“The northern rebellion has been suppressed. The sacrifices were great, but victory is ours. And all of this would have been impossible without Kayla’s sacrifice and determination.”

The assembly nodded in agreement. However, Evan continued with a subtle smile.

“I agree. Her Highness the Grand Duchess is not just an ordinary woman. Her holy power changed even the flow of the battlefield. Now, it has become clear what role she should play for the Empire.”

Quiet signs of agreement spread around. One figure added.

“A holy power wielder demonstrates their value on the battlefield. She is not one to remain in the rear.”

Theodore’s face hardened at those words. He raised his hand to cut off the speech and said.

“I too do not deny that her presence holds great significance on the battlefield. However… she is my wife and the Grand Duchess.”

“And that is precisely why she should serve the Empire.”

Evan smiled. For a moment, Theodore’s gaze wavered. In people’s eyes, she already existed only as a ‘holy power wielder.’ Even he couldn’t deny the pressure to send her back to the battlefield. An unasked question circled in his mind.

‘Must I send her to the battlefield, is that the right thing to do?’

Amid the tension of the meeting, Evan quietly said.

“Let’s leave the final decision on this matter to His Majesty the Emperor.”

If it was the Emperor’s decision, even Theodore would have no choice but to follow. Understanding this implication, Theodore looked at Evan in silence.

“Very well. It is right to follow His Majesty the Emperor’s decision.”

“Indeed.”

Before Theodore could speak, everyone nodded in agreement. His fist clenched tightly. Evan changed the subject.

“Then let us now discuss the punishment for Lady Frea.”

The atmosphere grew heavy again at Evan’s words.

“She should be dealt with for treason. Isn’t this whole situation because of Lady Frea!”

“But she has already confessed.”

“Still, she tried to stab Her Highness the Grand Duchess directly.”

“Since she returned voluntarily, it’s worth considering as grounds for leniency.”

Amid the conflicting opinions, Marquis Rosehill quietly stepped forward.

“I do not deny my daughter’s crimes. However, Frea is now deeply repentant. Please, I ask you to give her one last chance.”

The assembly fell silent at his words. It was a weighty statement. Marquis Rosehill was a respected figure in the Empire, and even the Emperor had persuaded him not to withdraw from politics. In the end, the meeting concluded without reaching a decision, with the conclusion to “hear the Grand Duchess’s opinion.”

※※※

That evening, Kayla headed to the underground prison, escorted by two soldiers. Beyond the iron bars, Frea was curled up on an old bed. Her face was pale and gaunt, and her hair was disheveled. She looked at Kayla with unfocused eyes and said softly.

“… Why did you come?”

Kayla quietly answered.

“I came… to see you.”

Frea gave a bitter smile.

“Did you come to see how broken I am?”

“That’s not it. I think I understand a little now why you did what you did.”

Frea’s eyes wavered slightly. Kayla quietly continued.

“You wanted to be loved. You were afraid of losing what you had. I was like that too…”

At Kayla’s words, Frea bit her lip hard.

“… It’s too late.”

“It’s not too late. If you want to start again, I can help you.”

At Kayla’s sincere words, Frea averted her gaze with trembling tightly closed lips. However, emotions long suppressed were spreading at the corners of her eyes.

“You’re… really foolish.”

“That’s okay. Even if I’m foolish, I don’t hate you.”

Frea’s tears fell to the floor. Kayla stood still, looking at her. In the dark prison, the sight of Frea trying hard to hide her broken heart was heartbreaking. But somewhere deep in that heart, complex and tangled emotions still remained.

“If you start again… then live serving others as much as you’ve hurt them.”

Kayla’s breath trembled faintly as she left the prison door behind her. The holy power that had enveloped her body was gradually fading. Was it the aftermath of using her power excessively, or was it for some unknown reason?

“It’s okay, it’ll be okay…”

She repeated the words to herself, but they reverberated like a distant echo. She still didn’t know what price the holy power would exact from her. Walking down the corridor, a cold wind brushed her cheek. That wind was somehow chilly and whispered an unknown anxiety.

‘Why am I feeling so weak…’

Kayla’s fingertips trembled slightly. She clenched her fist tightly, but the more she did, the more she felt her strength draining.

“Maybe… is this power gradually consuming me…”

Kayla murmured quietly.

“I should ask someone…”

Even before knowing the truth about holy power, Kayla was already feeling it. The anxiety that her power might someday destroy her.

The last sunlight settled on Frea’s shoulders through the iron bars. She walked slowly toward the carriage door with her head bowed in silence. The red stamp of a criminal was branded on her back, and even the surname ‘Rosehill’ was taken from her.

“Criminal Frea is exiled to the convent on the outskirts of the western border. According to the Empire’s order, contact with family and noble society is prohibited. You should be grateful that you kept your life through the mercy of Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”

“……”

No one bothered to say farewell. She had rejected too much, and what she tried to protect was too selfish. Kayla, watching the scene from afar, stood for a long time in the cold wind.

‘Will there come a day when I too lose myself in order not to lose something…’

She suddenly had such a thought. No, she had to fight precisely to prevent that from happening. Now.

※※※

Kayla’s steps were heavy as she walked along the corridor to meet the high priest. The healing light that burst from her fingertips had clearly saved many lives. However, for some reason, the more she saw that brilliant light, the more something within her heart seemed to wither. She arrived at the door and took a small deep breath. Her chest felt tight.

Knock knock—

“Welcome, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”

The high priest bowed his head and greeted her through the quietly opened door.

“Thank you for making time despite my sudden visit.”

“If Your Highness comes, I must always make time.”

As Kayla sat down, the high priest carefully pushed a teacup toward her. But Kayla didn’t take even a sip, just holding the cup with both hands. Soon she spoke.

“You said holy power is… both a blessing and a curse?”

“Yes.”

“Why… why is it a curse?”

The high priest closed his eyes and remained silent for a while. Like a prayer echoing through a sanctuary, the entire space was immersed in heavy silence.

“Holy power is based on life. The stronger the light, the more it consumes the life of the one who holds it. It means that a good power cuts away the lifespan of a good person.”

A stillness as if breath had stopped flowed, and Kayla’s eyes wavered.

“Was… my mother also a holy power wielder?”

The high priest maintained silence for a moment at her question.

“Yes. Lady Lea consumed all her power to heal Her Majesty the Empress’s illness. She… knew it would be her last.”

Kayla’s hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. That kind and brave mother… had quietly burned away for someone else.

“Then… Theo knew about this all along.”

The high priest closed his eyes solemnly and said.

“For that part… it would be better to confirm directly with him.”

Kayla’s heart quietly sank.

※※※

That evening, Kayla headed straight to the study at the grand ducal residence. Due to the damage from the war, Theodore’s desk was piled with numerous documents. When she opened the door without knocking, unlike her usual manner, Theodore looked at her with a surprised expression.

“What’s wrong, Kayla?”

“You… knew.”

Theodore rose from his seat with a puzzled expression.

“I don’t know what you mean, Kayla. A bit more precisely…”

“About my mother’s death!”

She inhaled deeply and spat out the words.

“……”

Theodore averted his gaze and turned his head. The sadness in his eyes reached her before his answer.

“I thought it was my burden to bear. I hoped you wouldn’t find out…”

“Why? Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you even give me a chance to prepare?”

Sadness permeated Kayla’s voice. Theodore accepted those emotions silently with his head bowed.

“I was too afraid. Of losing you…”

Kayla couldn’t say anything more. Emotions of wanting to understand yet not wanting to know entangled and weighed her down.

“… Still, you should have told me.”

“I know, but even though you had holy power, I hoped you would pass by without knowing. I just wanted you to live normally.”

“But I found out everything. How cruel a price this power demands…!”

Theodore’s expression hardened at the word “price.”

“What price?”

“I know everything now. Holy power is a power that costs my lifespan.”

Theodore quietly approached her. Moisture gathered at the corners of his eyes.

“No, Kayla. That won’t happen to you, I won’t let you pay such a price. I’ll stop it somehow.”