigners. That will be our first step toward the future."

That was Head Priest's signal for Elysia to drop the talk. They had concluded.

Elysia felt as struck as she had before she had come to visit the Head Priest. This was not a relationship she wanted to start but now she felt like she had no other choice.

Her feet took her all over the temple in a daze until she ended up in front of the ceremony pool.

This was a place she had all but forgotten in her memories. This was where all her misfortune had started.

Elysia was sure that if it was not for this pool and the visions of the future it showed her, Elysia would have lived her life in blissful ignorance.

"It is all your fault I am in this situation. I wished I never set foot in here."

Elysia felt the bitterness rise in her heart as she looked at the pool. Things had been done wrong because of this place so many times and yet Elysia somehow ended up coming back here.

And it was not like she could ignore this place either. Elysia would have to visit here again once it was time for the ceremony.

She was the one who would be heading it this time so she had to clean herself up.

"You know you don't have to go in if you don't want to. I'm sure your brother would let you skip out on your duty. Besides, your hand is still broken and it won't magically get better by tomorrow. I guess even Eve could not heal you?"

Elysia tried not to jump as she heard footsteps behind her.

When she turned around, a familiar face looked back at her.

"Sara, you scared me. This hallway is often abandoned so I thought you were a ghost."

Elysia was not a superstitious person but she was also sure that she had seen a ghost roam this corridor once or twice when she had been young.

She had outgrown that fear once she had grown up but sometimes she still felt that chilling presence inside her sometimes.

"Hey, nice to meet you again out here. So, what are you doing around here? Anything I can help you out with?"

Sara did not sound concerned which was nice to see. Just feeling her presence made Elysia feel better about herself.

Sara was somewhat of a friend to Elysia. Well, more like she was a person who did not avoid Elysia outright so it was nice to be in her company.

And maybe Elysia could also ask Sara for advice. Sara was quite close with Eve so if there was one person who would know about Eve, it would be Sara.

"Hey Sara, do you think Eve is confused about how she feels about me? She told me today that she was in love with me and-"

"She did? Finally, it's about time."

Somehow, Sara did not look surprised to hear Elysia confess that. Sara's expression looked more like she was saying 'it's about damn time' which surprised Elysia to see.

Was it something that obvious? If so, then how had Elysia missed it all this time?

"No, I wanted to ask you if isn't more like an obsession or curiosity than love? Eve never showed obvious signs of being in love with me but I also cannot help but doubt her intentions."

Sara finally looked interested in what Elysia was talking about. Her eyes sharpened as her expression turned thoughtful.

"An obsession, huh? I never thought of it like that but it is possible. But well, you won't know it unless you try to give her what she wants and let her get bored of it. This is how obsession usually is - once it is sated, things go back to normal."

'So there was no other choice for Elysia but to let herself be used by those two.

She had not wanted to believe Head Priest's advice but it seemed like it was been true all along.

'If this is the only way for the thing to go back to normal then I have no other choice but to follow along. I hope I don't end up committing a mistake with this.'

Elysia was afraid of what would happen but she knew she had to also make up her mind.

'It's now or never.'

Elysia used her magic to compress what she wanted to say into a magical paper. It could only be opened and read by the person it was intended for.

If anyone else tried to force it open then it would end up destroying itself.

Even Elysia could no longer take her words or decision back after she had made it.

"Sara, give it to Eve when you go back. And also ask her to not look for me this week. She will understand why once she reads my letter."

Elysia knew she was taking a big risk that would end up being bad for herself. But she could not figure out why it was a bad thing in the first place.

'There is no point in overthinking it all.'

Elysia had made up her mind and she would follow through with it. Even Sara's concerned expression could not change her mind now.

"I will be going to sleep now so have a good night's sleep. We will meet during the hunting feast next so show me what you got then."

Sara's cheerful reply was like a soothing balm over Elysia's heart. It was enough to make her forget the bad things that were about to happen.

But once she was gone, Elysia felt the same chill she used to feel when she was a kid.

She could feel the presence of eyes on her, looking at her and judging her worth. Elysia was still not sure whether those eyes belonged to a friend or an enemy since she had never found the source of that presence.

"I guess I should go to sleep as well now. It won't be good for me if I am found out here by sisters. This area is off-limit to me for now."

Elysia walked away, trying to find her way out. But for some reason, her feet led her back to the ceremony pool again and again.

No matter how many times she tried to walk away, Elysia somehow ended up coming back here.

'Is there really no escaping for me from this nightmare? Why is it that is trying to pull me in here? Should I respond to my feelings?'

Elysia was afraid to enter the pool. But she was even more afraid that she was not able to step back from it.

The more she tried to get away, the harder she was pulled near the Ceremonial pool.

"Lady Dirac, what are you doing out here? Should you not enter the pool now and get ready for the ceremony?"

The sister's abrupt presence scared Elysia but she also realized with a jolt that it was morning already.

She had wasted the whole night away trying to get away from the pool, but it was all for nothing.