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Chapter 7
Pretending not to notice, Helicia calmly greeted Arpessian with a glance, then quickly scanned her surroundings.
Among the many people present, one individual stood out above the rest.
“Duke Repon, it has been difficult to see you lately.”
“It has been hard to find the time.”
Wearing a white uniform, the man had a sturdy build and a rigid, upright appearance that made him particularly noticeable in the central hall.
He stood a head taller than most, with silver hair, red eyes, and a cold yet refined face.
Helicia’s shoulders straightened with anticipation.
‘Found him!’
The person she had been looking for today—the one she intended to introduce to Arpessian—was Duke Repon, the head of the family that would later lead the rebellion.
The moment she saw him, Helicia moved without hesitation.
Walking confidently up to him, she stopped in front of him. Duke Repon’s gaze briefly turned toward her.
He was so tall that Helicia barely reached the length of his legs.
So she lifted her chin as high as she could.
For a moment, his eyes seemed to assess whether such a tiny child had truly come to speak to him.
Then, realizing her height, Duke Repon slightly bent down and greeted her.
“I am Rodel Repon of the Estar Empire. It is an honor to meet you, Saintess.”
Though formal, his greeting was respectful.
There were not many who would bow so properly to someone as young as her.
His behavior drew the attention of the surrounding nobles.
“…I hear this Saintess is of common birth.”
“They say she doesn’t even know her parents. I wonder if her divine power was properly verified.”
“It’s true the vacancy has lasted quite a while.”
“She doesn’t even look old enough for a debut. Does she even know proper etiquette…?”
“Most of the donors are nobles. At the very least, she should understand basic protocol if she wants to win them back.”
Most were watching closely to see how she would respond.
Given the long vacancy, it was no surprise they were suspicious of an orphan suddenly being declared the Saintess.
It was a clear sign of how far the temple’s authority had fallen.
But even a dog learns to read scripture after three years in the temple.
And for a Saintess doing this for the eighteenth time, it was second nature.
Amid the prickling stares, Helicia gracefully bent her knees and replied,
“Thank you for coming such a long way. I’m Helicia.”
With one hand lightly placed near her chest, her manners were flawless for her age.
The murmuring nobles awkwardly cleared their throats.
Though their doubt remained, they chose not to voice it further.
Amid the unsettled atmosphere, Duke Repon spoke bluntly,
“You need not listen to the words of those whose only achievement in life is their age.”
Helicia, who had been smiling, paused for a moment.
Did he just openly insult them?
Well, it suited someone who would one day rebel against a tyrant.
Some nobles openly showed displeasure at his words.
Helicia smiled brightly and responded,
“It’s alright. I was worried it might be difficult to talk to the guests since I’m so young.”
“That would not be the case.”
“But after meeting you, Duke, I think I worried for nothing. I’m happy to have met such a kind person.”
She squeezed out all the charm an eight-year-old could muster.
Clasping her hands together, she beamed at him.
But his reply was simple.
“Thank you for your kind words.”
With that, he fell silent.
Helicia blinked up at him expectantly.
‘That’s it? You’re not going to introduce anyone?’
Surely there was someone—his son, perhaps, or a child nearby, or his family…
After a brief stare, Duke Repon asked,
“…Do you have more to say?”
“Did you come alone?”
Only then did he seem to realize.
“Ah, my child, who is around your age, is also present. Dellas.”
His already cold eyes turned even colder.
At his strict tone, a small boy stepped out from a group of adults nearby.
Approaching politely, the boy bowed his head.
“I greet the one blessed by the divine.”
Despite his youthful voice, he closely resembled Duke Repon—silver hair, red eyes.
Though he tried to remain expressionless, his pale cheeks carried a faint pink hue.
Even in the white temple, he stood out like a desert fox.
This was Dellas Repon—the future core of the rebellion.
“Nice to meet you! I’m Helicia!”
She spoke brightly.
“Wow, Young Duke, you really look just like Duke Repon!”
“R-really…?”
The moment she said that, Dellas’s composure shattered.
A flicker of joy and relief appeared—
“Dellas.”
At his father’s stern call—
“Thank you, Saintess.”
In an instant, he straightened himself and returned to his composed demeanor.
The change was so abrupt it was almost jarring.
Duke Repon had always raised Dellas strictly, treating him as a perfect successor.
Dellas admired him deeply and wanted to follow in his footsteps.
But because Duke Repon would die early, Dellas would never receive his father’s full acknowledgment.
Though he would later lead the rebellion, he also had a tendency to push himself too harshly.
‘I always brushed it off before…’
But seeing a ten-year-old act so mature always felt strange.
Still, Helicia couldn’t entirely blame Duke Repon.
With Emperor Pero already gaining a reputation as a tyrant, many in the hall looked at Duke Repon with suspicion.
Any flaw would be seized upon.
Meanwhile, Dellas showed great interest in Helicia and Lato.
Though he didn’t approach, his glances were obvious.
Helicia pulled Lato forward and introduced him.
“This is Lato, my escort knight.”
Despite the sudden introduction, Dellas bowed calmly.
“Dellas Repon.”
“Lato Sevant, a trainee holy knight temporarily assigned to protect the Saintess.”
Watching them exchange greetings, Helicia continued,
“Oh, and there’s one more person.”
The real purpose of today.
Smiling brightly, she said,
“Do you know His Highness Arpessian Estar?”
“Ah, that…”
Dellas’s expression turned troubled.
He glanced at Duke Repon.
Pretending not to notice, Helicia added,
“He’s also from the Estar Empire, and he’s about the same age.”
“Ah, I know of him. Though I’ve never met him personally.”
Most nobles entered high society at fourteen.
Though Dellas debuted early, Arpessian rarely showed himself even after that age.
He only appeared publicly for the first time at sixteen—quite late.
Later, rumors even spread that he had died, and he would only appear briefly once a year as if to prove he was alive.
If he were easy to meet, they wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to bring him to the coronation.
So everything Dellas knew came from others.
‘Children are influenced by their parents… prejudice is inevitable.’
But the Arpessian Helicia had met was just a normal twelve-year-old—startled and shaken by an attack.
He had even tried to protect her from assassins.
At the very least, he wasn’t inherently evil.
So she needed to break the prejudice both Dellas and Duke Repon held.
There was still no real sign of tyranny yet.
Tilting her head, Helicia asked gently,
“…Is that not allowed?”
Perhaps because he usually interacted with older people, Dellas seemed unsure how to deal with someone his own age.
Flustered, he quickly replied,
“N-no, it’s allowed! That’s fine!”
