Reborn As A Maid

Chapter 16: Chapter 16 - Markless ( Part 1 )

The grand cathedral of Miasa stood silent.

Golden lights poured into it from the stained-glass windows, painting countless colors on the walls of this ancient place.

Thousands of years of history were preserved in these halls.

Here the kings knelt.

Here heroes were awakened.

Here legends were born.

And now...

Two girls stood in front of the destiny.

Princess Lilia KingHeart.

Jennie Queens.

The altar glowed underneath their feet.

The golden runes were pulsating underfoot as if it was alive.

Priests formed a circle around the platform.

King Aldric was sitting next to his wife Queen Celestine.

Arthur and Elena watched from their seat.

Lucas was standing next to them wearing a Royal Academy uniform.

They were waiting.

The awakening was starting.

---

High Priest raised his staff.

"Miasa, Goddess of Creation."

"Show us the path chosen for this child."

The golden light erupted around Lilia.

The princess gasped in shock.

The whole cathedral shuddered.

The massive column of light rushed upward.

One priest staggered.

Another dropped his book.

The eyes of the High Priest widened.

"... Impossible."

Ancient silver runes, holy light, mana... Everything was gathering around the princess.

Just pressure alone forced other priests to breathe hard.

The mark appeared.

The beautiful silver crest that combined images of the crown and sword was burning on the back of her right hand.

The altar exploded with light.

High Priest fell to one knee immediately.

His eyes filled with tears.

"A Legendary Mark..."

The whole cathedral fell silent.

And then chaos broke out.

"A LEGENDARY MARK?!"

"Princess Lilia awakened a Legendary Mark!"

"Blessed by the Goddess!"

"Incredible miracle!"

The priests seemed ready to faint.

Even King Aldric stood up from his place.

Queen Celestine covered her mouth.

Prince Adrian stared wide-eyed.

Legendary Marks were extremely rare.

Whole generations passed without one.

Any kingdom would celebrate for months in case a single Legendary Mark appeared.

And now...

This princess of Seraiya got one.

High Priest studied the mark carefully.

His voice was trembling.

"The Legendary Divine Mark..."

"Crown of Eternal Valor."

The gasps traveled through the cathedral.

It was the mark of heroes and rulers.

The mark that increased leadership, mana growth and combat skills at once.

The legendary mark that existed only in tales.

Lilia blinked.

"...Is that good?"

The whole cathedral looked at her.

King Aldric burst into laughter.

Probably for the first time in years.

"It is very good."

Lilia smiled.

"I knew it."

Jennie sighed.

Of course she did.

---

The princess immediately turned towards her friend.

"Jennie!"

"Hm?"

"I got a Legendary Mark!"

"Congratulations."

"That’s all?"

"Would you like a parade?"

"...Maybe."

Jennie nodded.

"Reasonable."

Lilia puffed her cheeks.

She wanted more excitement.

Why was Jennie not surprised?

Nothing ever surprised Jennie.

It was annoying.

---

Celebration lasted several minutes.

Priests were recording it.

Royal officials were whispering excitedly.

Even Queen Celestine looked emotionally overwhelmed.

Legendary Mark.

The future of the royal family just got brighter.

Then the High Priest raised his hand.

The silence followed.

"There is one child left."

His gaze shifted to Jennie.

"Jennie Queens."

"Come to the platform please."

---

Jennie walked calmly towards the altar.

Swinging white hair.

Calm crimson eyes.

Everyone in the cathedral was watching in silence.

Waiting for the new miracle.

Because...

This was the girl who defeated older nobles at four years old.

The girl who managed to survive any dangers surrounding Princess Lilia.

The daughter of Arthur Queens.

Big expectations.

Very big.

Jennie stepped on the platform.

The runes on her feet glowed.

High Priest started chanting.

The golden light gathered.

Mana filled the air.

The ceremony started.

They were waiting.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Nothing happened.

The altar remained silent.

---

High Priest blinked.

Maybe there was a mistake?

He repeated the ritual.

Once again.

The runes glowed.

Mana flowed.

The altar activated.

And once again...

Nothing happened.

The silence.

Strange silence.

Uncomfortable silence.

---

The priests exchanged puzzled glances.

One priest walked towards the altar.

Then another one.

They were checking the runes.

Mana flow.

Divine instruments.

Everything worked perfectly.

Everything.

Except...

Jennie.

---

High Priest swallowed nervously.

"Again."

Third time.

The altar activated.

The golden light enveloped Jennie.

For a brief moment...

She felt the familiar warmth.

The soft presence.

The voice.

Gentle.

Kind.

Ancient.

"My little Sword King."

Jennie’s eyes widened a little.

"Milady Miasa?"

Small laugh resonated within her soul.

"You have grown well."

The warmth disappeared.

The altar dimmed.

And once again...

Nothing appeared.

No mark.

No symbol.

Nothing.

---

The panic swept through the priests.

One priest looked pale.

Another one started praying.

The third priest checked the records again.

The hands of the High Priest were shaking.

"This..."

"This is impossible."

Markless child simply did not exist.

Everybody received it.

Without exceptions.

Without failures.

For thousands of years.

---

Meanwhile...

Jennie remained perfectly calm.

Because unlike everyone else...

She knew exactly what happened.

"So that’s why."

The small smile appeared in her mind.

Everything was clear now.

The Divine Mark system was the blessing granted by the Goddess.

But Jennie already got the better blessing.

Blessing from Miasa herself.

Received before her reincarnation.

The system simply couldn’t overwrite it.

Couldn’t replace it.

Couldn’t even identify it properly.

That is why...

Nothing appeared.

---

And honestly?

Jennie was delighted with it.

"Perfect."

"Absolutely perfect."

The markless noble could not inherit the titles.

Could not get the positions.

Could not lead the normal noble life.

At some point...

She would be forced to leave.

Her heart danced.

"Freedom."

"No politics."

"No responsibilities."

"No royal ceremonies."

"Finally I can travel the world."

Mountains.

Sword schools.

Ruins.

Unexplored lands.

Life dedicated to the sword.

Just as she wanted.

Fantastic!

---

Unfortunately...

Everyone else looked horrified.

Arthur was standing frozen.

Elena was looking worried.

Lucas was frowning heavily.

Lilia stared at the altar.

Then to Jennie.

Then back to the altar.

"... What?"

The princess blinked. freēwebnovel.com

"... Where’s her mark?"

Nobody answered.

Because nobody knew.

---

The High Priest slowly walked towards her.

The old man seemed to be twenty years older.

The voice of the High Priest echoed through the cathedral.

Heavy.

Shaking.

Unbelieving.

"The ceremony is complete."

Nobody moved.

Nobody said anything.

The priest swallowed.

And then managed to continue.

"After the verification..."

"After the three awakenings..."

"After the confirmation of the Church..."

The whole cathedral held its breath.

These words were impossible.

Yet they came anyway.

"Jennie Queens..."

The old priest closed his eyes.

"...has no Divine Mark."

Silence.

Complete silence.

And for the first time in the history of recorded history...

A markless child stood in front of the Goddess.