The spectators quickly started whispering among themselves as they processed the King's decree. Elucina caught on the murmurs and flicked her head to her left.
She whispered sharply as she called, "Mother!" She leaned in closer to Queen Esteria, slightly lifting her bum from the throne.
However, her mother was occupied with regaining her composure; intensely focused on the verdict as it was announced in the great hall.
Queen Esteria gently directed Elucina back to her seat, placing a hand on her chest to stop her from standing, emphasizing the need to keep her emotions in check and not humiliate herself in front of the attending mass.
'…M, Mom,' Elucina sniffed inside.
As soon as she settled back into her seat, another voice broke through. Someone from the crowd announced an entrance, "Your Majesties, may I present you, Her Highness, Princess Vanetta of Ethara!"
And with that call, the mob progressively parted from the center where the voice came from. A nobleman stood in front of a lady, who had the hood of her cloak drawn over her head.
Elucina's breath hitched as she squinted her eyes, trying to see the woman's face. However, the hood only exposed the lower part, from her nose to her chin.
The nobles did not know how to react at first, but as soon as one or two bowed in respect, the rest of them joined in, creating a wave of curtsy.
'T, To think they would invite a high priest with them!' Queen Esteria exclaimed inwardly, surprised by their preparedness. She did not fail to notice the uniform and the distinct hat on the person's head.
'The, They came in prepared for the battle!'
If that was the case, then she should comply and take part in the game they wanted to play.
"Y, Your Majesty," Queen Esteria began. "It seemed they have brought a high priest here in the great hall. May I request to verify the legitimacy of the late Queen Vittoria's daughter? With everyone present as witness."
The King, who listened to his wife's request, bobbed his head to the announcer standing with them on the platform. "His Majesty asks for the high priest to start the test."
Elucina watched the scene unfold, silently praying to their savior that if this person was a fake, they would fail the royal blood test.
The high priest climbed to the foundation, and following behind him was the veiled lady, still keeping her face concealed from everyone.
Elucina's pulse rang in her ears as she waited for them to finally reach the last step of the stairs.
And there, the high priest gave a nod of gesture that signaled the start of the sacred trial.
He proceeded to carefully unsheathe the sacred gold dagger hanging from his waist. It sang a faint melody before its sharp blade shone under the daylight.
With another bob of the high priest's head toward the lady, she stretched her hand to him, which he received gently.
Continuing, he punctured her fingertip with the tip of the blade, causing the crimson liquid to come out of her skin. He then scraped the droplet of blood with the same instrument.
To complete the ceremony, he recited a prayer, holding the sacred blade over his head as he walked toward the marble basin placed at the center of the platform.
'…Please.'
Elucina watched closely, hoping at the same time that it would not happen, that the lady's blood would not make the water glow.
The great hall was heavy with anticipation as everyone held their breath, waiting for the moment the blood would touch the sacred water.
And when it eventually occurred, not a single noise was heard, causing the soft drip sound to echo through the walls. All eyes were focused on the marble basin, waiting for any sign of change.
"…Oh, God," the council members collectively huffed.
The mass gasped as the water inside the basin started to glow, much brighter than the sunlight flowing through the windows of the great hall.
"…No, no, no," Elucina cried out as her body crumbled. Her hands instinctively made their way to cover her face.
The lady was in fact, the daughter of their regal monarch. The only mystery now was why she would hide her face from everyone.
As the spectators' curiosity grew louder, Princess Vanetta cautiously brought her hands on the brim of her hood, momentarily halting as if waiting for a signal to reveal herself.
"May I reintroduce to you, Your Majesty," the nobleman down from the crowd announced, "Princess Vanetta, my deceased cousin, and the late Queen Vittoria's daughter."
Vanetta removed her hood, revealing the striking ivory brown locks she shared with the King, as well as the features she inherited from the late Queen.
She stood there, resembling a double image of the deceased second wife of King Aetheran.
"God, is that the young Queen Vittoria?" a voice from the mass whispered.
"I, It's like she's come out of her coffin, alive again," another noble seconded, surprise evident in her voice.
At that moment, working like one with a single shared thought, the audience's eyes all turned towards Queen Esteria's direction, whom they were aware of having a bad relationship with the late queen.
They were aware that any reaction from Queen Esteria could validate this.
And she did react just the way everyone expected.
The second her eyes fell on the young copy of Queen Vittoria, Queen Esteria's breath hitched. She abruptly rose from her throne, tears in her eyes as she clenched her hands so tightly that her fingers dug deep into her palms.
"V, Vittoria…! She–"
Queen Esteria had gone hysterical.
She completely lost control of her sanity again in front of the mass, collapsing to the floor, and screaming at the top of her lungs. "Ahhh!"
"Mother!" Elucina called out; the only one who could soothe her.
"…Elucina! She's, sh, she's!"
Princess Elucina had no other choice but to take control from here. With tearful eyes, she glanced at her father, who watched her with concern.
"Your–"
However, before she could talk, someone outmatched her.
"Your Majesty, we would like to know where Princess Vanetta has been hiding all these years," a council member interjected.
Elucina scanned her gaze through the crowd to identify the speaker, only to see it was her mother's loyal person, Marquess Heldan.
King Aetheran turned his attention to the crowd, seeing their faces showed their eagerness to hear the answer.
"I would like to know as well," he stated, his words coming out as a demand.