Nine Summers of Divine Punishment

What happened in the temple was known only to them; for now, the rest remained blissfully unaware.

That day, the doctor took Wakako to gather some herbs. She had some knowledge of medicinal herbs from before, so she could tell that the herbs were mild, with only a simple calming effect. Whether she drank them or not didn’t really make much difference.

After some time, Wakako gradually began to sleep a little each day. However, even in those brief moments of rest, she found herself dreaming more frequently. In her dreams, she always saw that wooden statue of  God, staring at her with eyes that revealed neither joy nor sorrow.

Though the statue seemed so close, she could never clearly see its face, as if a veil was draped over it.

Yet she knew, deep down, that the statue was calmly gazing at her, as if she had done something wrong, filling her with waves of guilt and self-reproach.

To avoid suspicion, she continued to visit the pharmacy daily to collect her medicine.

The smell in the pharmacy was usually strong, but today, Wakako felt there was a familiar scent mixed in, one that didn’t seem like any of the herbs.

She didn’t think much of it and, as usual, picked up a thick package of herbs before preparing to leave.

Illness had swept through the royal palace recently, and with a limited number of doctors prioritizing the care of the nobles, not everyone could receive personalized attention.

The lowliest servants, for instance, lacked the privilege of medical consultation and possessed few coins to buy medicine.  Fortunately, most of the doctors were kind-hearted. Even if they couldn’t spare the time for a consultation, they would often point out where to find herbs to brew and drink.

Given Wakako’s current status, she wasn’t in such a position.

“Lady Kitagawa,” the doctor suddenly addressed her with a slight nod. “Another lady has requested that you wait a moment before leaving. She will be here shortly.”

Wakako had no idea who might be looking for her. The room was full of patients, and she didn’t want to disturb them, so she stepped outside for the time being.

Now that the medicinal odors were less potent, the familiar scent she had noticed upon entering became more pronounced.

Wakako glanced back into the pharmacy from a distance and vaguely saw someone behind the curtain whispering to another doctor. The doctor attempted to take the person’s pulse, but for some reason, the person pulled their hand back and avoided the touch.

Most palace servants were Betas, and the individual with the distinct scent was clearly an Omega.

The way that person withdrew their hand felt familiar to Wakako, and after thinking for a moment, she realized who it was…

She paused at the entrance, and shortly after, that person also came out, holding some medicine. Their eyes met.

It was Miki.

After all, they had fought on the battlefield together, so Wakako recognized her scent. However, it seemed to have subtly changed compared to before.

She hadn’t interacted much with Omegas and couldn’t immediately decipher the meaning behind this change.

“Senior Wakako,” Miki greeted her softly, tightly gripping the medicine in her hand. Her complexion didn’t look good. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Lately, Miki had been absent from the training grounds due to illness and coupled with the fact that their teams rarely crossed paths, Wakako hadn’t seen her for quite some time. Now, she noticed that Miki’s condition seemed off.

It wasn’t merely the fatigue from lack of rest; something else seemed wrong.

Even Wakako, who could be slow to pick up on things, understood that Miki had specifically asked someone to stop her, indicating that there was something she wanted to say.

Since their paths overlapped for a bit on the way back, Wakako didn’t refuse to walk with her.

“Why so many?” Wakako finally noticed what Miki held in her hand – a single string tied to over a dozen medicine packages, clearly far more than what one person would need. “What’s wrong?”

Miki forced a weak smile, clearly burdened by something she couldn’t share. She lowered her head and simply said, “Senior, could you carry these for me? I don’t have much strength left.”

As a highly trained mercenary, she couldn’t even carry these?

Although Wakako hadn’t been in top condition lately, she wasn’t so weak as to lack the strength for this. Seeing Miki on the verge of collapse, she took the medicine packages from her.

The closer they got, the more Wakako could smell the mixture of medicinal herbs… a chaotic and jumbled blend, some even with conflicting properties. What was going on?

Miki remained silent throughout the journey, her head lowered in exhaustion.

The other members of the Omega team were absent, leaving their usual courtyard deserted.

Having escorted her this far, Wakako placed the numerous medicine packages on the stone table outside the courtyard and was about to leave.

“Senior…” Miki finally spoke, her hand resting on the table for support.

“Why didn’t you come to the Saint’s banquet that day?”

Her voice was soft, without any malice, but the question was aimed directly at Wakako.

“Could it be that you were afraid the Queen would notice what’s going on between you and the Saint?”

***

“Have you been staying in the temple lately?”

The Queen set down her pen and glanced sideways at the Saint.

The matter of the divine trial, concerning the Crown Princess’s safety, was something she had initially intended to keep concealed, arranging everything discreetly.

However, the Saint had argued that since God had ordained the conflict between the two kingdoms, they would strive for fairness in this matter, showing the same premonition upon both sides.

And knowing Saburo’s temperament, he would likely attempt to spread the news throughout the Eastern Continent, so it was crucial to be prepared in advance.

“The Crown Princess of the Eagle Kingdom, Loren, has been sent outside the palace to recuperate after falling ill,” the Saint said. Having spent five years in the kingdom, despite the ruler’s wariness, she knew such basic information. “But her health is deteriorating, and doctors believe she won’t survive the winter.”

Winter was drawing to a close, and the Crown Princess of Mios, Tsukiyo, remained lively and healthy.

The divine trial had no set deadline, which meant that if things were dragged out long enough, Mios could potentially win without a fight.

Therefore the priority was to ensure Tsukiyo’s safety, preferably by selecting trustworthy individuals to form a personal guard for her.

The Queen’s first thought naturally turned to the Royal Mercenaries, her personal guard, and among them…

Wakako, hailing from the Kitagawa clan, possessed a relatively short service record yet boasted numerous achievements. Having also served as the Crown Princess’s tutor, she was the perfect candidate.

Moreover, she was personally chosen by Miki.

However, the Queen couldn’t understand what had transpired between the two. After the banquet, with the Queen’s tacit approval, she had expected them to grow closer without reservation. Yet, the Saint had spent her days secluded in the temple, shutting herself away.

Wakako hadn’t made any move to see her either, simply performing her duties in silence.

According to the stable servants, Wakako had apparently fallen ill recently, nearly collapsing while instructing the Crown Princess. The Queen found it hard to believe that the Saint wasn’t aware of this, yet she showed no reaction.

This was truly strange. Having sought the Queen’s permission, why then did the Saint remain indifferent?

There was no need for them to speak explicitly; half-spoken words were enough between them.

Miki naturally understood that the Queen was inquiring about Wakako. With the Crown Princess’s safety at stake, it was only natural for the Queen to seek reassurance by understanding the situation fully.

She replied calmly, “Assign Wakako to protect Tsukiyo. God still require her alive to keep me in check. They won’t allow her to die.”

God knew all too well that if Wakako were gone, the thread tethering the Saint to the mortal realm would vanish along with her.  Therefore, while God might resort to threats, God wouldn’t allow Themselves to lose Their final leverage.

The Queen considered this and found it reasonable. As long as Wakako remained alive, Crown Princess Tsukiyo, whom she protected with her life, would be safe.

However… “I’ve heard that Lady Kitagawa has been unwell recently.”

Miki lowered her gaze, casting a shadow over her eyes. She was clearly aware of Wakako’s condition, yet remained silent.

The Queen pondered for a moment. Mercenaries were usually in excellent health and rarely fell ill. “Could it be a divine punishment?”

Miki gently shook her head.

“Then what is it?”

Miki offered a smile but no answer, instead steering the conversation in another direction. “Besides assigning someone to protect Tsukiyo, are there no other measures you plan to take?”

She suggested, “Why not consider a ruse to deceive everyone?”

***

“Are you planning to deceive everyone in the palace and continue your relationship with the Saint right under their noses?”

Wakako slowly turned her head.

After all, Miki had witnessed Wakako with the Saint at the bottom of the mountain that day, so it wasn’t surprising that she had guessed the nature of their relationship.

However, if Miki intended to confront her, she could have done so when the Saint returned with the Mios delegation. Why wait until now to bring it up?

She fixed her gaze on Miki. “What are you trying to say?”

“What am I trying to say?” Miki let out a mocking laugh. “Obviously, I’m talking about the fact that you, my fiancée, are secretly involved with someone else. And that someone is the esteemed Saint.”

Her body trembled slightly.

“I also heard that you used to be her servant.”

This was something most people didn’t know, but Miki had close ties with the Queen, who was now deeply wary of the Saint, often expressing her complaints.

“I always believed the Saint to be pure and chaste, but I never imagined she would be so promiscuous in private, even taking advantage of her own servant…”

Wakako’s eyes darkened, her voice growing cold. “Watch your mouth. Who gave you the right to insult the Saint?”

Miki was taken aback.

In the past, no matter how she acted out, Wakako would silently endure, fully aware she was in the wrong. But now, the moment Miki spoke ill of the Saint, Wakako fired back with sharp, uncompromising words.

So, the bond between them really was that deep.

Miki’s eyes filled with tears as she seemed to realize something, nearly letting them fall. “Insult? I’m just speaking the truth! If others knew what our Saint is truly like, wouldn’t it disgrace the entire kingdom? Have you even considered the consequences, Senior…?”

Before she could finish her sentence, a short sword suddenly appeared at Miki’s neck, the movement so swift that she hadn’t even seen Wakako draw it.

Mercenaries always carried short swords at their waists.

Even at her peak, Miki was no match for Wakako, let alone in her current weakened state.

Despite Wakako’s recent decline in health, she remained the best close-combat mercenary, capable of defeating all her teammates combined. If she willed it, she could take a life in the blink of an eye.

With a cold, expressionless face, Wakako pressed the short sword against the most vulnerable part of Miki’s neck.

Even though her eyes were slightly bloodshot from the relentless nightmares, she still focused on her target with the intensity of a hawk. Just as she had countless times before, drenched in blood and unaware of pain, surviving until the end.

“I made myself clear to you long ago, and you agreed to inform the Queen and annul our engagement. I thought we had reached an understanding.”

Wakako spoke slowly, “Regardless, I am the one who has wronged you, so I’ve tolerated you. But I will not, under any circumstances, allow you to do anything that could harm the Saint.”

The short sword pressed a bit tighter, leaving a shallow cut on Miki’s skin.

“If you truly intend to ruin the Saint’s reputation, to make her the subject of ridicule, I’ll kill you right now.”

Faced with the threat to her life, Miki trembled even more violently. Perhaps because Wakako had always been so gentle and approachable, she had momentarily forgotten that Wakako was the Alpha who had fought her way through the brutal Rose War, returning bloodied but victorious.

She had no doubt that if she showed any further hostility, Wakako’s short sword would pierce her throat in an instant.

So, the Saint was the one line that Wakako would not allow anyone to cross.

Miki’s tears finally overflowed, not out of fear, but from helplessness and despair.

“I’m sorry, Senior,” Her voice broke as she began to sob uncontrollably, her words coming out in broken fragments. “I never meant to harm the Saint, it’s just that I… I don’t know what to do. I…”

It took a long time for her to continue, her voice thick with hopelessness.

“I’m pregnant, Senior.”

Now it was Wakako’s turn to be stunned.