Chapter 22

“I have bestowed upon you the blessings of the divine. May you be surrounded by light. Now, let me guide you back to where you were originally.” High Priest Julius spoke these words and gently lifted the child in his arms.

Using his divine power, the High Priest swiftly transported them from the Riott Temple to Elliana’s room in Dandelion Palace.

“We have arrived. Can you ensure the safekeeping of the Sun Scroll?”

Elliana nodded and turned over a basket filled with toys in her room, carefully hiding the Sun Scroll at the very bottom. She even placed a few more dolls on top to conceal it.

“Excellent job. It is a precious item, so please keep it safe there.”

High Priest Julius praised her and gently caressed Elliana’s head. She felt proud of his praise, realizing that she had never heard such words of encouragement from anyone other than Theo in her past.

“Gwoodbye.”

Elliana bowed politely and immersed herself in her thoughts. She was fortunate to have the kind and strong High Priest to help her. She resolved to continue to show him her best side. Moreover, she had obtained the Sun Scroll. She wasn’t exactly sure what it was, but it was undoubtedly a valuable item that could enhance her powers.

Feeling that she could become a stronger version of herself, Elliana’s Sunstone heart beat with excitement. She also remembered that she needed to collect the dream fragments using the method that Lioferranda had mentioned earlier.

‘I need to find a store that sells dreamcatchers.’

She wanted to go to the general store right away and get one, but she was only three years old. Avoiding the attention of the maids was only possible inside the Duke’s mansion, but it was different when it came to going outside.

Usually, the general stores were located in the shopping district outside the mansion, so it would be difficult for her to go alone. In that case, she had no choice but to persuade someone to take her. Letting out a sigh, Elliana happened to spot Sarah’s flowing ponytail and grabbed onto the hem of her skirt.

“Sarah, I want to go to the mawket. Gwanpa said there are good things there.”

“Oh, lady, I also have something to buy. Shall we go together?”

“Yes, to the general stowe.”

“But first, we need to get permission from the lord.”

With the condition of being accompanied by three knights as escorts, the Duke granted permission for them to go out. Hence, in Sarah’s embrace, she was able to ride a carriage and reach the market. As they got off the carriage, flags depicting lions roaring on a chessboard, symbolizing the Crovache, fluttered here and there.

Ice fountains, sculptures, ice-skating rinks with glistening surfaces, and star-shaped lanterns could be seen in the distance. It was the shopping district of Crovache. Elliana thought there would be fewer people due to the cold, but the market was bustling with people. Due to that, Sarah held Elliana even tighter.

“Lady, it seems we should just quickly visit the general store and return. It’s unusually crowded today.”

Fortunately, there was a large general store near the entrance of the shopping district. It was a spacious two-story store selling all sorts of miscellaneous items, and Elliana felt captivated by the endless array of goods. Looking around excitedly, Elliana spoke up.

“I want to buy a dweamcatcher.”

“If it’s a dreamcatcher, it’s the thing we hang from the ceiling to have good dreams, right?”

“Yes, I dwon’t have a good dream these days.”

“Did you have a restless night? We should chase away bad dreams. Wait a moment. Where’s the dreamcatcher?”

Sarah wandered around the store but couldn’t find it, so she called a store employee for assistance. Eventually, they obtained a dreamcatcher with a bird design. It was made of sky-blue, fluffy threads.

“It’s pwetty.”

Elliana smiled, and Sarah bought the item before taking her to an ice cream shop in the square. The ice cream shop was unusually grand and had a peculiar name, ‘Heavenly Spoon’.

“Lady, there’s a rumor that the ice cream here is exceptionally delicious.”

It seemed like a shop frequented only by noble ladies and their maids. One of the reason might be the fact that the shop assistant was exceptionally handsome. Sarah quickly bought two cups of ice cream, giving one to Elliana.

“Here you go, try it. I chose vanilla and chocolate.”

As Elliana took a spoonful with a silver spoon, she understood why the shop was called ‘Heavenly Spoon’.

“It’s dewicious.”

It was so sweet and heavenly that it made her eyes widen and her whole body melt with delight. The ice cream tasted even better than pudding.

On the way back to the carriage, they stopped halfway and basked in the sun. And the next day, Elliana went to the sacred fountain in the reception room of the High Priest’ office. The High Priest welcomed her again as he chuckled and stroked his chin.

“Oh, young one, hello again.”

“Hewwo, I came to see the fwountain.”

“Ah, I see. Very well, feel free to enjoy the view.”

With a slightly puzzled expression, the High Priest returned to his office without accompanying her. Approaching the sacred fountain, Elliana had the bird-shaped dream catcher in her hands. Looking into the fountain, Elliana said, “I came back and bwought this.”

“Good. Then throw that dreamcatcher into the fountain.”

“But…”

Though she felt a little reluctant, Elliana followed Lioferranda’s instructions and throw the dreamcatcher with the bird design into the fountain. Soon after, something unbelievable happened. The sky-blue dreamcatcher soared up from the fountain and flew in circles through the air. It held something sparkling in its beak. It was a fragment of a dream.

The dreamcatcher went to Elliana’s small shoulder and offered her the dream fragment. The dream fragment fell into Elliana’s hands. The transparent, rainbow-colored dream fragment was incredibly beautiful.

“This bird will find all the dreams you have lost. It found one just now. To confirm, either dip your head into the fountain or place the dream fragment near your head before sleeping, and you will see that dream again.”

Elliana wondered if Lioferranda’s words were true. That night, she placed the dream fragment near her head and fell asleep, and just like that, she drifted into a deep slumber.

* * *

Through the dream fragment, Elliana glimpsed memories from her past life, and her heart ached as if it was being torn apart. On the day when Theo declared that he would accept Pudding as his betrothed, Duke Biolark became enraged and went on a furious rampage.

Boom!

On the day when thunder roared and heavy rain poured down, he stormed into Pudding’s room and slapped her without hesitation. She felt a searing pain as if flames were igniting on her cheek.

Slap!

“You cunning fox! Do you think a vulgar woman like you deserves to be by the side of the highest-standing person in this country? It’s unthinkable. Leave the palace immediately, or reject Theo. Understand?”

As Duke Biolark shouted, Pudding trembled, lowering her head in fear.

“I understand. I will pretend to be dead. I won’t covet the seat next to Theo.”

“Good. That’s right. And from now on, you will run errands for me.”

Duke Biolark smiled wickedly. When the dream ended there, Elliana’s heart ached, and her body trembled. Even recalling those unhappy memories in a dream was painful and difficult. Tears streamed down Elliana’s cheeks without her realizing. Suddenly, as Elliana transformed back into a puppy, her eyes glowed with a flicker of anger.

‘Duke Biolark, you wicked man. He truly is the culprit. He was the one who ordered the mage Aquinas to kill me using black magic.’

To survive, she had left Theo’s side and abandoned the cabin she loved so much. That was how she found her real parents and her home. Her father turned out to be the Duke of Crovache, the leader of the Silver Lion Clan. Surviving here was her first goal, but she realized there was something else she needed to pursue. Growling lowly, Elliana barked.

“Arf, arf! Woof, woof, woof! (I will make those who tormented me pay the price they deserve!)”

She wanted to take revenge on the black leopard, Duke Biolark. It was the moment when Elliana’s ultimate goal was established.