Ignoring him, I stared at Lady Emelun. Seeing her plump cheeks covered in white powder, it seemed like the makeup was meticulous.

“Why aren’t you moving quickly…”

“Step aside.”

“What did you say?”

“Ugh, would Lady’s nagging be helpful for me here? No. It seems more helpful to step aside.”

Lady Emelun’s eyes widened. As if she doubted what she just heard, she stared blankly, then twisted her face.

“What kind of habit is that?”

“Please find Lady Aris yourself.”

Passing by her, I headed towards the altar.

“Why are you coming up here? It’s telling you to find Aris!”

Just standing there and dictating this and that.

As I ascended to the altar, the gazes of the people who were muttering turned towards me.

“Why isn’t anyone coming up?”

“Where are the priests?”

The uncomfortable faces of the king and Hubert caught my eye.

I sighed quietly. Suddenly, laughter escaped me.

Perhaps things were not so different from my expectations.

‘Silly Aris, you must have hoped for me to be embarrassed here and lose my standing.’

‘I didn’t prepare at all.’

I opened my mouth towards the waiting people.

Georgiana found it hard to control her expression.

Aris had the freedom to freely reprimand the unpleasant maids while carrying Aris on her back, but she was clearly afraid of holding such a large event.

“People are waiting for the lady at the sponsorship.”

“Of course.”

“Shouldn’t you go back now? The lady might think you disappeared.”

“It’s okay to wait a little longer. The longer we delay, the more difficult it will be for my sister, right?”

Aris, who found this amusing, giggled.

“Sister should experience humiliation at least once. Only then can she understand the subject and be good to me. If I help her when she needs it, she will be even more grateful to me, won’t she?”

“Wouldn’t people blame the lady?”

Under Aris’s cold gaze, Georgiana shrank her shoulders.

Aris looked down at her with arrogance.

“I am a priest. The condition of the priest is most important in offering prayers. Who would say anything if I feel drawn here? The important thing is that, no matter where or who offers prayers, the Kiuje opens safely, and the blessing rain falls.”

Aris’s face, confident that I wouldn’t be harmed, was paler and shinier than usual due to makeup.

Her sharp eyes curved like a crescent moon.

Chilling.

Georgiana shivered on her shoulders. She was never a kind person, but at least her feelings for the gods were genuine.

So, that was a cause for concern.

Is it okay to use the sacred Kiuje like this?

Aris’s eyes, noticing Georgiana’s uneasy expression, sharply rose.
“Why that annoying gaze? When the time comes, I’ll be ready to call people.”

“…Yes, my lady.”

At that moment.

Drip.

A droplet fell on her cheek. Aris’s eyes widened.

As she wiped her cheek with her hand, a significant amount of droplets fell onto her head.

“Why rain?”

There were no signs of rain today?

Aris, who was looking up at the unexpectedly clear sky, suddenly twisted her face into a fierce expression.

She glared at Georgiana.

“What’s going on? This is the rain brought by the priest!”

Numerous eyes poured sharp glances. I grinned without changing my expression. No problem whatsoever.

“Was my introduction delayed? I am Eggrain, who is honored to prepare today’s Kiuje.”

People sent applause out of courtesy. I waited for the applause to stop and then casually spoke.

“This year’s Kiuje has been prepared a bit differently considering the situation in the west. Now that you have all welcomed the priestess, let us gather our hearts and offer our prayers together. Glory to the water on this land.”

“Glory to the water on this land.”

As I recited the proper prayer, those who hadn’t figured out the situation yet followed suit, uttering the prayer and joining their hands.

Afterwards, the bewildered gazes returned.

Without wasting any time, I gestured towards the stage.

Soon, she ascended. Wearing a light white dress that seemed to flutter down to the ground, her face covered with a veil.

Someone exclaimed, “Veil maiden.”

“If she’s a veil maiden, is she the priestess who extinguished the fire in the royal palace?”

Seeing curiosity spreading through the crowd, I sighed in relief.

‘I asked just in case, and it turned out to be a good decision.’

As I stepped back, I whispered to her.

“Please, Your Highness.”

“Leave it to me!”

The cheerful princess briskly walked forward.

Her steps carried anticipation and confidence, as if she wanted to offer prayers.

When she reached up towards the sky, the eyes of the weary people waiting for her gaze were filled with anticipation.

After standing like that for a while, the princess’s lips slowly opened.

It was a whisper so faint that only those nearby could hear it. However, its effectiveness was undeniable.

Soon, raindrops began to fall one by one. I looked up at the sky and then back at the princess.

Her elbow was shining with a bluish hue.