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Chapter 49
Talli and Brit
Diana stepped down from the stage without any lingering hesitation after greeting the people. Her performance had been impressive, but so had Lady Levian’s dance. Everyone was abuzz, evaluating just how extraordinary Lady Levian’s performance had been.
Unlike Levian’s dance, Diana’s did not become the heated topic of conversation. Still, a few people gathered around her.
“You must surely win, my lady.”
It was the young lady of Count Selano who approached with kind words. Diana widened her eyes at them. They weren’t on such close terms that they should be saying things like this.
Of course, in her previous life they had spoken a word or two. But friends? No. Diana had no friends.
Noticing Diana’s surprise, the Count Selano’s young lady said,
“We haven’t been properly introduced, have we? I felt it wasn’t proper to chat with a young lady who hadn’t yet debuted in society.”
“I feel ashamed that someone as lacking as I am has stepped boldly into the realm of adults.”
At her modest reply, they exchanged glances. Unlike her arrogant brother, Diana Brien had humility. Indeed, if she were arrogant and foolish, she would not have disguised herself as an old woman.
The pious Count Selano’s daughter thought so. At that moment, the Count Nobara’s young lady spoke slyly.
“Perhaps the reason they leave her be is because she hasn’t debuted in society yet.”
“Who?”
“That woman over there.”
The Count Nobara’s young lady subtly indicated Lady Levian. Diana was startled. Even in her past life, she remembered the Nobara girl as always gentle. Had she disliked Levian this much?
“She’s cleverly stirring up unfavorable opinions about you, my lady.”
Count Selano’s daughter added,
“I–I’m not one to spread gossip, truly I’m not!”
The Nobara young lady exclaimed, as if realizing she’d gone too far. But Diana didn’t think badly of it.
“I’m sorry, my lady. We just wanted to let you know we don’t think that way.”
Said the Baron Carlea’s young lady. Diana smiled. Hearing others’ gossip wasn’t pleasant, but neither was it unpleasant—because they had said it for her sake.
“I already knew.”
At her words, the three young ladies’ eyes widened.
“You knew?”
“Then why do you leave her be?”
“You mean you know of the rumors—that Lady Levian is disliked, ignored, belittled? That she’s desperate to become a princess consort, or that she joined Talli’s ball out of jealousy…?”
At Nobara’s words, Diana chuckled.
“One cannot be swayed by every word of idle gossips.”
“But still…”
“And besides, they’re not entirely wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
Diana didn’t answer. The three exchanged looks. No doubt they had approached out of curiosity. Diana Brien remembered them from her previous life: three young ladies praised for their good reputations, admired for their close friendship.
Young women from good houses, sharing an easy companionship. But Diana was far from such friendships. She quietly withdrew, leaving them to their bond—unaware that they exchanged glances of regret as she went.
Soon, the announcement of results drew the crowd together. The priests had already reached a decision.
“Before we announce, we have a question for Lady Diana Brien.”
The sharp gaze of Akra fixed on her.
“Why did you disguise yourself as an old woman?”
“Isn’t it obvious? The goddess of winter, Talli, is depicted as an old woman.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. It wasn’t as though they didn’t know. In myth, the winter goddess came in the body of a crone, burned away corruption with her purifying flames, and returned once more to youth.
That was why artists inspired by Talli depicted her as a young woman wielding blue flames—the strict, merciless goddess of winter holding her spear of purification.
Most people thought of Talli that way. They knew she was an old woman at first, but since she rejuvenated, why dwell on the hideous, ugly disguise of age?
“In every myth, Talli first appears as an old woman. The place where she resides is even called ‘the Crone’s Hill.’”
At those words, the priests exchanged looks of admiration. Diana knew then she would win. In fact, in her previous life, at seventeen, she had used this very approach at the Taliah festival in her own domain.
Appearing as an old woman was a great risk. But how could one truly represent the goddess of winter without showing her true form?
So Diana had dared—and she had been praised and crowned victor.
“Without a doubt, Lady Diana Brien is this year’s Winter Talli!”
Akra declared. Amidst the cheers, Diana smiled serenely.
The priests were cynical, thoughtful men—shock was needed in a contest otherwise filled with mere displays of beauty. That was how Diana had seen it in her past life.
Sensing the puzzled looks of some, Akra smiled kindly.
“What is ‘old age,’ that we so readily dismiss it? Why must it be excluded, erased?”
“…”
“Talli’s form was indeed that of an old woman. Yet in that body she destroyed foul monsters. The Taliah festival honors those very deeds.”
“…”
“All things must age and weaken. But old age is not necessarily pitiful, nor is it powerless. Talli chose that form to remind us of this truth.”
At his heavy words, people looked at one another. They began to understand why the priests had chosen Diana Brien.
She had perceived the essence of Talli.
“That’s absurd!”
A voice rang out—Lady Levian.
“Lady Brien also mimicked a young form! She danced as a maiden. If she truly portrayed Talli, then wasn’t the crone’s guise only a trick to make her final dance stand out? I know very well—that wasn’t Talli, it was the spring goddess, Brit!”
Faces froze at her outburst. Saruvia thought her point correct, but the crowd began laughing.
“Truly, ignorance makes one bold.”
A voice scoffed. Rob interjected,
“We shouldn’t mock someone from another land for not knowing our traditions.”
But even so, laughter spread. The once-alluring, clever Lady Levian—just one slip, one show of ignorance—and the reputation she’d built collapsed.
Akra asked gently,
“Lady Diana Brien, what does the young form signify?”
“It is the spring goddess, Brit.”
Diana smiled at Lady Levian, who seemed to say, See, I was right! Then she spoke, her intelligent gray eyes glinting.
“When winter ends, the goddess burns death away with her purifying flames. Time’s god permits her to live again, to begin a new season.”
“…”
“The spring goddess Brit is another face of Talli. So how could one not show her as well?”
Saruvia’s face stiffened. People turned to look at Lady Levian, whispering, mocking smiles on their lips.
So, she had entered without even knowing the basics of the religion? Was it even right for her to take part in Talli’s festival? Ignorance of another land’s culture is forgivable only if you keep quiet.
Talli and Brit are one and the same.
It was such an obvious truth, and yet Lady Levian hadn’t known. Those displeased with her intrusion into noble society now ridiculed her mercilessly.
Saruvia trembled.
Unlike in Diana’s past life, Saruvia Levian was arrogant. Raised in a ducal house, worshipped for her beauty, she had always been exalted.
Clever, yes—but her cleverness was still immature. She was merely a spoiled girl who demanded others place her on a pedestal.
“No! I refuse to accept this!”
And with that, she shattered even the carefully crafted image of humility she had built. Diana’s eyes widened.
That strange sense of defeat she had felt before toward Lady Levian—was dissolving.
At her age… I wasn’t like that. Is she simply lacking something? Diana wondered.
