The Seventy-Third God

 A small tear dripped off of a beautifully pale woman. Celine had so deeply told her story that she engrossed herself within it, forgetting about Aria beside her. Her face looked so pained and trauma-filled that tears could barely express how she felt. "Then, I moved forward and became the 73rd person to complete the tower, becoming the 73rd god," she concluded slowly.

 The duo sat in silence as they thought about each other from another time. "So I loved you before," Aria mumbled at Celine softly. 

 Celine stopped tearing up and straightened her mind. "That is just what I believe," she said.

 "Does my father know of this story?" Aria trembled because now she knew that Celine had already gained her father's blessing. Nothing was stopping Celine from trying her hardest to win this silly game.

 "At this time, your father was long dead. I don't know how being a god works but he probably doesn't know what happened and only remembers reincarnating into the 73rd world."

 "Yeah," Aria's voice trailed off. "Thanks for telling me. I should probably go back to doing my own thing now," her voice was empty but filled with gratitude at the same time. In the end, Celine felt slightly bad because she felt that she had conveyed too much of her past feelings onto Aria. It was never her intention to push her past feelings of a dead relationship to this new Aria.

 "Yeah," Celine lowly ushered a sound of confirmation before a spark came into her mind. "You better watch out! Take one wrong step and I'll have your heart all to myself!" She mocked in a yell as she ran out of the room. It didn't even take a minute for Celine to return back to her old self.

 Without bothering to hear what Aria planned to say, Celine had disappeared with a bright smile. Running through the halls jubilantly without a care for the guards or people around her, Celine arrived in front of the Queen's study hall. She had already received the father's consent so she now naturally had to meet the mother. Celine wasn't as worried however because she knew Alina, Aria's mother, was a pretty relaxed woman and queen.

 *Knock knock! Celine politely tapped and shouted. "Celine Lithold!" To alert Alina who was coming.

 "Come,"she heard a soothingly calm voice ring. Celine made her way into the glorious room with stacks of paper everywhere and politely sat somewhere. "Can't you see how much work I'm drowning in? Because you have such a good relationship with him, you should tell that husband of mine to help me out," she sounded exhausted and tired but still soothing. "But that isn't what you're here for, right?" She gave a smiles that would make anybody quiver.

 "I came to ask if I could-"

 "Do you love her earnestly with all your heart and have no room for anything else," Celine was interrupted but still gave an enthusiastic nod. "Here are my conditions. One, make my daughter happy. Two, become stronger to support her. Three, gain political standing so nobody can oppose your relationship despite the gender. And finally," The Queen slyly looked around at the stacks of paper around her and smiled. "Help this poor old woman out and stay here to do some work with her for five hours a day."

 "Ah," Celine paused. She hadn't expected it to be too difficult but what was up with that last condition?

 "Think of it as training!" Alina gave an affirmative and vigorous nod. "You need to understand the political sphere if you want to gain social standing to side with my precious baby. So start here and help me out!"

 Hours of medieval office work passed by as Celine documented taxes, homes, and sorted disputes with Alina watching over her. The process was annoying but something she had to agree to so she worked hard. "You're efficient!" Alina clapped her hands and grabbed Celine by her hand. "Come now, I have to go meet the Minister of Intercontinental Affairs and you're coming too."

 They both walked out but Alina had gained composure upon exiting. Instead of the jovial klutz smothered in work, Celine was now walking by the Valerian Queen. Her demeanor and attitude became distinctly similar to Aria. It was how Celine knew that the expressionless face Aria put up was merely a facade like her mother. They were both vibrant people who were fun to be around once they showed their more viable side. Alina was just more "hyperactive".

 Celine put her head down and walked silently while Alina took up everybody's gaze. The Valerian Queen was admired greatly and Celine was barely even acknowledged. The duo walked coldly with valiant struts that much betrayed the playful demeanor they both had on the inside.

 Arriving at the door where the meeting would take place, Celine bowed and opened it for Alina. "My queen," she gracefully said and Alina walked through without acknowledging her. It was traditional so Celine paid no attention to it.

 Upon walking in herself, Celine saw a distinguished gentleman with glasses and slicked-back hair. "Good evening Nicholas," Alina sat in a chair and Celine stood at her side like a guard.

 "Same to you, Glorious Queen," he bowed and sat opposite to her but his gaze obviously lingered to the woman at her side. "May I ask, who is the woman beside you?" He calmly settled.

 A very faint and unnoticeable smile crept upon Alina's lips. "This is my daughter's sworn bodyguard. The princess's guard, if you may."