"Are you feeling more comfortable now, Your Highness?"

The High Priest smiled blandly at the princess from across her ornate desk. Unlike Kielan's cramped office, the High Priest's chambers were opulent and spacious, with sparkling marble walls and plush crimson rugs. I hated it.

Princess Rhiannon smiled and then looked at me pointedly. "Perhaps a fire could help improve the atmosphere somewhat?"

She was sitting beside me in the two main chairs that faced the High Priest's seat. Kielan stood at the High Priests left, and Captain Oesten stood behind us. Originally Kielan had tried to usher Captain Oesten into one of the seats, but both the captain and the princess had smoothly pushed him aside and given me the seat. I honestly wasn't quite sure how I'd ended up sitting; they had been completely coordinated in their movements.

"Indeed. Priest Kielan." The High Priest nodded at him without turning her head. Apparently this discussion was sensitive enough that she'd rather have a high–ranking priest set up a fire than call in an attendant. Why then exactly they had been shouting outside where almost anyone could eavesdrop as I had was a mystery to me. I could only guess that the princess had somehow provoked them intentionally. That was no small feat considering the High Priest's stoicism, but perhaps Kielan had risen to the bait first.

Kielan shot me a sharp look, interrupting my racing thoughts, and I shifted slightly in my seat. It was very clear to me that I had made some irreversible choices today. And now I found myself in my nightclothes with the Captain of the Second Order's coat across my shoulders and no shoes – Emilia still hadn't appeared even after Kielan supposedly summoned her – sitting in front of the High Priest. I had never even been allowed to sit in her presence before, much less in a seat of honor without the appropriate attire. The feeling was, to put it mildly, strange. Not to mention, I was finally meeting the first princess. She looked a lot like her mother, the late Empress, with an elegant profile, high cheekbones, and dark brown skin, but like all the imperial children, she had the Emperor's deep emerald eyes.

Silence stretched on for what felt like an age. I kept my eyes on the tapestry on the wall behind the High Priest with my hands clenched in my lap. They were very sweaty by the time someone finally spoke.

"Your Highness. There is no way the Saintess can be absent from the Grand Temple. The entire structure of the Empire's faith is at stake here."

The High Priest spoke calmly, her back ramrod straight in her thronelike chair.

"Yes, the stakes are high – on that, I agree with you wholeheartedly. But you must realize that continuing with the status quo will not protect this Empire. Incursions are becoming more frequent and more extreme. The Empire's defenders are more dependent on the wisdom of Lumina than ever before. By following what scripture demands, the Saintess will be better able to serve the people and Lumina's will."

Goddess, I wished that someone would just restate exactly it was that the scripture apparently demanded for my benefit. Were they asking me to move to a more remote temple? Travel city to city? I would prefer both to staying where I was, but it was not easy for me to chime in without knowing what old writings they were debating. Apparently the priests who had educated me had left a great deal out on purpose.

"Your concern for the people's safety is admirable, and fitting for an Imperial family member. But I would go so far as to say your actions here are misguided. The Emperor supports the Grand Temple's decisions fully now as he always has."

I looked at Princess Rhiannon then, and saw her eyes tighten. "This is not a matter of opinion, High Priest Rhea. The texts are clear. Anyone who is given access to them can see as much."

Oof. This was definitely a political fight then, likely between the first princess and the second prince, and maybe even with the Emperor taking sides already. The Grand Temple's leadership was involved in the larger power struggle, and I was a pawn. Fair enough. I would just have to use what I knew to get what I wanted: survival, freedom, and ideally the humiliation of Kielan and the priests like him. I was useless as a Saintess, but if I could leverage that ough to leave and somehow find the true Saintess in a way that undermined the temple, maybe I even could live my own life after everything was over.

That is, if I made it out of the temple in one piece after everything I had done today.

Captain Oesten spoke up then from where he stood behind me, startling me. His voice brought back hazy, disjointed memories from the Ceremony. I had not gotten a good look at him then – it was not until I fell out of the shrubbery that I had been able to see what he actually looked like. His hair and eyes were pitch–black, their deep color making the sharp planes of his face all the more striking. The more time I spent near him, the stronger the memory of his face was from when I was lying on the floor of the Spring of Blessings as I struggled to breath and speak. I buried the thoughts. There was no need for me to think too hard about that experience.

"Following the guidance from the Proclamations already saved countless lives by virtue of the Saintess's prophecy at the last Ceremony. If your concern is outside pressure preventing the temple from acting in accordance with true faith, then you need not worry. We have ample justification. You could even say we have the will of Lumina on our side."

It was incredible, really, how these two people were able to deliver such irony and mockery with completely straight faces and even tones. Princess Rhiannon especially managed to do all this while looking like the epitome of grace and dignity. Captain Oesten seemed more like an angry statue, stern but unshakable.

"There is no way we can allow –"

I cut Kielan off. It was now or never.

"If it is Lumina's will, we should consult her directly. The people should know. There should be a Ceremony, with witnesses. And Lumina's will can be shared alongside the original words from the Proclamations."

I was not as eloquent as all the political monsters gathered here, but my point was made effectively enough. Kielan snapped his mouth shut, his face going white with rage. The High Priest looked at me slowly, her expression unfathomable. I held back a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold.

"Excellent –" And now it was Captain Oesten who cut the princess off. "That should not be necessary. The words of the Proclamations alone will suffice."

I looked back at him, unable to hide my incredulousness. I was handing them an ironclad way to get what they wanted on a silver platter – without being able to negotiate on my own behalf or even fully knowing what it was they wanted, by the way – and he was shooting it down? I was used to being treated as something to be seen and not heard, but getting this treatment from him surprisingly hurt. It seemed as though I'd managed to build up expectations of him after just a few moments of interaction. I swallowed the feeling, knowing it was foolish.

"There is no reason to limit the people's connection to the Goddess. Isn't that why you've come here?"

"Yes, it is. Thank you, Saintess." Princess Rhiannon spoke firmly, shooting the captain a brief questioning glance before refocusing on the High Priest. "We should proceed as soon as possible. There was another unpredicted incursion just days ago."

The High Priest smiled eerily. I could not even guess how angry she must be. "Indeed. Kielan. Prepare for a Ceremony to be held a week's time –

I cut her off. I was all in on the self–destruction, apparently, but as unwise and unheard of as disrespecting the High Priest was, there was no way I could last a week before the Ceremony under their complete control.

"Now. We should do it now. I am ready."

"Saintess, consider your health." Kielan spoke through gritted teeth. I wanted to laugh. The bigger danger to my health was obviously him and not the Holy Water.

"Duty comes first, as you taught me, Priest Kielan."

There was a knock at the door, and I heard Emilia announce herself. It seemed as though she had finally showed up with my slippers and clothes. Perfect timing.

The High Priest looked at me coldly, then smiled again. I hated those smiles. "Of course. The faith and dutifulness of the Saintess has no match in the Empire. I presume you mean to act as Imperial Representative, Your Highness?"

Princess Rhiannon nodded gravely. "Yes, I will."

"I'll attend as well." Captain Oesten sounded angrier than he had throughout this entire debate, though I still had no idea why. Was going along with a plan of someone from the temple so abhorrent to him?

Priest Kielan scoffed outright, at the end of his rope. "There is only justification for one representative, Captain. Your presence is not needed."

The captain and the princess had a weird little staring contest then. It only last a few instants, but after it was over, Princess Rhiannon sighed. "There is no justification to deny him entry either, Priest Kielan. Given the momentous nature of this decision, his presence is appropriate. And of course, as a royal, I need a guard to accompany me, even for the Ceremony. You cannot deny he is qualified both as an imperial representative and a bodyguard."

Was he, now? That meant he was related to the royal family somehow, and not distantly. I filed that away for later. Kielan seemed dubious, his lips twisting derisively as if to argue, but before he could, the High Priest nodded again, the picture of magnanimity.

"Of course, Your Highness. Your safety is of utmost importance."

My head spinning, I let myself be led out of the chambers by Emilia. I needed to gather myself. I had no idea if I would actually get a vision that would confirm the princess's plan was 'divine will', but if I really had to, I would lie. Or at least that's what I told myself as I walked out, my back aching under the weight of Kielan's furious gaze.