“You can’t stop it, Theo.”

She said, lowering her head.

“No one can stop it. Because too many people have already seen this power…”

Theodore carefully embraced her. His trembling, his fear, transmitted through the folds of her clothes.

“Then, I’ll stake everything on making sure you don’t die. So please, don’t bear this alone.”

Theodore’s first display of vulnerability made Kayla’s heart ache. In his arms, Kayla quietly said.

“I’m sorry… for shouting…”

At that moment, Kalek’s prophecy came to mind. Kayla had now become Theodore’s greatest weakness, as well as his most precious person.

※※※

Meanwhile, at the same time in the imperial palace audience chamber.

The high priest stood with his head bowed before the Emperor.

“So… that child has learned about Lea’s death.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. And… there is one more thing to report.”

“What is it?”

The high priest carefully began speaking after steadying his breath.

“Her Highness Grand Duchess Kayla’s holy power is on a different level from other holy power wielders.”

“Different how?”

“Despite saving many lives in this war, Her Highness Kayla hasn’t shown rapid deterioration like Lady Lea. Though she appeared tired, almost no lifespan consumption was detected.”

The Emperor raised one eyebrow.

“Meaning?”

“The Grand Duchess’s holy power is more powerful, and sometimes shows aggression. Even without being on the verge of rampage, there have been instances where she injured His Highness the Grand Duke. The Grand Duchess’s holy power appears to be capable of both healing and combat.”

In an instant, the Emperor’s expression changed terribly.

“Are you saying the power that child possesses is dangerous!”

“On the battlefield, it could become a powerful weapon. However… in the capital, it’s a risk factor…”

The Emperor raised his head and looked at the ceiling.

“So in the end… you mean that child should be on the battlefield…”

The Emperor frowned and closed his eyes. He felt sick at heart for failing to protect Theodore’s happiness and peace.

“… You may leave now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the high priest withdrew, Evan was waiting in front of the audience chamber door.

“I present the small sun of the Empire, His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“I heard your kind words well.”

Evan entered with a gentle smile. In his eyes, beneath the calm smile, a cold shadow flickered.

‘I should start with the eastern front.’

What was he looking at? Why was he so persistently trying to push Kayla to the battlefield? It would take more time to understand the true meaning behind that smile.

The imperial audience chamber was immersed in heavy silence. The Emperor was silently lost in thought while looking out the window, and Evan, standing with his back to him, carefully opened the door and entered.

“Father, is something the matter?”

The Emperor slowly turned to look at Evan and spoke heavily.

“Evan. Good timing. I have something to discuss.”

He beckoned him closer with a gesture, and Evan calmly approached the Emperor’s side. A relaxed smile spread across his face, but his eyes shone sharply.

“I spoke with the high priest. About Kayla’s holy power.”

Evan’s eyes sparkled at the Emperor’s murmured conversation with the high priest.

“Your Majesty, what about using holy power as a weapon?”

The Emperor’s eyebrows twitched above his fatigue-soaked forehead. Evan carefully set down some documents, and thick clouds gathered outside the window. The report from the western front was spread out. Packs of demonic beasts were becoming more ferocious, and defense lines were gradually collapsing. The eastern front seemed on the verge of war with the Kingdom of Serdan. Evan saw opportunity in that chaos.

“If a power that was only capable of healing becomes a shield and spear on the battlefield, that alone would change the situation.”

The Emperor stared into the distance and continued with heavy words.

“Holy power is originally a grace bestowed by God. If that power is unleashed on the battlefield…”

The Emperor’s gaze drifted outside the window. Once, his wife too had survived through holy power. But Lea’s death, which had saved the Empress, was a deep wound for the Emperor, and he feared that power. But the Emperor also knew. The Empire was now at a moment that required some kind of decision. Evan carefully continued.

“Your Majesty, not just the west, but the eastern front is now at the edge of a cliff. The Grand Duchess’s holy power could change the flow of the battlefield. As long as the eastern noble alliance is in contact with anti-imperial forces, unless we take the initiative first…”

Evan’s tone was gentle but firm. The Emperor stroked his chin with his finger and slowly continued.

“I heard her power is not yet complete.”

“That’s why the high priest is personally guiding her. They say she possesses power even stronger than Lady Lea had…”

The Emperor exhaled a heavy sigh.

“Not yet. Unless there is evidence that Kayla can fully control it, this discussion will be postponed.”

Evan bowed his head, but his eyes were sharp.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

But inwardly, he was already calculating his next move. Leaving the audience chamber, Evan headed to his room. Under the faint moonlight, Evan stood by the window and opened it. The cool night breeze seeped through the door crack. The Emperor’s words wouldn’t leave his mind.

“Not yet…”

Evan murmured to himself and quietly closed his eyes. Soon after, with a knock, the door opened, and a middle-aged general in military uniform entered the room.

“You called for me, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“I apologize for calling you so late at night, General Kelos.”

Evan sat in a chair and gestured to the seat across from him.

“I wanted to have a brief conversation.”

“Is it about the Grand Duchess?”

The general’s eyes sharpened.

“Her holy power is already a topic of discussion within the military.”

Evan nodded and spread a map on the desk.

“The demonic beast war in the west is still in a stalemate. Beyond the eastern border, the Kingdom of Serdan is gradually gathering troops.”

“For now, it’s a standoff situation. But tensions are indeed rising.”

Evan pointed to the border with his finger.

“What if… when full-scale war begins, the Grand Duchess herself takes to the battlefield?”

The general narrowed his eyes and carefully asked back.

“You mean her healing power?”

Evan laughed softly and said.

“Not just simple healing. The essence of holy power is energy.”

Evan continued in a low voice.

“If that power can save people, conversely, it can also end lives.”

“… Is that possible with holy power?”

“With her power, it is possible.”

The general was silent for a moment before speaking.

“However, His Majesty has not directly ordered this. Deploying the Grand Duchess to the battlefield is a gamble for the Empire.”

“A gamble, General?”

Evan rose from his chair and looked out the window.

“This is an opportunity. A justification to suppress the anti-imperial faction, unify the nobles, and bring peace to the Empire.”

“And at the center of that justification is… the Grand Duchess?”

“She is a chosen one. She can save people with holy power, or judge enemies.”

Conviction was etched in Evan’s voice.

“For the Empire to move forward with one heart, someone must stand at its center. People will come to know who stands at that center.”

“And that someone… you mean yourself, Your Highness Evan?”

Instead of answering, Evan smiled and poured wine into a glass.

“General Kelos, you understand my words well. Before I become Emperor, I will resolve all the conflicts happening now. Then my position will rise, and the Empire will regain peace. It’s time to end my father’s indecisiveness.”

After a moment, silence flowed between them. The general slowly nodded.

“Then I will prepare. A way to ‘utilize’ the Grand Duchess’s holy power.”

※※※

A few days later, Kayla collapsed with an inexplicable high fever. No medicine could lower the fever, and her consciousness was so clouded that she could barely swallow water. The holy power within her lost balance and burned up as if in resistance. All night, Martha cooled her forehead with cold towels, and William urgently contacted the high priest to see if these were symptoms of holy power rampage. Theodore stayed by the bedside all day. Whenever she murmured in her dreams, he held her hand and spoke kindly in a low voice.

“Kayla, don’t be sick. I feel like I’m going crazy when you’re ill…”

She reached out, delirious with fever. Days and nights changed several times. Word came from the high priest, but the only answer was that ‘she must endure it.’

“Kayla…”

After several nights had passed, when her breathing began to stabilize a little, one evening while Theodore had dozed off, Kayla slowly opened her eyes.

“Theo…”

He raised his head, startled.

“Kayla!”

“I’m okay… But you, you’ve lost weight…”

She said with a smile. With a thin and pale face. Theodore took her hand and pressed his forehead against hers.

“While you were sick… I thought the world was ending.”

She gently stroked his cheek with her fingertips. They just looked at each other, sharing their hearts. It was like a quiet wave of emotions that had built up over a long time finally breaking. Theodore sat beside the bed and carefully held her hand.

“If… you’re still in pain, tell me.”

Kayla smiled slightly.

“I’m fine, now… I feel better actually.”

She slowly reached out and stroked his hair.

“Because you’re by my side.”

Theodore seemed to hold his breath at those words. He kissed the back of her hand and whispered softly.

“… Me too. This is the most peaceful moment.”

The distance between them carefully narrowed. Emotions they had longed for so long, and had held back for so much time, finally gently enveloped each other. And that night, for the first time, they truly faced each other and embraced. Their kiss was long, and their love was also long. Their wedding night was hot enough to overcome the deep night together.