She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 121

Secrets Revealed

[Pope] "At the threshold of a warm summer, I wish God's blessing upon all the guests gathered here today."

Her voice resonated with dignity, yet offered a typical officiant's speech. The Pope continued listing familiar tales of divine grace and blessings. The words proved dry and uninspiring, tiresome enough to induce a yawn.

It matches the draft speech we received in advance, Sierra thought.

Did she come simply to bless them?

In fact, Cassius' investigation leading up to the day before the wedding revealed no suspicious signs from the Pope. She showed no intention of pulling a crazy stunt at an official wedding ceremony.

Yet...... why did she suddenly offer to officiate their wedding? Did she possess an entirely pure motive? Did their romance story move her heart?

As Sierra's thoughts grew complicated, the Pope solemnly declared at last.

[Pope] "May you live long, enjoying double the happiness of others."

Gentleness and warmth shone in the Pope's eyes without a trace of deceit. That gaze melted away Sierra's guarded defenses. As her tension eased, the Pope offered her closing words.

[Pope] "For you have received double the divine blessing of time granted to humanity."

The divine blessing of time......?

That single sentence completely shattered the boring officiant's speech. She had no reason to mention receiving double the time. Unless she knew they had turned back time once before.

At those words—“For you have received double the divine blessing of time granted to humanity”—Sierra, Cassius, and Amille recognized the truth instinctively:

The Pope knew their secret of regression.

Sierra stared directly up at the Pope.

Now, discovering how she learned the secret and how she intended to use it became the vital issue. Yet the Pope merely maintained a faint smile on her lips, continuing with her next words.

[Pope] "Now that the groom and bride have become husband and wife, the groom shall kiss the back of the bride's hand."

Sierra barely controlled her panicked expression. Since the Pope smoothly directed the ceremony forward in front of the guests, the wedding had to proceed.

She carefully extended her gloved hand to Cassius. He naturally pressed his lips to the back of her hand with reverence. Neither wet nor dry, his warm lips tickled her skin, drawing a soft chuckle from her.

That single touch melted away lingering tension, filling her heart with warmth. Sierra regretted the end of the ritual as he withdrew his hand. Reflecting on the warmth lingering on the back of her hand, Sierra turned her gaze again.

After the brief hand kiss, only the final exit ceremony remained.

[Officiant] "Groom and bride, offer your final greetings to the guests."

Sierra and Cassius laced their fingers together, walking back along the wedding aisle. Relaxed now, she scanned the guest seating.

The guests seem to be whispering.

Listening closely, the assembled guests focused on the phrase “received a special divine blessing.”

No matter how rarely citizens of the Empire believed in God, the speaker was the Pope. Furthermore, she stood before them in brilliant white robes, emanating imposing authority.

Sierra could bet a hundred thousand gold that the nobles would exaggerate today's events.

As Sierra and Cassius walked back down the aisle, the Pope offered one final line.

[Pope] "Now, the groom and bride have become true husband and wife."

With those words, the Pope concluded her speech.

Sierra met Cassius' eyes through her veil.

Walking down the aisle at the start of the ceremony, Sierra walked alone. But returning along the floral path, Cassius walked by her side. Emotion surged deep in her chest at that realization.

Step by step along the flower-strewn path, congratulations from guests, bright laughter, and sweet orchestra melodies filled her ears.

Happiness filled her mind, alongside a firm resolve to speak with the Pope.

---

Right after the ceremony concluded, Sierra scrambled to secure a private audience with the Pope, driven to learn her intention behind those public words.

Still wearing her wedding dress, she managed to intercept the Pope amidst the bustling noise just as she prepared to depart in her carriage.

Though the space near the carriage lacked privacy, quick-witted Cassius cleared the area, creating quiet surroundings.

Sierra hurriedly grabbed the Pope's sleeve just before she stepped into the carriage.

[Sierra] "Have we met somewhere before?"

Preparing to board the carriage, the Pope paused and turned toward Sierra. Under that silent gaze, embarrassment washed over Sierra.

Is this line too outdated?

[Pope] "Why? Do I look like someone who suits a robe?"

At the mention of a robe, Sierra froze in confusion. The Pope offered a soft chuckle and dropped a brief hint.

[Pope] "Like a medium, perhaps?"

[Sierra] "......A medium."

The Pope shifted her gaze without answering. Yet even without further words, realization struck her.

Could this person be......?

[Sierra] "W-Wait a moment!"

The Pope slowly met Sierra's eyes, looking as if she anticipated those words. In an instant, conversations from the past flashed through her mind.

[Medium] "Not everyone can be happy. At the end of happiness, one person must suffer misfortune. And your sister chose misfortune."

[Sierra] "No, everyone will be happy."

[Medium] If that happens, we will meet again."

[Sierra] "What? Who on earth are you......?"

When investigating the butterfly brooch that triggered strange memories, a medium had suddenly appeared. She had provided the hint that what they saw were prophetic dreams, not illusions.

Sierra bit her lip quietly.

Should I ask if she was that medium? Or.......

Just as she prepared to ask, another memory flashed through her mind. When Sierra pressed for her identity back then, the medium had introduced herself clearly.

[Sierra] "Restoring order to the world...... meant upholding God's will."

Yes. The medium had introduced herself that way back then. If the Pope were indeed that same medium, she would immediately recognize Sierra's meaning.

Sierra fixed her trembling gaze on the Pope. A smile curved smoothly onto the Pope's lips.

[Pope] "You remembered."

A complete confirmation.

[Pope] "Just as I said, we would meet again if everyone became happy."

[Sierra] "......"

[Pope] "Your courage unraveled the tangled knots, saving many beloved souls."

She nodded lightly to her.

[Pope] "If you have nothing more to say, shall we conclude our meeting?"

No. Sierra had more to say. She shook her head quietly at the Pope.

[Sierra] "I have something to ask."

At that, the Pope nodded as if expecting it.

---

After all the guests departed, the venue remained grand yet quiet—a remarkably suitable place for a secret conversation with the Pope.

In front of the guest seats where endless blessings echoed moments ago, Sierra and the Pope sat face-to-face, beginning an unexpected secret meeting.

A Pope clad in holy priest robes and Sierra wearing a beautiful wedding dress made a somewhat unnatural pairing, but that mattered little.

The Pope spoke slowly.

[Pope] "I witnessed the previous timeline quite some time ago. God revealed it to me."

[Sierra] "Then......."

[Pope] "The reason I remained in long seclusion was that I must not interfere in the world using the prophetic power granted by God."

[Sierra] "Are there things you still can't reveal even now?"

She stared silently at Sierra. Observing her features, the Pope spoke up abruptly.

[Pope] "Rather than that, let me address what you truly wonder about. You wish to know why Hanael appeared before you, do you not?"

It didn't directly answer Sierra's question, but it hit the nail on the head.

[Sierra] "......"

Sierra remained silent, biting her lip.

The Pope spoke the truth; curiosity squirmed inside Sierra's heart. In this timeline, she had never been pregnant. So why did Hanael suddenly appear? Though she had ignored it, her curiosity grew stronger by the hour. And the Pope sitting before her served as the key to solving that mystery completely.

As Sierra parted her lips, the Pope began solemnly.

[Pope] "Since you clearly wonder...... I shall explain."

[Sierra] "Yes."

[Pope] "Back when Cassius and Amille turned back the axis of time."

When Sierra nodded without responding, the Pope continued.

[Pope] "The axis of time doesn't turn easily. Yet did time not turn back far more easily than expected?"

[Sierra] "That is......."

Unaware of the full details surrounding that moment, Sierra let her voice trail off. The Pope offered a hearty laugh.

[Pope] "Because assistance existed beneath the surface."

Uncertain of the exact details of that era, Sierra intended to stay silent, but hearing the word 'assistance' stirred her curiosity.

[Pope] "The power of pure blue mana comes directly from God. The innocent young souls murdered by the Crown Prince were children chosen by God."

[Sierra] "......"

[Pope] "Though non-believers dismiss such tales...... pure souls and animals who die early in tragic accidents travel to a wondrous paradise."

The story that followed from the Pope was astounding. Sierra listened intently to her words.

[Pope] "Upon reaching that realm, the children met God. God burned with wrath against the Crown Prince, who dared murder the children He cherished. Right at that moment, Cassius and Amille appeared, seeking to turn back the axis of time."

The details meshed together perfectly. Sierra listened attentively, nodding along.

[Pope] "Though God maintains neutrality, when many children He loved perished, the situation changed. Is that not so?"

[Sierra] "So God willingly granted the time regression."

[Pope] "To be precise, the wishes of the children God loved contributed to turning back time. Those children earnestly wished for the wicked to receive punishment. Pure desires to save the world, free of vengeance, moved God's heart."

[Sierra] "Then Hanael also......."

[Pope] "Indeed."

Nodding, the Pope recalled memories granted by God.

Goodbye everyone, I will go save the world!

Okay!

I will love my Mommy lots and come back!

What a lovely child she was.

[Pope] "However, not all sacrificed children could return to life. God resurrected Hanael, who held the deepest bond with Cassius and possessed the greatest wish."

Sierra spoke quietly.

[Sierra] "Was Hanael's wish to punish the wicked?"

If so, Hanael would have quartered the Crown Prince with her own hands. However, the Pope trailed off awkwardly.

[Pope] "Punishing the wicked played a part. Yet Hanael's greatest wish was for her mother......."

Speaking fluently until now, the Pope suddenly paused, coughing several times. Redness tinted the rims of her eyes at this point.

Wondering what story she prepared to tell to hesitate like this, Sierra waited quietly.

---

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