The Billionaire's Cursed Heiress
Chapter 126: PHOEBE

Chapter 126: Chapter 126: PHOEBE

"Are you ready, Phoebe?" a girl wearing a green one-shoulder tunic and black sandals asked loudly, her gaze fixated on the door of a mud house.

"I will be out in a moment!" a cheerful voice sounded from the other side, making the girl in green smile unconsciously.

The girl waited patiently for Phoebe and after a while, the door of the mud house creaked as it opened, making the other pay more attention, a smile blossoming on her face.

Coming out of the mud house with cracks all over was the girl by the name Phoebe and, just like her name, she looked very bright and just made people feel warm and lightened up for no reason.

Phoebe wore a white tunic and white sandals, making her look very holy.

"Sorry for making you wait, Aisha!" Phoebe apologetically said to her friend as soon as she was out.

Aisha, receiving an apology from Phoebe, hurriedly waved her hands to reject that and said seriously, "It was me who came early. Anyway, let’s leave now or we will be late. The temple doesn’t wait for anyone!"

Upon hearing that, Phoebe’s eyes lit up as a glint of anticipation flashed in her eyes.

"Let’s go. I don’t want to miss such an opportunity!"

"Me neither!" Aisha agreed with Phoebe on that.

The two friends held hands as they hurriedly made their way to the temple, which was an hour away from where they were living.

On the way to the temple, they came across other maidens dressed beautifully from head to toe, showcasing their status to the fullest.

Phoebe and Aisha, being from the lower and bottom levels of the caste system, gritted their teeth and did their best to ignore others. They had one mission on that day and it was to go all out and to do that. They needed to show their sincerity.

It wasn’t certain what would happen, but they were hopeful. After all, how could their goddess let them down when they had been praying earnestly like that?

After an hour, it took two hours before the two friends managed to enter the temple grounds. It was a special day and one which only came once when a maiden was still one and her young age.

The temple of the goddess of health recruited disciples, female disciples every two decades. Amongst the disciples, if a maiden was lucky, she would be nurtured to become the goddess’s saintess. The mouthpiece of the goddess, the one who would be in charge of portraying the goddess’s will.

Being able to serve the goddess was every follower’s dream, and that was the case for both Phoebe and Aisha.

The two girls who didn’t worship this certain deity became firm believers a decade ago when they were just five years old.

When they were five years old, the two girls nearly met their maker. A deadly plague hit the villages, towns and cities. People were crying all over, praying like no one’s business. People died that year, however, others survived as well.

Being just five years old, they didn’t understand a lot. As there were too many temples and deities to worship, as kids, you follow the deity your family worships.

Back then, the elders were on the verge of dying, so who could save who?

However, in their times of need, the temple of the goddess of health which hadn’t set its roots yet in her village sent its disciples, who provided everyone with the holy water. After taking it, everyone became well.

This deity intrigued Phoebe and Aisha, who had never come across such things before, and from there, they became believers.

When they heard that in a decade, there would be another round of recruitment, they were looking forward to it. So, they did their best to learn as much as they could and now it was time to see whether they were being called or would have to serve like other followers.

However, they were hopeful.

After entering the temple, the girls followed what the disciples were instructing them to do. Honestly, they weren’t sure what the tests were going to be like. Regardless, they were going to put in all the effort and do their best.

the first thing they were asked to do was to wash their face and hands with the holy water, which they did along with other maidens.

Once that process was done, they were taken to the temple where they got separated.

Phoebe looked worriedly at her friend Aisha who she was separating with but the other mouthed to her that it was going to be fine. Only after hearing that did she become at ease.

Phoebe was taken to a prayer room, the kind where a person can pray by herself or himself. Inside the prayer room, the statue of the goddess was at the altar, alongside some offerings.

After the disciple brought her there, she just disappeared, and not knowing what to do, Phoebe looked around first before she took out something from her tunic.

Since she was coming to the temple and on such an important day, she didn’t dare go without any offering. And now that an altar was staring at her, the offering she had been preparing for years could now be used.

From her tunic, Phoebe took out a white cloth embroidered with red threads. On the cloth, there was a scripture embroidered there. Her favorite and one that had become her mantra in life. The one which made her live smoothly, without bitterness, regardless of how poor her family was and how bitter life was.

"In everything you do, love yourself and your body first before you spread that to others. When you do, give it your all. There is happiness in seeing another person happy, smiling and knowing that your actions had contributed to making a day for him or her. I was born to serve, and reduce infliction and as long as I live, I will do my best to serve that purpose."

Phoebe sincerely offered her earnest prayers and showed her devotion to the goddess. When she was done, she offered the cloth with the scripture on the altar, as that was the highest form of offering she could give to the deity she loved the most.