Upon returning to the palace, Ratius immediately went to find Selvia.

First, he needed to check how much holy water she had left.

His steps grew faster as he approached the room where Selvia was staying.

Finally standing before Selvia’s room, he faced the maid Elena.

“I behold the Empire’s Sun. Lady Selvia is inside. Shall I announce you?”

“No, wait a moment.”

Ratius raised his hand and tidied his appearance.

“How do I look to you? You may raise your head and look at me.”

At his command, Elena slowly raised her head.

“……I don’t know how to express it.”

“Speak honestly without reservation. Is it a mess?”

Upon seeing Ratius’s face, Elena couldn’t say a word.

Ratius’s golden hair was disheveled irregularly here and there. Yet it still shone by itself.

His sapphire-like blue eyes and buttons neatly fastened to his neck contrasted with his rolled-up sleeves.

Thanks to this, she could see the veins protruding over his firm muscles on his forearms.

Anyone who saw Ratius now would say he was magnificent, he was dazzling.

Elena shook her head slowly and spoke as if enchanted.

“Your Majesty is perfect just by existing.”

Ratius felt inwardly relieved at her words.

Though he knew that as a maid she couldn’t speak poorly of the Emperor, he couldn’t help feeling reassured.

“You may announce me now.”

As soon as Ratius finished speaking, Elena knocked on the door and announced his visit.

* * *

Selvia took a deep breath before he entered.

She adjusted her posture and quietly took in his appearance.

It felt like it had been quite a while since she’d faced Ratius. No, it really had been a while.

“Mellin, would you give us some privacy?”

She spoke to Mellin who was standing by her side.

Mellin bowed and immediately left the room.

Only Ratius and she remained in Selvia’s room.

His slightly disheveled hair and neat suit caught her eye.

His outer coat was held in one hand.

He hadn’t been running, so was he hot? Selvia checked the room’s temperature. It was neither hot nor cold, but just right.

Moreover, the weather wasn’t even hot.

Rather, it was chilly outside, cool enough to easily catch a cold.

Selvia found it very strange that their attire was so opposite—she even had a shawl wrapped around her.

“Did you come in a hurry?”

“Ah……”

Ratius shrugged his shoulders lightly. Her gaze moved from the outer coat he was holding to his arms.

The precisely rolled-up sleeves perfectly reflected his personality.

‘Look how neatly he folded them even while rushing.’

Under her careful scrutiny, Ratius stood frozen in place.

“What’s supposed to be a mess?”

Selvia unconsciously muttered while tilting her head to the side.

“You heard that?”

“I didn’t intentionally eavesdrop.”

Selvia waved her hands with a reddened face. Ratius’s smile deepened.

“I wanted to look nice for you, so I tidied up before coming in.”

“……You don’t need to do that from now on.”

In truth, he looked magnificent no matter how he appeared. Though Ratius seemed unaware of this.

Selvia cleared her throat and spoke with a sulky expression.

“You’re later than I expected. Are you going to keep standing?”

At Selvia’s sharp gaze, Ratius joked.

“I should have come earlier. It took time because I was trying not to interfere with your lessons.”

Ratius shook his head as he answered.

Then he sat down across from her.

“You went to the temple.”

Selvia spoke as soon as he finished answering.

She was concerned about his somehow anxious appearance.

And she expected it was about her.

Selvia set down her teacup without making a sound.

Flinch.

His body trembled slightly.

“It’s alright, please speak comfortably. What did the High Priest say?”

She still maintained an expressionless face. She blinked slowly and maintained a calm attitude.

“Hah.”

At Ratius’s hesitation, Selvia waited silently.

When his hand moved to his chest, Selvia spoke with a knowing look.

“It seems the holy water isn’t sufficient.”

Looking at the two bottles on the table, Selvia shrugged.

“I expected it, but I didn’t know it would be this little. You don’t need to look so gloomy.”

The holy water only delayed the blood coughing. It couldn’t solve the fundamental cause.

“But I found you, Your Majesty.”

Selvia instead maintained a composed attitude.

She had found the one who wields the power of god that her mother spoke of. That alone was a great strength to her.

Moreover, he was someone who supported and helped Selvia.

Of course, she was anxious too, but nothing would change because of that.

“I should train with the High Priest to build up resistance. Then it will get better.”

“I could help you with that.”

“Then how about this? You and the High Priest could take turns helping me.”

“……Do you really need his help?”

“I want to know the difference. Maybe it could be different.”

Is that the only reason?

Ratius frowned at Selvia’s words. Somehow, he didn’t like feeling like Amon was coming between him and her.

“Of course, I plan to ask the other priests too.”

“……If you need a control group.”

There was no good reason to refuse.

He couldn’t act childishly and be unreasonable.

Ratius finally nodded with a reluctant face.

“……Alright. He actually requested a meeting too.”

Even while speaking, Ratius couldn’t take his eyes off Selvia.

Recognizing the emotion in his gaze immediately, she said.

“Your Majesty, I’m fine so don’t worry. I’m perfectly well.”

“If anything feels wrong or problems arise, tell me immediately.”

“I will.”

Ratius’s worry melted away like snow at her brightly smiling face.

“Are the lessons manageable?”

“They teach very well. Learning the Empire’s dances is fun too.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Selvia didn’t miss the smile that flashed across his face.

“Your Majesty, I’m certain I’ll find a way. So please don’t worry too much.”

At her words, Ratius found himself nodding unconsciously.

He felt that if it was Selvia, she would find a way.

* * *

Amon waited for the letter with an anxious look.

“Will she be discouraged when she learns how little holy water remains?”

The Selvia he had seen didn’t seem like she would. Unlike her appearance, she was quite a strong person.

She could have blamed him, but she didn’t. Or perhaps she did blame him and felt discouraged.

But the Selvia he saw was forging her own path through the fate given to her.

“High Priest, an urgent letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

Hearing the news he was waiting for, Amon immediately received the letter from the priest.

[Alternate with me twice a week to train Selvia in resistance. Come to the palace the day after tomorrow.]

It was Ratius’s unilateral notice.

But he didn’t feel bad about it. Rather, he felt relieved.

He couldn’t just let the child of prophecy die. He was the High Priest after all.

Separately, Ratius’s recent actions were enough to surprise Amon.

He had come straight to the temple, hadn’t he? Someone who hadn’t set foot in the temple even once since that day.

Amon recalled that day.

The day Ratius awakened his power remained vivid in his memory.

Those with holy power cannot harm people. That was the general rule.

Moreover, Ratius was at a level where he could use the power of god completely.

However, Ratius broke the taboo to survive when he awakened his power.

Among his brothers, he was the weakest but smartest, making him the number one target for elimination.

Having survived countless deaths, he killed all his brothers except himself to break free from the suffocating bonds.

As a result, he incurred God’s wrath, and restrictions were placed on his use of power.

Only Ratius knew what those restrictions were.

The image of him standing blankly in the temple covered in blood, tears falling drop by drop, remained unforgettable.

“I have to repay the debt.”

Those words Ratius had muttered to himself repeatedly were etched in Amon’s mind.

Though he had only accidentally witnessed him behind a pillar in childhood, the impression of that day remained vivid.

Amon shook his head to clear away his thoughts. He brushed off his arms as his hair stood on end without him realizing.

No matter how he thought about it, Ratius was reacting excessively sensitively when it came to matters concerning Selvia.

“What could have happened in such a short time?”

As he pondered, Amon suddenly felt like he might be overthinking things.

Ratius and Selvia were already bound by fate as if joined by God.

They each had their own divine trials. So in a way, it was natural for them to be drawn to each other.

Two months.

Only two months remained until the day of prophecy.

Amon found himself swelling with anticipation. He was curious what form of miracle they would show.

“The meeting of the child of prophecy and the one who wields the power of god.”

It couldn’t be anything but interesting.

He put the letter in his drawer and headed to the prophecy room.