BDBM | Chapter 5

Not everyone born with divine power can heal the sick or use holy techniques.

Unless it’s a senseless burst like a runaway, harnessing this power through refinement is the result of education and training.

Otherwise, there would be no need for the order to invest in the training of novice priests and knights.

That’s why those who had just witnessed Tenev’s performance were inevitably astonished.

‘Did it work?’

To Tenev, who considered divine power an alternative to internal martial arts, this was nothing extraordinary. She had just infused a small amount of divine power to clear blocked meridians.

She smiled again and waved broadly at the hushed crowd.

“Please look after me from now on, everyone.” Then she raised her voice to greet them. It was a lion’s roar at a very low intensity.

Thanks to this, instead of bursting the eardrums of enemies as it was originally intended, it allowed her voice to be heard clearly even by those far away.

‘A noble person is greeting us directly.’

‘She hasn’t even received proper training yet, but she handles divine power so skillfully.’

‘The future of the Holy Land looks bright!’

The cheers that had momentarily paused burst forth again.

Waaaaah!

“Let’s go.” Tenev then stopped waving and thumped Estram on the shoulder.

“…Yes.”

It was astonishing how adept she was at addressing the public, despite it being her first time outside. Even Estram, who usually maintained his composure, and the priests who adored Tenev, were bewitched as they slowly moved their steps.

Under their feet lay a thick purple fabric stretching straight and long.

The long cloth began at the podium and at its end awaited the high officials of the Holy Land, including the Holy King.

As Tenev ran along this path, her gaze suddenly flicked back to the crowd.

“Agi-nim?”

“Nothing at all.” Tenev grinned nonchalantly, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

‘The real game starts now.’

It was brief, but she distinctly felt a new energy brush past her—an energy she had never experienced before.

The surrounding priests and paladins seemed completely unaware of it.

‘Then… it means it was adjusted so only I could notice.’

Quite the skilled maneuver.

A thrill of entering enemy territory raced through her body.

The high officials of the Holy Land, and the one who had just provoked her.

Which of them were foes, and who might become allies?

Thrilled at the thought of uncovering and subduing them, Tenev jiggled her legs.

The actions, coupled with her ongoing smile, made her companions’ hearts drop.

‘Ah, Agi-nim.’

‘We won’t see this side of her anymore…!’

‘Tearfully.’

Though they were surprised at how adeptly she handled divine power, to them, Agi-nim was still their adorable child.

Unlike the other priests who were merely sad, Shelly resolved herself.

‘I must join Agi-nim’s retinue!’

Even if becoming a bishop was delayed, she didn’t mind.

‘She’ll surely give me a chance before I die.’

For Shelly, who wasn’t as ambitious as her uncle, ending her career as a senior priest was perfectly fine.

Tenev, unaware of Shelly’s thoughts—or rather, almost suspicious of her—focused her gaze on the approaching figure of the Holy King.

‘That man is going to be my adoptive father.’

The current Holy King, Renard Posacré, was unusually chosen late as a successor.

He had already devoted his youth to the order, walking the path of a paladin, when a prophecy altered his course.

Moreover, he was famously handsome as a young king—warm beige hair, eyes the green of summer foliage, and lips always seeming to smile, exuding a unique charm.

Seeing his beauty, Tenev concluded in one word.

‘A fox-face.’

However, Renard’s thinly smiling eyes were not fixed on Tenev but on Ivyor behind her.

Surprise, old feelings of betrayal, and so on.

As Jin Danye, who prided herself on understanding matters of the heart, she couldn’t miss the connection implied by that look.

‘Hooh?’

She quickly searched through the memories she had inherited, but there was no information about Ivyor and Renard knowing each other.

Tenev quickly dismissed it.

‘After all, the original owner of this body was clueless… unless someone kissed her on the forehead, she wouldn’t have noticed.’

Normally, Ivyor couldn’t hide her clear expressions, but Tenev couldn’t just turn around to watch openly.

There were surely moderates among those lined up around the Holy King. Winning their favor was essential for the upcoming battles.

Eventually, Renard also tucked away his interest in Ivyor and looked at Tenev.

‘He doesn’t get swayed by emotions for long.’

If their interests aligned, they could form a strong alliance.

Tenev had never expected familial affection from Renard.

She had abandoned such expectations when her biological parents had sold her for a few coins in her previous life as Jin Danye, although that had led her to her master.

‘No, now’s not the time to reflect on my past life.’

Tenev blinked her eyes wide open and steadied her mind.

As Estram let her down to the ground, she took a few big steps forward and bowed to Renard.

“Nice to meet you, father. I will be a successor who does not bring shame to your reign.”

“Uh.”

“Cough.” As soon as her greeting ended, a few coughs sprang up here and there.

Cluck. Tenev clenched her teeth in embarrassment, having tried to speak clearly at this event, only to have her pronunciation end up clumsier than usual.

“Lift your head.” A voice, gentle yet firm, fell over Tenev’s head. As she lifted her face, Renard smiled and picked her up. “I was curious what kind of child my daughter would be, but you’re full of surprises.”

Tenev looked quite different from when she first opened her eyes.

While still scrawny, divine power swirled through her body, brightening her complexion, and her hair, tended by the priests, was neatly combed without a stray hair.

However, it wasn’t enough to satisfy Renard’s aesthetic sense.

‘One… her looks can change as she grows.’

Living as a leader of a nation and head of an order was akin to the life of a theater actor or an opera singer.

One must be mindful of popularity, compete in subtleties with rivals, and not neglect one’s primary duties.

And what determined popularity was firstly looks, secondly character. Humans instinctively respond most directly to what they see.

‘She looks kind of cute?’

Renard had not hesitated to pick her up, and Tenev’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘Ivy… no. She doesn’t resemble her mother.’

She hadn’t expected to encounter a past connection here.

She had seen the reports on the successor, but Ivyor was a common name in the empire.

It was fortunate that Tenev didn’t resemble Ivyor. Projecting her onto an unknowing child and smothering her with attention was the last thing she wanted.

“What did you say your name was?”

“I’m Tenev, father.”

Though he knew, Renard asked again and smiled contentedly at her clear response, tapping her nose lightly.

“Your voice is clear. From now on, your name will be Tenev Posacré.”

‘Posacré to be.’

It clearly meant he hadn’t fully accepted her yet, but Tenev wasn’t phased and asked, “What should I do to prove myself?”

Her forthrightness deepened the smile on Renard’s face. He looked back at the senior priests who had accompanied Tenev.

“Did you explain about the ceremony for the heir?”

“No, Your Highness.”

“Hmm.” Renard listened half-heartedly.

The schedule had been delayed due to Tenev’s illness, and the details of the ceremony had only been finalized yesterday, but he always took his subordinates’ words with a grain of salt.

“Tenev. At the oath ceremony next week, you just need to recite the prayer and demonstrate that you are the child of prophecy.”

Tenev nodded. She vaguely remembered a scene where light poured over her head after reciting a prayer.

‘Just that to prove it… don’t get fooled.’

Tsk tsk.

She suppressed the urge to click her tongue, and Renard’s smile seemed a bit forced.

‘Does his eye seem less squinted than before?’

Tenev finally caught on.

This fox-like adoptive father was similar to her in that he was estimating which faction and strings she might be connected to.

It was harsh for a child, but on the flip side, being a child meant she could unwittingly become a puppet, so it was natural for him to be cautious.

But Tenev was no ordinary child.

“Do I just have to recite the prayer? Or do I need to do something else to prove it?”

There, a question.

She asked indifferently, holding back a sigh, and the chill running down her spine disappeared.

“Our daughter is really calm.”

“She has been since the first time we met.”

Estram responded, realizing his gaze was still on his arms holding Tenev, and Renard’s expression became subtle.

It was as if he was a dog who had his toy taken away.

‘Did he actually step forward to hug me?’

With a face that looked like it could knock someone down any moment, it was hard to imagine it was his own will.

“Esturam, Tybee, Shelly, Verde, Mari. They all treated me well.”

As always, compliments were free. Tenev casually dropped a platitude to shift Renard’s attention back to her and asked again.

“Father. How exactly is the proof done?”

“Ah, right.” Realizing he had strayed off-topic, Renard coughed awkwardly.

He then explained in the kindest tone yet, in a way that even Tenev would understand.

“Like that.” Tenev did not miss a beat this time and nodded in response.

Though her movements reminded one of a puppet under a spell, Renard found it oddly amusing.

“Everyone, see. This child is my daughter.” Although he had said Tenev wasn’t Posacré yet, the gods had almost never withheld their blessing from a chosen successor. Moreover, this child instinctively knew how to handle divine power.

‘I’m only worried whether she can memorize the prayer because she’s so young.’

But given the cleverness she had shown so far, it seemed she would manage well.

This was agreed upon by the surrounding archbishops and knights-commander, who all nodded politely with respectful smiles.

“Then the child needs to rest, so let’s leave it at that for today.”

With those words, Renard walked away, still holding Tenev. Estram followed behind.

“Your Highness. If it’s alright, I would like to accompany Agi-nim…”

“Thank you, but no need. After such a long wait, I’d like to talk a bit more with my daughter.”

Curiosity about how a stone-cold Estram had turned puppy-like was half the reason.

“Does my daughter like cream puffs?”

“I haven’t eaten them before.”

“Well, you should try them now.”

Renard walked away without looking back at Ivyor. The humiliation felt doubly intense for her, who had cheered herself on the initial attention he had shown.

‘Ren! How could you do this to me!’

He’s carrying that girl himself, yet he doesn’t even speak to me, her mother. At this rate, it’s all or nothing. Ivyor’s beautiful pumpkin-colored eyes sparkled with the determination to clear her debts.