Chapter 4. I Became the Youngest Princess of Asuramasura (3)
Complete English Translation
That day was the first time since being born as Cecilia that I left the nursery.
It was because I was scheduled to receive my baptism on my first birthday.
Even though there was no way I could understand her, the nanny chatted endlessly about what would happen at the baptism while dressing me up.
“Once you’re baptized today, Your Highness will officially be a member of the imperial family. I wonder how vast your divine power will be? I’m sure everyone will be amazed.”
As if adding the final touch, the nanny carefully placed a headband on me.
She stepped back and looked at me—wearing a headband for the first time in my life—with a warm smile on her face.
“Your Majesty, it’s like a baby angel has descended.”
“Oh, you say the silliest things.”
My mother, who had been watching from nearby, spoke as if to chide her, but her voice carried a distinct note of delight.
Though she was in her forties and already had five children including me, she still radiated a refined and graceful charm.
Dressed in her ceremonial gown, she looked truly elegant and dazzling.
Seriously, isn’t this exactly what fantasy is all about?
“Cecile, my baby. Even if you don’t possess great divine power, no one will harm you. And no matter what, the fact that you are our beloved youngest child will never change.”
Holding me in her arms, my mother whispered lovingly into my ear.
Unable to kiss me because of her lipstick, she instead touched my nose with the tip of her own. Ah, she smells wonderful.
‘You say that now, but people get disappointed in their children in the blink of an eye.’
The cold, disappointed eyes of my parents from my past life still lingered clearly in my memory…
‘Might as well hope for good results.’
This country was a kind of theocracy, where strong divine power was considered a key quality for successors.
My father, once the second son of the previous emperor, and my eldest sister Grace, the current crown princess, both possessed enormous divine power.
‘That’s probably why they test this so early. Amelie only got tested once she became an adult.’
Thinking of that scene—the classic “secret birth” twist necessary in every drama—I was carried out of the room in my nanny’s arms.
Although everyone in the royal family, including me and my mother, had dressed in full ceremonial attire, the event wasn’t all that extravagant. The baptism took place in a chapel inside the palace, and the only spectators besides the royal family were a few close aides like the nanny.
After all, though I’d left the nursery, I still hadn’t taken a single step outside the palace.
‘I heard I won’t even be allowed at official events until I turn ten.’
They said it was a tradition meant to protect direct royal heirs.
“Glory to the Lord. Thank you for coming such a long way.”
“It wasn’t far at all. The Emperor looks even more majestic today. I hear the royal family has grown more harmonious since the youngest princess was born—is that true?”
“Haha, has the rumor spread that far?”
The elderly man exchanging pleasantries with my father inside the chapel while holding his hand must have been His Holiness the Pope.
The Grand Temple was just outside the capital, but even so, the Pope looked quite advanced in years, enough to be thanked for coming from afar.
“So you’re Cecilia.”
“Cecile, this is your youngest grandfather. His Holiness the Pope.”
…Right. Since the strongest divine powers resided within the royal family, popes usually came from within the royal lineage.
That’s why it was only natural for Rebecca to be considered the next pope.
‘Unless a rare saint appears, no one outside the royal family ever inherits divine power strong enough to be pope. Even high priests come from noble families.’
As I blinked and mulled over the world-building of this place, His Holiness gently stroked my head with a kind expression.
“Now then, Cecile. This grandfather will pray for you.”
Since it was essentially a family ceremony, it proceeded with little formality.
The attendees were limited to a few priests accompanying His Holiness and the royal court painter there to record the moment.
My father received me from the nanny and approached the altar with my mother.
“Please lift the baby high.”
Kneeling beside my mother, my father held me up with both hands toward His Holiness.
Just like a baby lion being presented as an heir, I was held up in his arms.
His Holiness dipped his hand into holy water from the chalice held by a priest, then touched it to my forehead and began his prayer.
“…We thank you for blessing the royal house of Asuramasura with new joy. May she practice the Lord’s grace as a ruler of the continent….”
A warm sensation spread through me, and my vision brightened.
‘So divine power can actually shine like this.’
When Rebecca adjusted my body temperature, I’d only felt warmth or cold, but never seen light.
Apparently, the visual effect was part of the blessing.
“May the brilliant light of the Lord shine upon Sister Cecilia’s life. May she bring peace to the world through the moon god’s gentle mercy.”
As His Holiness murmured the last line of his prayer, the light shimmered and flickered, then absorbed into my head. I stared at the mystical sight, mesmerized.
‘Wow, this really is what fantasy tastes like…’
As His Holiness put his hands together in prayer and bowed, the others followed suit.
“Now then.”
Right on cue, the priests rolled in a trolley. On it were several jagged hexagonal crystal pillars sprouting from a single base.
‘That must be the divine power meter!’
It looked exactly like what I had read about in Gongjenoon.
‘Amelie had her measurement done at the Grand Temple. They must’ve brought it here for me.’
The heroine, being from a remote countryside with no temple nearby, hadn’t even had a baptism until adulthood.
In the story, she finally received her baptism after moving to the capital, and her divine power shocked high society—it rivaled even that of trained priests.
It was a level of power unheard of from a mere baron’s daughter.
‘Well, she’s the protagonist. Of course she had at least one special ability.’
Eventually, she easily refined that divine power and healed her wounded lover during a battle.
When she placed her hand on the crystal, a pure white light burst forth… remembering that, my heart pounded with excitement. I was about to experience that moment for myself.
As the priests set the crystal on the altar, my father brought me closer to it.
‘Why am I nervous…?’
Even though my divine power wouldn’t affect the line of succession—my eldest sister Grace had already had her coming-of-age ceremony and been named crown princess last fall—this still felt like a test.
Having lived my past life in a hyper-competitive society, I reflexively swallowed from the tension.
‘The stronger the divine power, the brighter the light. Please let mine be moderate. If Grace has kids, they’ll be my age, and I don’t want to be dragged into conflicts… Would I have to join the church like Rebecca then?’
My tiny hand, filled with nervous thoughts, was guided by my mother to touch the cold surface of the crystal pillar.
“…?”
After a while—
“…Is this device functioning properly?”
To everyone’s surprise, absolutely nothing happened.
The chapel fell silent. Not His Holiness, nor the priests, nor the royal family—no one said a word. Even the court painter stopped sketching.
“This… is strange.”
A priest stepped forward, and the moment he touched the crystal, it lit up brightly with a dazzling white glow.
Silence again.
“Let’s try again.”
His Holiness gestured calmly, but I noticed his voice trembled ever so slightly at the end.
When my hand was guided to the crystal again—
“Perhaps hold it a bit longer.”
Even though my hand had already stayed on it plenty long, the crystal showed no signs of change. Earlier, the priest had merely touched it briefly and it had lit up.
This was so embarrassing!
“U… uwaaaa…!”
The unbearable shame spilled out as a wail, tears threatening to fall.
Startled, my mother took me into her arms and gently patted my back.
“There, there, Cecile. It’s okay. Nothing’s wrong.”
As if.
I saw it. The moment my mother’s hand briefly paused on my back, the crystal gave off a faint glow.
Did you really have to confirm that…?
Yes, shockingly, I was the first recorded case in church history of someone with zero divine power.
‘They say even the tiniest spark of divine power is natural for people in this era… and I’m from the imperial family! Wasn’t this supposed to be my salvation after a life of neglect?!’
Refusing to believe it, His Holiness and the priests tried various tests—infusing divine power into me, running multiple scans—but nothing changed.
‘Is it because my soul came from another world?’
Having recovered from my embarrassment, I came to what seemed like a reasonable conclusion, but the royal family didn’t take it as lightly.
“Mother, should I select a few potential knights for Cecile’s personal guard? I must take responsibility for her safety!”
“Good idea. Let’s pick five… no, ten. And we need to assign her a personal maid soon.”
“I’ll look for trustworthy young noblewomen.”
“Please do.”
The moment the baptism ended, everyone began suggesting ways to overprotect me.
Appointing a dedicated priest, building an herb greenhouse in the back garden, doubling the nursery’s magic wards, stockpiling offensive magic tools…
‘Even hearing it sounds like overkill.’
But I understood.
Divine power wasn’t just used to purify miasma or heal others. On a smaller scale, it helped with physical stamina, recovery from injuries, and general immunity.
So, to them, I was like a delicate snack that would crumble if touched.
‘For now, I’m just glad they’re not disappointed…’
But people discriminate for no reason. If it’s over something as crucial as divine power—which legitimizes the imperial right to rule—that’s an entirely justifiable reason to be cast aside.
Because in my past life…
‘Even though I was the eldest and took care of everything at home, even though I got into university and found a job on my own, even though I was a good friend and partner… everyone still…’
Remembering how I was always left behind made me feel gloomy. But at the same time, I felt quietly grateful to this family that didn’t reject me, even if I was lacking.
Sitting in my cradle, watching them talk seriously, a bit of warmth bloomed in my chest.
“Alright then, let’s go with that for now.”
As my mother wrapped up the conversation, everyone in the room turned to look at me in unison.
“Hic.”
Logically, I knew their gazes were full of concern…
But having a dozen eyes staring at me all at once gave me the overwhelming feeling that I’d done something wrong. Tears welled up again.
“Uwaaah…!”
‘Even though I have no divine power, I won’t disappoint you in anything else..
