As suspicions about Dad’s identity were beginning to surface, a priest standing nearby slowly rose.

“As you may know, as a priest, I can prove that the ‘Yoter Upper class’s paternity test kit’ is genuine.”

At that moment, I realized.

‘Ah, this must be the move that the Crown Prince hid. No wonder the development seemed a bit off.’

All of this was not merely a plan to lure me in.

Perhaps, from their end, they had even predicted the situation where Dad would step forward to protect me.

In preparation for that situation, if the paternity test results from Yoter Upper class were directly guaranteed by the priest, the prestige of the Mirmod family, which failed to properly discern the identity of their own daughter, would plummet.

And…

“If the priest guarantees it, how will you respond, Dad?”

…Their scheme might involve pushing the ‘fake daughter’ they created as a pawn of the Mirmod family. Even if they were Mirmods, they would not hesitate to sacrifice their own blood.

Furthermore, the Crown Prince might have tried to play the role of a benefactor by presenting the ‘real daughter’ to the Mirmod family.

I reflected on the unfolding situation.

So, in reality, this operation was a cooperative effort with Dad, who was ‘slightly tainted.’ I would enter the trial as bait, succumb to their paternity test kit, and then expose that the kit was defective.

But suddenly, when the priest offered to guarantee the paternity test kit, my entire plan could shatter.

However…

‘No, that’s not the case!’

I looked at Dad with a confident smile.

‘Now that their plan has completely unraveled, it’s time for us to strike.’

I grinned and looked at Dad’s bulging pocket.

Hidden inside that pocket was the formidable weapon that Dad and I had prepared.

At that moment when Sien, inside the courtroom, wore the smile of a victor, Matthias Mirmod laughed with amusement.

He was now simply someone who stood annoyingly beside his daughter’s soldiers.

“If the priest guarantees it, huh? Alright, I’m curious about how you’ll guarantee it.”

Edouard, pressured by the momentum, reluctantly spoke.

“Well, as you see…”

“Rather than that, first dismiss the guards… No, get rid of the guards.”

Matthias decided not to utter harsh words for Sien’s education. Instead, he casually nodded his head.

The guards who were by Sien’s side, well aware of Matthias’s notorious reputation, stared at the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince nodded reluctantly, with a malicious grin.

It was when everyone, led by the guard holding Sien’s arm, hesitated and stumbled.

Matthias slowly approached the priest, questioning in a leisurely manner.

“Now, ask. Priest, how do you plan to guarantee the authenticity of the kit?”

The composed Crown Prince, regaining his composure, spoke with a twisted expression.

“…Don’t press Edouard too much. There are various ways.”

“I was just asking what those ways are, Your Highness.”

Seemingly completely at ease, the Crown Prince descended one step at a time from the judge’s seat.

Objectively, he had a tall stature and a good physique, but standing in front of Matthias, he looked quite diminutive. Whether he felt inferior due to this fact, the Crown Prince spoke with a frowning brow.

“Edouard will use the priest’s divine power to discern the authenticity of the kit. Surely, you won’t ignore even the Crown Prince’s discernment of the paternity test kit and the priest’s divine power, right?”

Matthias firmly set his jaw. There must be a reason why the Crown Prince was coming out like this, but it wasn’t easy to catch on.
‘Using the Hwanggung administrative officer and the priest to eliminate Sien and tarnish the Mirmod family openly? Turning Mirmod into an enemy so blatantly?’

It was an illogical development. There must be a hidden intention behind such a foolish scheme.

“Edouard priest can discern through divine power, it seems.”

Discernment.

To be precise, it is the ability to judge truth and falsehood.

Among those with divine power, very few could discern truth and falsehood.

This ability was effectively used to distinguish truth and falsehood in human speech, identify the authenticity of artwork, or determine whether an item was defective.

Edouard priest spoke with a pale complexion.

“It is a well-known fact. Yes, that’s right.”

“Then, why don’t you use your divine power to discern the authenticity of the kit?”

Edouard, trembling, stood up.

“Oh.”

Matthias, elegant, smiled as he took out a swan figurine from the inner pocket of his jacket. The Crown Prince looked at him with an indifferent expression.

“…What did you just take out?”

It was a contemptuous expression that seemed to say, “Can you really overturn this situation?”

Of course, his thoughts were correct. Even if the priest discerned the authenticity through divine power, how could you overturn that situation?

However…

Matthias smirked as he shook the swan figurine.

“It’s a sacred relic, Your Excellency. Swear upon it directly, Edouard.”

“T-That…”