AS the Empress Selection had been expectedly postponed, Thalia found herself standing before the grand temple under the full glare of daylight. The sun illuminated the marble steps, casting a divine sheen over the sacred structure, almost as if fate itself had orchestrated the moment. It wasn’t an ordinary visit — Pontiff Gendro had personally extended the invitation, an unusual gesture that few could claim to have received.
In keeping with traditional and formal customs, Thalia came prepared with a generous donation, a gesture meant to show reverence and goodwill. While such offerings were officially considered acts of devotion, everyone in high society understood the unsolicited truth: they were often shown attempts to curry favor with the temple’s influential priests. Thalia, however,
