Benovia Ist, the youngest princess of the Ista Kingdom, only fifteen years old, was sent to the Holy Court to participate in the selection for the Holy Daughter.
This is something the Ista Royal Family must do every generation, because Ista is the stronghold of the Holy Court; the Royal Family is constrained by the Holy Court, and the very existence of the Royal Family is just the result of the Holy Court compromising, pressured by both internal factions and the Four Great Empires.
One of the terms of compromise is that the emperor's daughter must join the selection for the Holy Court Saintess each generation.
Benovia didn't really understand why the Holy Court did this—plenty of princesses became Holy Daughters, but what was the point, really?
She didn't want to participate in the selection at all, but she had no choice—father's order couldn't be defied.
Since she had to join, she might as well put in a little effort.
