To the Love Born in the Lowest Place-Chapter 176

"What... does that mean?" freёnovelkiss.com

No matter how she thought about it, Liv couldn’t grasp the meaning of what Hayden said. When Liv frowned and asked that, Hayden took a breath before beginning his explanation.

"While investigating in a mountain village this time, I heard something. So I searched through records and found evidence supporting it. Looking at historical records, while there are records of all other Emperors having children, the 6th Emperor and Empress have none. Without any record of childbirth, records of the 7th Emperor’s childhood suddenly appear."

"And?"

"I also compared portraits of the 7th Emperor with previous Emperors, and somehow couldn’t find any resemblance. It was hard to find matching hair and eye colors too."

"So you’re saying the 7th Emperor wasn’t the 6th Emperor couple’s biological child?"

"So I looked up records of the 6th Emperor couple’s relatives. Looking at the family tree showing up to eighth cousins, one eighth cousin’s name was erased one day. And that eighth cousin’s name was the same as the 7th Emperor’s."

"Are you saying the 6th Emperor couple adopted their eighth cousin as their child?"

"Yes, exactly. When they couldn’t have children, they adopted a child from distant relatives."

While it was unexpected news since she thought Emperors before Liv had continued the line without problems, she wondered how it was possible.

"If I were to adopt from Lartman’s collateral line or an eighth cousin’s child, there would be opposition questioning legitimacy. Why weren’t the 6th Emperor couple attacked?"

"Your Majesty, that’s exactly the point to note."

Hayden placed both hands on the table as if about to tell an incredible story.

"According to what the elder said, one day a revelation came from heaven. The Supreme God’s voice rang out saying they would recognize this child as Gracia!"

"What?"

"With Lady Hildegard’s help, I found records in the temple, and there was actually one suspicious line. It said ’The Supreme God’s voice came down from heaven and showed this country’s path forward.’"

"That’s certainly suspicious..."

"Yes, while they seem to have minimized recording the adoption story in history fearing legitimacy would be questioned by later generations, there isn’t a complete lack of remaining evidence."

The story flowed smoothly from Hayden’s mouth.

"Several historical records also mention the Supreme God’s voice being heard from heaven telling them something."

"Wait, instead of this, we can just ask directly."

Liv’s gaze turned to empty space. If Hayden’s words were true, she wanted to ask why they hadn’t told her first when she had been worrying so much, but first things first.

"Supreme God."

Yes, my child.

Though it was a voice she hadn’t heard recently, the Supreme God gave a gentle reply as if always having been by Liv’s side.

"Did this really happen?"

Liv swallowed and waited for the next words, and the answer was...

Yes, it’s true.

"How could..."

Liv unknowingly opened her mouth. So when Gracia’s legitimacy was in crisis, the Supreme God directly protected the child they adopted?

"Is, is it alright to intervene in the human world like this?"

It is destined to be so, and there are no restrictions when it comes to my beloved children.

"Then why didn’t you tell me beforehand?"

If she had just known this, Liv wouldn’t have had to worry and suffer so much. To Liv’s somewhat reproachful response, the Supreme God answered in a voice that somehow felt less heavy than usual today.

My child must now live as a human too. Communicating with us would prevent you from living as a human.

"..."

It is right that we minimize our conversations. We cannot tell you all the answers, after all.

Liv finally understood why the gods had recently reduced their conversations with her.

Living as a human... The Supreme God’s words weren’t wrong. Liv was becoming increasingly closer to being human, and continuing conversations with gods would prevent that. So if she truly wanted to become a perfect human, it would be right not to blindly follow the gods’ voices.

"Still feels strange though..."

From birth, the gods had always been by Liv’s side, and if they left her, she would feel an empty and void feeling as if deprived of air.

Don’t worry, child. We are always by your side. We’ll just be watching over you.

"Though it was sometimes painful, I truly loved you, gods. Though it will be a bit sad not to talk anymore..."

Liv continued in a soft voice.

"I understand what you mean. I’ll accept it."

My child, never forget that we always love you. If there comes a moment when you cannot endure as a human, remember that we are always by your side.

"Yes, thank you for everything..."

It felt like tears would roll down her cheeks any moment, but Liv held them back. Yes, it was time to bid farewell to her gods.

As Liv wore a dazed expression after conversing with the Supreme God, Hayden carefully asked.

"Your Majesty, was it helpful?"

"Ah, yes, Hayden. Thank you. Now my worries are over..."

When she meets Emmett this evening, she’ll tell him this news too. He’ll surely be happy that the succession worries are gone.

Though it was certainly good news, somehow a corner of her heart had been aching. Yes, right now the sadness of the gods leaving her side was greater than the joy of solving the problem. In the end, Liv stared into empty space for a long while, trying to soothe her regret.

* * *

After her heart had calmed somewhat, Liv said triumphantly to Emmett before going to sleep:

"No need to worry about succession. Whatever child we adopt, the Supreme God will recognize them as Gracia."

"What do you mean?"

When Emmett looked puzzled at Liv’s sudden words, she carefully explained what she had heard from Hayden and the Supreme God. After hearing the whole story, Emmett’s face also brightened.

"We keep receiving help from the Supreme God until the end, this is truly fortunate."

"Yes, now only happy days remain ahead."

As Liv was quietly slipping under the blanket, Emmett opened his mouth with a determined look.

"Liv, I think it would be better to adopt a child from a family other than Lartman."

"Why?"

"First of all, I’m not on good terms with my collateral relatives."

"Ah, that’s true..."

"For example, Hamelsvoort would be fine."

Liv’s eyes widened at Emmett’s words. According to his opinion, if they were to pick who was actually closer to them, it was Hamelsvoort rather than Lartman. They were also a meritorious family Liv could trust.

"But wouldn’t Brother Walter’s opinion be important too? Moreover, Brother doesn’t seem to have any plans to marry for now..."

"Ah yes, I have another suggestion related to that. How about discussing with the temple to allow the Saintess to marry?"

Goodness, it was an issue she had never thought about before. Emmett’s words made perfect sense. The marriage ban for Saints wasn’t written in the holy text containing the Supreme God’s words - it was a law arbitrarily created by the temple. It was time for that old-fashioned law to disappear.

"You’re right, when I talked with Hilda before, she seemed to have hidden desires about romance... I should discuss this with the temple soon."

Liv’s eyes shone at the thought of having something worth actively pursuing after a long time. She felt she could give Hildegard the best gift possible.

Thinking the succession issue was resolved, even though it was late at night, Liv started chattering while using Emmett’s arm as a pillow.

"But actually I feel a bit down too. Because I’ve decided not to talk with the gods anymore."

"Did something happen?"

"No, just... the gods were considerate, saying I should live as a human now too. They’re not wrong."

"..."

"Rationally, it’s right for the gods to leave my side, but somehow my heart feels empty."

Then Emmett lightly kissed her cheek as if to comfort her. Finding the warmth pleasant against her skin, Liv turned and kissed his lips first. His eyes widened as it was rare for her to be so forward, but soon an amused smile spread across his face.

"But this whole process must have meaning. From now on, I’ll help make sure you don’t feel empty."

"Wait, you don’t need to help that much..."

But as her slip was soon removed, Liv feigned exaggerated surprise while nestling into his embrace. At her playful appearance, Emmett started by lightly kissing her hair and gradually moving downward. While surrendering to familiar pleasure, Liv smiled brightly even as she made sounds almost like crying.

Ah, she couldn’t believe there could be a happier life than this.