In the Bellius Empire, the “temple” did not hold much real power.
Part of the reason was that the founding emperor did not rely on religion to establish the nation. ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) But even before its founding, each region already had its own powerful influences.
Moreover, most of them worshiped their own deities.
Still, a few of the past emperors had attempted cultural unification by building temples across the Empire, giving religion a mild revival that allowed its presence to linger.
Because of that, temples had never been particularly notable throughout history.
But today, this temple was unusually busy.
Even nobles who rarely attended prayer days had sward in, and as a result, the offering box filled faster than ever before.
The reason? This very temple was where Viscount Olor’s son had requested a Ceremony of Honor.
“The ceremony will begin shortly.”
“Please take your seats.”
The priests guided the noisy nobles to their seats and urged them to remain quiet. The priests, busier than they had been in ages, were drenched in sweat.
“Have you heard?” whispered a noble young lady, glancing around before carefully speaking up.
“The magic potion for verifying the Voreoti young lady’s parentage—apparently it was made personally by the Marquis Ortio’s husband.”
Despite her cautious tone, her voice was loud enough to be overheard by others.
That alone was enough to spark whispers across the temple.
“The Marquis’s husband?”
“You an that ‘Mad Alchemist’?”
“Well, if nothing else, the effect of the potion will be guaranteed.”
There was one infamously eccentric mage from the Eastern Magic Tower.
He was the Marquis Ortio’s husband—renowned for his extraordinary skill in magical alchemy.
Rumor had it he was so obsessed with potions he even used people as ingredients.
Many stories claid that countless individuals were sacrificed or experinted on using his magic potions. But the truth remained uncertain.
Regardless, the fact that this very man had personally brewed the potion made the nobles feel that sothing significant was happening.
“We can be sure the results will be accurate, right?”
“Even the Marquis herself acknowledges her husband’s skill.”
“But why is the East involved...?”
Soone muttered.
Among the four major regions, the East was known for maintaining the strictest neutrality.
This Ceremony of Honor was, in a way, the climax of the ongoing power struggle between the noble faction and the imperialist faction.
Once the Voreoti young lady’s true paternity was revealed, one of those factions would be shaken to its core.
So it was surprising for the East—so famously neutral—to get involved.
But an answer ca from the sa young lady who had revealed the potion’s origin.
“The North and East aren’t exactly on the best of terms right now.”
As soon as Olor requested the ceremony, he had rushed to the East to make a personal appeal. His reason was the ongoing conflict between the two regions.
“My relative, who was present at the last noble assembly, said that Duke Voreoti deeply offended the Marquis of Ortio.”
People clicked their tongues at the news.
“That’s bad...”
“Yeah, if the East got involved on purpose, it’s serious.”
Hidden beneath the idle conversations of the nobles was a curious truth.
Most of them had already co to believe that the Voreoti young lady was the daughter of Viscount Olor’s son.
At the beginning, opinions had been split about fifty-fifty.
This shift was strange.
“......”
A noble young lady, quietly listening to the conversations, slipped out.
Instead of taking a seat, she exited the temple, avoiding prying eyes.
Outside, warm spring sunlight poured down.
Under the golden light, her hair shimred like the clearest sea water.
Azure jade strands fluttered with the breeze.
‘Truly impressive.’
Just before stepping into her waiting carriage, Salus cast a glance back at the temple.
‘To think she used like this.’
Salus thought of the audacious baby beast.
But rather than feel displeased, she was thoroughly impressed.
That boldness and fearlessness were exactly her style.
“...She’s definitely the daughter of Voreoti,”
Salus muttered with a delighted smile.
“Will you not watch the ceremony?” asked her escort knight beside her, his orange hair gleaming in the sun.
“What for?” Salus replied with a laugh.
“It’s a waste of ti.”
The result was already far too obvious.
***
By the ti the temple had filled with nobles—
“We now begin the Ceremony of Honor.”
The high priest announced the start, and the previously chaotic interior fell into silence. With the announcent, the Bellius imperial family made their entrance.
Emperor Subiteo, draped in a golden cloak, entered first. He was followed by Empress Tigria and Consort Usia. Prince Chrisetos and Prince Alis accompanied them.
But Princess Scandia was not present.
“She’s been unwell lately.”
“I heard the emperor’s planning to marry her off to so backwater noble...”
“Such a sha.”
After the brief murmurs died down, all attention turned to the next arrivals.
Voreoti and Olor—the key figures of today’s Ceremony of Honor—entered.
Separated by the ceremonial platform, the two families stood on opposite sides, displaying a stark contrast.
Each wore garnts in their house’s colors.
Voreoti in black.
Olor in red.
Their expressions were just as different as their colors.
“Look over there. The Voreoti young lady looks so sad.”
Indeed, Leonia’s expression was anything but cheerful.
Standing between two n both claiming to be her father, she looked exhausted. The crowd pitied the young girl.
In contrast, Olor radiated confidence.
Remus in particular tried again and again to make eye contact with Leonia. Whenever their eyes did et, he would wave.
Each ti, Leonia would avert her gaze and lean into Ferio’s arms.
“...So he really is her father, huh...”
Many nobles took her behavior as confirmation of the rumors.
“...Ugh, I’m so tired.”
Fortunately, Leonia wasn’t nearly as despondent as they imagined.
“Every ti I see that bastard’s face, the madness I’ve locked deep inside tries to co out. I seriously need to go ho and do so crazy se roleplay to seal it back in.”
“Should I play the violin for you again, like last ti?”
Varia gently patted her back.
“Play ‘Footsteps of the Ice Duke’...”
The baby beast whimpered.
“Varia, don’t indulge her.”
Ferio looked at the small, adorable troublemaker with disapproval. But he didn’t say not to do it.
“....”
anwhile, Varia glanced at the opposing side.
“Are you worried?” Ferio asked softly, following her gaze.
There stood Lota. Unlike Remus, who looked thrilled at the thought of eting his daughter, Lota’s face was a mix of unease and desperation, as if she desperately wanted to stop him.
“...If you want to help, go ahead.”
Ferio said gently.
But Varia shook her head.
“There’s nothing I can do now.”
Though she said so, Ferio’s eyes lingered on her for a long ti.
Varia smiled faintly, but the smile faded as she asked with concern:
“Do I seem cruel?”
“I’m worried you’re too kind.”
Ferio replied like a scolding father. People needed to have a bit of coldness in them, he said. Varia couldn’t help but smile again.
Soon, priests entered carrying two wide, shallow cups made of silver.
Emperor Subiteo stood before them.
“Before we begin the ritual—”
He looked down upon the gathered nobles.
“Let each house stake their honor.”
Normally, only Remus would need to stake his honor, as he had requested the ceremony.
But this ti, the matter involved the custody of a child.
Naturally, Ferio beca involved and had to stake his honor as well.
Ferio and Remus stepped up to the platform. Each removed the crests from their chests and placed them on the table.
The black lion and red swan were set side by side. Strangely, it looked as if the lion were devouring the swan.
“What have you staked for this ceremony?”
“My house’s noble na,” Remus said proudly.
“My house’s noble na,” Ferio echoed.
“And my genuine devotion to my beloved daughter.”
It was that last line that carried the weight of true honor.
The unexpected words caused murmurs throughout the temple. Ferio, anwhile, remained utterly indifferent.
“...My dad is so annoyingly cool.”
Leonia muttered with a goofy smile. Varia gently squeezed her hand.
“...Then let the ceremony begin.”
Emperor Subiteo nodded to the priests.
“This Ceremony of Honor was requested by Viscount Remus Olor’s son.”
The emperor’s voice rang loud and clear.
“He claims that the young lady of House Voreoti is his biological daughter, and he has staked his honor on the truth of this claim. anwhile, Duke Voreoti asserts the claim is false and has staked his honor in response.”
At that mont, the priests brought out a glass bottle.
It was the size of a clenched fist, filled with a completely transparent liquid. The priests poured the liquid into each of the two cups.
“This ceremony shall be decided by the blood of the Voreoti young lady.”
Emperor Subiteo called Leonia forward.
She stepped up, offering a perfect bow to the emperor.
“True blood will turn blue. False blood will turn red. I and everyone present will serve as witnesses.”
The mont of truth had arrived.
“Lady Voreoti.”
A priest approached her.
“Your hand.”
Leonia extended her hand. The priest gently pressed a small silver dagger to her fingertip.
A sharp pain pricked her skin, and she winced slightly.
“Please drop your blood into each cup.”
She did as instructed, letting one drop fall into each cup. The crimson droplets dissolved swiftly into the clear liquid.
“Let honor be revealed.”
Emperor Subiteo spoke again.
Ferio and Remus pricked their own fingers and dropped blood into their respective cups.
And then the transformation began.
The once-clear liquid shifted instantly.
Each cup took on a different color.
One turned a brilliant, truthful blue.
The other—
Beca a vivid, deceitful red.
“...Huh?”
Remus made a dumb sound as he looked down at his cup.
It was soaked in red.
Just like his hair.
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