Chapter 3

Chapter 3

My heart skipped a beat, but my expression quickly settled into calm resignation as I gave a small nod.

Since they already knew, there was no point in hiding it.

"Yes, I do not have much time left."

Grayson's face darkened even further, and his voice grew sharp with anger.

"Do you not possess miraculous healing abilities? Why on earth would you die!"

"I know you have always envied Cecelia, but you cannot joke about your own life like this!"

I found his reaction baffling and let out a soft, mocking laugh.

"Is this not a good thing? You all blamed me for keeping Cecelia sick. Once I am dead, no one can harm her anymore."

"She can live a long, happy life by your side. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Grayson refused to hear another word and abruptly stood up.

"Stop throwing tantrums. Once you are treated, you will go right back to praying for Cecelia."

Watching his hurried departure, I parted my lips but swallowed back every word I wanted to say.

The system chimed softly in my mind.

"Host, you have three days remaining in this world."

I rested on the bed for a while before getting up, running straight into my father in the hallway.

"Good, you are awake. Go cook a meal for your sister to apologize. You have no idea how much trouble you caused by fainting earlier."

I nodded obediently and walked toward the kitchen like a hollow shell.

After finishing the dishes, I instinctively scooped a small portion into a bowl to eat in my room.

My mother offered a rare display of grace and called out to me.

"Fine, since you are behaving, you may eat at the table. Just make sure you never hurt your sister again, understood?"

I nodded silently, shoveling rice into my mouth.

Cecelia appeared to be in an exceptionally bright mood and placed a piece of meat into my bowl.

"Since my sister is willing to make peace, I actually have a small request."

"I heard the blood-binding ritual at your sanctuary is very powerful for love and marriage. Could you draw one for Grayson and me?"

It sounded like a polite request, but I knew that if I refused, everyone at the table would turn on me instantly.

Cecelia knew I had no room to resist and smiled sweetly at me.

Having given up on the quest, I had no desire to fight back, so I simply nodded.

I was taken back to the sanctuary altar to perform the rite and draw the sacred parchment.

The blood ritual required a massive amount of life essence.

I watched silently as my crimson blood slowly filled an entire ceramic basin.

For an ordinary person, this level of blood loss would have been fatal long ago.

Seeing my face turn paper-white, my father dismissed it without a second thought.

"You have your divine powers anyway. You will recover this little bit of blood in no time, so do not try to fool us!"

My mother chimed in right behind him.

"Being able to help your sister recover with your blood is your greatest blessing!"

The system suddenly sent an urgent alert.

"Host, your healing abilities have been revoked. Severe blood loss will accelerate your physical demise."

The moment the final stroke was drawn, darkness crept over my eyes, and I gasped for air.

"Is it finished?"

Cecelia rushed forward to snatch the parchment, nodding with immense satisfaction.

"Perfect!"

She took Grayson's hand and pulled him toward the inner prayer chamber.

"I heard this shrine is truly miraculous. Grayson, let us burn the vow together before the altar."

Grayson wore a gentle expression as he held Cecelia's hand, both of them kneeling devoutly before the shrine of love.

Before Grayson sent me away to become a penitent nun, I had knelt before that very same altar.

Back then, when he first met Cecelia and grew distant, I climbed the mountain on my knees, kowtowing at every step, begging the heavens to let my quest succeed.

Moved by my devotion, the head priest gave me a blessed love talisman, saying that as long as the recipient kept it close, my wish would come true.

I eagerly presented the talisman to Grayson, hoping he would accept it with the warm smile he used to give me.

Instead, he threw the talisman straight into the trash, his eyes as cold as ice.

"I despise superstitious nonsense. Never bring me this garbage again."

His freezing glare terrified me, and I could only nod in silence.

Yet here he was now, bowing devoutly beside Cecelia, showing not an ounce of disbelief.

I could not bear to watch any longer and fled back to my cold quarters.