The Truth

What did it mean to awaken a Dragon Soul at nineteen?

Delphina could not find the words to describe it.

She only knew that the moment she learned the truth, all the praises from her mother, friends, and servants turned into mockery without exception.

What kind of “once-in-a-ten-thousand genius” was she?

If someone like her was considered a genius, then what crown or title should be bestowed upon a girl with such heaven-defying talent?

Her own genius was merely that of an ordinary person’s perspective, but in front of this aunt who had awakened her Dragon Soul at nineteen, she was nothing.

The person who had no right to stand on this stage and compete had been her all along.

Her mother was wrong, her father was wrong, everyone was wrong; the position of Saintess was not born for her, but was tailor-made for her aunt.

Genius? Pride?

Laughable—it was nothing more than the hallucination of a delusional person, satisfied by the sweet words of a crowd…

In that moment, Delphina understood.

Aurelia was the true person of destiny.

In that vast, white spiritual space, Aurelia looked toward the uninvited guest.

Looking at the daughter of the enemy who had once tried to assassinate her, not a spark of hatred could be found in the girl’s eyes; there was only infinite desolation and despair.

“Are you here to mock me too?”

The weak, powerless voice seemed as though it would dissipate with a gust of wind.

A bold and wicked thought arose in Delphina’s heart.

The Saintess had said that her aunt had lost someone very important.

If she seized this point and attacked fiercely, her aunt’s spirit would surely collapse. Once her spirit broke, even if she had awakened a Dragon Soul, a person whose heart was dead would be no better than a puppet…

Desire swelled within her until it almost completely controlled her mind. She opened her mouth, ready to speak, but in the next second, their eyes met.

In her field of vision, that face—eyes red and swollen, yet so strikingly similar to her own—suddenly snapped her back to her senses. In her ears, the resonance of the same bloodline echoed continuously.

Delphina fell silent for a long time, finally letting out a self-deprecating, bitter laugh.

“No, I’m just here to see myself clearly…”

Since that entry into the spiritual world, Delphina recognized her true self.

Aurelia also fortunately woke from her slumber. To prevent any more accidents, Saintess Lamia did not hesitate to exercise her divine authority for the first time, moving the Dragon God Festival forward.

As expected, Aurelia, who was the first to enter, received the Dragon God’s response.

When the final results came out, the guests were in an uproar.

Not only did the other two Saintess candidates refuse to believe it, but Lady Elizabeth spoke out bluntly, accusing the Saintess of helping an outsider cheat.

The other two candidates both tried to persuade Delphina to protest the result, but Delphina knew they weren’t doing it for her sake; it was only because their pride and self-esteem allowed them to lose to a “genius” like her, but never to “filth” like Aurelia.

But reality is often so absurd, and people find it difficult to see the truth.

That period was chaotic and painful. Having a selection one had prepared for with blood and sweat since childhood fail for no reason would make anyone suffer. But during this time, Delphina saw through many things.

Perhaps the position of Saintess wasn’t what she truly wanted.

It was merely an immature ideal forced upon her by her parents during childhood. Her slightly arrogant personality wasn’t suited to be a Saintess; that seat should be left to the right person.

Many years had passed, and Delphina had likely moved on long ago. If she was still here, she might have forgotten that so-called “vicious incident”…

Until five nights ago.

In her memory, she had gone out for a stroll with a daughter of another noble house. Halfway through, the other girl had some business and left first. With nothing to do, Delphina returned home early.

However, it was this early return that allowed her to witness a scene she wouldn’t believe for the rest of her life.

In her father’s study, the door was half-ajar. Upon returning, Delphina felt the atmosphere at home was exceptionally strange. Sensing something, she held her breath and tiptoed toward the only abnormal room—the study.

A Silencing Array had been set up in the study, but through the crack in the door, she saw clearly that those talking to her mother were the forbidden Demons.

Purple-black keratinous armor, spiral horns like a ram, and cyan-purple pupils…

Her dear mother was actually involved with the Demons!

Having discovered this secret, Delphina forcibly suppressed the panic in her heart.

Over the next few days, she could clearly see her mother’s negligence and impatience—a feeling as if something major was about to happen and she couldn’t wait.

By looking through the letters in her mother’s room, Delphina learned the basic process of the entire event. She never imagined that those colluding with the Demons were her closest mother and father.

Delphina was no longer a child; she had her own independent consciousness and clear thoughts.

She understood her mother’s temperament and her father’s ambition. For the sake of power and selfish desire, they did not hesitate to betray the entire Dragon Tribe.

And the most important first step of their plan was to take down her aunt and let her ascend to the throne of the Saintess.

But was a Saintess supported by the power of Demons truly a Saintess? Delphina didn’t believe so. She knew that even if she were nominally the Saintess above ten thousand, she would actually be a puppet used as a tool.

She could not let any of this happen!

Even though they were her own father and mother, and she shouldn’t betray family ties—when family goes in the wrong direction, she should even less betray her faith and her royal Glazed bloodline.

Obvious movements would only alert the enemy. In this desperate situation, Delphina placed her only hope on her aunt.

She chose to believe that this Saintess, the third person in the entire Great Dragon Divine Dynasty to awaken a Dragon Soul, would surely save the country from peril at the critical moment.

“Aurelia” looked at the girl before her who was on the verge of tears.

She seemed to understand something from those anxious and worried eyes. After thinking for a moment, she let out a light laugh and placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“You’re a sensible person…”

“I know everything you’ve told me. Thank you for all you’ve done for me…”

“However, I still have to refuse, because…”

As she spoke, “Aurelia” reached out and lightly flicked the young girl’s forehead with her index finger. In that instant, a faint light containing memory fragments merged into Delphina’s forehead.

“There, I’ve told you the truth, so you don’t need to worry blindly anymore…”

“Since I am the current White Dragon Saintess, I will never allow my sister to sacrifice herself for me. After all, if I can’t even protect my own kin, what right do I have to be the Saintess who saves the world?”

As her words fell, Delphina, still processing the massive amount of memories, looked dazed.

But “Aurelia’s” words seemed to possess a powerful infectious quality, making her nod subconsciously.

Boom!

A dull roar sounded. The door and walls of the room were instantly destroyed and collapsed.

Amidst the dust and smoke, the two girls were already surrounded by countless red-eyed Demons.