With two months until the academy's entrance ceremony, Gloria attended the ceremony for her appointment as the "Purple Guide" at the Great Cathedral in the royal capital.
The title of "Guide" was awarded to individuals outside the clergy who had made significant contributions to spreading the divine teachings.
The last recorded instance of such an award was over a century ago, when a knight from a foreign country reclaimed White Hope Mountain—a sacred site where Saint White Hope was said to have passed away—from barbarians, earning the title of "Sword Guide."
This time, the honoree was Gloria.
Her development of "Tears of the Divine" to aid commoners in embracing the divine teachings earned her the distinction.
Overseeing the ceremony was the Earl of Hattlestone, also known as the Earl of the Church, who had strengthened his position by supporting the production and distribution of "Tears of the Divine," alongside the newly appointed bishop of the royal capital's cathedral.
As the bishop draped an amethyst pendant, the symbol of the "Guide," around Gloria's neck, gasps of admiration rippled through the audience.
When Gloria lifted her bowed head, the bishop's face radiated with joy.
While he spoke of the divine mission, it was clear his shining smile was also fueled by the substantial revenue the liquor had generated.
The bishop then reverently handed a ceremonial robe to Edward, who had escorted Gloria to the cathedral.
Though this was Gloria's ceremony, the recognition of such an esteemed title from the church was also significant for the royal family. Yet Edward, unable or unwilling to hide his displeasure, carelessly draped the robe over Gloria's shoulders.
Ignoring the bishop and the guests, Edward impatiently urged Gloria, who was kneeling to offer thanks to the divine, to hurry.
Finding no reason to indulge Edward's rudeness, Gloria remained bowed, letting his silent pressure wash over her.
The amethyst pendant, representing her purple eyes, swayed in circles at her neck.
The accompanying ceremonial robe, dyed in a gradient from white to deep purple at the hem, bore the church's symbol embroidered in gold thread matching Gloria's golden hair, inadvertently blending the colors of the Caldwell family.
After a respectful pause, Gloria rose and exited the cathedral under Edward's escort.
The loudest applause came from her uncle, his wife, and Bernard, seated among her relatives.
Unsurprisingly, her bedridden father was absent.
As Gloria exited, she glanced back to see her aunt and Bernard dabbing their eyes with handkerchiefs. Even her uncle's eyes shimmered with emotion as he watched her leave.
The policies proposed by her uncle and Bernard for the Caldwell territory were praised by A-ko as "kind-hearted." To Gloria, they felt too soft, but that only proved their genuine goodwill.
Once they returned home, their compassion would surely lead them to recount today's events to her father—the special title bestowed by the church, the authoritative robe incorporating Caldwell's colors, and the daughter who had claimed what could have been his glory.