TSMMT Ch 49

Tali and Brit

After greeting the audience, Dianna left the stage without a single shred of regret. Her performance left a deep impression, but Levian’s dance did as well. Everyone discussed the excellence of Levian’s performance.

Dianna's dance didn't trigger intense discussion as Levian's did. A few people gathered around Dianna.

[Celano] "You will win, My Lady."

Lady Celano approached and spoke kindly. Dianna opened her eyes wide. They lacked the close relationship required to exchange such words. Of course, they had exchanged a few words in her past life. Still, they never reached the level of friends. Dianna possessed no friends.

Lady Celano watched Dianna’s surprise and spoke.

[Celano] "We have never introduced ourselves, have we? I believed speaking to a young lady who has not yet debuted was inappropriate."

[Dianna] "I am embarrassed that my flawed self stepped into an adult domain for no good reason."

At her words, the young ladies exchanged glances. Unlike her utterly arrogant brother Emil, Dianna possessed humility. After all, a foolish person would never dress as an old woman. The devout Lady Celano held that exact thought.

Just then, Lady Novara spoke in a low voice.

[Novara] "I suppose you leave that woman alone because you have not debuted in high society yet."

[Dianna] "Whom do you mean?"

[Novara] "That woman over there."

Lady Novara subtly pointed toward Levian. Dianna froze in surprise. In her past life, Lady Novara always looked gentle, yet did the girl harbor such deep hatred back then? ……

[Novara] "She is subtly driving negative public opinion against you, My Lady. Oh, I am not trying to spread nasty rumors. I am absolutely not that kind of person."

Lady Novara spoke quickly, realization hitting her. Dianna didn't share that negative view of the girl.

[Carlea] "Forgive us, My Lady. We simply wanted to let you know that we don't share those opinions."

Dianna offered a smile at Lady Carlea's words. Listening to gossip brought little pleasure, yet no irritation arose either. She recognized that the young ladies spoke entirely for her benefit.

[Dianna] "I already knew that fact."

At those words, the three young ladies opened their eyes wide in surprise.

[Celano] "You knew?"

[Carlea] "Then why do you leave her alone?"

[Novara] "So you know about the rumors claiming that you despise Lady Levian, ignore her, and look down on her? And the rumors saying you are desperate to become the prince's bride, or that pure jealousy drove you to enter the Ball of Tali?……"

Dianna let out a short laugh at her words.

[Dianna] "I can't allow myself to be swayed by every word from idle gossip."

[Novara] "But……"

[Dianna] "Besides, those rumors are not entirely wrong."

[Novara] "Gasp! Which ones?"

Dianna offered no reply.

The three young ladies exchanged glances.

They probably approached out of sheer curiosity anyway.

Dianna remembered the three of them from her past life. People praised them constantly, noting how the highly respected ladies maintained a close friendship. They were ladies from excellent families who shared a casual, easy friendship. However, Dianna stood far apart from such warmth.

She stepped away to leave the three close friends to themselves. Dianna remained unaware that the ladies exchanged glances, filled with lingering regret over her departure.

Soon, the crowd gathered for the announcement of the results. The priests had already reached a final decision.

[Akra] "Before we announce the winner, I have a question for Lady Dianna Brienne."

His sharp gaze locked onto Dianna.

[Akra] "Why did you dress as an old woman?"

[Dianna] "Is it not entirely obvious? Tali, the Goddess of Winter, takes the form of an old woman."

Gasps filled the room at her response. It was not a hidden truth. The deity of winter arrives in the body of an old woman, purges all evil with the fire of purification, and returns to a youthful form.

For that reason, artists inspired by Tali painted the goddess as a young woman commanding blue flames—a strict and ruthless winter goddess wielding the spear of purification.

Everyone pictured Tali in that exact manner. While people fundamentally knew about the elderly form, the goddess ultimately transforms into a youth. Why would anyone willingly choose the ugly, distorted disguise of an old woman out of the two available forms?

[Dianna] "Every myth records that Tali takes an elderly form. Furthermore, the place where the goddess rested bears the name 'The Old Woman’s Hill'."

At her words, the priests exchanged impressed glances. Dianna knew the victory belonged to her. In truth, this was the exact strategy she had used at the age of seventeen during the Taillach festival in her past life.

Displaying an elderly form was a massive gamble. However, at a contest to select the winter goddess Tali, failing to present her authentic appearance was absolute nonsense. Therefore, Dianna took the risk, winning the championship back then amidst overwhelming praise.

[Akra] "By all accounts, Lady Dianna Brienne is the true 'Tali' of this winter!"

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Dianna offered a gentle smile.

The priests were cynical men who valued intellect, which drove this outcome. In an arena where everyone merely paraded identical beauty, a shock was necessary. The Dianna of the past life held that exact view.

Aware of the unconvinced stares from the crowd, Akra spoke with a kind smile.

[Akra] "What is this 'old age' that everyone speaks of? Why must it be excluded and erased?"

[Crowd] "……."

[Akra] "Tali’s true form was indeed an old woman. Yet, even in the body of a grandmother, she destroyed evil monsters. The Taillach festival exists to honor those footsteps."

[Crowd] "……."

[Akra] "All things eventually grow old and fall ill. Yet aging doesn't mean an existence becomes miserable. Nor does it mean a person becomes helpless. Tali took the form of an elderly woman specifically to remind us of this truth."

The crowd exchanged glances at the heavy words. Everyone understood exactly why the priests selected Dianna. She alone had grasped the essence of Tali.

[Saruvia] "This makes no sense!"

A voice pierced the silence. Levian shouted out.

[Saruvia] "Lady Brienne imitated a youthful form as well! She even danced as a young girl. Even if she captured Tali’s appearance, wasn't the old woman disguise merely a tool to make her final dance stand out? I know the truth—that is not Tali, but Brit, the Goddess of Spring!"

Cold expressions settled over the crowd at her declaration. Saruvia believed the sudden silence meant her criticism hit the mark. However, laughter broke out among the spectators instead.

[Cowd] "Ignorance breeds bold claims."

A voice echoed from the crowd. Hearing the remark, Rob spoke up.

[Rob] "We must not mock a foreigner because she remains ignorant of our culture."

Despite his plea, the crowd burst into laughter. Levian had previously appeared charming and clever. Yet a single mistake exposed her ignorance, completely shattering the elegant image she had worked so hard to build.

Akra questioned Dianna in a gentle voice.

[Akra] "Lady Dianna. What does the youthful appearance signify?"

[Dianna] "It represents Brit, the Goddess of Spring."

Dianna offered a smile toward Levian, who wore a triumphant look. Her clever silver-gray eyes flashed as she spoke.

[Dianna] "When the end of winter approaches, the winter goddess burns away death with the fire of purification. Granted permission by the God of Time, she lives on through the next cycle of the seasons."

[Crowd] "……."

[Dianna] "Brit, the Goddess of Spring, is merely another face of Tali. Therefore, it was impossible to omit her from the performance."

Saruvia's face froze at her explanation.

The spectators whispered among themselves while studying Levian's reaction. Every face carried pure mockery. This woman had entered the contest without even understanding the hosting nation’s faith. Did she even intend to honor Tali in the first place? Ignorance of a foreign nation’s culture is only tolerated when one stays quiet.

Tali and Brit are the same entity.

It was an entirely obvious fact, yet Levian lacked that basic knowledge. The nobles who resented Saruvia's sudden intrusion into high society mocked her bitterly. Saruvia trembled with rage.

Unlike the Dianna of the past life, Levian was arrogant. She had spent her entire life coddled within a ducal house due to her beautiful face. Though cunning, her intelligence remained immature. She was merely a spoiled girl who felt satisfied only when people worshiped her.

[Saruvia] "No! I can't accept this!"

Saruvia completely shattered the humble image she had carefully constructed for herself.

Dianna opened her eyes wide at the display. The strange sense of defeat she previously held toward Levian vanished instantly.

I never acted like that at her age. Is she missing a few gears?

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