CHAPTER 66: POSSESSIVENESS (2)

"This is nothing more than possessiveness," said Vironica, shaking her head where she stood, hoping to awaken some clarity in Losiya.

"You’re absolutely right—but not entirely," Losiya replied immediately.

"Possession is a part of love, because it stems from affirmation. If I didn’t like him, why would I care about sharing him with others?"

"But, Mother, love isn’t just based on possession. There’s also mutual guidance, support, and devotion."

"I’m willing to share everything I have with him. Even if it’s something he doesn’t want, I would still want to quietly give it to him. I won’t take anything from him out of selfishness, even if I think it’s for the best."

"Moreover, we trust each other deeply. He believes that as long as it’s something he doesn’t want to do, I won’t force him. But honestly, I feel that if I truly wanted him to do something, he wouldn’t refuse me either."

"Mother, let me ask you—can this still be called simple possessiveness?"

Suddenly hit with a wave of reasoning, Vironica was genuinely speechless in the face of her beloved daughter’s argument—because everything Losiya said came from principles she herself had once taught.

"So you really insist on marrying him?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

Losiya only gave a light snort and didn’t reply.

She wasn’t someone who didn’t know how to behave. She had already made her stance clear to her mother—there was no need to completely tear things apart now. Besides, this sort of matter would take time. Once she held more power and influence, her mother’s objections likely wouldn’t be so forceful.

Vironica, who had originally planned to let the matter rest, now felt a new wave of irritation rise in her heart.

This Julian... truly a walking disaster!

In her indignation, Vironica thought again of the alluring charm Julian exuded at Losiya’s side—the kind that made even an outsider want to covet him. She silently cursed him as a little seducer.

Then she looked at Losiya—whose expression seemed calm but was actually full of unwavering determination—and realized she’d have to drop the topic for now.

Of course, she still couldn’t help but jab one final line:

"How many times have you... done it with him?"

Losiya’s otherwise composed expression suddenly stiffened; her mouth twitched slightly, revealing a strange awkwardness.

"Why are you asking that?" Her tone finally wavered.

The corners of Vironica’s lips curled up slightly into a cold smile. "Don’t I know your nature better than anyone? Why do you think I’m even worried about this?"

For noblewomen of other families, even when indulging in pleasure, they would usually make the man take medicine beforehand—or at the very least, not allow anything to be left inside.

Knowing her own daughter’s temperament, combined with how Losiya had just acted, naturally made Vironica suspicious.

And indeed, her intuition wasn’t wrong. Losiya had never let Julian take harmful drugs. Even in moments of passion, she had never told him not to finish inside her. In fact, she often gripped Julian by the waist tightly, holding him firmly within...

*Ahem*, back to the point—Losiya clarified her stance seriously for Vironica:

"I won’t suddenly let you become a grandmother, don’t worry."

"Hmph, better not..." Vironica said, though her words were somewhat contradictory.

She had no interest in men, but out of family duty and her own preferences, she did quite like soft, chubby little children.

If Losiya truly let her hold a grandchild soon, she would most likely just accept it without protest.

At this point, the two finally stopped talking. Vironica now fully understood how much Julian meant to Losiya. She found herself deeply worried that Julian would affect her daughter’s future.

But for Losiya, it was a great relief. Dealing with her mother only required stabilizing things at the start. After that, she could figure things out however she pleased.

"Milady, we’re about to arrive."

In the haze of night, where time always felt vague, Losiya noticed the early rays of dawn beginning to appear on the distant horizon. One of the griffon riders around them spoke up.

Looking far ahead, she saw a city already exuding signs of life, its bronze gates still shut. Losiya couldn’t suppress her excitement any longer. Her brows lifted, the corners of her lips curved upward, and a thrill bubbled up inside her.

They had finally arrived—the Holy City of Osiris.

Once the griffon riders landed, Losiya’s deep blue eyes scanned the surroundings. Around the Holy City, the land was already covered in rows of tents, forming dense encampments.

"These are resting quarters prepared by the Church for the various ambassadorial nations," one griffon knight explained to Vironica.

Losiya looked around. Though they were all tents, the colors and emblems on them clearly marked which embassy they belonged to.

For example, the Roland Empire’s emblem featured six petals of the Sakura Roland blossom.

Nobles from Roland quickly recognized the renowned Grand Duchess Kelden—Vironica—and hurried over to greet her, immediately launching into the usual personal small talk.

Losiya found them noisy and paid them no mind, instead quietly looking toward the walls of the Holy City.

The gates were still tightly shut, but atop the walls stood rows of nuns, neatly assembled, awaiting the arrivals.

It’s close.

Losiya thought, her gaze drifting to the horizon, watching the curvature of the rising sun and silently beginning a countdown in her heart.

When her countdown reached the final number—precisely as the sun breached the horizon—a thunderous boom erupted from the city walls.

On the ramparts, white-clad and veiled nuns stood with their hands folded before their chests, eyes closed as they chanted hymns in praise of Farad. On either side of the walls, rows of knights on horseback in silver armor stood solemnly.

"They are the Holy Thorn Knights—the most powerful order of the Church, responsible for leading the Holy City’s opening ceremony," Vironica said beside Losiya.

Losiya looked at the knights—divine and beautiful in appearance, each one radiating a powerful sacred aura that stirred awe from within.

It was said that every Holy Thorn Knight was both beautiful and powerful, like Valkyries from myth. When they removed their armor, they were the most beautiful women in the world. But when mounted on horses, wielding lances, they became godly warriors, launching holy campaigns in the name of Lord Farad.

Rumor had it that most of these Holy Thorn Knights were noble maidens under eighteen. Witnesses had seen them remove their masks after purging heretics, revealing dazzling golden hair and flawless faces as they cried out victory.

While others marveled at the sight, Losiya silently calculated in her mind how many of them she could personally take down in combat.

Rolls of sheepskin carpet unfurled from the city gates, reaching toward the crowd.

Once the Holy Thorn Knights arrived in front of the envoy delegations and issued their formal invitations, the embassies responded with solemn expressions.

The national flags of each country fluttered in the early sunlight as the ambassadors formed neat lines and began walking ceremoniously along the carpet.