~Chapter 47~
Prad’s Request
<A Request from God Prad!>
Prad deeply cherishes his Saintess. But for a long time, she couldn’t find her place.
Evil enemies interfered! That’s why Prad is very angry.
Please help by letting the High Priest meet the Saintess.
Success Reward: The Saintess Sestia will return in glory and heal the Grand Madam.
Failure Consequence: No clerics will be sent North. The Grand Madam’s life will be in danger.
Delphina was speechless.
‘Why are the penalties for failure always so extreme?’
<God Prad is upset.>
<He says the rewards and penalties just show the results, not his personal choice. He sulks.>
‘So even if he gives the quest, he doesn’t control everything.’
No wonder Sestia had been left neglected for so long.
‘Maybe other Saintesses appeared before Sestia but were never found.’
Twenty years might have passed like that.
‘Someone must’ve been interfering all along. If I hadn’t stepped in, Sestia would’ve been sold to some old noble—’
Delphina stopped herself from imagining anything worse.
<God Prad is impressed by Delphina’s sharp reasoning.>
Delphina looked at Sestia, who was shouting “Down with Ivelina!” with a clueless face.
Thinking of what might’ve happened to this small, innocent girl made her heart ache.
“The High Priest’s blessing belongs to our Lady Delphina! Anyone who tries to interfere will regret it!”
<God Prad objects, saying Sestia doesn’t look that small and innocent.>
Delphina shook her head.
‘The blessing means nothing to me.’
But clearly, it did to others.
The Northern servants were furious after reading the articles.
“How shameless. On what grounds would Ivelina get the blessing from the High Priest?”
Sana nodded fiercely.
“How dare they print such garbage. Those Southerners clearly have no taste. Too much sunshine must’ve blinded them.”
Ahin tilted his head, confused.
“Is a blessing really that important? Anyone can get one, right?”
Sestia and Sana shrieked.
“Of course it’s important! The blessing absolutely belongs to Lady Delphina!”
“Ahin, if you’re going to kill the mood, just zip it, okay?”
Sana had joined late but quickly became Delphina’s most devoted fan. She and Sestia clicked instantly over their mutual admiration.
<God Prad also passionately agrees with Sana and Sestia.>
‘Prad’s really serious about this,’ Delphina thought.
And so, Delphina threw herself into preparing for the banquet for several days.
She was even banned from cooking to protect her hands.
On the day of the banquet, Sana dragged her out early for makeup and helped her into a soft pink dress brought in from the capital.
There were no flashy designs, but the fine fabric stood out.
A ruby necklace borrowed from the Grand Madam rested on her neck, and a sparkling tiara adorned her pinned-up hair.
The Northerners were left speechless by her beauty.
Finally, Sana said,
“Lady Delphina, you look truly stunning.”
Sestia agreed.
“I thought an angel had fallen from the sky.”
The two were really getting along.
Delphina looked at her reflection. She truly was beautiful.
‘I’ve never dressed up like this for a banquet before.’
This was nothing like those days at the Rikaion mansion—wearing ragged dresses and doing her own makeup.
The maids had been preparing her like she was going to war, full of determination.
Sestia and Sana were full of rage.
After learning what Ivelina had done to Delphina at the academy, they were burning with anger.
‘I figured they’d find out eventually…’
Delphina’s difficult childhood was a common topic in society pages. It was hard to avoid.
“We absolutely cannot lose.”
“Lady Delphina will outshine that awful Ivelina, no question.”
Sana frowned and held up a letter.
“That woman sent this.”
“Ivelina wrote to me?”
“Yes. I wanted to burn it, but I had to bring it to you since it was addressed to you.”
Sestia muttered, stunned.
“What is this, a duel invitation?”
Delphina accepted the letter.
‘Ivelina must want to avoid drawing attention to the lawsuit. That’s why she sent a letter instead of showing up in person.’
Normally, Ivelina would’ve rushed to confront her immediately.
She must still be furious after being kicked out of the North.
But Ivelina wasn’t dumb—just wild.
That’s why she had so many friends in high society.
She made people bond by picking on someone else.
She didn’t want to become the new target now.
She likely knew visiting Delphina now would backfire.
‘She’s scared she might become the next scapegoat.’
Being the Duke’s daughter meant she’d be safer, but still, social circles were unpredictable.
Friends today could be enemies tomorrow. Ivelina knew that.
Still, her wounded pride clearly pushed her to write.
Delphina read the letter:
[Hello, Delphina. I heard you’ll be attending the banquet. It reminded me of our graduation banquet. I was so sad you weren’t there when I was crowned Queen of the Night.
They won’t crown a Queen this time, but the High Priest will bless the most beautiful couple. Isn’t that exciting?
I hope you’ll be there this time.]
She sounded completely confident that she’d be the one to receive the blessing.
‘What’s with that confidence? Did she bribe the High Priest or something?’
<God Prad quickly denies it, saying the priest may be dumb and unmotivated, but he’s not corrupt.>
‘Then what’s fueling that smug attitude? Is it because she saw Elcayan’s face and knows this is our official engagement ceremony? And the way the media is being manipulated…’
Since the emperor would be announcing their engagement, Delphina should be the star of the banquet.
But the noble faction seemed certain Ivelina would get the blessing.
<God Prad sighs and says his follower is loyal but naive. He blames Ivelina’s bad influences.>
Delphina clicked her tongue at Prad’s excuse.
<Prad says there are things he just can’t explain.>
