The high priest asked with a smile, “By the way, what brings you to this monastery?”

“Oh, by any chance, could you tell me who the priest was that handed me the holy water on the day of the Enlightenment Festival? I sensed a peculiar energy from him that day.”

The high priest, gently lowering his eyelids, smiled. “That makes sense. That child is one of the most devout among the priests, having been raised and nurtured here. Consequently, he possesses a strong divine power.”

Surprised by this revelation, Aisha asked, “Was that priest born and raised here…?”

“In reality, he is an adopted child of the monastery. On the day he first arrived, it was a harsh winter day with heavy snowfall. Apparently, abandoned at the doorstep of the monastery in a cradle shortly after birth, he was left by parents who, for whatever reason, couldn’t care for him.”

Aisha’s eyes widened. Could he really be something like the emperor’s illegitimate child…? Given the notorious reputation of the previous emperor for his debauchery, it was a plausible scenario.

Recalling those times with a fond expression, the high priest said, “Even during the Enlightenment Festival attended by Bannetsa, he was an extremely pure white child. It’s rare to find a child in the Etsheim Empire with silver hair and silver eyes. If he hadn’t been abandoned at the monastery, he might have been treated as a cursed being throughout his life. Perhaps his parents left him here with similar thoughts. But as soon as I saw him, I had a gut feeling. This child is a gift from the gods…”

Aisha was even more surprised, her eyes widening. “Could it be that you also felt a similar energy from him?”

“Yes. I, too, sensed a sacred energy from him. It’s unusual, but there have been people in history with such unique energies.”

At those words, Aisha suddenly wondered if there were children born with the spirit of the flower, like the emperor’s illegitimate child. Could those children have been abandoned or met tragic fates, just like that man?

She felt a shiver down her spine.

However, the high priest sighed softly and said, “He truly lived up to the name of the Lotus Monastery, meaning ‘Lotus.’ So, I gave him the name ‘Daart Lotus,’ meaning ‘Knowledge of the Lotus,’ and raised him in the monastery, feeding and dressing him like my own son. Although he has now become an honorable priest, to me, he still feels like a child, hoho.”

Listening to these stories, it seemed that each flower had a unique and tragic background… That man, too, was left abandoned here without knowing his lineage, making his fate truly unfortunate.
What was somewhat fortunate was that the distinctive features of the imperial family, the red hair, or red eyes, did not appear on him. Although it was a bit strange, thanks to this, it would have been easier to slip him out of the imperial palace, and he could have been safe from the threats around. Red eyes were extremely rare in the empire, and even if the hair color could vary, if he had red eyes, he might have become a target or met an unfortunate end without anyone knowing. Moreover, it was both unfortunate and fortunate that his flower-like scent could only be sensed by butterflies.

A white flower that had lost its original gender, Daart Lotus.

Aisha wanted to know more about him. “Where can I meet him?”

“Oh, he is currently undergoing heir education, so you may not see him frequently.”

“Heir education?”

Surprised by Aisha’s question, the high priest proudly replied, “Yes. He is one of the brightest among the priests in the monastery and, above all, will succeed me as the high priest with the strongest divine power. Of course, due to his young age, there will likely be strong opposition from the elders, but if he passes the test demonstrating his divine power, it should be more than possible.”

Indeed, in any way, revealing his talent would be worthy of an imperial descendant. After hearing his words, Aisha somehow felt relieved. Although she couldn’t become the empress, leading an honorable life as the representative high priest of the monastery seemed like a decent option.

“I will tell Daart to make time for you. If Bannetsa wishes to meet him, he will drop everything and rush over. He has a strong attachment to butterflies.”

Although the high priest casually spoke with satisfaction, Aisha was momentarily taken aback by his words.

An attachment to butterflies…

For such an intelligent and capable man, he might already know about his own birth.

If he knew about his tragic past and harbored resentment, it was crucial not to let her guard down.

“Thank you. Also, while I’m here at the monastery, may I use the Lotus Library?”

The high priest readily agreed, “Certainly. Every space in the monastery is virtually the same as Bannetsa’s space. Bannetsa can move freely without anyone’s permission. I will inform the priests in advance, so feel free to come to the monastery and use the library whenever you like.”

“Thank you.”