The Debt Of Fate
Chapter 45: purification rite

Chapter 45: purification rite

Royal Palace

"Great One, you said that as long as I married my son to that girl, her star would bring good luck to my family and eliminate the root of heaven’s wrath against my children. But now, two of my sons are in trouble," the king said, questioning the seer, who had finally come to see him.

The seer nodded and then closed his eyes, murmuring some words to himself. After a moment, he spoke: "Your second son might not be safe, but there is hope for the crown prince."

"Great One, I thought this marriage would protect my children!" The king was displeased with the response. Anastasia was not the ideal daughter-in-law for his family, but he had been willing to accept the match because she was favored by heaven. Yet, despite that, he had received news that his second son had been injured in battle, and now the crown prince had been kidnapped.

It had been a few days since the incident, but there was still no lead on his whereabouts. The king’s body was growing weaker, and he could tell that he was at death’s door. He knew he would die a terrible death, which was why he was desperate for at least one of his sons to return as soon as possible—so his cause of death could be properly managed. He did not want the people to know that he had been smitten by heaven’s will. If that happened, some greedy individuals might try to seize the throne.

"Your Majesty, you knew the consequences of your actions back then. You are already fortunate to have kept a healthy son. If you are displeased, there is nothing more I can do," the seer said as he stood up.

"Great One, do not be offended. I am merely a father worried for his sons. I need your guidance," the king apologized.

The seer closed his eyes and continued murmuring to himself. After a while, he looked at the king and said, "Send someone to invite that lady to the palace."

"Yes." The king was finally relieved that there was still hope for his children. He immediately summoned the eunuch and instructed him to use the fastest carriage to bring Anastasia to the palace.

"Great One, is there anything that needs to be prepared?" the king asked.

"The Old Gods’ Temple must be opened. We need to perform a ritual. Since she is not yet married into the family, we may need to borrow her luck to save the crown prince," the seer answered.

"Then, I will have someone prepare the temple," the king said and immediately instructed his trusted guard.

"Great One, since her luck can be borrowed to ensure the crown prince’s safety, could we also use it to save my second son?" the king asked. If the process could help one son, surely it could help the other.

"Your Majesty, this cannot be done. She is engaged to the crown prince, so borrowing her luck to ensure his safe return will not defy heaven’s will because of their destined marriage. However, using it for your second son might bring calamity in the future," the seer explained, shaking his head.

"Then, is there nothing that can be done to save my second son?" the king asked.

"No. He is already at death’s door. Even if the physician manages to save him this time, he will only have a few months to live at most," the seer replied.

The king felt despair upon hearing this. When he had made the decision to defy heaven years ago, he believed that if he could alter fate once, he could do it again in the future. He had not wanted to serve his brother. But now, as he faced the ultimate price for his defiance, he found himself truly unwilling to accept it.

---

Chapel

The queen had been kneeling at the altar, praying for her sons for days. She could not shake the bad omen weighing on her heart. War had broken out in two parts of the kingdom just months apart. Her husband was sick, one son was seriously injured, and the other had been kidnapped with no news of his whereabouts. The queen was deeply worried about the kingdom and her future. If she lost both her husband and her sons, she might even be accused of being possessed and blamed for their deaths.

"Oh, Holy God, please spare my children and bring them back to me safely. Do not allow any evil to befall them. Look upon your handmaid and have mercy—for the sake of Christ, I pray," the queen repeated over and over again.

At that moment, someone suddenly pushed the chapel door open. Seeing that the queen was still kneeling at the altar, the person hesitated.

Hearing the door open, the queen knew there was news. She finished her prayer, then opened her eyes.

"What is the matter?" she asked, hoping against hope that it was good news.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty has sent the royal guard to fetch Lady Anastasia. I hear that the Old Gods’ Temple is being reopened by the king. The future crown princess is to undergo the purification rite," the lady-in-waiting informed her.

The queen was shocked. Since King Nathan had ascended the throne, the Old Gods’ Temple had been closed, and he had promoted the worship of the one true God. For three generations, no prince’s wife had gone through the old purification ritual. She could not understand why her husband would make such a decision.

Over the years, she had known that the king did not use the chapel priests as his spiritual guides. He always listened to the seer instead.

"Are you sure?" the queen asked. Even though the king had relied on the seer’s advice, he had never performed a ritual so openly.

"Your Majesty, it is the truth. His Majesty has sent a message to your courtyard, instructing you to prepare," the lady said.

The queen got to her feet, bowed before the altar, and then left the chapel. She went straight to the king’s study.

"Your Majesty," she greeted him with a bow.

"Why are you here? You should be getting ready for the ritual," the king said with a frown.

"Your Majesty, this custom has long been forgotten. The people of Nexie now worship the one true God. Why are you reopening the temple of the Old Gods?" the queen asked.

Even though she knew the king disliked being questioned, she felt compelled to speak.

"Who said we are returning to the worship of the Old Gods? The purification rite is an ancient tradition of the royal family. The marriage between our son and Lady Anastasia is not just for the kingdom—it is a divine arrangement. The purification rite is a must. Just go and prepare to witness it," the king said.

Of course, the seer intended to borrow Anastasia’s luck to save the crown prince. However, even when the worship of the Old Gods had been common, this particular rite had been forbidden. The king could not open the old temple without drawing attention. Moreover, who would willingly allow their luck to be taken? So, he had to use the excuse of purification to make it seem acceptable. Fortunately the purification rite has not been used for so long and no one remembers the process. So no one would notice the difference.