I got up and strolled over to both the High Priest and the Marquis. The color kept draining from his face with every step I took.

“A splendid evening today, your Holiness,” I curtsied. “And a splendid evening to you as well, Marquis Hannington.”

The Marquis blinked. Was he expecting me to be all over him in front of the High Priest? I want to say that there’s a time and a place, but nothing is even going on between the two of us.

“A splendid evening today, my liege,” the High Priest greeted. “I knew I felt a presence today, but I wasn’t expecting you.”

“My apologies for the abrupt visit,” I apologized. “I’ve come today for a request. Could you spare some time to hear me out?”

I looked over at the Marquis as well, “This is a matter that you should be aware of as well. Would you please sit down with me and listen in?”

The High Priest and Marquis looked at each other and then back at me. The High Priest gave a soft smile. “Sure, let’s go in and have a talk.”

Marquis Hannington didn’t seem like he wanted to stay longer, but seeing as how Fantasia is of a higher status than he is, it would come off as rude towards the royal family. Begrudgingly, he obliged the request. Donna followed suit.

—

All who were present were seated. There were two couches and one coffee table. I was sitting across from the Marquis, and Donna was sitting across from the High Priest. A knock came at the door.

“Come in,” the High Priest commanded.

It was the bishop. He came in with the essentials to make the tea.

“My apologies for entering, your holiness. I was supposed to serve our liege some chamomile and honey tea,” he stated. “It looks as though you’re seeing her along with your other guest.”

“At least our liege doesn’t mind some of our tea,” the High Priest joked.

The Marquis blushed, “I was in a hurry. I couldn’t just sit and have tea while in a rush.”

“Ah, but now that Lady Everdeen is here, you’ll keep me company for longer, no?”

“You’re making fun of me.”

“Oh no, I would never make fun of you, Marquis Hannington. Only rascals would do such a thing.”

“Rascals would also annoy their guests with unnecessary drivel.”

“Oh my, are you claiming that I’m annoying, Marquis?”

“That depends. Are you claiming that you’re a rascal, High Priest?”

“You wound me.”

“You wound yourself.”

“Pfft,” I’m trying to stifle my laughter as tea is being served.

The bishop sighed, “Honestly, your Holiness…”

“They must seem like good friends,” Donna laughed.

High Priest Skylark twitched his eyebrows, “It’s surprising that the friendship even lasted this long.”

The Marquis nodded, “Likewise.”

The bishop served the tea to everyone. I was the first to put the teacup to my lips. It was a warm, calming sensation dancing on my tongue. Very soothing.

“I’m delighted to know that our liege enjoys our tea,” High Priest Skylark said. “Now, what was it that you wanted to request from me?”

My eyes darted from each person to then back to the tea. I sighed, bracing myself for disappointment.

“I want to initiate a divorce,” I said.

Silence. Donna’s eyes widened. Marquis Hannington’s head swerved quickly in my direction. The bishop almost dropped and broke the teapot. The only one not truly reacting is the High Priest.

“I don’t think I heard you correctly,” Marquis Hannington said. “What are you requesting?”

“A divorce,” I said firmly. “I wish to divorce King Victor Aurum Alabastrum.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Maybe so, but if I continue being married to the king, I’ll just get poisoned again.”

“Poisoned? Again?!”

Donna looks like she is having a mini panic attack, “My lady, nobody knows of the assassination attempt outside of the palace…”

It was my turn for my eyes to widen as I looked at Donna, “Are you saying that even the king knows that I was being poisoned and didn’t bother to check on me that whole time?”

The High Priest placed his tea down on the saucer and glanced at the bishop, “Too much information is being shared within these thin walls. You should go outside and make sure no one else overheard us.”

“Yes, your Holiness,” the bishop bowed, leaving the room.

The High Priest looked into my eyes. It was as if he was staring into my soul. He then got up and walked over to the window, looking out from it.

“Do you realize what you’re asking, my liege?” he asks.

“I’m well aware,” I answered.

“This marriage is supposed to be a symbol of peace. To divorce the king, you’ll jeopardize that and put many people in danger of war.”

“I was poisoned and on the brink of death. Are you sure there wouldn’t be a war anyway?”

“That’s what I’m afraid of…”

He turned around and faced me, “For me to process this divorce, I’m going to need proof. Since this is a very sensitive matter, I’m also going to need collateral.”

“My proof is Marquis Hannington,” I said.

The Marquis tensed up, “I can’t be your proof. I know we didn’t do anything together, but my wife…”

“Then I’ll have to summon her over to my palace for tea and explain myself. It’s about time I apologize to her for the misunderstanding,” I say, sipping on the tea.

“It’s more than that! If the divorce proceeds, you’ll be sent back to your kingdom-!”

“And kicked out into the streets for being a divorced noble lady. Not to mention, be known as the noble lady who caused a war between two kingdoms because she couldn’t give the king an heir. I know, Marquis Hannington. We talked about this numerous times.”

I place the tea down, “I’m fed up with the disrespect and simply just want my peace. At this point, I have nowhere to turn to, no one to depend on. So I’m done.”

The High Priest smiled, “May I have a word with our liege in private?”

Donna didn’t want to leave my side but agreed. The Marquis followed after her. Soon, it was just the High Priest and I. He walked up to the couch I was sitting on and gave me his hand. I took it. He helped me up and led us back to the window.

“What do you see, my liege?” he asked.

“People. Happy and healthy,” I answered.

“These people rely on us to keep them safe. It’s through our sacrifice that they’re able to live such fruitful lives.”

He let go of my hand, “It looks to me that you’ve sacrificed a lot already. So much that your soul has been bruised from the neglect of his majesty.”

I couldn’t say anything. It wasn’t I, per se, who was neglected by the king. It was the original Fantasia. I’m just trying to live my life the way I want to.

“If you would allow me, may I use my holy powers to place a blessing upon you?” High Priest Skylark asked.

I nodded. He lifted his hands and hovered them over my head. I closed my eyes as the light shined brightly and fizzled out. Thinking that the blessing was done, I opened my eyes.

Only to be met with a shocked High Priest.

“My liege, I didn’t know that you hold a large amount of holy power,” he whispered.

I blinked, “What do you mean?”

He cupped his chin and was deep in thought. This only made me anxious. Was it a bad thing that I had a large amount of holy power? Am I even supposed to have holy power to begin with?

“You’re scaring me, High Priest Skylark,” I admitted.

“My apologies,” he sighed. “It looks like I have no choice but to grant your request.”

“Pardon?”

By request, does he mean the divorce?

I gave him a confused look, “What made you change your mind?”

“Your spirit holds so much holy power, it rivals my own,” he told me. “Men who have that type of holy power become High Priests. Women, on the other hand, become Saintesses. The last time a Saintess appeared was over two hundred years ago.”

He gave me a small smile, “That means we’ll have a prophecy soon.”

“Saintesses receive prophecies?” I asked.

“Yes. Men don’t receive prophecies because of their history of greed, so Goddess Diana made sure that women received them instead. Specifically, her most trusted, the Saintess.”

The High Priest walked to his desk and pulled out a necklace from the drawer, and handed it to me. It was a bulky golden choker with a white diamond teardrop. It shined a bright light for three seconds and fizzled out.

“This choker was passed down from generations of Saintesses. It’s supposed to be a direct channel to the Goddess Diana,” he explained. “Wear this choker when you sleep tonight. If you speak to the goddess, let me know, and I’ll start the divorce process immediately.”

“Thank you,” I told him. “I hope to come back with good news.”

“I’ll be awaiting your return,” the High Priest bowed. “Now, this conversation of you being a possible Saintess is between us only. Marquis Hannington can’t know of this yet. Not even your maid.”

I nodded, “I understand. I won’t breathe a word unless you give me the go-ahead.”

“Good. Let’s leave this conversation here and pick it up tomorrow. We should let the others know that it’s okay to come back in.”