Chapter 103………………
The letter arrived without delay, and my private audience with Robin Eolin came to an end.
Perhaps the Marchioness Eolin had shaken her husband severely, for when the Marquis came to my palace, his face was utterly haggard.
Since nothing was yet decided, I simply gave him a rough explanation of the situation and sent him back to his residence.
Exactly three hours later, I was summoned by the Emperor.
“This is the Tower of Council, isn’t it?”
“Yes. All major and minor affairs of the Empire are decided here,” Cecile explained while guiding me.
I swallowed nervously, overwhelmed by the tower’s grandeur.
That was when—
“What are you doing just standing there?”
Dmitri appeared alongside Iabel, addressing me. Iabel frowned the moment her eyes met mine.
“Don’t talk to her. Let’s just go in.”
She tugged insistently at Dmitri’s sleeve.
Dmitri shook his head at her rudeness and gave me a nod.
“You come too. If you’re going up, better to go together.”
“What? Yeni hasn’t come yet.”
“She’ll make her way up on her own.”
“…Then I’ll go up with Yeni. You go ahead first with her.”
“You’re an adult now. At least show some manners.”
“What did I do?!”
Iabel snapped irritably and averted her eyes.
I caught Dmitri sighing quietly. Truly, he must suffer plenty because of his unruly younger siblings.
“Shall we go?”
“…Alright.”
He nodded and extended his hand to me.
I stared at it for a moment before cautiously resting my hand upon his.
“Let’s go.”
So that was correct, then.
Dmitri’s escorting still felt awkward. My body stiffened as I followed him into the Tower of Council.
Inside, waiting knights bowed in unison.
“We have been expecting you, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the First Princess. The council will convene at the top floor.”
“Please step onto the gate here.”
Another knight led us toward the gate installed at the tower’s center.
Following his guidance, Dmitri and I stepped onto it.
“I will lower the lever.”
The knight pulled it—
And at once, rummble… the magical mechanism surged, whisking Dmitri and me to the very top of the tower in an instant.
I staggered with dizziness, but Dmitri quickly steadied me.
He asked with worry, “Are you alright? You looked seasick… Shall I summon a physician?”
“N-no, I’m fine. Not nearly that bad.”
“But you nearly collapsed.”
“That was just a little dizziness… Anyway, I’m fine. Let’s just go in.”
Fearing he might truly call a physician, I hurriedly tugged him forward.
The doorkeepers guarding the chamber saluted and opened the doors for us.
…But something was strange.
‘What is this…?’
The chamber was frigid, as if cold water had been poured over it. Though it was summer outside, here it felt like the dead of winter with icy northern winds blowing.
Awkwardly exchanging glances, Dmitri and I entered.
The Empress’s brow, already furrowed, knit even tighter when she saw Dmitri escorting me.
“You’re here, Crown Prince. And the First Princess as well.”
When she singled me out, Dmitri replied evenly, “We met on the way and came up together.”
“I see… Sit. Each seat has your name written on it.”
Dmitri’s place was directly beside the Emperor.
According to rank, across from him sat Iabel; beside Dmitri was me, and beside Iabel was Yevgeny.
The Emperor gave us a nod to sit, so we obeyed.
‘Ah, the Pope.’
The Pope sat opposite the Emperor in the seat of honor. When our eyes met, he slyly winked at me.
‘What…?’
I cautiously spoke, “May I ask a question?”
All eyes turned toward me.
The nobles glanced at the Empress for her reaction. When she said nothing, they nodded.
“What is it, Your Highness the First Princess?”
“I just wondered if something had already been discussed before the Crown Prince and I arrived, since the atmosphere feels… heavy. If so, please inform us.”
“…”
“…”
The nobles shifted uneasily, exchanging awkward glances.
‘What’s going on…?’
I was about to regret asking when—
“Shall I explain?”
“Y-your Holiness…”
The nobles glared daggers at the Pope, as though he were the culprit of all this. Even the Empress looked at him with distaste.
‘Ah, so he did something.’
It wasn’t hard to piece together. Regardless, the Pope cheerfully opened his mouth.
“Before the council began, I was about to propose the one to light the signal fire be none other than the First Prin—”
But just then—
“Their Highnesses have arrived.”
The doorkeeper announced the arrival of Yevgeny and Iabel. The Pope was forced to stop mid-sentence.
Instead, he offered them his charming smile.
Yevgeny, with a graceful laugh, took her seat.
“The meeting hasn’t begun yet, has it?”
“Not yet, Your Highness the Second Princess.”
“Wonderful! Then how will the person to light the fire be chosen?”
Eyes sparkling, she glanced from Emperor to Empress to Pope. She even batted her eyes at the Pope to leave a favorable impression.
‘Hmm, best ignore that.’
So the Pope thought, averting his gaze.
At that moment, Hebzel, seated beside him, spoke.
“Shall we begin, then?”
“Indeed.”
“Please give us a simple explanation first.”
The nobles nodded. Hebzel continued:
“Before we proceed, His Holiness has recommended as candidate to light the beacon fire—Her Highness Lilien Sha Caliburg, the First Princess.”
“…What?”
Yevgeny paled instantly. She blinked at me and the Pope, then forced a smile.
“But I heard from Mother that there would be an aptitude test to decide this. Am I mistaken?”
“No, you heard correctly.”
“Then why skip the process and recommend the First Princess directly?”
“I agree,” Iabel growled, incredulous. “Why is Lilien suddenly being mentioned?”
The nobles sighed knowingly, even the Emperor included, as if expecting this behavior.
His quiet yet powerful gaze silenced the two sisters instantly.
Yevgeny bowed her head, biting her lip in frustration.
The Empress clicked her tongue softly and muttered, “It’s only a recommendation. Nothing is finalized yet. Calm yourselves.”
“Yes, merely a recommendation,” Hebzel agreed with a smile. Yevgeny finally exhaled in relief.
Dmitri crossed his legs, addressing the Pope. “So what exactly is this aptitude test?”
At his haughty manner, Hebzel’s temple throbbed, but the Pope patted his shoulder to soothe him.
With a smile, the Pope explained:
“As it coincides with the founding day of the Estie Empire, it is also the day of prayer to the Goddess. Thus, we must test the measure of one’s divine power.”
“But wasn’t that measured already, when we were baptized at birth?”
“Yes, even the Third Prince, absent today, underwent that test.”
“Then isn’t it redundant?” Dmitri’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“On the contrary—it is all the more necessary. For I have received an oracle.”
“What?!”
“An… oracle? You mean the Goddess Iridium has spoken for the first time in a hundred years?!”
Even the nobles, who had been quietly observing, leapt to their feet in shock.
“Enough. Sit down, all of you,” the Emperor commanded.
Otherwise they would have rushed the Pope for details.
Clearing their throats, they asked gravely, “What was the oracle, Your Holiness? Was it about setting one of the Emperor’s children to light the beacon?”
“Yes. A week ago, the Goddess declared that the one to open the prayers at the festival must not be the Emperor, but the stars—his children.”
“My word…”
The nobles exchanged glances. This was a tremendous honor: to be chosen by the Goddess herself.
The imperial children also seemed to realize this, their eyes darting shrewdly.
The Pope elaborated:
“However, the oracle did not specify who. Therefore, we must test again. Perhaps the Goddess has granted new, immense divine power to one of you.”
“That makes sense!”
“So this is the first aptitude test?”
“Yes. And the second is… suitability as a ruler. In other words, among the four of you, who has most tangibly demonstrated the virtues of rulership to the people?”
“…!”
All eyes turned toward Dmitri and me.
Dmitri, confirmed as Crown Prince candidate, had long shown the qualities of leadership—particularly during the war at Aetis.
As for me, I had developed a medicine. Through me, countless citizens had been cured of magic insensitivity, with treatment costs waived even for the poor.
The ruler’s duty is to care for the lowly.
Moreover, I had saved a powerful Crown Prince candidate’s life through the Iron Guard Alliance. My achievements could not be ignored.
The other two, who had basked under their brother’s radiance, looked ashen.
Still, I could not wholly rejoice.
‘If this continues, Dmitri will win…’
I could not hope to surpass him in the second test. And besides—
‘I have no divine power at all…’
If the oracle truly bestowed divine power, one of us should show signs. But none of us had.
Meaning, it was possible no one had—or only one.
I glanced at Iabel. She was the only one among us with divine power, albeit barely enough to heal a single person.
If I could not awaken any divine power, Iabel would win the first test, Dmitri the second.
‘At least let me hear what the third test is…’
I waited eagerly for the Pope to continue.
And at last he did.
“The third… shall be a ‘vote.’”
“What?”
“What did you just say…?”
…A vote?
The nobles and royals alike stared blankly at the Pope.
To determine the one to open the sacred founding ceremony by popular vote? The very thought was madness.
As if anticipating this reaction, Hebzel added cautiously:
“We know how strange it sounds. Choosing by vote seems disrespectful to the Goddess, yes.”
“More than just that…”
“Count Kiona is right. We too worried it might be improper. However—”
Hebzel smiled smoothly.
“Isn’t the will of the people also important? Shouldn’t they too have a say in who opens the festival?”
“How can commoners be dragged into such a sacred rite?!” Count Kiona protested.
But the Pope answered gently, “It is thanks to the people that you sit in your position, Count. Commoner or noble, all are equally children of the Goddess.”
“…!”
“Of course, it will not be done carelessly. We will prepare an agenda.”
“What agenda, exactly?”
The Emperor, silent until now, finally spoke. The Pope replied with a serene smile:
“Who has best acted for the welfare of the people of the Empire?”
The vote would be held on the day of the festival.
“Fifteen days from now, the people will cast their votes. Until then, Your Highnesses may act, work for the citizens, however you wish. Each deed will influence your votes.”
And with a clap, the Pope declared, “That will be all—meeting adjourned!
