Chapter 164
A single carriage entered the imperial palace grounds. At the sight of the carriage bearing the imperial crest, the knights and palace servants who had been waiting swallowed hard.
Inside that carriage was the Apostle of the Moon—the one who had thrown the entire nation into an uproar.
“I wonder who it is?”
“If they’re an academy student, they must be a minor.”
“I’m jealous. An Apostle would be welcomed wherever they go, with a future paved straight ahead.”
“And they say she’s the Marquis of Heilers’ wife’s biological daughter? A marquis’s young lady and an Apostle—her circumstances changed overnight.”
The maids waiting nearby whispered among themselves. Only after a lady-in-waiting cleared her throat did they finally fall silent.
At last, the carriage came to a stop, and the door opened.
As one, everyone turned their eyes to whoever would emerge.
First came the priests of the Moon, and last of all, a single girl stepped down.
Everyone gasped in admiration.
Wearing a deep navy robe embroidered with the sigil of the Moon Temple, she brushed her flowing silver hair back over her shoulders.
Skin so pale it seemed translucent, silver hair that caught and reflected sunlight with even the slightest movement, and mysterious violet eyes—her beauty was more than enough to convince anyone that she truly was the Apostle of the Moon.
Moreover, most people would shrink back in the face of the imperial palace’s overwhelming grandeur. Yet she showed no sign of intimidation. Instead, she squared her shoulders and strode forward confidently.
Looking into those sharp violet eyes, one had the eerie feeling that she could see straight through everything.
Only long after the Apostle of the Moon had passed did people finally realize they had been holding their breath.
“Phew—s-she really a minor? How can a student give off that kind of presence?”
“She’s beautiful…”
“How can someone have hair like that? I want to touch it just once!”
Walking ahead, Selina heard the voices behind her and absentmindedly scratched her ear.
So noisy.
On the way here, she had been advised that showing her silver hair would be good for asserting dominance, so she had deliberately removed her necklace.
If I’d known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have taken it off.
Instead of making a strong impression, she had only drawn people’s stares.
“This way, please.”
After walking for quite some time, a massive door—more than twice her height—appeared before them.
At the sight of the ornate door, Simon, who was walking beside Selina, whispered to her.
“Beyond this are His Majesty the Emperor and the nobles.”
“Thank you.”
Taking Simon’s advice, Selina steeled herself.
The huge doors opened. Inside was a vast hall. At its center sat a man presumed to be the Emperor, with several figures who appeared to be nobles standing nearby, along with people wearing the vestments of Moon priests.
Among them, Selina spotted Fraiman.
However, before she could greet him, she was guided by an attendant straight toward the Emperor.
The Emperor was a middle-aged man with blond hair and red eyes, much like Ardan. As expected of an Emperor, his mere presence radiated an intimidating charisma.
Still, Selina showed none of her emotions on her face. The priests beside her offered their greetings.
“We pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor, the light that leads the Empire.”
There should have been another greeting following theirs—but none came.
A flicker of interest appeared in the Emperor’s previously languid eyes, and murmurs spread through the hall.
“Um… Apostle?”
No one had even considered the possibility that Selina would fail to bow.
Fully aware that all eyes were on her, Selina straightened her back even more.
“My name is Selina. I am the divine proxy appointed as Apostle by the god Lunios. As His proxy, I stand before the Emperor of the Karman Empire.”
Murmurs of rudeness broke out here and there at the sight of a mere girl—no matter that she was an Apostle—addressing the Emperor without even bowing her head.
Unlike the officials and nobles, however, the Emperor looked at Selina with keen interest.
[Well done, nya! Just as expected of my Apostle, nya!]
Luna chattered excitedly at her side.
“No matter if she is an Apostle, what kind of attitude is this?! Did no one teach this girl proper etiquette?!”
At last, an elderly man who could no longer hold back shouted in anger. He seemed to be one of the Emperor’s closest aides; his face was flushed red.
“Then did you show proper courtesy to me?”
“W-What did you say?”
“Did you not send the imperial decree only a day in advance, without giving me any time to prepare? You didn’t even afford me the courtesy of preparation—what exactly are you expecting from me?”
At Selina’s mocking snort, the old man clutched the back of his neck, trembling.
“I am an Apostle. An Apostle bows to no one except the god they serve. If you speak of manners to me again, I will take it as an insult to the god Lunios.”
The old man could offer no further rebuttal. He clearly had much he wanted to say, but Selina’s warning had struck home.
As the atmosphere grew icy, laughter rang out—then grew louder.
“Hahahaha! Indeed, the girl isn’t wrong in the slightest.”
“Your Majesty!”
“I failed to show proper consideration to the Apostle of the Moon. Please forgive me.”
“I accept your apology.”
When Selina accepted so readily, the Emperor laughed once more.
Everyone who had been watching felt their hearts pound. Fraiman, in particular, who had been tense the entire time, clutched his chest.
Selina’s unwavering confidence was admirable—but he feared what might happen if she offended the Emperor.
“The reason I summoned you this time concerns your guardianship.”
“Yes. I read the contents of the decree. You said two parties are disputing my guardianship.”
Selina glanced once to her right at Fraiman, and once to her left at Anais and Arnold.
Unlike the look she gave Fraiman, her gaze toward the Marquis of Heilers and his wife was sharp and hostile.
“Even if you are an Apostle, as a minor you require a guardian. This is stipulated by imperial law, and all imperial citizens must abide by it.”
Selina sneered inwardly. Those imperial laws were all written for the sake of the nobles.
That was why, among commoners, adopting a child rarely involved any complicated procedures.
Fraiman had gone through the formal process only because he wanted to be certain she was truly his child.
“Cardinal Fraiman has expressed his wish to adopt you and was in the process of doing so. However, someone claiming to be your biological mother has appeared. We wish to verify whether you are truly related by blood as she claims. Is that acceptable to you?”
“Was my consent required for that?”
“Haha, which is precisely why I am asking you now.”
For a moment, Selina frowned.
“And if I refuse?”
“While the wishes of the person concerned are indeed important, this is a necessary procedure in order to determine your guardian.”
“Is it truly important whether I am related to that person by blood?”
“Wouldn’t you say it is? It would mean a change in status—from commoner to noble.”
Yes, it was important. The difference between the rights of a noble and those of a commoner was like heaven and earth.
When Selina remained silent, the Emperor took it as consent and looked toward Anais.
“Step forward, Marchioness Heilers.”
Anais emerged from among the nobles, her steps trembling.
The closer she came to Selina, the more violently her body shook. At last, Anais covered her mouth, tears welling up.
“My child…”
Though it was a reunion more than ten years in the making, Selina showed no agitation whatsoever.
She looked at Anais with empty eyes, as though gazing at an inanimate object.
“Don’t you remember me? I’m your mother.”
Thinking perhaps Selina truly did not recognize her, Anais spoke desperately—but Selina showed no response at all.
Her coldness was almost painful to watch.
“Then shall we confirm it immediately?”
At a single gesture from the Emperor, attendants waiting nearby approached.
One of them carried a wide dish filled with an opaque liquid.
“Please extend your hands, both of you.”
When Selina and Anais held out their hands, the man produced a dagger. At the sight of the sharp blade, Selina flinched.
“To confirm the relationship, we require a small amount of blood. If you are related by blood, the liquid will turn clear. If not, there will be no change.”
With that, he made a small cut on their fingertips and let several drops of blood fall into the dish.
The droplets rippled across the surface as they began to mix.
As the red blood dispersed through the liquid, a faint light suddenly spread from the dish.
Then, astonishingly, it returned to a clear, transparent state—just as if no blood had ever been mixed in.
“Marchioness Anais Heilers and the Apostle of the Moon, Lady Selina, are indeed related by blood.”
At the announcement, the hall erupted into murmurs. Some rejoiced; others bit their lips.
Selina belonged firmly to the latter group.
While Selina stood rigid, Anais inhaled sharply and buried her face in the hand covering her mouth.
“At last…!”
Anais suddenly pulled Selina into a tight embrace.
“At last, I can hold you in my arms!”
Selina felt her shoulder grow damp. Anais was crying. Yet Selina could not understand her emotions at all.
“It seems the Marchioness Heilers’ claim was correct. Now that Lady Selina’s biological mother has been confirmed, Cardinal Fraiman’s adoption procedure will be nullified.”
Amid the cheers, Fraiman immediately raised an objection.
“No matter if her biological mother has appeared, you cannot decide this so easily! Please, reconsider!”
If he backed down now, he would lose Selina forever, right before his eyes. He could not simply give up the daughter he had raised since she was young.
Unlike the desperate Fraiman, Anais smiled in victory, gripping Selina’s shoulders.
“Thank you for growing up so well. From now on, you won’t have to worry about anything. Your mother will do anything for you. You’ve suffered so much until now, haven’t you?”
When Anais reached out to stroke Selina’s face, Selina blatantly avoided her hand.
Then she glared at Anais with undisguised contempt.
Confronted with that gaze for the first time, Anais faltered.
“W-Why… why are you like this?”
“Who do you think is my mother?”
Shoving Anais away, Selina walked straight up to the Emperor.
“I agree with Cardinal Fraiman. Please reconsider your decision.”
When the very person at the center of the matter opposed the Emperor’s ruling, everyone was taken aback.
Especially Anais, who had been rejected right in front of her eyes—her blue eyes wavered helplessly.
“Reconsider? What exactly are you asking me to reconsider?”
“The nullification of the adoption. I wish to choose Cardinal Fraiman as my guardian.”
“M-My child! How could you make such a choice…!”
Anais cried out behind her, but Selina steadfastly ignored her.
“Even after it has been proven that the Marchioness Heilers is your biological mother, you still wish for someone else to hold your guardianship?”
“Yes. The blood test was conducted to confirm my eligibility to choose a guardian. It was not meant to automatically assign my guardianship to my biological mother.”
It was a sharp point. Indeed, she was correct. Still, it was commonly assumed that if a biological mother appeared, guardianship would naturally be entrusted to her.
“I am the one directly concerned. I believe it is unreasonable to assign my guardianship without even asking my opinion. What do you think?”
“Hmmm…”
The Emperor stroked his chin. As he pondered, both those growing desperate and those sensing opportunity raised their voices.
“Your Majesty! With her biological mother clearly alive, it is only natural that the mother take guardianship! Passing it to another makes no sense!”
“Selina is right! The most important thing here is Selina’s opinion! Please reconsider!”
Arnold and Fraiman, each arguing their own position, locked eyes. Neither yielded, both glaring fiercely.
Starting with the two of them, a fierce exchange erupted between the opposing factions.
Each side pressed their arguments, desperate to claim Selina for themselves.
“Rin!”
Calling Selina by her childhood name, Anais clung to her desperately, pleading.
“What don’t you like? Then I’ll change anything—everything! Just say the word. You have me, so how could you choose someone else? That makes no sense!”
“Makes no sense?”
With a sneer, Selina leaned close to Anais’s ear.
“Why should I choose the person who abandoned me?”
Anais froze.
Her expression was nothing short of utter shock.
