~Chapter 01~
It was an ordinary day, just like any other.
The maids were busy preparing breakfast, and the butler was sorting through the mail. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary—until a blue envelope caught their attention.
“What is this? Who sent it?”
No matter how closely they examined it, there was no sender’s name—only the recipient, “Baroness Rife.”
The small bird emblem stamped on the sealing wax was something they had never seen before.
“Could this be dangerous?”
The butler attempted to open the letter preemptively, just in case. But no matter what he did—
“No! Why won’t it open?!”
The envelope refused to yield. It couldn’t be torn or crumpled.
As the butler wrestled with the letter, Baroness Rife happened to walk by.
“Sebastian, what are you doing there?”
“It seems a suspicious letter has arrived for you, ma’am. I was trying to check it in advance.”
“A suspicious letter?”
The Baroness tilted her head and stepped closer, lowering her voice so the maids cleaning the stairs wouldn’t hear.
“You’ve never heard of it? Since a year ago, anonymous letters began circulating throughout the Arthenia Empire. No one knows who started them or where they came from, but they carry dreadful truths.”
“Dreadful truths?”
“What else could it be besides the hidden lives of nobles? Many families have been ruined because of these letters.”
Baroness Rife hastily began to open the envelope. The butler tried to stop her.
“Ma’am, no matter what, the letter won’t—?”
But when she touched it, the envelope opened effortlessly.
The butler froze in disbelief. Just a moment ago, it had been impossible to open. It had been sealed tight as if stitched together. Yet now, it opened at her touch.
Shaking off his confusion, he joined the Baroness in reading the letter.
“This letter began in the capital and completes a full circle once a year, revealing the truth to the recipient. The letter in your hands must leave your possession within four days. Please forward it, along with six others, to those who need the truth.
Baron Rife has a daughter hidden away.”
The butler immediately covered his mouth in shock. He already knew about the illegitimate child—he had been sending her monthly allowances under the Baron’s instructions and sometimes even visited her to check on her.
He had been extremely careful, fearing that if the Baroness discovered the truth, it would be the end of him.
How did she find out?
Trembling, he watched as the Baroness pushed past him and strode to her husband’s study, throwing the Bluebird Letter onto his desk.
“Honey! Is this true? Did you really do this?”
Baron Rife scowled and picked up the letter from the floor. When he read it, his eyes nearly bulged out.
How could anyone know this? The only ones who should know were Athenis, the Goddess of the Empire, and the saint.
“Don’t tell me you believe this nonsense?” he scoffed.
“Nonsense? The Bluebird Letter has never lied! It correctly revealed Baron Vesta losing his fortune gambling and Countess Perser maintaining two households!”
“This… is a fabrication! Someone is trying to slander me!”
“That’s impossible! The magical seal allows only the intended recipient to read it. No one else could forge it.”
“…Well, I was planning to handle it quietly,” Baron Rife muttered.
“Handle it quietly? You mean sell her off to some wealthy commoner? She’s quite pretty, so you could profit anywhere!”
“My goodness! If you sowed your seed without permission, you should at least take responsibility! You’re worse than a beast, Ralph!”
A huge golden retriever leapt at him, kicking him in the chest. Baron Rife toppled backward and was bitten squarely in the groin.
Although it may seem impossible for a dog to attack its master, Ralph had never received a warm meal or kind look from him. He was not Ralph’s master.
As Baroness Rife shouted for the butler to prepare divorce papers, a small flame sparked over the letter.
Silently, the fire consumed the envelope. Not a trace of it remained.
A knock came at the door of Saint Selen Leclaire, the 11th saint of the Arthenia Empire.
It was Mia, the priest who served Selen.
“Saint, Baron Rife wishes to see you.”
“Was this appointment scheduled?”
“No, he kept insisting it’s urgent… I couldn’t say no.”
Mia fidgeted nervously. She was clever and efficient, rarely missing a problem she couldn’t solve. If she came herself, it meant the matter was serious.
“No need. I’ll meet him,” Selen replied.
Following Mia, Selen went to Theberon Palace, a place named after the royal family. Nobles came to pray, receive healing, or confess. It was also where the saint often stayed to hear confessions.
“Saint!”
Baron Rife entered, visibly furious. But Selen remained calm, smiling politely.
“May the holy light reach Baron Rife.”
Ignoring her greeting, the Baron shouted, “Saint! The Bluebird Letter has arrived at my home! You know what that is, don’t you?”
“Yes, I’ve heard of it.”
Baron Rife gnashed his teeth, panting heavily.
“The contents of the Bluebird Letter should have been known only to me, Goddess Athenis, and you—the only one I’ve confessed to!”
Selen did not flinch or blush. She blinked slowly twice.
“Baron Rife, are you certain that only the saint and Athenis know?”
“Yes! Of course!”
“Then, is your daughter no longer in the world?”
The Baron’s eyes flickered violently. Selen continued in a calm, gentle voice:
“The mother who bore her has passed. The daughter lives in isolation, with no relatives, neighbors, or friends. No adult visits or supervises her. So, when you proudly claim that only you and Athenis know, you are mistaken.”
Baron Rife gritted his teeth, unable to speak further. The child’s grandfather still lived. The butler knew, and so did the coachman who visited her. Many knew—certainly not just the saint and the goddess.
Selen blinked slowly twice again, then left the audience chamber as calmly as when she entered.
Once she left, Baron Rife trembled, imagining the consequences:
Did the Bluebird Letter reach the in-laws?
If divorced, he’d have to return the entire dowry.
His social standing and new business ventures could collapse.
Everything was falling apart.
By the time they returned to Selen’s residence, Eleanor Palace, Mia alternated between apologies and scolding.
“Saint, I’m sorry for bringing him, I didn’t know it was for such a matter.”
“It’s not your fault, Mia.”
“That wretch—what made him come all this way? He should be ashamed, not make it seem like our saint is spreading rumors!”
“Mia, don’t speak such words in front of others,” Selen advised.
“Yes, saint. I’ll be careful.”
After sending Mia off, silence settled.
Selen sighed in relief—and a little guilt.
“Sorry, Mia. I wrote that gossip myself.”
She couldn’t help laughing.
After nine years at the temple, her act of pure innocence had reached perfection.
Today was another success.
No longer would Baron Rife quietly sell off his child. The Baroness, kind enough to rescue abandoned dogs, would surely find a way to protect her child.
Even if not, Selen could simply write another Bluebird Letter to solve the problem.
Opening her drawer, she found blue envelopes and fresh letter paper spilling out.
“Goddess Athenis, please allow me to be your righteous whistleblower today.”
Selen picked up her pen.
Despite nobles thinking confession absolves them of all sins, she knew the path to correcting their decadent behavior was far from over.
