Sure enough, the fire that had briefly weakened now raged more fiercely. As the blaze grew, the king, who had seemed relaxed, showed signs of anxiety.

Aris’s face turned pale.

Sensing the situation was bad, the nobles started murmuring.

“Shouldn’t we evacuate instead of staying here?”

“If Darius Palace collapses, this place will be in danger too!”

They seemed ready to move immediately, but such a large group of nobles could cause major chaos.

That’s when a person approached Aris.

My eyes widened.

‘The veiled maid?’

The same maid who had behaved suspiciously earlier.

‘What is she doing?’

She raised her hands to the sky, like Aris, drawing everyone’s attention.

A clear, ringing voice.

A Wueonmun.

“Ah?”

I involuntarily stretched out my hand.

Thud, thud!

Raindrops quickly filled my palm.

‘The raindrops got bigger.’

Thicker than the light rain, noticeably denser.

‘Not the existing rain, but a new one.’

I looked up at the sky, squinting against the falling rain.

‘New raindrops.’

Astonished gasps erupted.

“A priestess!”

Whispers followed.

“But she’s a maid, right? A priestess as a maid?”

“Why is she dressed like that?”

‘Ah, so she’s the priestess who extinguished the fire.’

Not Aris, but the veiled maid.

Despite her lack of struggle, she brought down thicker rain than Aris.

Comparing their abilities as priestesses, it was a clear victory for the veiled maid.

Soon, the scent of fresh rain filled the air.

“Was there such a priestess in the kingdom?”

“If she can bring such rain, she must be quite a renowned priestess, but we can’t recognize her face because of the veil.”

As the attention shifted to the new priestess, Aris bit her lip.

Aris raised her hands higher, and her rain also grew thicker.

The rain from both enveloped the area, quickly diminishing the threatening flames.

As the fire was controlled, the people quieted down.

Ssshh…

Only the sound of rain remained.
Even though water is abundant in the kingdom, the sight of a priestess using her powers is always awe-inspiring.

The ability of a human to control nature, an ability not of this world.

Could the kingdom’s disdain for the powerful Dobelakan Empire as barbarians be solely due to its advanced civilization? Perhaps not, as the pride of having divine powers also can’t be ignored.

Everyone in the kingdom knew that priestesses were chosen individuals, loved by the gods.

‘Impressive. Despite knowing what kind of person Aris is, her powers are still mystical.’

I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.

I stared intently at the veiled maid.

Like Aris, she was a chosen one, loved by the gods.

‘Me, with powers like theirs?’

I looked at my hands, ordinary and rough with calluses and scars.

‘Me?’

Leo had said so, but I had no confidence.

‘Leo, is what you said about me having the potential still valid?’

Of course, there was no answer; Leo was gone.

I clenched my fists.

That’s when it happened.

The sleeve slid down the arm of the veiled maid raised towards the sky, revealing her elbow, glowing bluish in the misty vapor from the rain.

‘What’s that?’

On closer inspection, it was a water droplet shape.

‘A tattoo?’

The tattoo was an unfamiliar yet familiar blue, enchantingly radiant. No jewel I had seen could outshine its luminance.

“Prince, what does that look like to you?”

“What are you talking about?”

I pointed at the maid.

“That blue thing on her elbow. It’s a water droplet, right?”

“I see nothing.”

“What?”

He repeated after shifting his gaze to her.

“There’s nothing there.”

I looked again at the maid.

The water droplet tattoo was still vividly shining.

‘He can’t see it?’

“Seems like magic.”

I was startled.

‘Did he notice my thoughts?’

No, he was just staring blankly at the rain-soaked scene.

Watching a man who seemed indifferent to anything marvel at something was strangely unsettling.

‘What is he thinking?’

Giovanni was a ruler.

For someone like me, who had been ruled all my life, his thoughts were an enigma.

Someone shouted.

“The fire is out!”

I turned around.

The weakened rain let the nobles lower their umbrellas and look towards the palace.

The clouds above dispersed, grey smoke rising into the sky.

With the fire gone, the charred remains of Darius Palace were revealed.

“Thankfully, the fire didn’t spread.”

At someone’s remark, people sighed in relief.

Unlike them, I couldn’t take my eyes off Darius Palace.

With every gust of wind, the roof, ravaged by fire, teetered dangerously.

‘Isn’t that a bit risky?’

Just as I thought this, the roof tilted severely, and a pillar supporting it cracked.