The coffin started to vibrate, and the water that had risen with it drained downward.
A fresh, white light took its place.
“This is divine power!”
Soon, divinity filled the coffin.
‘It’s hard to breathe…’
It was better than water, but still uncomfortable.
‘Uncle Rabbit and Miss Butterfly told me to control this power. By taming, I can dominate it.’
I closed my eyes and focused on the power that enveloped me. My body relaxed, and I could feel the power slowly seeping into me.
It was a powerful force that mana could not compare to.
My heart was beating fast, and my cheeks felt hot. But my body didn’t feel bad. On the contrary, I felt comfortable.
“Now, I know what to do.”
I touched the transparent barrier with my fingertips.
As the white light seeped in, the barrier cracked. Then, like a door, it slid open.
The chaos of the square fell into a pin drop silence.
Tap.
My wet feet stepped on the outside of the casket.
I walked slowly on my little feet to the front of the dais. Everyone’s eyes were on me, wide with surprise, bewilderment, and horror.
Then someone pointed to me with a trembling hand, “S-She came out of the Casket of Judgement alive! That child… is not a witch! The Saint lied!”
With that, the square was again filled with uproar. But there was no malice in the air anymore, just shouts of pure wonder.
“Get out of the way!”
Dad, who had been buried in the crowd, shouted and rushed forward.
Unlike the first time, people moved out of the way. Dad leapt onto the high podium and swept my wet body into his arms.
“Hanelope!”
“Dad…”
His embrace was so warm and loving. I relaxed and relief washed over me like a wave. At the same time, I felt a pang of regret.
“Dad, why are you here now? I was so scared.”
“I’m sorry. Dad came too late. It will be all fine.”
“Daddy…”
I buried my face in my dad’s arms and sobbed desperately.
As the tiny child, less than half the size of an adult, sobbed in fear, the people gathered in the square fell silent.
Their faces were coloured with guilt.
One by one, they began to shout, “How dare she try to kill a child like that!”
“The Saint brought an innocent child and did such a thing!”
They shouted, forgetting that they too had sympathized with Asta.
“I knew it. A Saint who lost all her power acting like that was strange from the beginning!”
“Now that you mention it, the priests were with the dead bodies of the children!”
Grandfather stared at the people with cold eyes. He also had resentment towards them. But the one who had used the fear of powerless people to create this situation was Asta.
Grandfather knew that fact. He closed his eyes tightly, swallowed the rising anger, and then ordered the knights.
“Capture the fleeing Saint, or rather, Asta Appel.”
“Here she is!”
Even before Grandfather finished speaking, a voice came from behind the dais.
I poked my head out of my father’s arms and gasped.
The knights were dragging Asta.
“Let go of me! How dare you use magic to make me…!”
Asta struggled, kicking at the knights who held her.
But that was all to it. Her mana was being restricted.
A spell that could defeat Asta who was capable of wielding black magic must be a master of great skill.
Among the imperial knights, was there such a person? As I watched, fascinated, my eyes widened.
It was the Brantley and Spigent twins who were with the knights. And the end of the magic cord that bound Asta was in Brantley’s hand.
The children must have helped the knights defeat the priests with their magic, then captured Asta.
“But how are they here? They should be safely back home…’
Brantley’s silver eyes narrowed as he spotted me, soaking wet. But he seemed relieved when he realised I was safe in my father’s arms.
“Your Majesty, we have captured the culprit.”
The knight announced, kneeling before my grandfather.
Brantley knelt as well, offering the end of his binding magic cord to his grandfather.
Asta rebelled, “What the hell are you doing? Let me go! I’m a Saint, chosen by Prache!”
Grandfather glared coldly at Asta.
Asta pleaded with the Emperor, “Y-Your Majesty, there seems to have been a misunderstanding!”
“If that’s the case, resolve the misunderstanding in the torture room.”
Grandfather spoke mercilessly. Asta turned pale, resembling someone whose blood had drained from their body.
“Your Majesty! I am a Saint affiliated with the Grand Temple! Is it okay for you to capture me like this? Can you withstand the public’s unrest?”
“Public unrest… Well, do you still think of yourself as a respected Saint? The situation seems to have changed a lot now.”
Following grandfather’s gaze, Asta also turned her head. Soon, she noticed that the people filling the square were glaring at her with eyes full of hatred.
“!”
Grandfather said to Asta, who was trembling, “My citizens no longer think of you as a Saint.”
“T-This is unforgivable in the eyes of God…”
“Then use your holy power and try to escape.”
“…….”
Asta shuddered and bit her lip.
Grandfather seemed to have expected that and sneered.
“Thinking that you could continue to act as a Saint after deceiving everyone and committing crimes. Take her away.”
Grandfather ordered coldly.
As the knights dragged her away, Asta struggled in fear.
“No! This can’t happen! I am carrying out the will of God! Prache! Help me! Prache!”
But no matter how many times she yelled at the top of her lungs, God no longer answered Asta.
***
“Ah! It feels so good…!”
I shivered as I stepped out of the warm bath.
“Are you feeling that good? Look at your blushing cheeks. Just like a peach.”
“Let us dry you off. We’ll be gentle”
I palace maids were wagging around me like cute puppies.
After the big incident in the square, grandfather took us back to the imperial palace.
All the imperial physicians were immediately summoned.”
The physicians examined me thoroughly. And then, they were taken aback, “Why do you have that expression? Is my Hanelope’s condition serious?”
“It’s…”
“It must be serious, because this little guy was kidnapped and nearly killed. She must be in a terrible state.”
“T-The Princess is quite vigorous in terms of health.”
“?”
I was healthy enough to shock the physicians. On the other hand, grandfather and dad looked pale enough to be considered sick.
Maybe it’s because I absorbed too much of holy power.
I still couldn’t believe that such a thing was inside me. But every time my heart pounded, I could feel it. A massive power, different from mana, flowing through my veins.
After confirming my well-being, the maids took me for a bath.
Asta and Prache.
The Kochs and divinity.
There were many questions to be answered, but for now, I wanted to rest.
‘It’s been a long day.’
The maids carried me, dried off, into a room. It was a room I had never seen before, but it was spacious and very cute.
‘It’s like a baby angel’s secret garden.’
The walls were adorned with three-dimensional flowers and butterflies, and there was a ceiling painting of a baby angel swinging.
Moreover, below the wall, there was a cute chick figurine that chirped occasionally. It was so cute that I burst into laughter.
I asked the maids, “Where am I?”
“This is the Princess’s room,” they said.
“What?”
“Don’t worry, Princess. The next room is Prince Hart’s room.”
That’s not why I was surprised!
It was the fact that I had my own room in the palace.
As I was wondering, grandfather walked into the room with my dad.
The maids left by cue, and I ran up to them.
“Don’t run. You’ll fall and hurt yourself.” Dad urged, worried.
Grandpa, on the other hand, was beaming, “You’re running like a champ,” he said, “I can finally believe the physician’s assessment.”
“All the physicians said I’m fine.”
They even mentioned that I was excessively energetic.
As I smiled to reassure him, Grandfather asked, “Did you like your room?”
“It’s very cute, Grandfather. But there’s something strange…”
“What? Is there something you don’t like? Do you want me to rebuild..”, Grandpa asked seriously.
I quickly shook my head.
“N-No. It’s not that. Why is there a room for me in the palace?”
I quickly grabbed my grandfather’s hand, and he burst out laughing.
“From now on, I want to keep you close and see you more often. It’s better to have a room so that you can come and go comfortably. Actually, I had it prepared before and was planning to give it to you as a surprise later, but it ended up like this.”
“Is it okay, dad?”
“Of course, Hart approved as well.”
I looked at Dad. Dad nodded as if to reassure me.
“Next door is Dad’s room, so you won’t feel uncomfortable.”
“Why would Hanelope feel uncomfortable? You are the one who is queasy.”
Grandfather gave Dad a stern look.
Dad didn’t yield either.
“I don’t see anything wrong with using my old room, except that my father left it as it was when I was a child.”
The old man’s eyebrows rose ferociously at that.
“What? Are you confusing my desire to preserve it with ignorance, tsk tsk.”
Dad swept me up in a bear hug.
“There’s nothing to worry about now. Because I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“Really? You’re going to stay with me?”
I asked, widening my pink eyes, and he nodded.
“Yay, that’s great!”
I hugged Dad’s neck and snuggled in. I kept swinging my legs in mid-air.
Then, a trembling voice came from Dad, “Hanelope, I’m sorry. I put you in danger.”
I was surprised and lifted my head. Dad seemed to be choked up, biting his lips.
“Dad?”
When I raised my head, tears flowed from Dad’s eyes once again.
The coffin started to vibrate, and the water that had risen with it drained downward.
A fresh, white light took its place.
“This is divine power!”
Soon, divinity filled the coffin.
‘It’s hard to breathe…’
It was better than water, but still uncomfortable.
‘Uncle Rabbit and Miss Butterfly told me to control this power. By taming, I can dominate it.’
I closed my eyes and focused on the power that enveloped me. My body relaxed, and I could feel the power slowly seeping into me.
It was a powerful force that mana could not compare to.
My heart was beating fast, and my cheeks felt hot. But my body didn’t feel bad. On the contrary, I felt comfortable.
“Now, I know what to do.”
I touched the transparent barrier with my fingertips.
As the white light seeped in, the barrier cracked. Then, like a door, it slid open.
The chaos of the square fell into a pin drop silence.
Tap.
My wet feet stepped on the outside of the casket.
I walked slowly on my little feet to the front of the dais. Everyone’s eyes were on me, wide with surprise, bewilderment, and horror.
Then someone pointed to me with a trembling hand, “S-She came out of the Casket of Judgement alive! That child… is not a witch! The Saint lied!”
With that, the square was again filled with uproar. But there was no malice in the air anymore, just shouts of pure wonder.
“Get out of the way!”
Dad, who had been buried in the crowd, shouted and rushed forward.
Unlike the first time, people moved out of the way. Dad leapt onto the high podium and swept my wet body into his arms.
“Hanelope!”
“Dad…”
His embrace was so warm and loving. I relaxed and relief washed over me like a wave. At the same time, I felt a pang of regret.
“Dad, why are you here now? I was so scared.”
“I’m sorry. Dad came too late. It will be all fine.”
“Daddy…”
I buried my face in my dad’s arms and sobbed desperately.
As the tiny child, less than half the size of an adult, sobbed in fear, the people gathered in the square fell silent.
Their faces were coloured with guilt.
One by one, they began to shout, “How dare she try to kill a child like that!”
“The Saint brought an innocent child and did such a thing!”
They shouted, forgetting that they too had sympathized with Asta.
“I knew it. A Saint who lost all her power acting like that was strange from the beginning!”
“Now that you mention it, the priests were with the dead bodies of the children!”
Grandfather stared at the people with cold eyes. He also had resentment towards them. But the one who had used the fear of powerless people to create this situation was Asta.
Grandfather knew that fact. He closed his eyes tightly, swallowed the rising anger, and then ordered the knights.
“Capture the fleeing Saint, or rather, Asta Appel.”
“Here she is!”
Even before Grandfather finished speaking, a voice came from behind the dais.
I poked my head out of my father’s arms and gasped.
The knights were dragging Asta.
“Let go of me! How dare you use magic to make me…!”
Asta struggled, kicking at the knights who held her.
But that was all to it. Her mana was being restricted.
A spell that could defeat Asta who was capable of wielding black magic must be a master of great skill.
Among the imperial knights, was there such a person? As I watched, fascinated, my eyes widened.
It was the Brantley and Spigent twins who were with the knights. And the end of the magic cord that bound Asta was in Brantley’s hand.
The children must have helped the knights defeat the priests with their magic, then captured Asta.
“But how are they here? They should be safely back home…’
Brantley’s silver eyes narrowed as he spotted me, soaking wet. But he seemed relieved when he realised I was safe in my father’s arms.
“Your Majesty, we have captured the culprit.”
The knight announced, kneeling before my grandfather.
Brantley knelt as well, offering the end of his binding magic cord to his grandfather.
Asta rebelled, “What the hell are you doing? Let me go! I’m a Saint, chosen by Prache!”
Grandfather glared coldly at Asta.
Asta pleaded with the Emperor, “Y-Your Majesty, there seems to have been a misunderstanding!”
“If that’s the case, resolve the misunderstanding in the torture room.”
Grandfather spoke mercilessly. Asta turned pale, resembling someone whose blood had drained from their body.
“Your Majesty! I am a Saint affiliated with the Grand Temple! Is it okay for you to capture me like this? Can you withstand the public’s unrest?”
“Public unrest… Well, do you still think of yourself as a respected Saint? The situation seems to have changed a lot now.”
Following grandfather’s gaze, Asta also turned her head. Soon, she noticed that the people filling the square were glaring at her with eyes full of hatred.
“!”
Grandfather said to Asta, who was trembling, “My citizens no longer think of you as a Saint.”
“T-This is unforgivable in the eyes of God…”
“Then use your holy power and try to escape.”
“…….”
Asta shuddered and bit her lip.
Grandfather seemed to have expected that and sneered.
“Thinking that you could continue to act as a Saint after deceiving everyone and committing crimes. Take her away.”
Grandfather ordered coldly.
As the knights dragged her away, Asta struggled in fear.
“No! This can’t happen! I am carrying out the will of God! Prache! Help me! Prache!”
But no matter how many times she yelled at the top of her lungs, God no longer answered Asta.
***
“Ah! It feels so good…!”
I shivered as I stepped out of the warm bath.
“Are you feeling that good? Look at your blushing cheeks. Just like a peach.”
“Let us dry you off. We’ll be gentle”
I palace maids were wagging around me like cute puppies.
After the big incident in the square, grandfather took us back to the imperial palace.
All the imperial physicians were immediately summoned.”
The physicians examined me thoroughly. And then, they were taken aback, “Why do you have that expression? Is my Hanelope’s condition serious?”
“It’s…”
“It must be serious, because this little guy was kidnapped and nearly killed. She must be in a terrible state.”
“T-The Princess is quite vigorous in terms of health.”
“?”
I was healthy enough to shock the physicians. On the other hand, grandfather and dad looked pale enough to be considered sick.
Maybe it’s because I absorbed too much of holy power.
I still couldn’t believe that such a thing was inside me. But every time my heart pounded, I could feel it. A massive power, different from mana, flowing through my veins.
After confirming my well-being, the maids took me for a bath.
Asta and Prache.
The Kochs and divinity.
There were many questions to be answered, but for now, I wanted to rest.
‘It’s been a long day.’
The maids carried me, dried off, into a room. It was a room I had never seen before, but it was spacious and very cute.
‘It’s like a baby angel’s secret garden.’
The walls were adorned with three-dimensional flowers and butterflies, and there was a ceiling painting of a baby angel swinging.
Moreover, below the wall, there was a cute chick figurine that chirped occasionally. It was so cute that I burst into laughter.
I asked the maids, “Where am I?”
“This is the Princess’s room,” they said.
“What?”
“Don’t worry, Princess. The next room is Prince Hart’s room.”
That’s not why I was surprised!
It was the fact that I had my own room in the palace.
As I was wondering, grandfather walked into the room with my dad.
The maids left by cue, and I ran up to them.
“Don’t run. You’ll fall and hurt yourself.” Dad urged, worried.
Grandpa, on the other hand, was beaming, “You’re running like a champ,” he said, “I can finally believe the physician’s assessment.”
“All the physicians said I’m fine.”
They even mentioned that I was excessively energetic.
As I smiled to reassure him, Grandfather asked, “Did you like your room?”
“It’s very cute, Grandfather. But there’s something strange…”
“What? Is there something you don’t like? Do you want me to rebuild..”, Grandpa asked seriously.
I quickly shook my head.
“N-No. It’s not that. Why is there a room for me in the palace?”
I quickly grabbed my grandfather’s hand, and he burst out laughing.
“From now on, I want to keep you close and see you more often. It’s better to have a room so that you can come and go comfortably. Actually, I had it prepared before and was planning to give it to you as a surprise later, but it ended up like this.”
“Is it okay, dad?”
“Of course, Hart approved as well.”
I looked at Dad. Dad nodded as if to reassure me.
“Next door is Dad’s room, so you won’t feel uncomfortable.”
“Why would Hanelope feel uncomfortable? You are the one who is queasy.”
Grandfather gave Dad a stern look.
Dad didn’t yield either.
“I don’t see anything wrong with using my old room, except that my father left it as it was when I was a child.”
The old man’s eyebrows rose ferociously at that.
“What? Are you confusing my desire to preserve it with ignorance, tsk tsk.”
Dad swept me up in a bear hug.
“There’s nothing to worry about now. Because I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“Really? You’re going to stay with me?”
I asked, widening my pink eyes, and he nodded.
“Yay, that’s great!”
I hugged Dad’s neck and snuggled in. I kept swinging my legs in mid-air.
Then, a trembling voice came from Dad, “Hanelope, I’m sorry. I put you in danger.”
I was surprised and lifted my head. Dad seemed to be choked up, biting his lips.
“Dad?”
When I raised my head, tears flowed from Dad’s eyes once again.
