April, pale as a sheet, pressed down hard on Calsion’s wounded side. She tore her skirt, trying to stem the bleeding, but it wasn’t easy. As she watched Calsion grow paler by the second, April couldn’t think straight.

‘If this man dies here, what will happen to me?’

If Calsion died, nothing would work out for her. She might have gotten the promised money, but there was no guarantee she’d survive in the imperial palace. With that thought, April clenched her teeth as she looked into Calsion’s eyes, who was on the verge of losing consciousness.

A white light bloomed from her hand. The light shimmered like a white flower, and as Calsion watched the mist-like glow, he lost consciousness.

April didn’t stop and kept pouring power into him.

‘I’ve never done this much before…’

It was the first time she’d used this much divine power.

From the moment she became aware of the world, April could use divine power. Knowing her ability was special, April tried hard to hide it. That was the only way to survive.

If the people of the duke’s house had known about her divine power, they would have immediately offered her to the temple. They would have boasted everywhere that their family had produced a priest, claiming to be a chosen house. Investments would have poured into the family, and they would have squandered the money on luxury.

While her divine power was being exploited in the temple, the duke’s family would have lived in comfort and excess.

‘I could never let that happen.’

There was no guarantee Calsion would be any different. Still, she believed he wouldn’t send her to the temple. At least, she believed that much.

‘Now… I’m the prince’s consort.’

As she recklessly poured out her power, cold sweat ran down her temples, but she didn’t care. As long as she could save him.

As April unleashed her divine power without restraint, her hair turned silver. Her golden hair, which once shone like waves, had now changed to the color of stars, and her breathing grew ragged. Soon, Calsion’s side was revealed to be perfectly healed, without a single wound.

“It’s… done…”

“Are you all right, Your Highness?!”

At that moment, Jarenne and the other knights rushed into the study. Jarenne, who was the first to notice April’s hair color, quickly tore down a curtain and covered her head.

“Your Highness, this way…”

Jarenne took April’s hand, who was clinging to the collapsed Calsion, and gently pried her fingers free. Yulifa, having taken Calsion from April’s weakened grasp, hurriedly checked his pulse. As soon as they realized Calsion was safe, April closed her eyes and collapsed, and Jarenne caught her in her arms.

“You, hurry and take His Highness to the palace physician!”

Shouting to Yulifa, Jarenne carried April out of the study. After bringing her to the bedroom, Jarenne laid April on the bed. When she lifted the cloth covering April’s hair, what appeared beneath was not gold but silver.

“This can’t be…”

She’d heard of it before. Sometimes, the hair of priests who used uncontrollable power would fade in color.

“Why would something that only happens to priests who handle divine power…?”

She didn’t finish the thought—especially not, “to Her Highness.” Jarenne instantly realized April’s secret.

How many people had noticed her hair color had changed?

‘Since I was the first to enter, at most it’s just Yulifa.’

No one else could have seen.

Jarenne looked down at the still-unconscious April, her eyes full of worry. Until now, the April she had seen was a kind person without greed. Yet such an overwhelming power seemed to dwell within her.

Letting out a sigh, Jarenne watched April’s steady breathing, then quietly left the bedroom.

***

When April opened her eyes, a whole day had passed. Grabbing her hair in panic, she saw that her hair had returned to its brilliant golden color and let out a quiet breath of relief.

‘Did anyone see?’

No one should have seen it.

‘What if everyone saw?’

April clutched the blanket. She’d collapsed in the study, so why was she lying in the bedroom? Someone must have moved her, but who? It couldn’t have been the unconscious Calsion, so it must have been one of the knights who came in afterward.

“Maybe…”

“Are you awake, Your Highness?”

At the sound of a gentle voice from outside the door, April sat up.

“Come in.”

It was Jarenne. Smiling brightly as she entered, she seemed to have no memory of what happened yesterday. But April wasn’t fooled by that smile.

“Are you all right?”

“Were you the one who brought me here?”

“Yes. Who else but your personal attendant would take care of you, Your Highness?”

Jarenne took her hand. Feeling the calluses in her grip, April realized Jarenne had lived a different life from her own. She was a knight with a master to serve, and that master wasn’t April. April found Jarenne’s gentle demeanor suspicious.

“…You must have questions about me.”

“Even if I do, it’s not my place to ask as your attendant.”

“I suppose so. But you’re a knight.”

“My lord commanded me to serve you, so you may give me orders as well, Your Highness.”

“Then keep what you saw yesterday a secret.”

At Jarenne’s words, April was certain. Jarenne already knew her secret.

“You can silence my mouth, but how will you silence another’s?”

“There’s someone else?”

“Yulifa, His Highness’s aide, saw it as well.”

“There’s no way I can silence him.”

At Jarenne’s response, April squeezed her eyes shut. Her words, tinged with regret, escaped like a sigh.

‘What am I supposed to do now?’

Her true identity was as good as revealed, and there was nowhere left to retreat. April bit her lip. No one could decide for her. She had to choose and resolve it herself.

Her strength left her body. Leaning back against the headboard, April swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape.

As if reading her mind, Jarenne spoke first.

“Are you all right, Your Highness?”

“I’m fine.”

As if she really could be.

There was still a chance. It wasn’t the people of the duke’s house who had found out, nor anyone else in the palace. Only Calsion’s aide and Jarenne knew, so maybe she could handle it. But that would depend on what Calsion decided to do.

“As for His Highness…”

“…I’ll have to tell him the truth.”

There was no turning back after perfectly healing Calsion’s wound.

He had suffered a fatal injury. It was a wound that could have easily killed him, yet it healed without a trace; no explanation could cover that up.

April didn’t even realize her bitten lip was bleeding. Only when Jarenne’s gaze fell on her lips did she notice. Just as she pressed the handkerchief Jarenne offered to her mouth, the bedroom door opened.

“Leave us for a moment.”

It was Calsion.

***

“You failed?”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t expect them to die in one try anyway.”

The empress blew on her fingernails as she looked down at them. Seeing her calm face, the messenger reporting to her was too tense to speak properly.

“You sent more than ten men, and you’re the only one who came back alive?”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”

“If you’d done your job properly, maybe this would have succeeded?”

“Your Majesty, that’s—!”

With a sweep of the empress’s hand, the speaker’s head rolled to the floor. The secret guard who appeared behind her immediately bowed low before her.

“You heard?”

The prostrate guard only nodded. The secret guards who served only the empress had all had their tongues cut out for secrecy. That allowed the empress to speak freely in front of them.

“Why is that wretched bastard still alive and back here!”

The guard’s shoulders flinched at the empress’s voice, trembling with rage. The violence etched deep within could never be erased.

She struck the armrest and stood up. Her steps were elegant, but the anger within could not be hidden.

“I am the empress of this empire. Half of this empire belongs to me.”

“……”

“My son must inherit what is mine.”

The empress clenched her fist. She struck the guard’s shoulder with it. The guard endured the pain in silence, maintaining his posture, and only then did the empress regain her composure.

Her anger was not yet spent. But now was not the time for rage, but for planning a new scheme.