Chapter 2: The Mirror Image
Via stared at the mirror in disbelief, thinking she must be hallucinating.
Why did she see not herself in the mirror, but the mortal enemy of humanity—a demon?
“…Ah!”
The soft-hearted Via was frightened by the demon’s gaze, stepping back instinctively, tripping over something, and falling with a loud thud.
“Via?”
Sophie, outside the door, heard the strange noise and hurried in, seeing her sister on the ground, clearly shaken, and walked over.
“Sis, there…!”
Via clung to Sophie’s arm, trembling as she pointed at the mirror.
“The mirror?”
Sophie, puzzled, approached the vanity and examined the mirror, finding nothing unusual.
“There’s a demon in the mirror, sis!” Via cried.
“Is there?”
Sophie inspected it thoroughly, even using holy power to sense for anything, but detected no demon presence.
“It’s gone?”
Via gathered her courage and approached the mirror, only to find the strange demon had vanished.
“Did you really see a demon, Via?” Sophie asked.
“I…”
Via hesitated.
She was starting to doubt her own eyes.
“I’ll call others to check carefully—”
“No, no need! I must have been mistaken!”
Via quickly interrupted Sophie’s suggestion.
Tonight’s banquet required meeting the royal family of the Saint Luo Empire, and the Holy Land placed great importance on it, having developed largely due to royal support.
If she was wrong and caused rumors of a demon invasion, stirring panic, she would be in serious trouble.
“Are you ready yet? Bishop-sama is already urging us!” a nun called from outside.
“Via, let’s attend the banquet first,” Sophie said.
“If we’re late, Bishop-sama will be angry.”
“Okay.”
Via nodded and followed her sister out of the room.
Just after leaving, she noticed something wrong, touching her waist and finding the pendant symbolizing the saintess successor cracked from her fall.
Her face paled instantly.
…No one will notice, right?
“So… so many people…”
Via trailed behind Sophie, keeping her head low to avoid others’ gazes.
The guests invited to the banquet were all nobles from the human world.
Though she wished to remain unnoticed, she and Sophie, the saintess sisters, drew everyone’s attention upon entering, becoming the center of the room.
Compared to the timid tagalong, Sophie carried herself with grace and poise, confidently meeting gazes with ease and elegance, earning widespread praise.
“Sophie’s performance is truly outstanding, reminiscent of Lady Sylvia.”
“Her sister, on the other hand… hmph, her very existence dilutes the saintess bloodline and undermines the Holy Land’s legitimacy!”
Sylvia Sheliford was the previous saintess and Via and Sophie’s biological mother.
Hailed as the world’s most perfect saintess, from nobles to commoners, all adored her—her beauty, personality, talent, and charm were flawless in every way.
Yet this universally admired saintess had tragically left the world in a heartbreaking accident.
People naturally projected their feelings for Sylvia onto her children.
Sophie resembled Sylvia, showing exceptional talent from a young age, awakening holy power, mastering many skills, surpassing her peers, and seen as Sylvia’s rightful successor, destined to approach perfection with effort.
Via, however, was a disappointment, unable even at her age to cast the most basic healing spell of a nun, unqualified even for that role, drawing heavy criticism.
The external pressure had gradually turned Via into a shy, socially anxious girl.
“I’ve heard some families, to preserve pure lineage, arrange… ‘accidents’ to remove unsuitable heirs.”
“Will such a delightful ‘accident’ happen here?”
The nobles’ teasing whispers reached Via’s ears, stinging slightly.
“…These people.”
Sophie also overheard the unkind remarks about Via and paused.
She started toward them to confront them but was called away.
“Sophie, Via, come here.”
Turning, they saw a middle-aged man in luxurious robes, stern and unsmiling.
He was Bishop Bellon of the Holy Land.
Beside him stood a imposing man in red-and-black imperial robes, wearing a gilded laurel crown, regal and commanding, his eyes holding the quiet ferocity of a lion.
He was Gustav, emperor of the Saint Luo Empire, humanity’s strongest nation.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Sophie performed a flawless saintess curtsy to the human emperor.
“G-Greetings, Your Majesty… uh…!”
Via fumbled her curtsy, messing up a step.
The contrast displeased Bishop Bellon, who felt it shamed the Holy Land.
“Sophie, as you grow, you resemble Sylvia more and more,” the emperor remarked.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Mother was far more exceptional; I’m still striving to follow in her footsteps,” Sophie replied.
“I heard you recently joined a campaign against a transcendent magical beast?” the emperor asked.
“Yes, I served in a support role.”
“The warriors in the campaign said you played a pivotal role in turning the battle,” the emperor praised.
“Grow quickly and protect the hard-won peace the Sword Princess secured.”
“Yes.”
“And you?” The emperor turned his gaze to Via.
“Um…”
Via instinctively lowered her head, unsure how to respond, unable to even use healing magic.
A flicker of barely concealed disdain passed through Bellon’s eyes before he changed the subject.
“Your Majesty, regarding your previous suggestion, the Holy Land is considering it, actively eliminating factors harming our legitimacy, so about the royal aid—”
“You’d better be serious. Many are already dissatisfied with the privileges I grant the Holy Land,” the emperor said with a half-smile.
“I hope the Holy Land’s air becomes… cleaner soon.”
“Goodbye, Your Majesty.”
The banquet ended, and Bellon led Sophie and Via to bid the emperor farewell.
“Goodbye.”
Before leaving, the emperor looked at Sophie with appreciation, then at Via, his expression shifting as if regarding a defective product to be discarded.
In that moment, Via felt like prey stared down by a lion, her heart skipping a beat, instinctively hiding behind Sophie.
Once the emperor’s entourage was gone, Via thought she could relax, but Bellon commanded in a slightly angry tone, “Via, about your… future, we need to have a serious talk when we return tonight.”