“The rest can be bought tomorrow.”

Elysia couldn’t understand why she was so innocent. Wise yet not malicious, not foolish but pure.

Is it because she grew up in the temple?

Illeon touched a dress placed beside him for a moment before giving up. His attention was entirely focused on the dressing room where Elysia and Emily were changing clothes and whispering.

“It’s done. Come out this way, Lady Elysia.”

With Emily’s gentle voice, the curtain covering the dressing room was drawn aside.

Rustle, rustle.

Elysia slowly walked up to the platform in the middle of the room.

Under the light pouring in from the skylight, it seemed as if you could hear Rona’s admiring voice, marveling at her appearance.

“I know the secret of this room. Whatever you try on here seems like it’ll be bought.”

It was dazzling.

The pale blue chiffon and lace shone under the gentle sunlight. The radiant woman, with her deep golden hair, looked as if the brilliance had always belonged to Elysia from the moment she was born.

“… How is it?”

She, who had been standing still with an emotionless expression like a doll, tilted her head.

“Not good?”

Not good? How could such an absurd statement be made?

Unknowingly, Illeon was irritated by her words. The woman’s innocence, which felt not just naive but almost foolish, seemed too fragile.

“No, it looks great. Beautiful. Really.”

Upon his words, Elysia smiled faintly with a relieved expression.

“I’m glad. It seems I chose the right outfit for the first time. Then let’s buy this one quickly.”

Illeon, who had been absent-mindedly staring at her, snapped back to his senses.

What? Buy this?

Thinking of her hesitation when entering the store, where she said there were already plenty of clothes, he felt somehow that such opportunities might not come easily again.

Illeon composed his expression.

“Now that I look again, it’s a bit awkward. The clothes are not that great, but you made them look beautiful.”

Emily, who had been standing nearby with a beaming face, instantly became the creator of the unsatisfactory outfit. Though Emily expressed her objection through her facial expressions and eyes, Illeon paid no attention.

“Get her something else next.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Meanwhile, Elysia seemed to be a bit puzzled as she looked into the mirror.

She had indeed changed.

The appearance was the same as the one he knew, but the inner contents had changed.

Illeon couldn’t observe it properly, swept away by the surrounding situation until now, but now he could clearly see it.

Thump, thump.

Illeon’s heart pounded.

Why he felt this way exactly, he couldn’t tell.

Was it the excitement of seeing her in a new light, or the joy of finally encountering the true essence of Elysia?

Illeon took a short breath and leaned against the sofa.
Deciding that he would do anything Elysia wished if she chose him to accompany her, Illeon had resolved to be her shield, protecting her from agony by her side. Even though he didn’t know what to do regarding the prophecies, there were things he could do. He could be a shield for Elysia, preventing her suffering, sometimes turning into a sword or a spear to defeat those who threatened her. He would gradually learn when to be a shield and when to be a sword, but his role wouldn’t change. However, what was this feeling?

Illeon felt as if something were bothering him like a tiny piece of dust.

“Oh, this dress suits you better, Lady Elysia.”

Emily’s excited voice came from the dressing room.

“Come out quickly.”

Observing Elysia, who came out wearing a pink dress like a flower, walking up to the platform, Illeon forgot about the trivial thoughts that had crossed his mind.

Ugh. It hurts. Painful.

Carina, feeling as if her entire body were crushed, opened her eyes with great effort.

“Where is this…?”

Although the small room was decorated in bright colors, the ceiling was low. The bed she had been lying on looked clean with tidy bedding and pillows, but the wood seemed worn.

“Sabiel was chasing me.”

Seeing that she was alive, Carina tried to get up from the bed.

“Ouch.”

At that moment, intense pain surged, and she collapsed back onto the bed.

As if he heard that sound, there was a hint of footsteps outside the door. The man who entered the room was a young man who seemed to be of the same age as her. The man with an elegant physique and ash-colored hair had eyes as black as ink.

“Are you awake?”

“Yes. Where is this?”

In response to Carina’s question, the man showed a friendly smile.

“It’s a hospital.”

“A hospital?”

“You were found by children who were picking up firewood in the forest. One of them saw your fingertips sticking out while you were lying under a cliff with overturned leaves.”

“Ah…”

Only then did the last moment come to her mind. Slowly falling through the air, her body soaring over the treetops, and the fallen leaves piling up high enough that she couldn’t feel the height difference.

‘Sabiel didn’t find me.’

That was when she had doubts.

“Ouch. Ahhh.”