Chapter 49

‘Why is she looking at me?’

It wasn’t just Gisela who was staring at Iris. Perhaps, even before Gisela’s gaze turned to her, many others had been watching only her. Even without turning around, Iris could feel the prickling stares on her back.

She had thought that, since they were looking at the Grand Duke, they would naturally glance at the person beside him—her. Was that a mistake?

“Her Grace, the Grand Duchess.”

From Gisela’s upright lips, the word referring to Iris came out. Instinctively, Iris clenched her fists tightly.

There was a considerable distance between them, yet Iris and Gisela’s eyes met. Gisela gave a small nod, as if to reassure Iris, who wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly.

“…….”

Wait, wasn’t the winner supposed to be the person who showed the most overwhelming strength?

Iris unconsciously glanced at her thin wrist. Even the golden laurel wreath that Gisela held so steadily would surely feel heavy for her.

No matter how impressive that pure white light was, would the Northerners really accept someone like Iris as the winner? Would they really crown her instead of the Grand Duke? And in the North, of all places?

If no one tried to assassinate her for presumptuously stealing the Grand Duke’s glory, she’d be lucky.

“Go ahead.”

Lost in a flood of thoughts, Iris was snapped back to reality by the Grand Duke’s low, calm voice.

“I told you, there was no disagreement this year either.”

As if sensing her confusion, the Grand Duke spoke again. The moment Iris saw his unwavering, ash-gray eyes, her anxiety began to fade.

“…Grand Duke.”

The trembling gradually subsided. Iris slowly stood up from her seat and, as if entranced, walked toward the podium.

‘Whatever the intention, this isn’t a bad turn of events.’

She had wanted to escape being a Grand Duchess in name only, but until now, relying on the Grand Duke’s affection was the only way. However……

There would surely be those who resented her after today, but that laurel wreath could become proof that she was not just a puppet.

“…….”

With every step she took, the burden of the stares made her cheeks burn. Iris deliberately straightened her back and maintained a very upright posture.

“Grand Duchess.”

When she stopped in front of Gisela, who was much taller than her, Gisela bent her knees in a gesture of respect. Iris took a deep breath and looked straight at her.

At last, Gisela extended her long arms. As Iris bowed her head forward, the golden crown slowly settled onto her head.

‘Ah…….’

The crown wasn’t actually that heavy, but an indescribable sense of pressure weighed down on Iris.

“Now, please turn to face the people, Grand Duchess.”

Gisela whispered softly in Iris’s ear. It was a voice filled with genuine warmth, something Iris had never heard from her before—so much so that it was almost startling.

Following Gisela’s words, Iris slowly turned around.

“…Ugh.”

It was the first time Iris had ever faced so many eyes at once, and so directly. A small groan escaped her lips.

But she forced herself to lift the corners of her mouth, as if she truly believed she deserved to wear this crown.

“Waaaah!”

Thunderous applause erupted from all sides. The reaction was much more genuine and enthusiastic than Iris had expected.

She curled her trembling hands into fists. She had to accept this overflowing goodwill, even though it still felt unfamiliar.

Now, her position in the North had completely changed from before.

* * *

Kian summoned his advisors to the conference room. All the ceremonies had ended, and it was nearly midnight.

Although it was late, no one objected. Everyone had been anxiously waiting for this meeting.

“Should we consider Grand Duchess… as… the Saintess?”

Viscount Hoover, built as robustly as a Northerner should be, began in a voice much smaller than usual.

“…Well.”

Ever since his wife had performed a miracle, there had been turmoil in the North.

Until the true nature of that power was revealed, Kian had intended to keep it quiet… but it was a power that would inevitably cause a stir.

He hadn’t expected such a tragic situation to force Iris to use her power so soon. Nor had he expected her to step forward so boldly.

Was it because she was so responsible, or was it her deeply kind nature that wouldn’t allow her to watch her maid die?

‘Even though she thought that maid might be my mistress.’

Kian clenched his fist tightly.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke, this is an unbelievable power. It’s hard to even call it holy power—it might be something much greater…….”

“Should we request a delegation to the main temple?”

“No, we must be cautious! If this is the power we’ve dreamed of for so long, we can’t reveal it carelessly to outsiders!”

Kian rubbed his square jaw with a subdued gaze. That small gesture was enough to silence the nobles who had been clamoring to speak.

“It’s certainly a power unfamiliar to holy power.”

“…Your Grace.”

“Holy power is invisible. Even if a Saintess uses all her strength to the limit.”

At Kian’s point, the room fell silent. He tapped the table absentmindedly with his long fingers.

Holy power was never visible. Yet everyone here had clearly witnessed the pure white light that exploded from Iris’s fingertips.

“If the Grand Duchess was born with holy power, the temple would have known by now.”

“…That’s right, Your Grace.”

A few parted their lips, but couldn’t continue. It was a question not easily answered.

“Did the Grand Duchess say anything about it?”

At the brave question, Kian slowly shook his head.

“She said even she doesn’t understand what this power is.”

“In fact… there’s something I’ve found strange for a while.”

Baron Bauer, with his sharp eyes, gained the right to speak. The Bauer barony was renowned in the North for producing scholars. He had inherited the family business, managed the North’s ancient texts, and was deeply knowledgeable in many fields.

“Do you remember, long ago, when we burned certain books by imperial decree? The ones written in languages other than the common tongue, that looked like religious texts.”

“Wait, Baron Bauer. Are you bringing up the forbidden books?”

Earl Royce, Gunther, who had been silent, suddenly looked sharp.

“…Yes. And though it’s only a small part, I managed to decipher…….”

“Decipher? You know those books were supposed to be burned completely!”

Gunther raised his voice, pounding his chest. Others seemed startled, and the conference room grew restless.

“I ordered it.”

At Kian’s low voice, Gunther hesitated. His eyes widened in disbelief.

“No, Your Grace……!”

“Gunther Royce.”

“Are you siding with Baron Bauer now? Even if that decree was a long time ago!”

“…….”

“Why defend someone who broke the law because of his obsession with books…….”

“Baron Bauer, so what did you find?”

Kian looked at Baron Bauer, not Gunther. Baron Bauer took a deep breath and spoke.

“I haven’t reached a conclusion yet… but there was a passage that might be a clue for this case.”

“Even if it’s not a conclusion, tell us.”

“In that book, there was mention of a power called purification—something I’d never heard of before.”

“Purification? Is that just another name for holy power?”

“At first, I thought so too, but it’s… definitely different from the holy power we know.”

Baron Bauer steadied his voice and looked around nervously.

“In that ancient text, purification was described as a visible power.”

“…A visible power?”

“When it was used, it said the surroundings would be filled with a dazzling light.”

“…….”

“If ‘invisible power’ is something mysterious, demanding a price… then this ‘visible power’ has no limits and is much more…….”

Baron Bauer couldn’t finish. His tightly closed lips were pale.

The Empire had a state religion. And this passage directly contradicted the oldest, most unchanging truth of that faith.

“Baron Bauer, are you trying to insult the holy power blessed by the Goddess?”

“No, I…….”

“What nonsense! That’s not just defying imperial decree, it’s blasphemy……!”

As Gunther burst out in anger, a crack appeared on Kian’s upright forehead. The nobles, who had hesitated, began exchanging glances.

“H-but it really was an extraordinary power.”

“Yes, we all saw it, didn’t we? The Grand Duchess revived Earl Royce’s daughter who had no hope at all!”

“That’s right!”

Led by Viscount Hoover, voices supporting Baron Bauer erupted. Kian let them speak without interruption, simply watching.

“But…….”

When his own daughter was mentioned, Gunther’s eyes blazed. He trembled with his fists, unable to hold back any longer.

“That day, didn’t everything unfold just a little too perfectly? As if it had all been planned for a long time.”

“Earl Royce.”

“The only one who benefited from that commotion was the Grand Duchess…….”

It was a blatant accusation aimed at the Grand Duchess—a serious breach of etiquette. But the North was fundamentally hostile to outsiders, especially to the Emperor’s forces, who had long exploited them.

With those suggestive words, the once-friendly mood toward the Grand Duchess cooled.

“…….”

Everyone fell silent, watching Kian for his reaction. In the suffocating silence, Kian let out a small laugh.