Published: August 10, 2026
Lady Eglantine stepped onto the stage. Unlike when Lady Rosemine had performed, no magic circle appeared. However, after she knelt, placed her hands on the ground, and finished chanting, "I am one who offers prayers and gratitude to the gods who created the world," the magic circle slowly began to rise.
I could hear admiring breaths escape from those around us.
Even without Lady Rosemine, who radiated the divine power of the goddess, they realized that the ritual could be performed in the same way. They must have felt relieved that the Zent candidate chosen by the avatar of the goddess was indeed worthy.
...During Lady Rosemine's turn, the atmosphere had been so tense that even breathing felt improper.
The music for the dedication dance began.
Noticing that the volume and singing were quite different from before, I turned my gaze toward the musicians. One seat was empty, and a Fischpiel had been left in place.
...Oh? It seems Lord Ferdinand is not here...?
When Lady Rosemine danced, his beautiful voice had resounded through the hall, but now he was nowhere to be seen, neither among the musicians nor around the stage. I was about to call out to my older brother in confusion, but he was already enthralled by Lady Eglantine's dance. Even if I spoke to him, he probably would not hear me.
So I decided to focus not on Lord Ferdinand's whereabouts, but on Lady Eglantine's dance. It did not have the mystique of Lady Rosemine's, but it was a wonderful performance. Purely in terms of technique, Lady Eglantine still seemed superior.
Along with Lady Eglantine's dance, the magic circle began to emerge clearly, and one pillar of light after another stretched upward. However, the statue on the altar did not begin to move until the dance was nearing its end, and I could not help feeling tense over whether Lady Eglantine would truly be recognized as a Zent candidate.
The dedication dance ended, and even after offering thanks to the gods, Lady Eglantine remained on the stage.
"It seems the gods did not summon her... Was it a failure?"
"No, but... the gods on the altar do seem to be inviting her, do they not...?"
Unlike when Lady Rosemine had been summoned by the gods, this ending was different, and uneasy voices rose from the surrounding nobles.
At that moment, Hartmut, standing before the altar, pointed to the upper part of it.
"The path to the gods has opened. Lady Eglantine, the gods await you there."
Unlike Lady Rosemine, she did not disappear after being summoned by the gods, but since a path on the altar had opened, it seemed Lady Eglantine could still make her way to them.
I was surely not the only one who finally let out a breath of relief at Hartmut's words.
Lady Eglantine slowly lifted her face and rose to her feet, then walked toward the altar with softer, more graceful movements than usual. Prince Anastasius took her hand as she stepped down from the stage, and the two of them made their way slowly to the altar together.
Lady Eglantine's profile was truly beautiful as she opened the path to the gods by her own power and demonstrated that she had the ability of a Zent candidate.
Prince Anastasius tried to escort her all the way up to the altar, but as though an invisible wall existed, only Lady Eglantine was able to ascend.
"It seems only the one who performed the ritual may ascend the altar."
"That is so. It seems only those with the qualities needed to become a Zent candidate may ascend."
Father murmured with a slightly loaded tone. I did not understand what he meant, but it seemed clear that Lady Eglantine did possess the qualities required of a Zent candidate.
Passing between the highest gods facing one another, Lady Eglantine entered the doorway at the top of the altar. When she disappeared from view, the statue of the god returned to its original position.
"Ohh..."
This kind of succession ritual was probably the first time even the adults had seen it. As soon as Lady Eglantine vanished from sight, exclamations of admiration began to rise all around us.
"That was a splendid dedication dance. I am astonished that the dedication dance performed at the noble academy graduation ceremony has such meaning. When they began holding dedication ceremonies at the noble academy, I thought they must have been up to something... but perhaps they were following the words of the gods."