I hugged my knees and buried my face in the gap between them. The night was long, and the darkness deepened like spilled ink, but at some point, faint light began to seep through and brighten again.

It was dawn, which they say comes only after the deepest darkness. It was a perfectly natural flow of nature, but in that moment, its meaning felt different.

‘That’s right. Change comes at the very end.’

I had been driven out from the temple where I’d been, and now I was in the imperial palace, led here by Kyle.

I couldn’t live the same way as before, nor did I need to.

After realizing this fact, I felt like the mud in muddy water had settled and I could finally see what was inside that water. After being lost in thought for a long time, I carefully asked God.

‘……Is it okay for me to choose what I want to do now?’

God’s answer was as clear and warm as Kyle’s.

[The ‘Dragon Trampler’ says that is what I desire as well.]

‘But what if I end up hurting someone or causing harm to others?’

[He says our baby is too kind for that to happen.]

At those words, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘You really trust me too much.’

I could totally do bad things too!

Right then, another message appeared.

[And he says ‘Kyle’ would ask what’s wrong with causing a little harm.]

“Ah.”

At those words, my eyes widened. I could picture Kyle standing there defiantly, saying exactly that.

[My woman wants to do this, so what am I supposed to do? Everyone better cooperate as much as possible. If you don’t like it, close your eyes. Before I make it so you can’t see.]

‘He really would say that.’

And that wouldn’t just be empty bravado but his true feelings.

Because he loves me, he would do anything for me.

Even if I caused him trouble, he would definitely smile and say this.

[Ran did nothing wrong. If things went strangely, it’s not Ran’s fault but the world’s fault.]

‘Good.’

Realizing I had someone who would believe in and support me like that, an indescribable fullness spread through my heart. I stood up energetically.

When I opened the door and stepped out, Lady Eleanor, who had just arrived for work and was entering my palace, stared at me with wide eyes.

“Oh my, Lady Cioranne. You’re already awake?”

Actually, I hadn’t slept at all, but since I didn’t feel fatigue due to my holy power anyway, there wasn’t much difference. I shrugged my shoulders.

“I always wake up at dawn anyway.”

“Huh? Lady Cioranne, your way of speaking……”

“Is it strange?”

I had always used formal speech with others, so suddenly changing my tone felt odd. But compared to my hesitation, it flowed out quite naturally.

Lady Eleanor, who had seemed a bit surprised, soon smiled calmly and bowed her head.

“No. Not at all. It seems you’ve made a good resolution.”

“Yeah. I found something I want to do.”

I had thought about it all night long. What I could do for Kyle. Something different from what the Holy Maiden used to do, something I wanted to do.

“I want to establish a school under my name. A school where beast-folk and ordinary people can attend classes together.”

* * *

There was something I’d been curious about for a while.

‘Beast-folk have superior athletic abilities and even self-healing capabilities compared to humans, so why should their submission to humans be considered natural?’

Of course, the process by which beast-folk became enslaved wasn’t simple. There were various historical events involved.

But Kyle abolished slavery when he became emperor, didn’t he? Even so, people still looked down on beast-folk.

‘In the end, it’s an education problem.’

Since they’ve been teaching for so long that it’s natural for beast-folk to be slaves, everyone thinks that way.

Then wouldn’t it work to change what’s being taught?

But currently, there were no schools in the Empire where beast-folk could receive education. That’s what I thought about. I could create a school where not only ordinary people but also beast-folk could receive education.

After listening to my entire story, Lady Eleanor expressed concern.

“It’s truly a wonderful idea, but the temple has consistently taken positions oppressing beast-folk, so if a school is suddenly established under the Holy Maiden’s name, wouldn’t there be criticism?”

“That’s exactly why now is the right time, with the Pope fallen.”

I was mentally prepared too. There would definitely be people criticizing why I was suddenly acting this way after never expressing any opinions as the Holy Maiden.

‘But since I think this is right, I’m going to act.’

Lady Eleanor pointed out another problem.

“I’m also worried about the situation where the temple might be reduced to nothing more than a treatment center, degrading its very existence. While having too much religious power is problematic, having the temple weaken and strange new religions taking root would also be problematic from a broader perspective……”

“That won’t happen.”

Of course, I had anticipated that part too. The temple had absorbed forces that fell into human supremacism while leading the oppression of beast-folk. If those forces strongly opposed the school establishment issue, the temple itself might weaken.

But if someone leaves, couldn’t someone else fill that position?

I smiled and answered.

“Beast-folk will start believing in God now too.”

“Pardon? Beast-folk can believe too?”

Practically speaking, the religion led by the Pope in this country had been the exclusive domain of humans. But I think the problem starts with it being an exclusive domain of humans in the first place.

Nowhere in the scriptures does it say God is only for humans, so isn’t that strange?

“There’s no reason they can’t believe. The fact that holy power doesn’t work on beast-folk isn’t because they’re cursed, but because they don’t need that power. But just because they don’t need treatment doesn’t mean they don’t need spiritual comfort and faith in the afterlife.”

“Still……”

Actually, most believers usually neglect worship but visit the temple when they’re sick or injured. But since beast-folk don’t need treatment, they’d have even less reason to come to the temple.

That seemed to be what Lady Eleanor was worried about. I snapped my fingers and answered.

“That’s why I’m going to establish a theology department at the school and train beast-folk priests too. Of course, I’ll create many other departments as well. This isn’t a school created solely for the temple’s revival, but a school to transform this country into a place where everyone lives together in harmony.”

That was exactly what I wanted to do. To ease the hatred between each other and create a country where people live peacefully, helping one another.

“……It’s a wonderful idea.”

Perhaps moved by my story, Lady Eleanor, who hadn’t answered for a long time after hearing my words, dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief. I hadn’t intended to make her cry, so I felt a bit awkward and scratched my cheek.

‘It seems like something other people could easily think of too.’

Then messages poured down eagerly.

[He says absolutely not.]

[He says our baby is the best in the world after all.]

[He’s sobbing, saying he accidentally dropped an angel into the human world.]

……Ah, God. Please stop.

In a little while, he’d surely continue with nonsense about seeing a round donut ring above my head, or how I wouldn’t need to worry about pillows for life thanks to the feathers I scatter around.

While I was internally wrestling with God, asking him not to send such messages, Lady Eleanor composed herself and asked another practical question.

“But would beast-folk actually come to the temple on their own? Since treatment doesn’t work on them, it would be difficult for them to come voluntarily. Unless there’s a desirable example.”

That question sounded even stranger to me. I tilted my head and asked back.

“An example? There’s one right here.”

“Here?”

“Yeah. Here in the imperial palace. Someone who’s beast-folk and devoutly serves God.”

She blinked. Right then, the door burst open and Kyle appeared, his black hair flowing.

“Ran, I heard you’ve been holed up in your office all morning.”

“Kyle.”

When I stood up to greet him, he came close and kissed the corner of my eye, saying.

“You didn’t sleep at night, and if you skip meals too, it’ll be bad for your health. Let’s have breakfast first.”

Huh? How does Kyle know I didn’t sleep last night?

There was something slightly suspicious about that, but since we were in the middle of a conversation, I couldn’t question it. I looked at Lady Eleanor and said.

“Perfect timing, Kyle. We were just talking about you.”

Only then did Lady Eleanor, understanding my meaning, have her face contort.

“……Surely you don’t mean His Majesty?”

“Huh? Why me?”

Kyle, who had just joined our conversation, asked back with a puzzled expression. I smiled.

“You dreamed of an equal country, Kyle. Now is exactly the opportunity.”