"What's this?"

"Come on, let's see."

The maid reached out and swept down Violet's bangs that covered her forehead. Then she held her breath as she looked at herself in front of the mirror. She knew this. It was a large emblem engraved on the clothes worn by the priests. But why was the pattern engraved on her forehead? A blue pattern like a dot and three petals felt frightening. She raised her hand and tried to erase the unfamiliar mark. But even if she rubbed it, only her forehead turned red, and it was not erased.

"This is a stigma."

Violet saw the mark on her forehead. She couldn't believe it. How can she be chosen by God, whom she thought that God would have abandoned her? She opened her eyes wide and looked in the mirror for a long time. A changed face, a mark engraved on her forehead. She suddenly burst into tears. The maid next to her comforted her by hugging her sobbing. Then the door opened.

"Finn! Come on, change her clothes!"

"Huh?"

"His Majesty's order is for her to come to the palace!"

"Oh my God, now you're coughing!"

"I can't help it, Saintess, excuse me!"

Before Violet could stop crying, her clothes were forcibly removed. She struggled to hold back her tears when she heard the grumpy maid's voice. Suddenly, her clothes were changed, and her hair was tied up. Violet was still crying.

"Oh dear, don't cry, you're going to see His Majesty."

"Averine, you're talking too much."

"I'm afraid, she might not be a child from the Flower Street. If she cries without understanding the situation right now, we are the ones who get trouble."

Averine was annoyed. Finn didn't even stop her from being annoyed, and she struggles to appease the crying Violet.

"Don't cry, Saintess."

A maid named Finn stroked her hair. Looking back with her crying face, she resembled her mother again. Finn hugged her head as if she knew the fear in her eyes.

"It's okay, everything will be fine because you are the noblest person in this country."

Riding in the carriage and holding Finn's hand tightly, Violet barely stopped her tears. It was her first time riding a carriage and it was very scary. A scary uncle escorted her by her side, and as soon as she saw the armor, the memory of Rose and Lina came to mind and she almost fell asleep. Now she could not understand the circumstances around her. Only she was standing there, and only her surroundings were busy moving. It was like standing on a stone in the middle of a rapid. She felt a dizzy feeling as if she was going to be swept away by the current if she took even a single step. In a space called a carriage, she realized that the clothes she was wearing were quite uncomfortable and flimsy.

"Saintess, get off."

A man in a black robe from the palace guided her. The clothes embroidered with gold thread shone brightly even when she opened her eyes and looked at it, so she almost tripped over the long hem of her clothes while trying to lower her head without even seeing the man.

"Have a good day, Saintess."

Violet looked back. Finn was waving her hand. Maybe Finn couldn't get into this place. Violet trembled, holding back her tears, and started walking away. The fear that might kill her if she delayed moved her. Fearing that she might make eye contact with someone else, she bowed her head and looked only at the stone floor. Nevertheless, the delicately carved wolf pattern on the marble on the floor was all the more intimidating as if it were criticizing her.

"It is here."

The man said. Beyond the door, there was an unknown roar.

"How can you do that, Your Majesty!"

"Marquis Ermengart, please speak!"

"This is ridiculous. The Saintess won't stand still!"

She didn't know what they were talking about.

"The Saintess has come."

It was quiet for a moment at the man's words. The sound that had disappeared so quickly made her cringe again. The man dragged her in by force. She didn't know where she was headed now, but the atmosphere here was different. she trembled.

"Huh."

A man sighed as if he was frustrated. There was the sound of a click on the tongue, as if sympathizing to the sigh. Uh, what should I do? She raised her head. A lot of people were looking at her. Tears were about to fall from her eyes.

"Kneel down, in front of Your Majesty."

As the man who had brought her here whispered, the high priest shouted.

"How can the Saintess kneel before the King!"

But as soon as she heard the sound, she was frightened and fell to her knees. It was before the King. The highest person in the world stood in front of her. Everyone said that she was the Saintess, but if that was wrong, it wouldn't be enough by just killing her. Or she might be beaten to the death. They would beat her up even worse than Grandma Goth. In the still unrealistic reality, only fear approached clearly. Her lips trembled.

"Raise your head."

Violet raised her head with tearful eyes. A red carpet was visible, and a chair and two legs were visible on the podium. Red velvet was hung long. Above the delicately crafted armrests were seen the two hands of a man with a ring. His hand snapped, and she bowed her head again.

"Raise your head, Saintess."

With that cold voice, Violet lifted her head, which was keep bowing down. A man with a rough appearance wearing a gold crown was looking at her. He was a man wearing a gold crown decorated with jewels. He was looking at her with bright yellow gold eyes, and it looked like a beast's eyes, so she wanted to lower her head, but she couldn't because she was afraid the King would be angry.

"Get up."

The man next to her raised her up. The King, who came down from the podium, did not take his eyes off her. This golden crowned middle-aged man looked at the frail, frightened girl coldly. She knew the King didn't like her.

"If your opinions are so different, why not ask her to make her own choices?"

The King raised his hand and set Violet up. Violet froze and almost forgot how to breathe. It was because all the men sitting were looking at her.

"Get up, Marquis."

At that word, a large man stood up and knelt before them.

"I, Ermengart, I see the God's representative, the Saintess."

Violet trembled and looked at the man, who knelt in front of her. Soon after, the priests in white clad scrambled to kneel before her. They looked up and looked at her even though they were not told to raise their head.

"Saintess, my God, my lord!"

Seeing the face of the priest, Violet shuddered back. It was because there was a priest who was famous for tormenting Lydia. But he was calling her in a sweet voice, as if he hadn't recognized her, as if he had become the brightest sun in the world. She couldn't quite understand the situation as that arrogant, bad priest fell on his knees to her.

"Come on, Saintess. Choose where you will be."

The King's voice rang softly.

"Will you become the adopted daughter of the Marquis of Ermengard, or will you enter the temple and be embraced by the God?"

"Of course, the Saintess is a representative of God. She must be in the temple!"

The high priest said without fear.

"It's insolent, is the priest interrupting my words now!"

The high priest bowed his head at that cold glance.

"Answer, no one can stop your choice. Do you want to return to the marquis family and stay as an adopted daughter, or enter the temple where you are supposed to be?"

In one day, it was not enough to be the Saintess, and Violet has to decide where to live. Living in that man's house, or being with those priests. If she has to choose between the two, isn't the answer too obvious?

But Violet could not easily answer because she knew it would make a big difference in her life, but she had to choose. The new stepfather next to her looked at her eagerly. If there was one thing for sure, at least she hated being with that priest. So, she pointed her finger at the man kneeling in front of her. She decided to enter the family of the marquis as an adopted daughter.