Chapter 6

No matter what, I couldn't bring myself to speak to Gérard during breakfast, too afraid to do so.

Of course, he never once looked in my direction, treating me as if I were as insubstantial as air.

(...Yeah, maybe I should just give up on building a good relationship with my brother!)

Just as I was feeling so discouraged, my father called out to me.

"Ortencia, we are about to head to the cathedral for your baptism. Get ready."

(Ah, that's right... I had forgotten about that...)

In this country, there is a ceremony where one can receive the gods' baptism and their blessing by donating a certain amount of money to the cathedral. While many commoners cannot afford the baptism, noble children usually undergo the ceremony shortly after birth. The type of blessing one receives largely depends on their inherent qualities. In my first life, the blessing I received... was honestly too weak for a noble. That's why I had almost forgotten about the baptism altogether.

(But, there's no real reason to refuse. I might as well go to the cathedral again...)

◇◇◇

No matter how many times I come here, I can't help but be amazed by the grand cathedral of the capital. The great cathedral of the goddess Auriella, towering before me, gleamed white in the sunlight.

"Is this your first time here?"

"Y-Yes. I've only ever been to small churches before..."

(Actually, I've been here a few times in my previous life.)

To avoid arousing suspicion, I looked around nervously, trying to act as if I were overwhelmed by the grandeur, and followed my father.

Had he already arranged it? As soon as we stepped into the cathedral, the bishop greeted us.

(As expected of the head of a prestigious ducal family. The special treatment is incredible...!)

The bishop smiled at the surprised Ortencia.

"Welcome. Oh... this must be the lovely young lady from the Verite Ducal Family."

"This is my daughter, Ortencia. Bishop, please perform her baptism as we discussed."

"Of course. Please, this way."

Led by the bishop, Ortencia proceeded to the inner sanctum of the cathedral. She arrived in front of a large statue of the goddess Auriella.

"Please, kneel here... and soon, the goddess will bestow upon you a new name and a blessing."

Following the instructions, Ortencia knelt before the statue, and the bishop began a long prayer.

In my first life, I was quite nervous during the baptism, but now, Ortencia felt somewhat indifferent. Through the baptism, one receives a new name and a blessing. The strength of the blessing is proportional to the length of the baptismal name; the longer the name, the stronger the blessing.

In my previous life, my baptismal name was... "Remy." It was only two letters long, which is incredibly short. Most nobles receive names that are about four letters long, so I was often mocked for this. The blessing I received was to "ward off misfortune," but looking back, it didn't seem to work at all.

(I was executed after being caught up in a major misfortune...)

Incidentally, my brother-in-law Gérard's baptismal name is "Adnacion," which is six letters long. It's on par with royal names, and just saying it can make people bow in awe. I don't know what kind of blessing he received, but it must be incredibly powerful.

While I was thinking about this, the bishop's prayer was coming to an end.

"O goddess Auriella, please bestow a new name and a blessing upon this person."

Then, the bishop looked at me and spoke.

"Your new name is... 'Aldriel.'"

"What!?"

At this unexpected turn of events, Ortencia's mouth dropped open in shock.

(No way, it's different from before!?)

As I raised my head in surprise, a strong wind blew, and I instinctively closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I found myself in a completely white, mysterious space.

(...What is this? What's happening!?)

《...Sia, Ortencia, can you hear me?》

"Ahhh!?"

Suddenly, a voice echoed in my head, and I let out a pitiful scream in shock. Then, like a mist clearing, the statue of the goddess Auriella appeared before me. I was so taken aback that I just gaped.

"Eh, eh...?"

《We don't have much time, so I'll be brief.》

"Y-Yes!"

...Could this voice be coming from the statue in front of me?

(Does that mean the voice belongs to... the goddess!?)

《Ortencia, do you remember your first life?》

"Wh-What!?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Ortencia let out a strange cry. No one else had noticed that time had been rewound, and I had even started to doubt whether it was just a long dream.

"Was... was that really real!?"

《Those events were not a dream or an illusion; they actually happened.》

"But... then why am I still alive!?"

《Your death triggered a loss of balance in the world, leading to a chaotic era. Because so many lives were lost, time was rewound to the point where you are now.》

"......???"

Completely unable to understand, Ortencia tilted her head in confusion.