All her life, Elizabeth had been walking a predestined path. Despite being the firstborn of her prestigious family, she suffered from her lack of faith and talent, yet the Lord gifted her with a mind for passion akin to insanity. Even after getting ridiculed and neglected by her family, she still held onto her dream and followed her heart.

With her great accomplishment in the academic field, she stood against the arrangement of her family. Because of her autonomy, they tolerated her existence, watching from afar for the day she misstepped. That day never arrived, for she bled and gritted her teeth but never yielded, striving to create a new beginning for herself.

After years of maddening endurance, her family finally let go of her and turned their attention to her younger sister, who exhibited unparalleled talent for magic. Because of that, Herrifer harboured resentment towards her elder sister, who pushed all the responsibility to her.

Though Elizabeth wished to help, she could only watch Herrifer struggled against the humiliation. Blind faith wasn’t a concept anyone could teach, even though she too held it in her dream. Still, Elizabeth remained unwavering, focusing on the last pillar of her hope, her dream. Even without the support or pity from her family, she would prove to them and herself her passion.

Thus, she persevered on and on until the night before Herrifer's long-awaited test of faith. That night, Elizabeth felt exceptionally tired and bid her family farewell before heading to her room first. They didn't appreciate her presence and permitted it.

Before she left, she took a long, dreary gaze at her family, especially at Herrifer, silently praying for her success. Though her appearance retained the youthful beauty, her cold, dispirited eyes ruined her lofty image, prompting Herrifer to return her blessing with an annoyed frown.

Elizabeth sighed and ascended the staircase, guided by no one. The butlers and maids had to remain to tend the family, so she had to go alone; she preferred to go alone. Though she could endure the pressure for years, she didn't do so effortlessly. After she left the social world, she sank into a long silence, her favourite time of the day.

No scrutinising, judgemental gaze. Just silence. Dull, serene silence.

Her long inaudible walk led her along the dark hallway, where moonlight periodically landed and illuminated her path. The soft carpet beneath her feet supported her exhausted body, yet she still moved with stable grace, hiding her thought behind her neutrality. Though it was the same as always, Elizabeth couldn't help but slow her pace.

Her heart quivered as she shuddered and sweated, but she couldn't find the source of her anxiety. Checking her temperature, she found herself slightly heated but nothing out of the ordinary, especially after a long day. Compared to the splitting headache she had the other day, this tiredness would resolve itself after a night sleep.

Entering the room, she wiped herself with a cold towel and forced herself to sit on her desk. Though exhausted, she still took some time to check her diary, noting her progress, reviewing her objectives. Only when the moonlight receded from her window did she close the curtain and go to bed.

Once she laid on her pillow, a strange coldness engulfed her body, suffocating her chest. Her breathing became short and rapid, yet the air refused to enter her lung. As she was about to struggle, a gush of warmth rushed over her body. She found herself inexplicably relaxed, letting her mind drift into the depth of the night, deeper and deeper, forever.

When Elizabeth opened her eyes and got up from her bed, the chronic tiredness had dispersed, replaced by an empty acceptance, which permeated her weightless body. Despite waking up in an unfamiliar place, she somehow found peace in her heart, but a wistfulness plagued her mind, consummating into a feeble sigh.

She sat on a bed made of warm snow, on a ground of fluffy clouds, which gradually flowed upwards, piercing the whiter sky, where countless auroras waved. Looking at the unreal scenery, Elizabeth instantly understood the situation.

"So this is how far I can go?" she said. "I thought my routine was perfect, but it seems I push too hard."

"You don't look too surprised," a soft, fleeting voice rang. "My Child, out of all mortals I've taken interests in, you are one of the most fascinating."

Tracing the voice, Elizabeth looked up. On the sky, a figure gracefully descended, walking on the emptiness of the space, the wings on her back fluttering. Despite floating in the air, her white dress coated her figure, revealing her curvature yet concealing her shameful parts, inviting Elizabeth to stare, but also repelling her with a sense of shame.

Though she was usually calm, the sign of divine beauty left her fluttered. She averted her gaze, yet she still tensed as the shadow cast by the angel engulfed her body.

"You're a strange one," the maiden said. "You seem to follow my teaching and value purity, yet your soul lacks faith."

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"I remember this silhouette." Elizabeth took a deep breath and instantly changed her manner. "Lord, it is my honour to receive your grace."

"You're one of my most beloved children, Elizabeth. Even though I couldn’t help you when you were alive, I can compensate you after you've peacefully passed away."

"Unknowingly pass away, not peacefully. At least Herrifer will have a bright future ahead."

"Is that an ironic expression, or is that sisterly love?"

"Maybe both. It doesn't matter anymore. I've tried my best, yet it seems that fate doesn't smile upon me."

"I smile upon you, my Child." The Lord raised her hand and tossed away a feather. "I can sense the void in your heart. Though your fate in this world has burnt to ember, your regrets and passions haven’t."

"What does my death accomplish, Lord? Is it only for Herrifer to become the rightful successor, or is it also a motivation for her to affirm her faith?"

"Child, if only you answered your calling, you could have everything in your hand. Your family would have loved you; your sister wouldn't have loathed you. Why did you let go?"

Elizabeth stared at the Lord's gentle face, yet she couldn't see the distinct feature except for the bright glow which obstructed her vision yet comforted her. Despite how hard she tried, she could only force out an empty sigh.

"I cannot see you the way you want, Lord. My heart has been gouged out long ago. The room inside it is too small for anyone else to occupy."

"Despite what you think, Child, your heart is unfathomably deep. It doesn't lack space. It’s just that nothing, not even my grace, can fill it."

"Lord, please forgive me for my conceit, but I can't accept your salvation, not like this. Even if you took me to your paradise, I wouldn't be able to stay there."

"Is it because of your regrets, or is it because of your sorrows? Do not fret, my Child, though you couldn't receive the familial affection in your past life, I will bless you with one in the next."

"If you could do so, why did you have to wait until my death? Still, it doesn't matter anymore. I don't wish to have a second chance."

"Do you truly think so? Your ember is still glowing red, Child." The Lord gently embraced Elizabeth and leant to her ear. "This is a chance to change your destiny. You've succeeded once, you will succeed again."

"Lord, my tantrum can't be counted as such. It's just a pitiful attempt to satisfy my curiosity."

"Your plan succeeded, Child. Unfortunately, you couldn't bear the consequence and fell before you could reap your reward."

"I only need to know it succeeded. Herrifer is a good girl and deserves the chance."

"This is why, Elizabeth, I offer you a second chance. You've given me a surprise. I wish to give you a surprise, too."

"Even if I have a second chance, I will still walk the same path. Your effort will be in vain. If this heart could change, it would have changed long ago."

"Even if you're in a different world with a different family?" The Lord pointed at Iris's heart. "I know you won't change, that's why I will send you somewhere more suitable. You deserve better."

"No substitute can ever be as profound as the original."

"Is this your heart speaking, or your mind speaking?"

Before Elizabeth could speak, the Lord leant forward and placed her hand on Elizabeth's chest. A subtle heat invaded her breasts and infused into her blood. The burning sensation travelled inside her body and concentrated in her heart. As Elizabeth panicked, the Lord kissed her forehead. A streak of holy light seeped into Elizabeth.

"I've gifted you the second chance and imbued into you the divine beauty of my standard," the Lord said. "Please open your heart more, Child. Let love and affection touch you. Let your heart be kindled anew."

"What," Elizabeth said, "did you do to me?"

"You don't need to suppress your feeling anymore. My blessing will shower you with affection, for you too will shower your new family with it."

Elizabeth tried to push away the Lord, but her heart abruptly tightened. The heat inside her body boiled her blood as she gasped, taking in the Lord's scent, feeling her desire aroused. Though they stuck together for a long time, Elizabeth only just realised that the Lord's smooth, pearl-like skin was stroking her, rubbing against her sensitive flesh. Her calm mind descended into a maelstrom of pleasure, filling her with flushes and thoughts she never had.

"What's happening? What did you do?" Elizabeth murmured as she grasped the Lord's arms, trembling. "Why does every touch hurt, yet I can't stop yearning for it?"

"I've fixed you, Child. This is the real you, the mind fused with the heart."

"Lord, why? Is purity not of the mind your teaching?" Elizabeth moaned as she bit her lips. Her burning breath seeped out of her mouth. Her resistance gradually faded as she laid on her bed, struggling against her heart, yet anticipating for the Lord's tenderer embrace. "This isn't me. I'm not like this. I don't want this!"

"I would like to make you my angel. Alas, my kingdom is not where you should be. You should be free and let yourself loose. The world you will enter is one of freedom. There, you will gain what you've once lost."

"Can I refuse?"

"What do you think?"

"Lord, why are you toying with me, an insignificant mortal? Your religion spans multiple star systems, the backbone of the galactic empire. Why me?"

"Child, you're one of the few who can break the shackle of destiny. You'll understand when you are there. How about treating this as a transaction?"

"What is there for you to gain from this?"

"Many things. I'll have an assurance, and I'll have Herrifer."

Despite the searing heat and desires inside Elizabeth, she frowned and stared at the Lord. Her hazy eyes instantly regained their clarity, repelling the distracting thoughts and suppressing her awakening feeling.

"Lord, I'm willing to go, but you must not meddle with her life," she said.

"Is that the pride of the eldest sister or the pride of the mastermind?" The Lord smiled and tapped Elizabeth's forehead. "The structure of destiny is complex. Even I can't randomly play with it."

"I'll trust your words, Lord. You have no reason to lie to me."

"I await your performance, Elizabeth Goodwills. I know you won't disappoint me. If you try hard enough, you might see your Herrifer again."

"What do you—"

The Lord kissed Elizabeth and softly pushed her. The bed of clouds sank and parted, revealing a bottomless hole, where the darkness of the endless void resided. Elizabeth abruptly fell while moaning from the pleasure of the divine touch. As the electrifying sensation multiplied in her heart, a strange desire overcame her mind. Though she never had one, she could instinctively understand what it was: Lust.

Before she could process her thoughts, her consciousness faded.