FMV 37

Chapter 37

The temple was still filled with brilliant light, but the atmosphere had already been completely overturned.

Just moments ago, everyone had been holding their breath, expecting someone to collapse the instant Elise’s divine power descended upon them.

But nothing happened.

The children were perfectly fine, and the sacred radiance flowing over the altar merely enveloped their pale faces in peaceful light.

The first person to move amid that silence was none other than Dalia.

Dalia slowly rose from her seat and clasped both hands over her chest, adopting a deeply moved expression.

Her movements were so natural that she looked as though she had been prepared to step forward from the very beginning.

“Your Majesty.”

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it carried clearly throughout the hall.

“Thank you so very much for inviting us.”

At the word thank, Eshit’s gaze wavered ever so slightly. At the same time, his expression stiffened.

“To be honest, conditions at the orphanage have never been particularly good. As you all know, children grow every day, and their appetites grow along with them. But with our finances steadily worsening, shouldn’t we consider ourselves fortunate if we can simply worry about putting food on the table each day?”

As she spoke, Dalia dabbed the corner of her eye once with a handkerchief. She neither pretended to cry nor acted excessively emotional.

Rather, it was precisely because of her restrained demeanor that her words carried even greater weight.

Ian’s eyes narrowed at the sight.

“I’m ashamed to say that the children couldn’t even have a proper breakfast this morning. So I was afraid that one of them might not be able to withstand today’s ceremony.”

A small commotion arose among the nobles.

“Not be able to withstand it?”

“What does she mean by that?”

Eshit quickly interrupted.

“It seems the headmistress was simply overly concerned. Today’s Grand Consecration is, after all, a ceremony meant to bestow mercy and comfort through divine power…”

But Dalia lowered her head again as though she had not heard him.

“Since Your Majesty was so insistent. I told you I didn’t want to come, but Your Majesty said that if I simply came here today, you would provide full support for the orphanage.”

In that instant, Leonhardt’s gaze shot directly toward Eshit.

Ian squeezed his eyes shut while still maintaining his smile.

Eshit’s face retained its smile, but his eyes were growing cold and rigid.

Dalia continued speaking as though she knew nothing.

“I was deeply moved by Your Majesty’s kindness. To think that you would even take into consideration the circumstances of a humble institution in such a remote area. And you even warned me beforehand that the children might react to the Saintess’s divine power.”

The moment those words fell, the silence in the hall was no longer ordinary silence.

The expressions of the nobles began changing one by one.

Don’t be surprised no matter what happens during the ceremony.

Those words were far too strange. Unless someone already knew that there was a possibility someone would collapse, there was no reason to give such a warning.

Elise watched the scene without saying a word.

Her white fingertips still rested elegantly upon the platform, and a serene, saintly smile remained on her face.

But her gaze had turned cold.

As expected, she catches on quickly.

Dalia had understood exactly what Elise wanted.

Elise didn’t need to grab Eshit by the collar herself. Dalia was choosing the most efficient way to overturn the entire board on her own.

Eshit quickly recovered his smile.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding.”

He stepped forward with a friendly expression.

“I merely heard that the children had grown exhausted after years of poverty and insecurity. Since this would presumably be their first time standing before so many people, I was simply concerned that something might happen.”

It was a plausible excuse.

But once the atmosphere had been shaken, it was not easy to restore it.

Just then, Elise spoke in an exceptionally gentle voice.

“Your Majesty.”

Everyone’s attention turned toward her.

Elise slowly looked at Eshit. Her eyes were clear, and her expression was infinitely benevolent.

“Then that’s truly a relief.”

“What do you mean, Elise?”

“I was worried too.”

Elise gave a small smile.

“I wondered whether today’s gathering was truly meant to show mercy… or whether it was actually intended to see how someone would react to my divine power.”

Her words were perfectly polite.

Yet that single sentence struck the very center of the temple like a sharp blade.

Eshit’s face instantly hardened.

Ian clicked his tongue inwardly.

Could she have figured something out?

Leonhardt instinctively held his breath.

Elise continued in the calmest manner imaginable.

“You have always said that my blood and divine power exist for the sake of the empire, Your Majesty. As a Saintess, I have never intended to refuse whatever duties are expected of me.”

Elise tilted her head ever so slightly.

“But after hearing what the headmistress said today, it sounded as though you had already anticipated that my divine power might cause some kind of reaction in someone’s body without my knowledge.”

“Elise.”

Eshit’s voice dropped deliberately.

“You would do well to choose your words carefully.”

But it was already too late.

Elise did not retreat.

Instead, she asked with an even gentler expression,

“Am I misunderstanding something? Your Majesty, did you truly have no expectation whatsoever that the children might show an abnormal reaction to my divine power today?”

It was a trap.

If Eshit said he hadn’t expected it, that would contradict the warning he had given the headmistress.

If he admitted that he had expected it, he would have to explain why he had gone ahead with the ceremony despite knowing such a possibility existed.

Eshit remained silent for a moment.

But that brief silence was the most damaging thing of all.

Dalia immediately seized upon it.

“Oh, then I didn’t hear incorrectly.”

Dalia covered her mouth as though she had spoken by mistake.

“Your Majesty told me that without holy water containing the Saintess’s sacred blood, it might be difficult to determine the condition of the children…”

“Enough.”

Eshit cut her off sharply.

But it was already too late.

The nobles’ expressions had completely changed.

“Sacred blood?”

“Holy water? Are you saying he intended to involve the Saintess’s blood in the ceremony rather than merely using her divine power?”

“Was this supposed to be a test of the Saintess rather than a ceremony of mercy meant to save people?”

Several of the elder nobles openly displayed their displeasure.

For the emperor to speak of the Saintess’s blood in the temple, of all places, was morally repulsive even before considering the political implications.

Especially when he had arranged a ceremony in front of countless people under the pretense of mercy.

Eshit gritted his teeth and forced the corners of his lips upward.

“My intentions are being distorted. The Saintess’s blood is a precious resource that protects the empire. If it is necessary for the sake of the people…”

Before he could finish, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned icy.

Then someone among the nobles spoke in a low but unmistakably clear voice.

“Your Majesty. I do not believe those are words that should be spoken in a temple… where the Grand Consecration is being held.”

The person who spoke was an elderly duke who had served the imperial family for many years.

His neatly trimmed white beard framed a stern face. Though he had remained silent until now, his brows were now unmistakably furrowed.