Chapter 8

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The 27th King, Raxdo Slauren.

He is the father of Prince Acteur and the current king, whose health began to deteriorate from the year the queen died suddenly of illness.

Although the king had always been in good health and had never had any major injuries or illnesses, the death of his beloved wife triggered a mental instability that affected his physical condition.

Starting with symptoms of stress such as insomnia, headaches, stomachaches, and nausea, he began to experience fever, neurological symptoms, and fatigue.

He also contracted an epidemic and, unable to recover, spent more and more days in bed.

And then...

"My father is still fighting multiple diseases."

"..."

On the way to the king's private room, the prince told me this with a regretful expression.

He was frustrated that he couldn't do anything to help his suffering father.

When he said this to the people, he must have also been thinking about his father, who was battling illness.

The prince bit his lip and continued.

"We don't have a doctor. We did until a few years ago, but he was also elderly. He fell ill and couldn't continue, and eventually passed away."

"What did you do after that?"

"We hired doctors from other countries to see him regularly. However, the doctor says that with so many diseases, there's nothing that can be done."

"..."

The doctor said that it was a miracle that the king was still alive.

It was a miracle of the king's pride and sense of responsibility.

However, there was no hope of recovery.

All that was left was to wait for a slow death.

"We also tried magic. If medicine didn't work, we tried other methods. But none of them worked. Magic isn't all-powerful. It can heal wounds and detoxify, but it's difficult to cure complex diseases. I knew that, though."

"Prince..."

"It was a desperate attempt."

Throughout the conversation, the prince looked regretful.

He had done everything he could.

If this was the result of trying every possible method, there was nothing left to do but give up.

"Then I found you. It felt like a miracle... no, fate. Maybe God gave us a chance."

The prince said this, looking at me and smiling.

Medicine, pharmacology, and magic couldn't save the king.

There was only one possibility left.

The miracle performed by the holy maiden was the only remaining hope.

"It might be a burden to you, given what you've been through."

"No, I also believe it's fate."

"Iliyas?"

"Maybe God guided me to the person who truly needed my prayers."

God is always watching over us.

He guides me.

If this meeting, including the sad events, was fate, then...

"We've arrived. This is it."

Jin and Sion, who were leading the way, stopped.

There was a door in front of us.

It was a bit more ornate than the other doors. Jin knocked on it.

There was no response.

After a few seconds, the prince called out.

"Father, we're coming in."

The door creaked open, and we entered.

On a large bed, a man with a white beard was sleeping.

This is the king...

"Prince, how old is His Majesty?"

"He is fifty-five this year."

"Fifty-five..."

It's hard to believe.

The number of wrinkles, the texture of the skin, the thinness of the limbs, and the weak breathing make him look over seventy.

He doesn't look like a man in his fifties at all.

"He didn't look this old."

"Prince..."

The prince continued, touching the emaciated hand of the king, sensing my thoughts.

"He became bedridden about three years ago. At that time, he could still walk normally, but gradually his limbs became thinner, and it became difficult to get up. Now, he spends most of his days sleeping."

"The doctor who comes to see him says that the diseases have accelerated his aging."

Jin added.

The body, fighting multiple diseases, is slowly heading towards death.

The king's condition was so obvious that it was clear he was in a state of decline.

His weak breathing sounded as if it could stop at any moment.

"...Act...?"

"―! Father! You're awake!"

As we were talking, the king, reacting to our voices, opened his eyes.

He looked at the prince with a vacant gaze, then shifted his gaze to me.

The prince noticed the movement of his eyes.

"Father, this is Iliyas. She is the holy maiden from the neighboring country."

"A holy maiden...? Why is a holy maiden in our country..."

"Actually―"

"Please wait. May I introduce myself and speak to you?"

"Iliyas?"

It was rude to interrupt the prince's explanation.

However, this was my first meeting with the king.

Since I would be taking care of him from now on, I wanted to introduce myself clearly.

The prince understood my intention.

"Alright."

"Thank you."

I bowed to the king.

"Your Majesty, it's an honor to meet you. I am Iliyas. I was a holy maiden in Spark Kingdom, and from now on, I will be the holy maiden of this country."

"...The holy maiden of... our country? Why...?"

"Let me explain that after you rest. First, I will cleanse the evil that is eroding your body. Please pray with me, everyone."

"Ah."

"Leave it to you."

"Understood."

When prayers reach God, miracles happen.

The size of the miracle changes depending on the strength and sincerity of the prayers.

There are some wishes that I alone cannot fulfill.

What's important is not just my prayers, but the presence of others who pray in the same way.

Their prayers, combined with mine, reach God.

I want to convey that.

This is not just my wish.

I want everyone to wish for it.

"Lord, please hear our voices."

I clasped my hands in front of my chest and offered a prayer.

Combined with everyone's prayers, my prayer reached God's ears.

A faint light appeared, a harbinger of the miracle.

The light enveloped the king.

Black mist, a manifestation of the diseases, overflowed from the king's body and was purified by the light.

The black mist was a visualization of the diseases that had been eroding the king.

The multiple diseases were healed by the miracle.

When the prayer ended, the prince looked at me.

"Iliyas?"

"The diseases that were eroding the king's body have been completely cured."

"―! Father, how do you feel?"

"...Ah, my body feels lighter. I was having trouble breathing just a moment ago, but now it feels comfortable."

The king took a deep breath on the bed.

It was a strong, powerful breath of life.

"―Father..."

Tears fell from the prince's eyes.

The king reached out and gently stroked the prince's head.

"I'm sorry for worrying you... Acteur."

"...It's good... really..."

Jin and Sion also watched the scene tenderly.

I could see that their eyes were also moist with tears.

Everyone had prayed.

From the bottom of their hearts, for the king's recovery.

That's why the miracle happened.

"Iliyas."

The prince wiped away his tears and said to me.

"Thank you. I am truly grateful to you."

"I just helped. It's not just my wish... it's the miracle created by everyone's wishes."

"―You truly are a holy maiden."

He smiled as he said this.

Even though he was just saying something obvious, it somehow touched my heart.

Why is that?

Why?