“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Margaret stared blankly at the empress, forgetting her manners.

She didn’t expect Empress Anne, who had been in a coma for such a long time, to look exactly as she did before. However, what lay before her eyes was not simply the appearance of a patient. It was a state much closer to a corpse than a living person.

What was even stranger was that despite this, no medical treatment was being administered. The empress was simply left there. Like a display craft placed on the shelf of a luxurious salon, slowly gathering dust.

The princess was peering at the empress’s face like a child with their nose pressed against a display case. With eyes longing for something that was right in front of her but could never be hers.

As she watched the princess’s actions, the intent of which was difficult to discern, Margaret suddenly recalled the letter from Kasha that had arrived late last night.

Kasha’s letter began with an explanation of the three Devil’s Stones and the tragedy they were causing.

It then continued with an urgent confession that Eve had been kidnapped that afternoon and could lose her life at any moment as the first sacrifice to the Devil’s Stones.

Until now, Kasha had never asked Margaret for any help out of concern that it would put her in a dangerous situation.

‘If someone like her is asking for help to this extent, it must mean the situation is extremely urgent.’

For Margaret, there was no reason to hesitate. Kasha was her most precious friend and someone who would soon become family.

So as soon as she read the letter, she requested a private audience with Princess Melissa. The princess, who had been silent the entire time while listening to Margaret, finally opened her mouth after a long while and said something cryptic.

‘Margaret. Which would you fear more? Facing a grave mistake, or committing an even graver one to avoid it?’

‘Pardon?’

Margaret was taken aback, but the princess didn’t elaborate further and instead summoned some palace servants to secretly give them orders.

‘There aren’t many places in the palace where you can secretly imprison a child. News will come soon.’

The princess, who had stayed up all night with Margaret, immediately rose from her seat upon hearing the report from the servant who returned at dawn.

‘They’ve found where Eve is. Let’s go.’

‘What? You mean you will go directly, Your Highness?’

Though perplexed, in truth, it would have been impossible to secretly help Eve escape without the princess’s assistance.

It was also thanks to the master key exclusive to the imperial family that the princess possessed that they were able to unlock the prison where Eve was trapped.

Until then, Margaret had privately vowed to pledge her lifelong loyalty to the princess.

But now, watching the princess trace the empress’s sunken face with a peculiar expression, Margaret was gripped by a sudden unease.

Why had the princess shown them the miserable state of the empress? Was it really the right thing to ask for her help?

It was then that the princess, who had been in a daze for a while, opened her mouth again.

“You know… A mother suffering and unable to die because of foolish and greedy children… Would you pray for my mother?”

“Your Highness…”

Margaret stuttered in confusion. The princess’s behavior, different from her usual composure, felt unfamiliar.

But at that moment, before she could be stopped, Eve stepped forward.

“If it’s alright with you, I can offer a prayer, Your Highness.”

“……”

“I go to the temple every week. I’ve led the prayer several times at the prayer group for young ladies my age. So I won’t cause any inconvenience to Her Majesty the Empress.”

Eve’s tone was articulate and her expression was extremely serious. The princess, gazing at those round eyes, readily nodded.

Margaret was worried but decided not to intervene and observe the situation after seeing Eve’s spirited expression.

Finally, Eve closed her round eyes, clasped her small hands together, and began to pray.

“Endlessly merciful and wise God, please help Empress Anne recover quickly. Allow her to wake up soon, become healthy, receive abundant love from many people, and be happy…”

A rather dignified and plausible prayer continued, befitting the daughter of a saint and sister of a holy knight. Listening to the pure child’s prayer, even the shock and confusion felt upon seeing the corpse-like state of the empress gradually subsided.

Having regained some composure, Margaret absentmindedly raised her head and was startled once again. It was because the princess was making a very strange expression while looking at Eve.

What could she call the emotions swirling on the princess’s elegant face?

Sorrow? Anger? Resentment? Or guilt and shame? Completely opposite emotions that seemed impossible to contain in one vessel were raging on that pale countenance.

Margaret’s mind became muddled again.

Even if the princess was an upright person and distant from the crown prince, was it a mistake to involve her after all?

Margaret quietly averted her eyes and surveyed the room. She noticed one window left open, perhaps for ventilation.

Just as Margaret made the rather bold resolve to jump out the window if the situation proved unfavorable, Eve’s prayer suddenly took an unexpected turn.

“Endlessly merciful God, so that no one grieves anymore due to the faults of me and my family… Please… Please, help us, sob.”

Eve’s frail voice suddenly choked with tears. The room was abruptly enveloped in silence.

‘Eve.’

Feeling her heart ache, Margaret embraced Eve’s trembling small shoulders.

This pure and intelligent child may have guessed more than expected. About why this happened to her, and why the princess was showing them the empress in this state.

But then, the princess’s intense expression faded limply. As the surging emotions vanished as if they were a mirage, she quickly returned to her usual calm and composed face.

“Thank you, Eve.”

“Sob… Your Highness.”

Eve trailed off, but her sorrowful and guilty feelings were conveyed to everyone present.

The princess moved her lips slightly before finally opening her mouth again.

“Please, let the sins of adults be borne by adults, Your Highness. That child… knows nothing.”

Suddenly, an unexpected voice came from an unexpected direction.

Everyone in the room reflexively turned their heads towards the direction of the voice.

Creak.

A slightly open window made a meaningful sound as it swung wide open. Appearing on the small balcony attached to the window was the holy knight Leon Aranias, with his ever calm and noble face.

“Brother!”

“Sir Leon!”

Exclamations of joy burst forth simultaneously from Eve and Margaret. Their voices rose an octave higher upon seeing Kasha’s face peeking out from behind Leon.

“Sister Kasha! Brother Leon!”

Kasha and Leon opened their arms wide and tightly embraced Eve, who had leaped into their arms.

“You’re alright? Not hurt anywhere?”

“Yes, yes! How did you get here? How did you find me?”

“It’s thanks to you following sister’s request well.”

Upon seeing the hand Kasha extended while answering in a gentle voice, Eve burst into tears.

There lay a magical tool emitting a deep blue light and vibration. The exact same object that had been hidden in Eve’s dress and constantly vibrating.

‘If you keep this with you, no matter where you are, I will be able to find you.’

“Sister…”

Eve’s cheeks soon became wet with tears of relief and joy. Seeing her finally in the arms of her family, crying like a young child, Margaret also let out a long sigh of relief.

Margaret and Kasha’s eyes suddenly met. Reading the gratitude and apology on Kasha’s face, Margaret simply responded with a smile. Because at the moment, there was a more important matter before them than catching up.

Eve also quickly collected herself, given the gravity of the situation. As Leon slowly set down Eve, whom he had been holding, his gaze had been fixed on the princess the entire time.

The princess and Leon’s violet eyes fiercely clashed. The princess, who had been silently looking into Leon’s pained eyes, finally opened her mouth.

“I must seem like a villain tormenting a child.”

Leon said nothing as he looked at the princess speaking in a subdued tone, as if she had attained enlightenment.

“But don’t worry. I never intended to hold this little child accountable for any sins.”

“……”

“You don’t believe me. But I mean it. I just… wanted to face my own sins. In front of the victim I created.”

As the conversation took an unexpected turn, Leon simply narrowed his eyes without responding. Then the princess slowly rose to her feet.

And then she abruptly approached them and knelt down. Specifically, in front of Eve, not all of them.