Chapter 7

Rosalie felt like countless needles were slowly but surely piercing her heart as she looked at the romantic line Bradley had written on the paper.

It came from one of the most beloved tales of love in the Sandharan Order's lore. The story talked about how a man, before joining the monastery, had met a young woman on a bridge. He'd fallen for her at first sight, and the longing had consumed him until he'd wasted away.

Sandhara had asked him, "How deep is your love for that woman?"

The man had answered, "I would willingly transform into a stone bridge, enduring 500 years of wind, rain, and the scorching sun, just for the chance that she might walk across me in her next lifetime."

Rosalie still remembered that she'd been moved to tears when she first read this fable. She'd sought Bradley out with the scripture in her hand, and she'd told him that that was the sort of love she wanted.

Years had passed since then. She was surprised Bradley still remembered the line from that tale. It was too bad he hadn't written it for her.

She'd given it her all but had still failed to get the love she wanted.

Rosalie put the paper down and turned around, leaving the room without making a sound. She wondered whether Bradley was aware that she'd once felt the same as the man in the story. She was also willing to transform into a stone bridge and endure everything just for the chance that he would walk across her in this lifetime.

…

Rosalie had a sleepless night. The following morning, she put on the Sacred Goddess' monastic robe instead of the wedding dress that had been delivered to her home. Then, she put on the red monastic scarf that came with the robe and picked up her rosary.

After that, she made her way to the church where her wedding was being held.

She didn't want to disappear without a word and leave a mess behind for Bradley to deal with alone. That was why she was going to the church to explain the situation to the wedding guests. She would call off their engagement in public before leaving.

However, she was stunned the moment she entered the church. There was already a bride inside. Lola was a vision in white, and she smiled sweetly as she chatted excitedly with the bridesmaids.

The guests were also happy and lighthearted. None of them noticed anything was wrong.

Rosalie's eyes widened in shock. What was going on?

She was supposed to be in the wedding dress, yet she wore the monastic robe of the Sacred Goddess. Meanwhile, Lola, who should've been the Sacred Goddess, wore her wedding dress.

Their roles and identities had been swapped, but no one could tell that something was amiss.

Rosalie staggered backward, trembling all over. She and Bradley hadn't spoken in days. Could it be he'd unilaterally ended their engagement and planned to marry Lola that day?

The skies were clear, but a cold droplet rolled down her face. She thought she wouldn't shed tears for Bradley anymore, but her eyes weren't listening to her. They were the ones letting her tears flow.

She couldn't believe he hadn't even bothered to text her and inform her that the wedding was off. He'd switched brides without a word!

If she hadn't agreed to take Lola's place as the Sacred Goddess and if she'd arrived at the church in her wedding dress, happy to walk down the aisle…

Had Bradley even stopped to think how much despair she would be in if she'd come joyfully to find that another bride was taking her place? How humiliated would she have been if all the guests were there to witness this?

There was a saying that people wouldn't cry when they descended into extreme sorrow. Instead, they would laugh hysterically.

Rosalie figured the saying was right because she couldn't stop herself from bursting into laughter. Once the laughter subsided, she dried her tears and turned around, leaving without another look back.

One of Sandhara's teachings was that people of the monastic order had to be compassionate. They had to forgive all sins in the world. However, she would never forgive Bradley.

…

Rosalie's phone started buzzing like crazy when she arrived at the airport. She checked it to see that Bradley was calling her. It tickled her. Why was he calling? Did he want to invite her to his and Lola's wedding?

She would've been able to accept the change of bridges if he'd just bothered telling her the day before that he wanted to marry Lola instead. She would've even smiled and given them her blessings.

But now… she refused to accept this, and she wouldn't bless them.

Rosalie rejected the call without hesitation. However, he rang her again almost instantly. She rejected it again, and he called her again.

This went on for a while. Bradley refused to stop even after Rosalie had rejected his call seven times. Annoyed, she threw her phone into the trash can before boarding her flight. And so, she didn't see the countless texts he'd sent her, asking where she was.

The plane took off and flew thousands of miles to bring Rosalie to where her heart and soul belonged. A red-walled monastery perched atop high mountains. Stanley and several other monks stood at the entrance, awaiting Rosalie's arrival.

She put her hands together and greeted them. Then, she entered the monastery as they surrounded her.

Stanley dotted a spot of cinnabar on her forehead. "All things in this world rise and fall by cause and effect. Nothing escapes this truth. Let go of your attachments, and your heart will become as calm as still waters.

"Are you truly willing to leave behind your past life and abandon all earthly desires to join our order and sever the cycle of reincarnation?"

Rosalie brought her palms together and shut her eyes. "I am."

"Then, the rite is complete," Stanley said. "From this day forth, your monastic name shall be Lyra Jewel in honor of the 12 Sacred Goddesses."

The monks started chanting as his words fell. Rosalie prostrated herself on the floor as a thin trail of incense curled into the air.

Her last thought was that this was farewell for her and Bradley. The rite was complete, and Rosalie Stone would cease to exist in this world.

There would only be Lyra Jewel.