With that as the start, the black power around her shadow gradually grew in volume.

Charlotte’s body trembled from an unknown force.

Selvia no longer needed to hide her power. Rather, showing it openly was the most efficient way of persuasion.

Since Ratius had seen the prophecy and chosen her, now she needed to show that she was the chosen one herself.

“N-not the power of light.”

“This looks like…… darkness as black as pitch.”

The frightened nobles stepped back hesitantly.

At the same time, the flowers filling the banquet hall gradually turned to ash and disappeared by Selvia’s power.

Watching people gripped by fear, she immediately amplified her power.

Then, from the ashes, new sprouts emerged and quickly bloomed into new flowers.

People held their breath and stared at her, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Creating new life was close to holy power.

People’s thoughts and expressions gradually changed from fear to awe.

Selvia spoke in a low voice.

“When darkness is born from light, that shall be salvation. This is an unrevealed prophecy. As some of you may already know, I have a younger sister born with the power of light in my family.”

Though it was clearly different from the power of light people knew, they had to believe when they saw new life sprouting.

The nobles’ gazes turned to the Emperor. Everyone whispered with surprised faces at this news they were hearing for the first time.

“As Marquis Borche said, there was an unrevealed prophecy. Since everyone must be curious, I will show you the unrevealed prophecy here.”

As soon as Ratius finished speaking, the doors opened immediately.

People in pure white priest robes appeared. Amon, who stood at the front, approached Selvia’s side holding the prophecy.

Everyone’s eyes widened at the sight of Amon appearing in clothes embroidered with gold.

This was because Amon had never shown himself at official occasions. No one had expected the High Priest to appear as a witness.

‘I didn’t know the High Priest would come.’

Even Selvia showed a surprised expression at his unexpected appearance. Amon stood beside her waiting for Ratius’s words.

“High Priest, show the prophecy to everyone.”

Only then did he open the scroll containing the prophecy to show everyone.

“As the High Priest who serves God, I confirm that Marquis Selvia Borche is indeed the child of prophecy.”

The High Priest’s statement gave weight to Selvia’s words.

She carefully looked around at the people staring at her.

“Isn’t it strange? That I was born with the power of darkness in a family of light.”

Her voice carried deep appeal. Even people who had trembled in fear at first gradually began to listen to those words.

“I understand your confusion well. You must be curious why I came to the Empire from Delpheron.”

She slowly approached the platform where Ratius sat and stood beside him, smiling with an incomparably happy face.

“His Majesty acknowledged me as the child of prophecy.”

Selvia hadn’t even been considered the child of prophecy in Delpheron. Just a pawn to replace Leliana. Only Ratius had accepted her existence as she was, without denying it, rather than thinking of her as just a means to bind.

“Since not having my existence denied was important, I had no reason to refuse.”

How could she refuse?

Ratius placed his hand on her waist.

Startled, Selvia looked at Ratius.

“Moreover, Marquis Borche will sit beside me as Empress from now on. We cannot let another country take the child of prophecy.”

The nobles who had seen Selvia’s power nodded as if agreeing.

“We will follow Your Majesty’s command.”

“We believe that Marquis Borche is the child of prophecy.”

One by one, the nobles began kneeling and acknowledging Selvia’s existence.

“I understand your concerns well. Marquis Borche must clear away the darkness cast over the marquisate and bring hope within a month.”

“I will fulfill my given duty with all my strength.”

Selvia answered Ratius’s words and raised her head to look at the nobles.

What remained now depended on how she would solve the task given to her.

“Well then, let’s return to enjoying the banquet.”

At Ratius’s gesture, the temporarily halted music began playing again and the disrupted banquet resumed.

“We should move somewhere to talk.”

However, looking at Ratius who seemed to have no intention of letting her go despite saying that, Selvia said,

“Shouldn’t you let me go so I can walk comfortably?”

“If walking is the problem, there’s this method too.”

He suddenly lifted her up. And before the surprised Selvia could say anything, he strode out of the banquet hall.

* * *

Selvia looked at Ratius.

No emotion showed on his face. Selvia wondered if something she didn’t know about had happened.

When she recalled their conversation from then again, her head throbbed.

The events at the banquet would spread throughout social circles through the nobles who were there. When that happened, it was obvious that the Kingdom of Delpheron would also learn about her.

Selvia recalled what happened at the banquet while drinking tea.

“The people of the Kingdom of Delpheron will learn about this too, right?”

“Probably.”

Ratius tried to maintain an expressionless face, but he kept smiling as he recalled how Selvia had approached him earlier at the banquet.

Selvia shrugged her shoulders with a small sigh.

“I’m not sure if I did well.”

Ratius was also surprised, in truth.

“I didn’t expect you to choose such a method.”

He hadn’t expected her to find a way to prove herself inside the banquet hall. Fortunately, it seemed to have swayed many people’s hearts because of that.

“I just wanted to show what I could do because I felt I had to prove myself.”

She thought everyone would fear her and think negatively of her if she only used the power of darkness.

That’s why Selvia pushed herself to demonstrate her power to sprout new life.

Even in her homeland Delpheron, didn’t they only think about using her?

While the royal family acknowledged her abilities, they began to doubt her qualifications because she lacked the power of light.

From the beginning, being the child of prophecy was all that mattered.

It would have been fine if she could save them even without the power of light.

Selvia had made up her mind to accept and actively utilize her power.

“You seem to already know about the Marquisate of Borche.”

Though Ratius hadn’t given any explanation, she didn’t question it.

That meant she had already figured it out.

“I studied about the Empire’s regions in the library. By the way, did you call the High Priest because you were worried people wouldn’t believe me?”

“I thought he would be necessary since they won’t doubt his word.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Selvia was secretly relieved by Amon’s appearance. There couldn’t be a more reliable witness.

“Thank you for standing up for me.”

“The temple will do anything to help Marquis Borche.”

Ratius stared at Amon with a still displeased expression.

“Somehow you two seem quite close.”

“Because we became allies through the prophecy.”

Despite Selvia’s casual response, Ratius felt somewhat hurt.

He felt pathetic for feeling this way, but he couldn’t help it.

“I should head to the Decan region as soon as possible. A month isn’t very long.”

“I’ll support you with whatever you need.”

“Thank you. A carriage to Decan should be enough.”

The Karina Empire was in a better situation compared to Delpheron. The Empire’s territory itself was fertile and vast, and with magic stones being mined, they could substitute anything they lacked. If there was any concern, it was that the power of light wasn’t what it used to be and nights had grown longer, and as finding a solution to this seemed increasingly remote, the people’s discontent was growing.

“I plan to visit the damaged fields and farmlands in the Decan region of the Marquisate of Borche. I want to help them start anew.”

“Don’t overdo it. You’re more important to me than anything.”

“……I’ll be fine with this much.”

Selvia smiled slightly and avoided Ratius’s gaze.

‘Somehow it feels like I’m being overprotected.’

How could he be so careful with her, treating her like a glass vase, when he couldn’t possibly know her physical condition?

Feeling suddenly embarrassed, she looked at Amon, who shrugged his shoulders discreetly.

“We will accompany her. As she is the child of prophecy, the temple has a duty to protect her.”

“I’m fine though……”

When Amon readily volunteered, Ratius smirked and said,

“It does put my mind at ease if the High Priest accompanies you.”

Selvia was surprised when Ratius readily permitted the High Priest’s accompaniment, as she thought he would refuse.