I didn’t particularly want to be on bad terms with the temple or the High Priest.

After all, it was the place where Silian and Pepe had taken refuge.

But they ignored Teddy. Teddy, who had grown up differently from ordinary royal family members.

Royal family members born with noble blood, whose lives are guaranteed.

Even Ian, though not the crown prince, lived comfortably with support for everything he wanted.

As long as he doesn’t commit treason, he will continue to live such a life until the day he dies.

Because he’s royalty

Because of being royalty.

But not Teddy. Though born a royal who was guaranteed such a life just by being born, he received nothing.

Rather, because he was royalty, he had to deny himself. Living like that, to think they would ignore someone just by appearance.

‘I don’t like those temple folks from the start.’

The High Priest was the same. Though he treated me well, he was a person who changed too drastically.

Just moments ago, he had treated Sesenia with utmost respect.

But it was ridiculous how he was easily swayed by Rey’s words and doubted himself.

Though it stemmed from their mutual interests, Sesenia occasionally felt things she didn’t like.

Even trying to think positively, the chronic problems of the temple from the past were visible. They were stubborn.

And they created their own good and evil, excessively controlling it.

A strength and a weakness. Seeing that now before her, Sesenia’s expression worsened even more.

“I will verify.”

At that moment. The High Priest, observing the situation, extended his hand towards Teddy.

“I will do it.”

Perhaps instinctively sensing that Teddy was royalty, the High Priest brought his hand forward more politely than before.

The ring on the High Priest’s right second finger.

It was a ring with a colorless jewel, which was that very ring for confirming royal status.

The verification wasn’t a difficult process. Confirming royalty was one of the High Priest’s hereditary duties.

The royal palace was full of people claiming to be royalty.

Of course, their hair and eye colors were somewhat amateurish compared to Tedel’s, but still, annoyingly many people came to the palace asking to prove their identity.

At that time, the royal family had no means to verify it.

So, it’s said that if someone had golden hair and eyes to look at, they were recognized as royalty and received special treatment.

Along with the empire’s long history, their impersonation was also together.

So many royals created that way. Finally, thinking this wouldn’t do, they created a magic tool.

It’s said that was when those claiming to be royalty exceeded fifty people.

‘An item created with cooperation from three places.’

A ring made with the help of the Magic Tower and the temple. It was an item that only reacted to royal blood.

The royal family said they would keep it in the palace, but the temple refused, saying that those impersonating royalty might switch it with something else.

The Magic Tower refused, not wanting to get involved in troublesome matters, so in the end, that item ended up in the hands of the temple, specifically the High Priest.

Eventually, with that created ring, all those claiming to be royalty at the time were judged to be false, it’s said.

Also, after testing all the people recognized as royalty in the past and their descendants, it was confirmed that none of them were genuine, they say.

‘They say a bloodbath ensued then.’

It was also then that they strictly banned magically changing hair color.

There were people who, wanting to become royalty to receive much support and have a secure future, paid large sums to magicians to change their hair color.

Because of that incident, laws were enacted, and the Magic Tower stripped those who did such things of all rights as magicians and even expelled them from the tower.

And now.

The color of the High Priest’s ring changed. From the jewel that had nothing, a brilliant golden light leaked out.

The ring said to be made with the blood of a past emperor. And that blood was strongly drawn to his blood, emitting a brilliantly brilliant light.

“Ah……”

An undeniable golden light.

Though I knew well that the ring would react since Teddy had already been recognized as royalty and entered the palace before, seeing the ring react for the first time, even I was a bit surprised.

So brilliant. So certain.

“This… This must be some error… Could the ring have been switched or something? There’s no way such a person could be royalty. Looking at the changed hair color, it seems related to the Magic Tower, so you’d better look into that. Or could there be a magician hiding nearby making it like this at the right moment?”

“It seems Priest Rey doesn’t want the one I brought to be royalty no matter what? All that I do is wrong, and there are problems with what I do. Is that how it should appear? Is that how you need to show your loyalty to the High Priest, that you’re right? Is that why you’re trying to slander me like a son of a bitch no matter what?”

Seeing his behavior still denying it despite such perfect evidence of royalty, harsh words finally flowed from Sesenia’s mouth.

“S-Son of a bitch? How can you say such harsh words……”

“That’s why I’m telling you to do it moderately. Earlier, okay, you might not have believed. But now clear evidence has come out. In that situation, you ignored Tedel again.”

“That’s! It just seemed impossible for a royal to appear like this… If he were truly royalty, he would have been sent to the royal palace as soon as he was born. Of course! That’s why it can’t help but raise suspicion.”

“Everyone has different circumstances, are you treating someone as a liar just because they weren’t sent to the royal palace right after birth? Moreover, Priest Rey, you’ve not only insulted Tedel and me but also insulted the High Priest.”

At Sesenia’s confident words, he shook his head.

“What did I…!”

“You said there seems to be some error, right? But that ring has never shown an error. You asked if the ring was switched, but that ring is one the High Priest must keep for life. If it was switched, are you saying the High Priest lost the ring?”

“That’s……”

“Also! The High Priest said this is a place no one can enter, but you say a magician is hiding. Are you saying the High Priest you follow lied? Why don’t you realize that everything you say is insulting to the High Priest you serve?”

Only then did the High Priest seem to come to his senses, looking at Rey and then bowing his head to Tedel.

“I behold the empire’s royalty.”

What more could be added now?

“H-High Priest… Bowing your head to such a person……”

“Be quiet. Everything Lady Sesenia said is correct. Not one thing is wrong. I’ve never lost the ring, nor has this ring ever been used incorrectly.”

“……”

“Bow your head. He is royalty.”

The High Priest and the people of the temple are ultimately citizens of the empire.

Unlike the Magic Tower with its strong independent tendencies. Therefore, they had a duty to be loyal to the empire’s royalty.

Whether it was the emperor, crown prince, or royalty, it was natural to show respect to the royalty who were said to have inherited the power of the gods.

“……”

“Please apologize.”

That’s when it happened. Teddy, who had been just watching us all along, opened his mouth.

“Ah… I’m sorry. The priest I have with me has shown great disrespect. I apologize. Rey, apologize.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No.”

Wondering what more apology he wanted, the High Priest slightly raised his head.

“It’s not just that priest who showed disrespect, is it? I think you, the High Priest, have shown enough disrespect as well.”

“Ah… That… That is…. I’m sorry.”

It seemed there were no words he could say. What stood before him was royalty.

Even if not officially known to the royal family, he was royalty. Royalty said to be directly chosen by the gods.

And they were those who served that god.

No matter what, even as the High Priest, he couldn’t exist above royalty.

The High Priest bowed his head with an expressionless face.

“For causing various troubles… I truly apologize. I believe you must have felt bad due to our excessive actions. I apologize.”

But Teddy shook his head.

“No. I didn’t mean for you to apologize to me.”

“Pardon?”

“Apologize to my mast… no, to Sesenia Bestel. You have shown enough disrespect to her.”

“What do you mean……”

“Sesenia Bestel is not someone to be treated like that by you. She is my savior who rescued me, the only person who brought me here. You doubted such a person and rebuked her. So apologize properly.”

At first it was a request, but this time it was an order.

“I was the one who did wrong, so only I need to apologize. I’m sorry, Lady Sesenia.”

But Teddy was firm.

“No. Both of you do it. In the end, it’s the High Priest who failed to stop the priest. I don’t mind whatever is said about me. But I can’t let it slide how you spoke about my benefactor, my savior.”

Only then did the High Priest bow his head as well.

The atmosphere became more subdued than before. At Teddy’s unexpected words, Sesenia just opened her eyes wide, but Teddy smiled at her. Like a cat bringing a bird to its owner and asking for praise.

At that sight, Sesenia couldn’t help but smile.

“This is enough. Teddy. Anyway, you’ve confirmed it, right? High Priest. Priest Rey.”