BDBM | Chapter 12

The next day, Tenev was surprised once again.

Today’s teacher wasn’t Shelly, but someone else.

“…Estram?”

Sending away one teacher only to switch it up every day to prevent mischief?

“This isn’t usually what Estram does, right, Mario?”

“I’ve been assigned temporarily. Please take good care of me.”

The reality was different from what Tenev had thought.

It turned out that Shelly and Estram, who both volunteered for the role of education priest, could not concede to each other, so they decided to alternate daily.

‘Isn’t Estram behaving just as usual like Shelly?’

Calling her ‘Agi-nim!’ and hugging her out of nowhere.

Fortunately, perhaps having heard from Shelly or for some other reason, Estram didn’t do anything to make the other children jealous. Instead…

“Argh!”

“I can’t run anymore…!” He had her run rigorously.

Tenev, after running around the training field, panted heavily in front of Estram.

“Could it be, ha, on the day of the oath ceremony… is there also… a physical test?”

“No.”

Due to extreme fatigue, Tenev’s pronunciation slurred again.

Using divine power could instantly revitalize her, but Estram had already banned the use of divine power before training ended.

“Then, why are we suddenly doing this kind of training?”

“Because divine power thrives in a healthy body.”

Yes, that makes sense.

It’s too factual to even argue…

‘Normally, isn’t this the time to memorize the order of the ceremony?’

Of course, she had long memorized not only the order but also the most important prayers.

“Phew…”

After completing the training set by Estram, Tenev collapsed right onto the dirt ground.

It seemed he had calculated the intensity of the training just right, so it was strenuous but not harmful.

‘Struggling like this without using martial arts or divine power, I’m going to die.’

Especially with this still frail body.

‘Maybe Estram also heard about the magician’s incident the other day.’

Tenev was the Holy King’s heir.

She couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t face danger again.

Perhaps he wanted her to be trained to defend herself even if she couldn’t use divine power. Then, the murmurs of the novice paladins hoping to become knights tickled her ears.

“Just look at her lying down on the ground like that.”

“It doesn’t look like she did even half of what we do, yet look at her state.”

“How can she lead us like this? We followed because the Holy King came from a paladin background.”

Ha. Look at these kids.

‘Did enduring just with my strength look too easy to them?’

Tenev wasn’t someone to let this slide.

From their perspective, they were young, but to them, Tenev was just a kid.

Letting this go? That would be like admitting she was beneath them.

The real Tenev had suffered from this mistake before.

“Hey.” Tenev brushed herself off and called the kids.

“Hey? Did you just call us ‘hey’?”

“Who else is looking down on me but you?”

“Ha, she can’t even speak properly.”

“…”

A prominent vein throbbed on Tenev’s forehead.

Though she didn’t show it, the lisp was a quiet stress for her. She was looking forward to the oath ceremony to get rid of it!

“Try getting beaten up by someone who can’t even speak properly!”

With that, a strong light burst from Tenev’s body.

She released her suppressed divine power, and the fatigue that weighed on her small frame disappeared in an instant.

Revitalized and having enhanced her body with divine power, Tenev charged at the kids.

—

“…my daughter beat up the paladin trainees,” Renard said, with a wry smile, momentarily forgetting the whipped cream in front of him.

Becoming a father was always like this? There hadn’t been a dull moment since his daughter came to the Holy Land.

Estram, instead of stopping the fight… rather, watching Tenev single-handedly discipline them, came to report to the Holy King.

“Yes. Her control over divine power is remarkable. Not only did she recover her physical condition in an instant, but she also used divine power to enhance her body and wield it like a weapon.”

“That she figured this out on her own, huh…”

Renard thought of his four-year-old daughter.

Was all of God’s grace poured into Tenev? Was it because he had become the heir too old?

“I never even heard Sephira Alcut’s voice.”

“…”

Estram simply looked down, as if he hadn’t heard anything.

“Anyway, my daughter handled herself well this time. Those guys won’t see straight until they’ve been hit.”

Talking of divine grace, it was still good to have such a capable heir.

What’s more exciting was how unpredictable this talented heir was.

Then, the senior priest entered quietly.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your report, Your Highness. There is a request for an audience.”

“It’s not time for appointments. Is it urgent?”

“Well… it’s the Agi-nim’s biological mother. It was difficult, but…”

Behind the senior priest, the voices of priests trying their best to dissuade her were heard. Every now and then, a firm call came through.

“It’s not like I don’t belong here! Why keep blocking me!”

As Tenev’s biological mother, the priests couldn’t strongly stop her, which was causing them headaches.

Renard hadn’t even seen her face, but his head already hurt. He clicked his tongue and frowned.

“Let her in.”

As Estram made way to leave in anticipation of a tricky situation, Ivyor entered.

“Audience requests should be made in advance. How many times must I say it?”

“Every time I come, you’re busy and send me away, so what can I do? You don’t even look busy, and that’s a mean lie, Ren?”

“You see what you know.”

“What does that mean?”

“Marchioness Demini, the Holy King is busier than you think. I wish you would state your matter briefly.”

“Am I… just that to you?”

Ivyor’s voice trembled as if she were crying, but Renard was unmoved.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“After all this time, how cold you’ve become.”

“What was our relationship, exactly? Please explain, ‘Marchioness Demini.’” Renard let out a bitter laugh.

Emphasizing the title and rank seemed to drain any unshed tears from Ivyor, who sighed in disbelief.

“Are you like this because of that day? Because I didn’t show up?”

Renard just stared at her.

To him, the day she casually referred to had been a life-altering decision.

In love with Ivyor, he had planned to abandon his duties as a knight and leave with her.

As the sun set and night deepened, while no one showed on the deserted road, Renard had prayed.

“O sole deity of mine, Sephira Alcut. A child who strayed briefly returns. I devote the rest of my life to You, so may she never know love again.”

But the Ivyor who reappeared was only bold.

“You know it. I am a noble of the Empire, and you belong to the Holy Land. It was impossible.”

She had whispered sweet nothings about discarding status and living happily ever after, a stark contrast to her current words.

“And since you didn’t quit being a knight, you made it to this position. You became the Holy King because of me.”

Not bold, but shameless.

“Is that all you have to say, Marchioness?” Renard clenched his fist tightly.

Realizing she wouldn’t get the response she wanted, Ivyor finally got to the point.

“I want compensation.”

“I saw the report about the financial difficulties. Even the Marquis couldn’t afford the medical expenses and had to leave?” Ivyor gritted her teeth.

Her incompetent husband had died young, leaving her buried in debt.

“And you took my daughter. I deserve twice the compensation.”

“The Emperor himself approved taking Tenev. And now a mere lady demands compensation?”

“I could have cleared the debt instantly if I had married her off. She could have achieved much more, being my likeness.”

These Holy Land fools had stolen her retirement funds!

“So you owe me that much!” Tenev’s pumpkin-colored eyes blazed with fire.

While it was anticipated, Ivyor’s motive was indeed just money.

Her pride hurt by the constant rejections yet she kept coming back, all for money.

Recalling Tenev’s wide-eyed delight at her first taste of whipped cream, Renard grew a bit bitter.

“Sigh.” Renard pressed his tired eyelids.

Not giving her money would likely lead to her bothering Tenev later.

But if he did give it?

The archbishops would joyfully revolt.

“Mother.” Startled by the familiar lisp, Renard flung out his hand.

‘How did my daughter find out about this.’

Had Tenev heard everything Ivyor said?

Even though she was his adopted daughter and the next Holy King’s heir, she was still a child. The thought of her hearing money mentioned in relation to herself was troubling.

But Tenev didn’t look at Renard; she clung only to Ivyor.

“I have something for Mother. I’ve been saving it diligently.”

“You…!” Ivyor was about to snap, wondering what she could possibly have saved.

She needed a fortune, not a few pennies.

But then, something caught her eye.

“…”

The gold embroidery on Tenev’s sleeve gleamed brightly.