chapter 06
The sudden argument between the two continued without end.
“If it’s not a joke? Huhu. Are you truly saying you meant such a ridiculous thing?”
“High Saintess.”
“How dare the Mage Tower, of all places, defile the sacred ground devoted to the Goddess Iris. …Oh, my apologies.”
Hey, uh—
“The Mage Tower is a division under His Majesty’s direct command, equal in authority to the Imperial Knights. They quietly serve the Empire’s call and fulfill their duties faithfully. Are you saying you would dare to insult them?”
“Oh, please, Your Highness. It was merely a slip of the tongue. Be generous and forgive me. After all, they are the Empire’s sword guarding the borders, are they not?”
Excuse me, but if you two are going to keep arguing, could someone please send me home?
The words stopped at my throat. The rapid, dramatic exchange unfolding before my eyes made my head spin.
‘Where am I? Who am I?’
One thing was certain—these people had completely forgotten I was here.
‘I’m still the duke’s daughter, though…!’
Of course, compared to Blake—the second prince and current grand duke—and the High Saintess of the Iris Church that ruled the Empire, I didn’t even qualify to stand in the same room.
All I could do was sit still and watch like a scarecrow.
Between the Empire’s two powerhouses, a fierce verbal battle raged, and I caught Locke’s uneasy gaze as he stood nearby—then back to watching them again.
Our eyes met. His face was pale.
Locke, you too? Yeah, me too.
“You’ve no right to speak, considering you spend your days clinging to the palace. Even as monsters invade the borders and threaten the Empire’s safety.”
“For the Empire’s safety, I offer my prayers to the Goddess within the heart of the Empire itself—the Imperial Palace.”
“Prayers? You mean closing your eyes for a moment, clasping your hands, and pretending to be devout—then idly drinking tea with noble daughters? Ah, or is that your way of praying?”
The Grand Duke leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs. His posture turned insolent, but his smirk was the first expression resembling amusement.
“I thought the gods were omnipotent and busy beings, but perhaps I was mistaken.”
Of course, the smile was nothing but a sneer meant to cut her down.
The faint smile faded from the High Saintess’s face.
And watching them, I suddenly wanted to go home and see my parents.
“……Are you not afraid of divine punishment, Your Highness?”
“Then you must not be afraid of the royal family.”
I shut my eyes tight, feeling like a shrimp about to be crushed between fighting whales.
“Ahem, ahem! Ahem!”
Locke’s cough broke the tension, drawing everyone’s attention.
Locke…!
I looked at him like he was my savior.
My comrade! How brave of you to step in and stop this!
“E-Excuse me, Your Highness, Your Holiness, but perhaps it would be wise to stop here.”
“The Lady is present as well, after all…”
At his trembling words, everyone’s attention turned toward me.
…Locke…!
Did this man just offer me up as a sacrifice? I glared daggers at him. Our eyes met, and he quickly looked away.
Grinding my teeth, I forced myself to speak.
“……My apologies for not withdrawing sooner. I failed to grasp the proper moment. Should I perhaps excuse myself now?”
What I really meant was: ‘If you’re going to keep bickering like that, I’m leaving.’
Surprisingly, the Grand Duke looked a little embarrassed.
“My apologies, Lady Priscilla. That was… not a good look.”
“It’s all right.”
“We were to announce the birth of the new Saintess soon, and so—”
“That won’t be possible.”
“……?”
Just as the conversation was about to resume, the High Saintess cut in again.
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, why again?!’
This time, even I was angry.
Because of her, this conversation wasn’t getting anywhere.
The Grand Duke, who already seemed to harbor resentment toward her, spoke through clenched teeth.
“What now?”
“I’ve heard the stories, Lady Priscilla.”
But instead of answering him, she turned her gaze on me. The Grand Duke’s expression turned icy cold.
‘Great. And now they’ll start bickering again.’
Sighing, I replied, “Stories?”
“Yes. Rumors that you’ve received a divine oracle.”
“Ah… yes, that’s true.”
I’d already figured people would know by now, especially once I entered the palace.
But what did that have to do with her, the High Saintess of Iris?
Different faiths didn’t usually meddle in one another’s affairs.
Almost as if she’d read my thoughts, the High Saintess smiled faintly.
“But tell me, Lady Priscilla.”
“Yes, Lady Eve.”
“Did you truly receive an oracle?”
I froze.
“The Goddess Iris always shares much with me. Surely, if a new Saintess were to appear, She would have told me…”
“……”
“I didn’t see it, you see. A future where you become a Saintess.”
Her gaze pierced straight through me, the curve of her lips forming a subtle smile. My heart plummeted.
There are six Saintesses in the Empire.
Three belong to the Church of Iris, and the other three each serve a different god.
Every Saintess, like I had, must demonstrate her power before the royal family and gain their recognition.
That’s it. No elaborate ceremonies—just proof before the throne.
It might sound lax, but it worked.
‘After all, the power of a Saintess—like healing magic—is something only she can use. It’s not something ordinary mages can fake. Hardly anyone would dare lie before the royal family.’
And certainly, no one would be crazy enough to claim an oracle from a different god like I did…
‘So I thought showing a simple healing spell would be enough to get by…’
“The Goddess Iris did not show me any future of you becoming a Saintess, Lady Priscilla. So naturally, I began to wonder.”
“……”
“Whether you truly received an oracle or not.”
I hadn’t expected to be doubted like this.
The High Saintess, Eve, possessed a unique gift—the power of foresight.
The ability to see the future. I never imagined that very gift would now become my trap.
“Are you… doubting me?”
“Doubting? Huhu, I wonder… what do you think?”
“Lady Eve.”
“Let’s just say I’d like to confirm. I dislike uncertain futures, you see.”
Her smile deepened. “I’m simply curious about you—someone even my foresight cannot see.”
A cold sweat trickled down my neck.
‘This is bad. Really bad. What does she know? If she finds out I lied about the oracle—what then?!’
But wait. If she truly could see all futures, wouldn’t she have seen this one—me being recognized as a Saintess?
Real or fake, I had been acknowledged by the Grand Duke. So logically, she should’ve seen that future.
Just as that thought flashed through my mind, the Grand Duke’s furious voice cut through the air.
“Enough of this insolence, High Saintess! What are you doing?”
“Oh, forgive me, Your Highness. But this is between Lady Priscilla and me.”
“The Lady’s abilities and right as a Saintess have already been acknowledged by me. Are you defying the royal family’s authority?”
The air itself seemed to tremble under the weight of his words, yet the High Saintess merely smiled.
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but this was done with His Majesty’s permission.”
“……What?”
What?
‘Wait—why is the Emperor involved now?!’
The scale of this situation was spiraling out of control.
“Recently, many have falsely claimed to receive divine oracles to gain favor from the Church. Of course, they were quickly exposed. Only the chosen may be Saintesses… how foolish of them.”
“……”
“The Goddess was so angered by this that She granted us a new relic not long ago.”
The High Saintess reached into her robes and pulled out an object.
A luminous orb, shimmering with sacred light—it was clearly no ordinary item.
“This is the Mirror of Truth. It reveals a person’s true essence.”
‘What?!’
“Would you show us yours, Lady Priscilla? Let’s see if you truly serve a god.”
“Wait, High Saintess—!”
‘What? WHAT?! My true essence? What even is that?! I don’t know either! What if it exposes that I’ve been reincarnated?! Stop, wait—!’
Ignoring both my inner panic and the Grand Duke’s protest, she raised the mirror toward me.
No!
I screamed inwardly and squeezed my eyes shut—
“……!”
A blinding light filled the Great Temple.
