The interior of the temple was entirely white. Although all Pantheons across the continent are like this, the Imperial City’s Pantheon felt even more majestic and sacred in terms of its scale and structure.

“This way, please. The High Priest is waiting.”

Following the high-ranking priest who came as a guide, they passed through the lobby and entered the cloister, revealing the scenery of a secluded garden that couldn’t be seen from outside. Although no flowers were blooming due to winter, the evergreen boxwood created a refreshing atmosphere.

As she was closely examining the rose arch that seemed to lead to a maze garden, Vanessa felt a strong squeeze on her hand.

Startled, Vanessa frowned and looked to the side. As expected, Jurgen was staring at her intently. With a gaze that seemed to find her quite pathetic.

Irritated as always, Vanessa confronted him like she was picking a fight.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“Look straight ahead and walk. Unless you want to fall ridiculously in the Pantheon.”

“Do you think I want to fall? It’s because my luck is terribly bad, like I’m cursed.”

“…You’ve managed to survive this long in that state.”

His voice as he muttered this had a somewhat strange nuance. As Vanessa pondered what it might be, she suddenly remembered something she had forgotten until now. That Jurgen had mentioned something about a ‘curse’ regarding her misfortune.

‘…I’ve been so preoccupied that I forgot.’

Arno, Saskia, and even Declan… There were so many things complicating her mind that she hadn’t had time to think about it.

Glancing at the Emperor, his guards, and the high-ranking priest walking ahead, Vanessa decided to ask and opened her mouth.

“Duke, I think you said something about my misfortune being a curse before. What exactly did you mean by that? Can you explain?”

“……”

Jurgen’s face, as he quietly stared at Vanessa, was irritatingly expressionless. Suppressing her frustration, Vanessa asked again.

“You didn’t say that without meaning, did you? Do you know something about this misfortune of mine?”

“We’re almost there. Keep your mouth shut and stay quiet.”

“What? You…!”

The curse word that was about to follow was swallowed back as the door at the end of the cloister opened to reveal an annex. Just then, Vanessa’s eyes met the Emperor’s as he glanced back, and she forced a smile, pretending to be calm. Although she was boiling inside.

“Welcome, Your Majesty. It’s been three days since we last met. And Duke Drake… It’s been a while since you’ve visited. It would be nice if you came more often.”

As they entered the annex, a white-haired old man with a kind face greeted them warmly. Vanessa realized that this old man was the High Priest from the navy blue garment he was wearing.

The priestly robes of the Pantheon are divided into gray, sky blue, blue, and navy blue according to rank, with only the High Priest allowed to wear navy blue.

“Unless necessary, there’s no reason to visit the Pantheon. Entering and leaving as if it were my own home would only tire out the busy priests.”

Jurgen responded curtly to the High Priest’s previous remark. The High Priest smiled as if he had expected such an answer and spoke.

“That may be so, but in Duke Drake’s case, it’s different. Aren’t you a ‘power user’ who has received very strong protection from God Vüs? The priests always revere Duke Drake with one heart and mind.”

It was clear from the High Priest’s eyes alone that this wasn’t just empty words. Admiration and reverence for an exalted person. It was so clear that even the most oblivious person would notice.

“Even if I’ve received protection, I’m still just a human. As you know.”

“Well, that may be true, but…”

As the High Priest laughed awkwardly at Jurgen’s still curt response, his gaze suddenly fell on Vanessa.

As if he had just remembered, the High Priest exclaimed “Ah!” softly and then greeted her politely.

“I apologize for my rudeness. Your Highness, Princess of Roengreen. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“No, I… To have the honor of seeing the High Priest’s face so closely…”

Vanessa stammered out words about how it was a great honor, feeling somewhat flustered.

While it was understandable for the blessed Jurgen and the Emperor, she never dreamed that the High Priest would treat her, a mere ordinary human, with such courtesy.

The High Priest, as the overall leader of Pantheons across the continent, represents the will of the sacred emperor. Each Pantheon has one High Priest, and ordinary people rarely get to see their face except during major events.

Vanessa was confused in many ways as such a High Priest lowered himself first and treated her with respect. The High Priest she remembered from the Lavinian religion was somewhat cold and solemn… a being that one dared not even approach.

There must be a clear reason for the High Priest’s attitude. As she pondered what it might be, the High Priest spoke as if he had read her mind.

“Your Highness, you must be very surprised by the Pantheon’s sudden summons. I will now explain the reason.”

The reason the Pantheon summoned her… was it because of her misfortune after all?

Perhaps this time she might finally get an answer. Naturally tense, Vanessa swallowed dryly and nodded. Looking at Vanessa, the High Priest smiled meaningfully and continued.

“Actually, Your Highness has received a divine oracle.”

“Pardon…? An oracle? For me?”

She blinked her eyes rapidly, dumbfounded by this completely unexpected news.

An oracle? For me? …Why?

“Um… but, I…”

Although Vanessa, like any human born and raised in this land, had naturally been baptized in the Lavinian religion, she wasn’t a particularly devout believer.

She only prayed when she felt like it, when she wanted something, and the content was mostly unfavorable things.

She had heard that oracles are typically given when a human’s earnest prayer reaches the gods, to grant that wish.

According to the Lavinian religion’s teachings, only when the heart of the praying human is pure and clean can it reach the gods, or something like that…

This was completely irrelevant to Vanessa.

She reflected on what prayers she had offered so far… Mostly about Declan and Leroy, with content like “Please let those two bastards die.” No matter how she thought about it, they were closer to curses than prayers.

Surely such prayers filled with venom and malice couldn’t have reached the gods. Even if they had, they would certainly have been ignored…

“Um, I wonder if there might be some mistake…”

As she cautiously raised her doubt, the High Priest burst into laughter as if something was funny. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Vanessa put on an awkward smile, and then the High Priest’s kind voice was heard.

“Oracles often come suddenly. Most of those who receive oracles show the same reaction as Your Highness. It may be difficult to understand why the oracle has been given, but that’s the nature of oracles. How dare we, mere mortals, presume to fathom the will of the gods?”

“Hmm… I see…”

Vanessa answered, still feeling dazed, as she scattered her gaze here and there. Whatever oracle had been given, it didn’t seem like there would be a dramatically significant change in her life. Perhaps because this situation felt so unreal.

“Now then, Your Highness, please follow me. Your Majesty and Duke Drake, please wait in the chapel for a moment.”

Vanessa quietly followed behind the High Priest who led the way. When she glanced back, Jurgen was standing still like a statue, watching her. With his consistently unreadable expression and gaze.

Vanessa hurried her steps, deliberately ignoring him. Just letting go of her irritation, disappointment, and inexplicable uneasiness.

“Um, by the way… which god has given the oracle?”

It was just as they were entering the sanctuary that she realized she had forgotten to ask the most important question.

Light poured in from the glass dome-shaped roof. Beneath it, statues of the seven gods worshipped in the Lavinian religion were arranged in a row.

From left to right, they were Pronea, Lux, Vüs, Horai, Vinea, Morsina, and Somniounil.

The seven gods are all important as beings that sustain this world, but if one had to choose the highest among them, it would be Pronea.

Pronea is said to be the source of all souls and maintains the principles of the world.

Lux of the sun and Vüs of madness are twin brothers who don’t get along well, while Vinea of life and Morsina of death are twin sisters who deeply care for and love each other.

Horai of time is always busy cleaning up the small accidents caused by Somniounil of dreams and mischief.

Thus, the seven gods have been nurturing the world while each managing different domains… according to the doctrine of the Lavinian religion.

For Vanessa, who had never seen or heard the voice of a god, it was like a fairy tale.

However, with clear evidence of the existence of gods — blessings and stigmata — it was impossible to deny their existence.

“The god who gave the oracle to Your Highness is…”

The High Priest trailed off intentionally and looked at one of the seven statues with devout eyes.

Vanessa followed his gaze.

The god who had given her the oracle was…