WWDNND Chapter 40

The Birth of a New Saintess

I believed in you, Dantellion!

I screamed inwardly. Like a prince out of a fairy tale, Dantellion stood in his pristine white ceremonial uniform and extended his hand to Veronica.

His stunning appearance made the noble ladies blush. Even I had to admit—he looked amazing.

“I…”

Veronica was flustered. After making it clear she wanted to keep her distance, she was taken aback when Dantellion asked her to dance.

“…It would be an honor, Your Majesty.”

But no one could refuse the Emperor. Especially not the first dance at a ball hosted in his honor. Even if Veronica was a noble lady, it was the Emperor’s ball.

With a stiff face, Veronica reached out and took Dantellion’s hand. Smiling gently, he led her to the center of the floor.

As the two took their positions, the music changed. It wasn’t the soft background tune that had been playing until now, but an upbeat dance number.

“Oh my…”

“My goodness, the two of them look perfect together.”

“Could it be… His Majesty has feelings for the lady?”

Dantellion and Veronica were a picture-perfect pair. His golden hair sparkled under the lights, and every time Veronica twirled, her long, dark hair rippled like the night sky.

They looked like the sun and the night dancing together. Other nobles must have thought the same, because murmurs of admiration filled the hall.

Some even began to believe that Dantellion had feelings for Veronica just because he chose her for the first dance.

“Nah, I bet he picked her because he felt comfortable. Choosing someone for the first dance must be burdensome.”

“Exactly. They were childhood friends, after all.”

But there were those who disagreed. Dantellion had always acted so nonchalant toward Veronica—it seemed he had carefully hidden his feelings before ascending the throne.

After all, if the Empress Dowager had found out, she would never have left Veronica alone.

Now that he was emperor, there was no need to keep his feelings secret.

“They really do look amazing together…”

“……”

Abel stared blankly at them, completely dazed. I half-expected his jaw to drop.

The music was nearing its end. As I glanced around, I spotted Rosette biting her lip.

Another failed attempt for her, I thought, indifferent, and turned my gaze elsewhere.

As expected, the Empress Dowager didn’t show up. Cedric was still recovering from his injury in the duel, which meant the female lead couldn’t attend either.

In the original story, I remembered Cedric and the female lead attending this ball and getting scolded fiercely by Dantellion. That scene had been particularly fun. It was a bit disappointing that I couldn’t see it now because of how the story had changed.

“Dia, there you are.”

“Grandpa!”

Just as Dantellion and Veronica’s dance was wrapping up, Duke Winston approached me. I ran toward him with little steps.

“That rascal Berry, leaving you alone.”

“Dia was with Abel!”

“Hmm…”

As Abel greeted Duke Winston nervously, the duke shot him a disapproving look.

“Hmm. Dia, aren’t you upset with your mother?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Well, because right there, with His Majesty…”

“Mom and His Majesty were amazing!”

“…Huh?”

“They were so cool! Like a prince and a princess!”

“……”

I shouted, feigning the most innocent expression I could muster. Duke Winston’s face turned even more sour, like he had bitten into a lemon.

I already knew he was against Veronica and Dantellion being together. I’d overheard them talking not too long ago.

He was probably trying to subtly turn me against them as well—but of course, that wouldn’t work on me.

“Haha, our little Dia must be really into fairy tales.”

“Yes!”

Having cut off his plan, I grinned brightly.

The duke frowned but turned away. On the stage, Veronica and Dantellion were finishing their dance, bowing gracefully to each other.

Clap, clap, clap—applause echoed through the hall. I watched the scene proudly.

“Etty, shall we go dance too?”

“Oh my, you…”

With the Emperor’s dance over, the other nobles slowly started taking to the floor. Vincent and Henrietta also left to dance.

Now all eyes were on who Dantellion would dance with next.

Many unmarried noble ladies looked hopeful, wondering if they might be chosen.

Those who thought his first dance with Veronica was just a polite gesture assumed his second partner would reveal his true affections.

“Oh my… He’s just heading back?”

But Dantellion returned to his seat immediately after the dance, acting as if nothing had happened.

“Ugh…”

Rosette, who had been waiting to be picked next, flushed red with embarrassment. The noble ladies around her began casting cold glances her way.

Eventually, she stormed out of the ballroom. I clicked my tongue as I watched her go.

“Seems His Majesty doesn’t plan to reveal his intentions today.”

“Indeed…”

“……”

No, that’s not true. Dantellion was very clear about his intentions today. He practically declared his feelings for all to see.

But it couldn’t be helped. Veronica hadn’t divorced Cedric yet.

Though now that Dantellion was emperor, that divorce would happen in record time.

Once that happened, he could probably act even more openly. He clearly felt threatened when he heard she might return to the North.

“Dia, were you well-behaved?”

“Mom!”

After finishing her dance, Veronica came straight to find me. I leapt into her arms, leaving Duke Winston behind.

His stiff expression didn’t soften—perhaps because I ran to Veronica, or maybe because she had danced with Dantellion.

“…It’s not like I could refuse the Emperor’s first dance.”

“When did I say anything?”

“……”

Veronica quickly made her excuse, and Duke Winston responded with clear disapproval. She averted her gaze slightly.

I wish the Duke would just accept it.

I couldn’t entirely blame him.

Given how terribly Cedric had treated Veronica, it must have seemed too hasty to remarry Dantellion right away.

If not for the original storyline, I probably would’ve been planning to let them quietly live out their days in the North.

But soon…

Flash!

“…!”

While lost in thought, thinking about the original story, something suddenly flared up brightly outside, and a white light poured in through the windows.

“Kyaa!”

“Wh-What’s happening?!”

Startled nobles screamed. I squinted at the blinding light outside.

Damn it.

A white night phenomenon.

This episode appeared in the original, too.

But it wasn’t supposed to happen this early. I frowned as I stared out into the daytime-like brightness.

Bang!

Just then, someone burst into the ballroom. It was Dantellion’s aide, Joshua.

“Your Majesty…!”

Joshua rushed to Dantellion and whispered urgently in his ear.

I had a rough idea of what he was saying, but I had the demons eavesdrop to confirm it.

“…And now people from the temple have come.”

“Send them all back.”

“But His Holiness…”

Joshua, flustered, raised his voice—something he rarely did. And just then, robed figures in white streamed through the open doors.

They were temple officials. Their white robes were adorned with silver embroidery, meaning they were of fairly high rank.

“We come by order of His Holiness, Your Majesty.”

“…You refused the invitation to this ball. What brings you here now?”

“Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesty. His Holiness has just received a divine revelation.”

“A revelation?”

Dantellion’s eyes widened. In the original, he had reacted just like that—only the timing was earlier now.

“Yes, for the first time in 500 years, the heavens have spoken!”

The priest’s voice rang through the ballroom.

A revelation after 500 years? Come to think of it, the last divine message was about 500 years ago.

Even the demons mentioned they hadn’t been able to form a contract with Winston’s direct bloodline for over five centuries…

Something didn’t feel right. I tilted my head, suspicious.

But whether I liked it or not, the priest continued.

“A new saintess has been born to succeed the Empress Dowager!”

“What?!”

The word “saintess” rippled through the noble crowd.

Since the Empress Dowager entered the palace, no new saintess had appeared. Everyone buzzed at the news.

“Who is it?”

Looking as if he sensed something ominous, Dantellion asked darkly.

The priest shouted boldly:

“Lady Marianne, eldest daughter of Marquis Cedric Lionel!”