BDBM | Chapter 15

“Sure.”

Tenev answered nonchalantly but soon added more, thinking perhaps it wasn’t enough explanation.

“Some people just don’t have maternal instincts.”

Truthfully, Ivyor lacked not just maternal instincts but also any sense of responsibility. However, considering the young minds listening, Tenev kept her comments minimal. Yet, Monark looked puzzled.

“…What does ‘maternal instincts’ mean?”

His question caught Tenev off guard. She had assumed that being royal, he would have received extensive early education, but apparently not.

“It means some people naturally don’t feel motherly affection. I just happened to pick the short straw.”

Monark didn’t respond immediately. Adapting flexibly to this sort of conversation was too complex for a seven-year-old, especially one who sensed Tenev’s detachment from her own unfortunate circumstances. He struggled to find words, but only one came to mind.

“…I’m sorry.”

A look of intrigue flashed through Tenev’s eyes.

‘He knows how to apologize.’

Encouraged, she decided to address something that had been on her mind since the first day.

“But why do you always glare at the Holy King whenever you see him?”

The effect of her question was immediate. Monark’s already downcast eyes sharpened with a nearly fierce intensity for a child.

“Because of him, I had to be separated from my mom.”
“Him? He’s my father.”

Oops, that fact had slipped his mind. Surprised by his own oversight, Monark relaxed his clenched fist. But it didn’t change his feelings; Tenev’s father was a bad person to him, just as his own mother was to her.

“But still. I didn’t want to, and suddenly I was dragged to the Holy Land.”

Tenev sighed. It seemed Monark thought he was in the Holy Land solely because the Holy King had demanded it.

“Do you really think the Emperor would agree just because the Holy King asked? It’s not like we’re a vassal state. It’s not likely he just pointed at you specifically; there are always circumstances.”

“Circumstances? What kind of circumstances?”

Monark asked directly, causing Tenev a bit of a dilemma.

‘I wouldn’t know.’

The original Tenev also didn’t know much about this area, so she couldn’t offer more details. Instead, she pulled out a universal answer often used when kids dodged difficult questions.

“I don’t know the details either. It’s adult stuff, so maybe we’ll understand when we’re adults.”
“I am grown up already!”
“Yeah. But since you’re still seven, maybe when you’re about twenty.”

Tenev couldn’t help but smile; it reminded her of her own childhood, always insisting to her teacher that she was big enough to handle tasks.

‘Do all kids think they’re grown up?’

She suddenly missed those days. Tenev’s hand instinctively reached out and gently stroked Monark’s head. Caught off-guard, Monark blinked furiously.

‘What’s this?’

For a moment, it felt comforting.

‘It felt like Mom was patting me.’

But being comforted by Tenev, younger than himself? It was too strange to bear. Monark quickly brushed her hand away.

“Don’t touch me like that. You’re not my mom!”
“Ah… Right. That was impolite of me.”

Monark’s expression turned even more peculiar. Instead of being relieved at her departure, he felt a sense of loss. Oddly enough.

“Hey…”

But as Monark hesitated, Shome, the attendant, approached to announce the time.

“My lady, it’s almost time for class.”
“Got it.”

Tenev waved Monark over as she walked alongside Shome. You could imagine the tap of her small, cute footsteps, though they made no sound.

“I definitely heard them earlier…”

Monark cocked his head. Tenev had purposely made no sound to avoid aggravating him, but a child could hardly be expected to understand such subtleties. Yet, there was a warmth that transcended understanding, softening Monark’s gaze just a touch.

“Maybe she’s not a traitor after all.”

He muttered, not loudly enough to be heard—or so he thought. But just as he spoke, Tenev turned sharply around.

“Hurry up. It’s rude to be late to the teacher.”

“I’m not dawdling!”

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Monark hurried after her. Was it because of this?

Monark wondered what he had been about to say but ultimately couldn’t remember.

Halfway through the education period, the oath ceremony was rapidly approaching.

“My lady, do you remember the myth we learned on the first day?”
“I do.”
“Good. Shall we start learning the prayers now?”
“I’ve memorized them all.”

Shelly was taken aback by the quick response.

“All of them? There are quite a few…”
“I’ve memorized the entire prayer book.”
“The entire book?”
“Yes.”

The prayer book contained over a hundred prayers, a fact that even Shelly, who fancied herself as the guardian angel to ‘my lady,’ found hard to accept.

‘I can’t believe I’m doubting my lady’s word! But if what she’s saying isn’t true, the oath ceremony will be a disaster.’

Reluctantly conducting a test, Shelly was astonished by the results. Tenev flawlessly recited ‘The Prayer of the Young Star,’ which acolytes memorized for the ceremony, and effortlessly provided responses to other prayers.

“Oh… ah…”

Before long, Shelly found herself gaping just like the children around her. Realizing her lapse, she coughed awkwardly.

‘Wow, I wasn’t like that at her age.’

She couldn’t even remember what she did at four years old. The days when she was flattered by being called a prodigy now felt embarrassingly pompous.

“Ah… impressive. Then all that’s left is to learn the order of the ceremony.”
“I’ve memorized that too. I’ve been practicing to avoid mistakes on the day.”
“Oh, but practice for that is only allowed the day before the ceremony.”

Tenev’s rapid progress had left Shelly somewhat at a loss.

‘What do we do now…?’

Tenev, catching the hesitation quickly, made a suggestion.

“Then, since I’ll still need to be educated after the ceremony, could we start some of those lessons now?”
“That is…”

Shelly paused.

‘Post-oath training for apprentice priests.’

It had been a long time since Shelly had gone through her own oath ceremony in her youth, but her sharp memory retained everything. The issue was that Shelly had only been tested on the basic levels of priest education.

“Since it’s not a formal part of the curriculum and relies on my memory, please just consider it as a preview.”
“That’s fine.”
“Of course, I’ll re-familiarize myself with the material.”
“Thank you, teacher.”

Tenev gave Shelly a beaming smile and also spoke to the other students.

“I’m sorry for keeping to my own pace so far. There isn’t much time left, but I hope it can still be helpful to you.”
“Uh, yeah…”

The kids nodded instinctively, but the more they thought about it, the more astonishing Tenev seemed. While the teacher and Tenev were absent, the kids gathered to whisper.

“I was so shocked. How did she memorize the entire prayer book in just a few days?”
“‘Sephira Alcut is refined by Sevirot and bestowed upon the lands of Arcut,’ right? She really is different from us ordinary people.”

Cheylia, always the top student, used a verse from the scripture to make her point, causing Shiah to tug at her sleeve.

“But she apologized for keeping up with us. Maybe Tenev was trying to help us?”
“A kid that straightforward?”

Tenev had consistently addressed Shelly and Estram properly as ‘teacher,’ following their instructions without complaint. However, the children still remembered her fierce first day when she had openly defied a hostile novice priest and boldly leaped through a window, even running down to defend Tenev had the Holy King himself not intervened.

“…Well. She’s never been mean to us.”
“We’re classmates studying together. That’s what I think.”

As Monark joined in, Shiah nodded vigorously, her fluffy curly hair bobbing gently.

“Friend…”

A simple word, yet profoundly touching for the kids. Briar, an aspiring paladin, made the sign of the cross.

“Sephira Alcut has blessed us with a remarkable friend.”
“Yeah. My uncle was amazed when I told him she could strengthen with divine power and heal in an instant.”

Paladins fight using their bodies strengthened by divine power, while priests are responsible for healing and blessings. Although they use the same divine power, its application differs, making it rare for someone to utilize both like Tenev.

“…Sephira Alcut is refined…”

Cheylia quoted the scripture, her face momentarily tightening.