CHAPTER 05
‘This can’t be happening.’
My mouth dropped open at the absurdity of the situation.
“This is Viscount Astérios Brittas Tenebres.”
As the emperor introduced him, the very person I had loved and loathed bowed with the youthful face of his childhood.
“Your Highness the Empress, congratulations on the birth of Her Highness the Princess. May the glory of the dragon and the sacrifice of darkness be with you.”
“Thank you, Viscount.”
“Ah-woo, woong.”
‘That bastard.’
I chewed out curses through my baby babble.
“Oh my, it seems our little Rozi is delighted to meet the young viscount.”
Delighted my foot!!!
I snorted and glared at him again.
Silky black hair, those big golden eyes gleaming, a sharply defined nose and tightly closed lips, a firm chin, and an unreadable but magnetic expression.
‘It’s definitely him—Tenebres.’
But something didn’t add up. If I had really traveled back in time, how could I be born as the emperor’s daughter?
In my world, where celestials, dragons, witches, and humans coexisted, there was no such thing as an “empire” ruled by an emperor.
‘Wait, did he say Viscount Tenebres?’
Ah, how could I have missed that?
‘If the family name is Tenebres, then Nox must’ve folded time forward into the future.’
That boy in front of me, who looked exactly like Tenebres, must be his descendant.
Descendant?
‘Wait! That means… he got married and had kids?!’
That bastard who abandoned me and drove my sisters to their deaths… lived well enough to marry and have children?!
“Ka-woong!”
‘You son of a—!’
“Ah-woo-woong!”
‘You rotten, cursed—!’
As rage surged through me, my palm suddenly felt hot, and the moment I opened my tiny hand—
Fwoosh!
“Woong?”
Before everyone’s eyes, a soft blue flame burst from my tiny, cotton-ball-sized fist.
“!”
‘What… was that?’
“Holy flames of divinity!”
‘Divinity? Seriously?’
I’m a witch.
Why the hell would I have divine power?
But it wasn’t just me who was shocked. As everyone stared wide-eyed in silence, a new voice entered the room.
“Your Majesty, the priests from Graeham have requested an audience.”
A servant at the door announced this, and Cedric, the emperor’s aide, turned anxiously to Leodian.
“What shall we do, Your Majesty?”
It was Cedric who had instinctively cried out “The holy flames of divinity!” when the flame burst from Rozi’s palm a moment ago—he had been the most startled of all.
To see a newborn princess manifest divine power within a day of birth… and now the priests from Graeham had arrived. Of course Cedric was shaken.
“…”
The emperor stared silently at the tiny, pudgy fist resting in the empress’s arms.
They came. They really came.
The priests of the Holy Empire Graeham, unannounced, as if they had foreseen this.
They had asked—no, demanded—the newborn princess just a day ago. And now she had shown divine power.
‘No way this is a coincidence.’
The blue flame, sacred and healing, was undeniable proof of divinity.
Which meant Rozi did indeed possess holy power. Leodian’s golden eyes darkened.
‘So they knew.’
He had been so certain they wouldn’t come—had even said it was unnecessary to reply.
But now that they were here, not even a day later, the timing left a bad taste.
‘They even predicted we’d refuse them.’
A sardonic smile touched the young emperor’s lips.
Then he quietly addressed everyone present, including Cedric.
“Speak not a word of what just occurred in this room.”
He meant to keep Rozi’s divine awakening a secret—because if Graeham found out, they would surely demand the princess immediately.
“Cedric, tell the priests to wait. I’ll receive them in the audience hall shortly.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Once Cedric had gone, Leodian turned to Astérios.
“Young viscount, why do you think the priests came so quickly?”
Without hesitation, the six-year-old replied,
“Graeham likely already knew but chose not to write it in their letter.”
The boy’s thoughts aligned with the emperor’s.
They must have known—Graeham always had their ways.
That Rozi would awaken divine power shortly after birth.
“Is that so?”
“They must have also expected Your Majesty to refuse their request. That’s why they timed their visit like this.”
As if they already had a plan to take her away.
“But there’s no way I’ll let them take our Rozi!”
Crowned Prince Alex shouted resolutely at the viscount’s words.
“I won’t allow it either!” William, teary-eyed, clung tightly to Rozi in the empress’s arms.
“What is all this about, Your Majesty?”
The empress, shocked by the conversation, finally asked.
She had no idea about the letter from Graeham or the imperial council meeting earlier that day.
“I didn’t want to burden you with needless worries after childbirth.”
When Leodian explained, Empress Ariana regained her composure quicker than anyone.
“Even if Rozi has divine power, that doesn’t mean she must go to Graeham.”
“I don’t intend to send her there either. You needn’t worry.”
“But we must be prepared.”
Astérios took a step closer and addressed them both.
“The fact that they sent a letter and visited at the exact time her power awakened means they’ve already prepared a justification to take Her Highness the Princess.”
Leodian’s gaze sharpened.
He had feared as much.
“Young viscount, do you have any ideas what that reason might be?”
“I do.”
“What is it?”
“Judging by how quickly it manifested, Her Highness must possess exceptionally powerful divine energy.”
At those words, both the emperor and empress blanched.
As with any overwhelming power, too strong a divine force could pose a fatal risk to its host.
“What shall we do if that’s the case, Your Majesty?”
“We’ll find a way—please don’t worry, my queen.”
“Father, will Rozi be in danger if she doesn’t go to Graeham?”
“No! I don’t want to be separated from Rozi!”
But the truth remained—no matter how sacred and healing divine power was, such a small body likely couldn’t contain it safely.
“As Your Majesty knows, Graeham is the only place with the technique to regulate immense divine power.”
Astérios continued.
A place that cultivates and controls divine energy—where priests and temples have held sacred power for generations.
“They’ll offer that as their condition.”
So their visit was likely not a request, but a veiled threat.
Which made the emperor wonder:
‘Is Rozi really the only thing they want?’
Rarely, someone was born with two abilities.
And when both awakened, their fates were rarely bright.
Either both powers were too weak, or their combination ended life prematurely.
Since Rozi was Leodian’s child, it was very possible she would also awaken the power of dragons.
Graeham, the land of divine foresight and healing—
What they had long desired was the one thing they lacked:
‘A destructive power that wasn’t divine.’
If Rozi were designated a Saintess of Graeham and awakened dragon power, she’d be the first Saintess to wield destruction.
‘Could that be what they truly desire?’
“We must also consider the possibility that Graeham is hiding more about their revelation.”
Astérios’s words felt as though he had read the emperor’s very thoughts.
Leodian’s golden eyes settled calmly on the six-year-old.
“Young viscount, you’ll accompany me to receive the priests.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. One more thing to consider.”
Astérios caught the emperor’s step as he turned to leave.
“There is one more way to temper powerful divine energy.”
And with that, Leodian let out a sharp breath of realization.
“Ah! I’d forgotten—magestones!”
Divine power was akin to healing magic in structure and function.
If a magestone could store healing magic, perhaps it could contain divine energy too.
“Perhaps we can regulate Rozi’s power with magestones.”
If the princess could learn to manage her own power, she’d be free of Graeham’s demands.
Then the empress stood and declared,
“I’ll contact the Magic Tower immediately.”
But Leodian gently stopped her.
“Please, focus on your recovery first. I’ll assign this task to the crown prince. Alex, go to Lord Elthor, and tell him to send a message to the Tower Master.”
“Yes, Father.”
“And my queen, don’t worry—stay here with William and Rozi. I’ll meet with the priests.”
And with that, the emperor led Astérios toward the audience hall.
Mom and little brother stayed by my side for a while before leaving.
When I woke from another nap, three people had entered—wearing golden armor and carrying swords.
Two women and a man. All three looked like knights.
‘I don’t like crowds. This life is gonna be exhausting, isn’t it?’
Well, I was born pretty special this time.
‘I mean, even I was shocked.’
Even as the Witch of the Center, flames had never burst directly from my hand. I always used a stick.
Magic needs incantations and catalysts.
Wizards used chants or spell circles, but the five witches—my sisters and I—had no such need.
Our bodies sealed magic circles and spells within us. We could cast instantly.
Though we still used tools—usually crystals or small rods.
‘Crystals were pretty, and rods were easy to carry. Those were the top picks.’
But having power erupt bare-handed?
That’s not a witch thing.
‘This is… a bit too dragon- or celestial-like, isn’t it?’
Which made me annoyed.
Because…
‘It’s not very witchy!’
There was no mention of this in the contract with Nox. I should’ve been more careful.
‘I’ll need to recall the contract in detail later when I have time.’
For now, I focused, quietly circulating my internal magic circles to identify this new energy within me.
Magic circles measure the scale of magical power. The more you have, the higher the rank. My sisters and I were all top-tier 9-circle witches.
‘Though the Demon King broke that limit and reached 12 circles…’
As I turned the circle, I immediately sensed two different powers within me—unlike anything from when I was Erica.
One was the healing blue flame.
‘Guess that’s what they call divine power.’
The other was golden—like stardust.
‘What is that?’
[That’s dragon energy.]
‘Ack! What the—?!’
A familiar voice echoed within me.
[Hello, Erica. How’s your new body? Like it?]
You?! YOU—
‘Nox!’
