CHAPTER 275: BELIEVE IN OUR LOVE

"I accept my mistakes. I am a sinner, please forgive me!" It began with one voice when an old man with sunken eyes and a trembling frame. But soon a flood of emotions broke.

Many realised that they have killed innocents without a reason just because their fear spoke better than their humanity. Many bowed their heads and apologized.

"I accused a young girl once. I thought I was protecting my children."

"My grandmother used to say witches were evil. I never questioned it. I should have asked for reasons."

"We didn’t know. We were afraid. But that’s no excuse."

"I’m sorry."

Dozens of voices followed, not all equally loud, not all equally sincere, but the air began to shift. Some cried openly. Others dropped to their knees. They weren’t noble. They weren’t brave. But they were, at last, acknowledging the truth.

"We swear," a woman in the front cried, "we will never hurt another witch again unless they strike first. Unless they come for us in hatred, we will not raise a hand!"

Olivia had thought that it would be much harder. But it was more than Olivia had expected. The way they were ready to mend the bridge left her in tears.

Beside her, Liliana stood equally stunned. Her lips parted and her eyes went wide. For the first time in her life, she was hearing the words she had only dreamed of hearing, regret, recognition and a chance to have peace.

Then, silently, her shoulders began to tremble. A tear fell, then another, and another. She pressed a hand to her mouth, unable to stop the sobs that broke loose. Not from sadness, but from relief. She would have never believed if she was told that humans would apologize for their crimes. And now it happened so easily as if it was the only natural thing to happen. A wound buried too deep had finally begun to bleed clean.

Damien stepped forward. He didn’t say a word but he placed his hand on Olivia’s shoulder and pulled her closer as if offering her silent strength. He gently took Olivia’s arm, sensing that her fury had cost her more strength than she let on.

"Come," he murmured softly.

Olivia let him lead her away, her head still held high. The villagers parted for them, not in fear this time but with something closer to reverence. Liliana followed, still wiping her tears, still unable to believe what she had witnessed.

They returned to the inn in silence, the noise of the village still faintly echoing behind them like the last whispers of a storm.

Inside the room, the heavy door shut behind them. The warmth of the fireplace seemed almost foreign compared to the weight of the plaza. Olivia sat on the edge of the bed, untying her cloak slowly. Liliana hovered near the door. It took her a long time to find her voice.

"What happens now?" Liliana asked quietly. "What’s the next step?"

Olivia looked up at her with a strong determination in her eyes, "We ask the coven to meet them."

Liliana’s brows furrowed. "The coven? Do you really think they will agree? After everything that’s happened? After how many of us died? I am sure they want nothing more than burning the land or getting a separate one for themselves. They would never listen to the explanations humans would provide." it was not even a question full of doubt. Olivia let go of a breath and nodded.

"They might not," Olivia admitted. "And I wouldn’t blame them if they refused. But someone has to start. Someone has to take the first step." Her voice lowered. "We have been burning in silence for decades. It has to stop."

Liliana hesitated. "What if it’s a trap? What if they change again once fear returns?"

Olivia looked at her evenly. "Then we will make sure the fear will never return. Even if the witches come to meet them, they have to deal with it. This time, not with vengeance but with wisdom. If we never give peace a chance, then we are no better than the stories they tell about us."

Liliana looked down, struggling to hold back another wave of emotion. Then, finally, she nodded.

"Then you would go and talk to them?" asked Liliana with rising hope in her chest.

"We both would." that shocked Liliana but she only sighed and nodded.

"But before that, you would tell me what the coven needs urgently. If they used to come to work on the human land to earn things, we could use those things as a chance. I am sure Evelyn had used those things to make a place for herself in the coven." At the mention of Evelyn, Liliana frowned with a look of disapproval.

"But the village is in shambles. How could we get everything." her face had a hint of worry but Olivia had already thought it over.

"Yes, that way we would increase the business for them. Do not worry about the money. Write as many things as you remember and Damon would buy them for us. After all, he is a duke." Damon raised a brow looking amused but at the same time relieved that his wonderful woman still needed him. Even if it was just for his money.

Liliana turned to look at Damon who shrugged.

"As long as my wife commands it, I will oblige." He held her by her shoulders and pulled her into his arms so that her back leaned on his chest. Liliana blushed but then her brows furrowed.

"Have you already done it?" she asked in a low voice looking at Olivia who smiled deeply. "But I have never heard of a human and a witch. What if you get pregnant? A hybrid child is unheard of. You should ask about it from the high priestess. What if it would be hard for the child? Or worse.. What if it holds a curse that harms the lands."

"There is no such thing like that. I believe in Damon and myself."