Chapter 327: Epiphany
Lady Sees’ words stabbed Ruby exactly where it hurts. Could she not be so... hard to deal with?!
She said it sweetly. Mournfully.
"Don’t worry, my dear." Lady Sees said.
The veiled lady leaned in, close enough that Ruby could smell the faint perfume of jasmine and something sharper beneath it.
Ruby went very still.
Ruby froze.
There it was again.
"Ah. I just had an idea, Saintess."
The change was so abrupt that Ruby felt mental whiplash, her thoughts scattering like startled birds.
Ruby blinked. "What?"
"The war happened because you were being compared to her." Lady Sees said matter-of-factly. "And at the same time, it is easy to prove yourself. You are the true Saintess. She was the fake. Why not seize the opportunity?"
"By... copying her?" Ruby asked. She could not quite keep the edge from her voice.
"Beyond what you have already proved. Beyond what anyone expects." The veiled lady tilted her head. "By then... no one. Not one person will dare to go against you anymore."
This woman.
Ruby did not like what she was hearing. Every instinct rebelled against taking advice from someone who made her feel so small and exposed.
But.
What Lady Sees said made sense. Every word of it. The logic was sound, the path was clear, and the destination was exactly where Ruby needed to go.
This was truly how she could fight.
She had been so focused on giving people what they wanted to hear. Sweet prophecies. Reassuring visions. The soft lies that made nobles smile and ministers nod and common folk light candles in her name.
Perhaps it was a risk to stop delivering comfort. But Ruby knew she could still wrap her predictions in sweetness. She could still offer gentle reassurances alongside the hard truths.
Yes.
She could even mix fortunate prophecies in between the disasters. A balance. Light and shadow. Hope and warning!
That was how Ruby would surpass her.
Powerful allies. Grateful allies. People who would owe their happiness to her!
Ruby was reluctant to admit it, but Lady Sees...
Behind the veil, watching Ruby’s face cycle through resistance, consideration, and finally the bright spark of epiphany, Cecilia sneered.
This evil, naive little bitch had no idea that every piece of advice, every gentle nudge, every carefully placed word was designed to steer her exactly where Cecilia needed her to go.
Good. Very good.
Every disaster foretold was a disaster she could prepare for. Every twist of fate Ruby revealed was a thread Cecilia could weave into her own designs.