She remembered a book mentioning a kind of venomous snake—a species from the Territory of Aesop. It usually hid among rose bushes, showing only its eyes, and bared its fangs when people let their guard down. The strange thing was that its eyes were a beautiful red, giving it the impression of being "decorative" rather than "dangerous" among the roses, like roses and red wine.
It all meant that things that seemed to smile brightly and look dazzling were actually hideous, malicious creatures with venomous fangs.
Like now—she felt as though she was surrounded by such gazes.
"Fatenai Wisdom... has no talent for using mana."
In the family cathedral, Fatenai stood beneath a great arch decorated with a carved relief of the goddess, on the very central platform, a symbol of hope, adorned with exquisite carvings.
She listened to the white-robed priest standing before her deliver his solemn words. Though her expression didn't change, her body still grew colder, bit by bit, against her will.
After a moment, she lowered her head as if in regret. A few strands of Fatenai's neatly combed platinum-blond hair fell over part of her face. Her blue-violet eyes "casually" swept over those present.
The people dressed in formal attire, just like her, wore all sorts of expressions, but their gazes were exactly alike.
They all looked "mocking," "eager to watch the show," and "pitying."
Their gloomy expressions were surprising. In fact, Fatenai's own act of studying their reactions was even more unexpected—she'd looked at them first, acting nothing like the person at the center of the event.
Fatenai withdrew her gaze and, just as imperceptibly as that glance, quietly let out a breath. Only then did she begin to consider what to do next.
"This can't be right. Could there... have been some mistake?" In the silence, the voice rang especially loud through the cathedral. Fatenai was startled and, like everyone else, turned toward it. The woman hurried forward, her floor-length ruffled skirt whispering against the ground as she tried to restrain the shock on her face. "Lonai has performed better than anyone in the family's history."
"Mother..." Fatenai murmured, dazed.
Her mother, who had always been strict about etiquette, had spoken up loudly at last. Fatenai could imagine how shocked she must have been.
Fatenai Wisdom, eldest daughter of the Wisdom Family—born the only daughter of Duke Wisdom, head of the most powerful family in the Kingdom of Luther, her upbringing had been a mixture of disappointment and hope. In everything she did, she'd never shown the impatience and childishness so common in children.
At twelve, she was sometimes more impressive than many adults. Though her talent wasn't unprecedented, she'd achieved plenty of things worthy of praise. Many nobles believed that, despite her being a girl, her performance might sway Duke Wisdom, a man strict in his adherence to conservative noble traditions. Some even said she would become the Kingdom of Luther's first female heir.
Yet all those seemingly brilliant possibilities had shattered today, no matter what she'd done before.
Why? What had happened?
The first day of Empress Moon, 713. This was the day the Wisdom Family held an awakening ceremony for twelve-year-old Fatenai, who had met the requirements. Her ability to use mana would be measured.
"By Allentia, the Holy See has always followed the will of God. Perhaps Miss Wisdom has some other talent." The priest from the Holy See faced Lady Wisdom's challenge with an impassive expression and stated the facts in a cold tone.
It was true. Anyone could have different talents in different areas, and those with unusual abilities would always find a good path... Fatenai turned back and looked up at the priest, who towered over her even from below the platform. But for these nobles, being unable to use mana wasn't merely a question of talent.
This world was saturated with mana. Mana was power and wisdom, and above all, a symbol of authority and wealth.
A noble who could use mana could become head of the family even if he was good for nothing.
But if someone couldn't use mana, then...
"What's the difference between her and a commoner?"
"How pitiful. Even the youngest son of the useless Avril Family can control mana..."
"There's no way Fatenai will inherit anything now... I wonder which of her relatives will get it."
"Duke Wisdom can probably stay in power for decades."
"Having no heir is a serious problem..."
Fatenai frowned almost imperceptibly. The priest's words had stirred up more discussion, making the nobles' barely concealed malice all the more obvious.
She should have shone at this carefully planned awakening ceremony, perhaps even becoming the family heir and shaking up the Kingdom of Luther's traditions. She might even have become the subject of a song sung by bards. But now... without a doubt, the ceremony meant to flaunt the Wisdom Family's bright future had become a laughingstock among the nobility.
"You all..." Lady Wisdom was acutely sensitive to their malice, and she trembled all over. Fatenai turned again to look at her mother, whose health had always been poor, and felt inexplicably tired.
"Lady Bank, may I ask if you've found your daughter? I miss Miss Bank very much." Fatenai sighed and stepped down from the platform with unhurried composure. As she passed a noblewoman who had joined in the discussion, she spoke in a voice that was neither loud nor soft. Though it sounded a little childish, she was perfectly calm.
As if she weren't the one who'd just been sentenced to "death" for being unable to use mana.
Lady Bank's face went pale. The nobles who had been standing with her discreetly stepped back, then hid behind their ornate fans and exchanged glances, their eyes showing a hint of disdain for Lady Bank.
Miss Bank, a "foolish girl" who'd eloped with a commoner a few days ago, was just as much of a laughingstock as Fatenai's inability to use mana. It was a disgrace to the Bank Family—or perhaps to all nobles. What was more, the affair had nearly made the Bank Family lose face completely.
The murmurs around them died down at her words.
Fatenai had performed well in the family, but she rarely appeared in public. Many people knew her only by reputation. Now that they saw her, they noticed that she wore a black skirt, and her slightly pale face looked appropriately young for a twelve-year-old, but her bearing did not.
She stood before the nobles, her warning unmistakable: even if this result was disappointing, the Wisdom Family remained beyond reproach. The nobles all withdrew some of their strange looks, and a few even found themselves thinking of her differently.
"Mother, I'll do my best." Seeing that nobody else was speaking, Fatenai went to her mother and held out a hand. Lady Wisdom still seemed dazed, but trusting her daughter, she obediently let Fatenai support her as they walked forward.
Lady Wisdom was very beautiful. Fatenai had inherited her platinum-blond hair and somewhat pale complexion. Though she was no longer young, she still looked like a girl whenever she dressed up.
Sometimes Fatenai felt as if she and her mother had switched roles.
"Miss is tired. His Grace would like Miss and Lady Wisdom to return to their rooms and rest for a while. Everyone else, please continue enjoying the celebration hosted by the Wisdom Family." A voice came from the second-floor landing, interrupting what was about to happen. The dukes and other important figures were all upstairs.
Fatenai looked up at the banners hanging there. A black bird: the Wisdom Family's crest.
They were up there, watching everything unfold, then clumsily stepping in to put a stop to it all. And she could only return and wait for her fate?
Fatenai said nothing. With the maid who had hurried over, she helped Lady Wisdom out of the cathedral. They passed through tier after tier of solemn, elaborate ribbed vaulting. Only after pushing open the cathedral's heavy wooden doors and seeing the blue sky and white clouds outside did Fatenai let out a breath. The fresh air she'd found impossible to get used to for all twelve years of her life gave her a sense of relief for the first time.
But it lasted only an instant.
"Madam?"
"Mother!"
Fatenai was gazing at the light outside, her eyes dazzled by it, when she felt someone beside her collapse. A maid cried out. Fatenai came to her senses and, stunned, watched the woman who had always been in poor health faint.
==========================
"Madam needs to rest for a while. Miss, please go back and rest, too." Fatenai stood by the door until the doctor came out. His words left no room for argument.
Fatenai sighed and glanced through the crack at the frail figure with closed eyes. Then she could only turn and head to her room.
Her mother had spent years trembling with anxiety after giving birth to her. The possibility that she might faint now wasn't surprising. But even though Fatenai felt guilty, she couldn't take proper care of her at the moment. Fatenai was doubtful—or perhaps she simply couldn't accept it.
So the importance of this ceremony really was beyond her ability to challenge?
And then there was...
She opened the door to her room and closed it behind her. The movements seemed to drain all her strength. Fatenai leaned against the door and lowered her head, lost in thought. She was alone in the quiet sitting room, shrouded in shadow. The petite girl looked so fragile and helpless that she finally seemed her age.
"Damn it!" But only a moment later, the fragile girl abruptly raised her head and slammed a fist against the door.
No one had ever seen the proud, aloof Miss Wisdom looking so vulnerable and furious.
"Miss Fatenai, is something troubling you?" A well-dressed young woman's voice reached Fatenai's ears. Fatenai raised her head and looked at her. The woman's calm composure was nothing like that of a young girl; there was a resolute look in her eyes, as if she were ready to face death at any moment.
Fatenai was startled at first, then remembered who she was. The interruption cut through her tangled thoughts. She ruefully ran a hand through her hair, as though she'd only just remembered this person's existence. "I overlooked you. It's nothing... Your Majesty."
The maid's expression didn't change when Fatenai called her Your Majesty. But if one looked closely, the instant she heard the title, a trace of self-mockery had crossed her eyes. "I don't know what you're worried about, but I think you're in a very bad situation. Did your ceremony fail?"
"I haven't been able to help you at all. While I'm still here, please tell me what's wrong."
"No... Thank you, but I think I..." Fatenai refused, then went to the chest beside the woman and took out a thick book.
It was a basic guide for nobles, covering the awakening ceremony. It had been written by the Holy See.
Nobles worshiped Allentia and regarded mana as a gift from her. The noble and devout were granted the ability to use mana, while the mediocre and incompetent could not. The awakening ceremony determined a noble's future, and Fatenai's future was now bleak beyond words. Thinking of this, she couldn't help tossing the book back into the chest.
The image of her mother collapsed to the ground flashed through Fatenai's mind, and she couldn't help feeling a headache coming on. It seemed that all her efforts over the years had been useless; nothing mattered as much as this so-called awakening ceremony. Her head pounding, she couldn't help saying, "Your Majesty."
"Call me Jane. Jane Grey." Jane looked at her. "I've read this book, though I'm afraid I didn't understand all of it. If you're going to fight the Holy See, I think I have some experience."
Yes, your experience got you sent to the chopping block... Fatenai couldn't help feeling helpless. She turned to the woman beside her and asked, "Do you remember what it felt like when you were on the chopping block?"
Jane paused, then answered calmly, "I don't remember. I was praying to the Lord at the time, and had no attention to spare for anything else."
Great. She really didn't need the help of a fanatic at all...
But perhaps Jane didn't know what to do either. Fatenai suddenly felt completely lost, with no idea what she should do now.
"Lonai..." Fatenai rose and headed outside, probably to get some fresh air. Jane seemed to remember something and called her by her nickname. "You and I are very alike, but you don't trust me. Still, I hope that once I've been summoned, I can be of some use."
"Going back quietly might be quite useful." Fatenai had no time to soothe anyone else's feelings, especially those of a "summoned creature." Without looking back, she pulled the door open.
"You have astonishing talent. But if your talent can't be used for your family, then you can only become a tool." Jane Grey's voice came through the faint creak of the opening door, cold as ice. "For a woman, the easiest way to become a tool is through marriage."
Fatenai paused. When she turned around, Jane had vanished into thin air without warning.
One moment, she'd been flesh and blood. The next, she'd become air.
Had the summoning time... run out?
"Miss, His Grace would like you to come to the sitting room." Just then, the maid's voice rang out. Fatenai gave a slight start and turned around.
"What is it about?" A bad feeling rose in her heart. She stared into the maid's eyes, her blue-violet gaze radiating an undeniable authority.
"It seems to be about a marriage with the Arrenieu Family..." The words slipped out of the maid's mouth, and for a moment she seemed dazed.
First her awakening ceremony had failed, and now they were already hurrying to wring out the rest of her worth? Fatenai furrowed her brow, raised her chin slightly, and strode outside, a suspected curse escaping her lips.
"Damn this other world."
Before you continue