Chapter 3

Bradley had changed out of his monastic robe. He wore a black suit as he stood beside Lola, his gaze affectionate and doting. They were the very embodiment of love and tenderness.

Even Rosalie felt like they were the ones who were about to get married, let alone others. She felt like she wasn't even needed.

"Rosie, you're here!" Lola spotted Rosalie and stuck out her tongue, looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Rosie. I've never seen the wedding dresses that you guys wear here. I couldn't resist trying this one on because it was so pretty."

She blinked innocently, looking uneasy. "You won't be mad at me, will you?"

Rosalie smiled. "Of course not. You can have the wedding dress if you like it so much."

"You're talking nonsense again." Bradley glared at her. "Is this something to joke about?"

She looked at him, wanting to tell him she wasn't joking. As long as he and Lola were willing, she could let them have her wedding, let alone her wedding dress.

However, Bradley had an ugly look on his face. She didn't want to provoke him further, so she held her tongue and kept her words to herself.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have tried anything on," Lola said, looking apologetic. "Don't be mad, Rosie. I'll take the wedding dress off and return it to you right now."

Then, she hurried to the dressing room.

"Do you have to be so forceful?" Bradley shot Rosalie an icy look. He looked at her like she was a sinner he was judging and punishing on behalf of the gods.

She shut her eyes, feeling tired. Her intention had been to step down so Lola could take her place, yet he said she was being forceful. Sure enough, a person who wasn't loved and favored would be in the wrong, no matter what they did.

Whatever. She didn't want to explain anything—she would be joining the Sandharan Order in six days anyway. For those who renounced the world, all joy and sorrow would turn to nothingness. All in the world was emptiness. So, what was there to explain?

Soon, Lola was done changing out of the wedding dress. To stop herself from appearing "forceful", Rosalie entered the dressing room without saying anything. She tried on the dress Lola had just taken off to find that it was a size too big for her.

She was taller than Lola but much skinnier. The wedding dress had looked perfect on Lola, yet it was too short and wide on her. It wasn't meant for her, no matter how she tried to adjust it.

Rosalie laughed inwardly. It was normal for the dress not to fit her—she wasn't the one Bradley wanted to marry, after all. That was why he'd remembered the wrong size and inadvertently had the designer tailor a dress for Lola. It made perfect sense, didn't it?

Rosalie took off the dress and changed back into her own clothes. Then, she walked out of the dressing room.

"Rosie, why did you come out without the wedding dress?" Lola furrowed her brows and asked nervously, "Are you still mad at me?"

"No." Rosalie smiled faintly. "I tried it on, and it fits perfectly."

"Then why—" Lola started.

Rosalie cut her off, "Because there's a saying that there will be bad luck if a groom sees his bride in her wedding dress before the wedding. That's why I didn't show you guys what I looked like in the dress—it's fine as long as it fits."

Lola believed her and nodded as the realization dawned on her. "Oh, I see."

Meanwhile, Bradley gave Rosalie a pointed look. His face was devoid of emotion, so she couldn't tell how he felt. Then again, who could read the mind of a man of the monastery?

…

After the dress fitting, Rosalie headed home and retrieved the scripture Stanley had given her. She sat down in the study and started reading it.

Her study was filled with scripture, and all the texts were written in Zoltian. Many of them were priceless collectibles.

She'd initially started collecting them to close the distance between herself and Bradley. She'd wanted to understand his inner world and ensure they had something in common. She'd even desired to have their souls resonate with each other.

However, he'd told her off for being insincere, even saying that she was disrespecting his religion.

Rosalie had been indignant, and she'd started learning about the Sandharan Order on willpower alone. Gradually, she found herself truly falling in love with the religion. Whenever she read scripture, it would calm and save her shattered heart.

She'd agreed to be the Sacred Goddess not only because she wanted to forget about Bradley. It was also because she believed the Sandharan Order was where her soul would finally find peace.

She was so engrossed in studying the scripture that she didn't notice Bradley entering the study. She was reading a text when it was taken from her hands.

"Why are you reading this?" Bradley looked at her imperiously, his gaze cold. "Didn't I warn you about this? The Sandharan Order won't accept people with impure senses and lingering emotions. Why bother putting on an act for me when you can't cast aside your worldly desires?"

Rosalie bit her lip hard. She didn't want to argue with him, but she couldn't hold herself back this time. She looked up stubbornly and retorted, "What about you, then? Can you cast aside your worldly desires?"

Could he let go of Lola? He wouldn't have left the Sandharan Order if he could!