Years passed, and I was ten years old. I had been continuously trained all these years, but my power never showed up, and I never had a fever again. I still attended classes, and I also accompanied my father to meetings. Grandpa joined us as well. The friction between my father and grandfather still existed, even though they worked together when making decisions during the meetings.
It had been said that a new saintess had been discovered, and the church had been openly supporting her. Many rumours surrounded her—some claimed she was a child, others said she was an old woman, and some whispered that she possessed miraculous healing powers. These rumours were formally addressed during one of our meetings after we received a letter from the church, requesting an audience between the princess and the saintess.
Meeting Hall – Royal Palace
The grand meeting hall was filled with high-ranking nobles, ministers, and key figures of the royal family. The air was thick with tension as King Theo sat at the head of the long, polished table. My grandfather sat across from him, their presence alone making the atmosphere even heavier.
King Theo leaned forward, placing the letter from the church on the table. His deep voice carried authority as he spoke.
King Theo: "We have received a letter from the church requesting a meeting between the saintess and the princess."
A murmur spread through the room. Some exchanged knowing glances, while others frowned.
Duke Callen (Duke of the East): "Your Majesty, with all due respect, why now? The church has never been this direct before."
Baron Momentum: "Indeed. We have no confirmation about this so-called saintess. There are too many conflicting rumours."
Duke of the North: "We must consider the church's motives. Their influence is strong, but they are not above political schemes. If this saintess is real, why summon the princess? What do they gain from this meeting?"
The room fell into silence for a moment. King Theo tapped his fingers against the table thoughtfully.
King Theo: "That is exactly what concerns me. The church is testing the waters. If we agree, we give them more leverage in court politics. We have no proof of her abilities, yet they act as if we must acknowledge her."
Countess Alice: "Your Majesty, allowing the princess to meet this so-called saintess could be dangerous. If she truly has divine powers, she could be a tool the church intends to use against us."
Duke Callen: "Or worse—what if she is a fraud? A puppet for their ambitions?"
The weight of their words settled over the room. My father exhaled and finally spoke again.
King Theo: "We are in agreement, then. We will send a formal refusal to the church."
No one objected. The decision was final.
As the meeting adjourned, I couldn't help but feel that refusing the meeting was not the end of this matter—only the beginning.
The fresh morning air filled my lungs as I finished my training for the day. The sky was clear, and the gentle breeze made everything feel lighter. As I walked back, I found myself in conversation with my mother.
"You're getting so good with the sword now, Ellie," Mom said with a proud smile. "At this rate, I don't think you even need Sir Tristian to protect you anymore."
I laughed, wiping the sweat off my forehead. "Maybe, but I doubt Dad will ever let me step outside without a full set of knights."
Mom's eyes sparkled with amusement as she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "I know you've been sneaking out at night."
I froze. "You… You won't tell Dad, will you?"
She let out a soft chuckle. "It's our little secret."
Relieved, I grinned as we continued walking side by side.
"Sir Tristian will be returning by the end of the month," Mom mentioned casually.
Sir Tristian and Anna had always been by my side, protecting me, guiding me. Over time, I noticed the way they looked at each other—the way their hands lingered a little too long, the stolen glances when they thought no one was watching. They were in love, but they never confessed. Maybe looking after me had been too overwhelming for them to admit their feelings back then.
But Mom… she had figured it out long before anyone else. Ever the matchmaker, she encouraged them to be honest with each other. And eventually, they did. Last spring, they got married, and now, they were on maternity leave.
Anna was always meant to return home once I turned ten but saying goodbye had been harder than I imagined. She had been more than a nanny to me—she was like my second mother.
A voice pulled me back to the present.
"Greetings to the Moon of the Empire, and to the most gracious princess."
I turned to see ministers exiting the meeting hall, bowing slightly as they passed.
"Hope the meeting went well," I said politely.
They smiled and nodded before heading on their way. I glanced toward the hall and saw Dad and Grandpa deep in conversation. As soon as they noticed us, they walked over.
"Looks like you had a good training session," Dad remarked, his eyes scanning my sweat-drenched form.
"I had a really good trainer," I replied with a grin, glancing at Mom, who, unlike me, looked effortlessly composed even after hours of training.
Grandpa smirked. "Well, she must have had an excellent trainer herself."
But instead of smiling, Mom's expression darkened.
"Says the man who abandoned his only child and went off to war," she retorted, her tone sharp.
I held back a sigh. Please don't start a fight here.
Deciding to make a quick escape, I stepped forward. "I'm heading to my room. "
I kissed Mom and Dad on the cheek before turning to Grandpa, who was making a dramatic puppy-eyed face. Rolling my eyes, I gave him a quick kiss as well.
He beamed.
Shaking my head, I laughed as I walked away.
A Few Days Later
The palace was in chaos today. I could tell the moment I stepped inside. My father looked visibly upset, though my mother remained calm, carefully assessing the situation.
The cause of this unrest? The Pope. They had entered without notice or permission. Since the Pope represented the entire church, dealing with him would be complicated.
As I made my way to the grand hall, my gaze swept over the sea of white robes. The moment I entered, the gathered people instinctively moved aside, clearing a path for me. Without hesitation, I walked up to my father's side and took my seat beside him.
Liam and Noyal are at the academy… I thought with amusement. What a shame. They're missing all the drama.
"Greetings to the sun and the moon of the empire. Greetings to the gracious princess," the church members bowed in unison.
I could feel the Pope's lingering stare.
"You must have a good reason for entering without prior notice, Pope," my father said, his voice cold. Of course, he was upset. He had only just sent a letter rejecting their request for a meeting a few days ago.
"Your Majesty," the Pope began smoothly, "I have come to introduce you to the saintess. Saintess, please step forward."
A girl in a simple white dress emerged from the crowd. As she stepped forward, she removed the veil covering her face.
A collective gasp echoed through the hall.
Her hair was identical to that of the previous saintess. But that was all. She appeared to be around fifteen years old. If she truly was the saintess, why had they hidden her for so long?
I glanced at my parents. As expected, they looked completely indifferent.
I sighed, catching the attention of everyone in the hall.
"This is boring," I muttered, my eyes scanning the so-called holy figures before me. People who constantly preached about divine power yet never proved anything.
Judging by their expressions, I had struck a nerve.
"Are you here to showcase some divine power?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.
"No, Princess," the Pope replied smoothly. "We merely wished for you to meet the saintess. You have never visited the church before. Surely, you could benefit from someone who can teach you about divine matters?"
I arched a brow. "And why would I need divine help?"
"I did not wish to bring this up, Princess, but there have been… rumours. Since the kingdom has never had a princess before, some believe it to be a bad omen." Pope paused dramatically. "We have tried to meet you many times, but we were always refused."
I smirked. He had walked right into my trap.
"Pope, are you suggesting that I, the first princess of the Ashyn Kingdom, am a bad omen?" I asked, my voice deceptively sweet.
The room fell into an uneasy silence. All eyes turned to the Pope, waiting for his response.
"Princess, forgive us. That is not what we meant, I only wished to befriend you. You rarely leave the palace—surely, you need someone to talk to freely?"
A new voice cut through the tension.
It was the saintess.