One day, Estelle woke up early, instructed her maids to dress her more carefully than usual, and wore a sky-blue dress that Count Merlin liked. The maids moved busily as their mistress directed, breathing sighs of relief at Estelle’s enthusiastic appearance after so long.

Before going out, Estelle stopped briefly in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection and practicing her smile.

After completing all preparations, Estelle headed to the dining room where Count Merlin was waiting.

“Good morning, Father.”

“A refreshing morning indeed.”

“Was your journey here comfortable?”

“What discomfort could there be? The imperial palace takes care of everything.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Count Merlin smiled contentedly at her seemingly more relaxed smile.

“What a joyous day that you suggested we have a meal together.”

“I should have visited you more often…… I’m sorry.”

“No, no. I know better than anyone how busy you are.”

“Busy? I’ve been resting to the point of boredom for a while now.”

“It must be His Highness’s consideration for you; it seems best to follow his wishes.”

Though Count Merlin’s eyes overflowed with affection as he looked at his lovely daughter, deep worry lingered beneath.

“Father, please eat well.”

“Yes, you too, hurry and eat. You’ve gotten too thin.”

“Yes, seeing you has improved my appetite.”

While exchanging simple conversation and watching for the right timing, Count Merlin subtly asked as they were finishing their meal.

“So, are you feeling better now?”

“Perhaps… I think so, Father.”

A subtle smile played on her lips.

“Estelle… I’m heartbroken about Duke Alexis’s passing too, but everyone experiences separation at some point. It may be difficult now, but you’re a strong child. You’ll overcome this soon. You’ve been through a lot, so rest well and think only of yourself for now.”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

“If you need anything, tell this father of yours anytime. I’ll help you with whatever you need.”

“Thank you. For always supporting and loving me.”

“What’s this, saying such things all of a sudden? A father’s love for his daughter is only natural.”

“Please forgive me… if I’ve ever disappointed you.”

“Come now, don’t talk as if we’ll never see each other again.”

“I just feel like I’ve never properly expressed myself to you before.”

The father and daughter continued to share warm family affection as they strolled through the garden. Walking among the beautiful flowers and trees, they shared stories from the past and laughed. Estelle seemed truly unburdened, and Count Merlin could finally feel at ease seeing his daughter this way.

“Father, may I hug you once?”

Before Count Merlin boarded his carriage, Estelle made a sudden request. It was unusual for a daughter who rarely acted spoiled, but considering what she had been through recently, it made sense. People become vulnerable when struggling and want to lean on someone.

“Of course.”

The two shared a comforting embrace for quite some time. Just before parting, Estelle handed him a letter, avoiding the maids’ gaze.

“Please give this to Caesar.”

Count Merlin asked with a puzzled face.

“Why not send it yourself……”

“Letters from the imperial palace might become gossip. It’s a personal matter, and I’m concerned about the unsavory rumors already circulating about him.”

“Ah, that makes sense. Alright. I’ll have my man deliver it quietly.”

“Thank you, Father. Please stay healthy.”

“Worry about yourself instead.”

Count Merlin stroked his daughter’s face one last time before leaving and gave her a concerned smile.

The carriage departed, and Estelle quietly took in the receding figure.

‘I’m sorry, Father.’

The carriage quickly disappeared from her sight, but Estelle couldn’t move from that spot for a while.

* * *

“Your Highness! You cannot enter!”

Confused by the unexpected visit, the maids scrambled to block Estelle’s path. However, Estelle opened the door and entered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Cecil.”

Estelle called her with a bright smile. Cecil, who had been crouched in a corner of the bed, peeked out at the familiar voice.

“Huh?”

After confirming who it was, Cecil’s eyes sparkled as she grinned widely.

“Estelle! Estelle!”

Hopping up and down as she approached Estelle, Cecil clapped her hands and cheered.

“Wow! Wow! Estelle came to see me! Amazing!”

There was no pretense in her innocent behavior. It meant Cecil was not in her right mind now.

“I’m so happy! I really missed you!”

Cecil grabbed Estelle’s hand, shaking it while making a fuss.

“I’m sorry, did I come too late?”

As if suddenly remembering, Cecil let go of Estelle’s hand and slapped her shoulders repeatedly.

“That’s right! Estelle, I was patient because you were sick… but you’re too late!”

“……”

Cecil, who had reverted to a child, didn’t remember their meeting from a few days ago. Estelle hardened her expression with resolve and said to the maids.

“To make up for Cecil’s disappointment, I want to play with her comfortably, so everyone please wait outside.”

The maids showed reluctance at Estelle’s command.

“But… Your Highness, that’s really not possible. Her Grace the Duke might make dangerous moves again, and it’s all so sudden……”

“She’s fine when she’s with me. Don’t worry and wait outside. I’m uncomfortable with too many eyes watching.”

“I apologize, but Her Majesty the empress has ordered us never to leave her side.”

“The empress entrusted Cecil to me.”

“But… that was before……”

Estelle shouted at the maid who kept insisting it wasn’t allowed.

“Who are you to keep objecting! Are you saying that I, the crown princess, need your permission even to spend personal time with Cecil?”

Estelle’s angry voice was cold as ice.

“Her Majesty the empress entrusted Cecil to me before! Do you think that’s any different now? I’ve only been unable to be with her because I was unwell, nothing has changed.”

Intimidated by her authority, the maids no longer dared to stop her and slowly backed away.

“We-we apologize, Your Highness. We’ll be outside, so please call if you need anything.”

After making sure the maids had respectfully closed the door and left, Estelle turned to Cecil.

“Now, please listen carefully to what I say, Cecil.”

Despite Estelle’s serious expression, Cecil had been nothing but cheerful, but suddenly, perhaps frightened by Estelle’s tight grip on her shoulders, she stopped smiling and began cautiously watching for cues.

“E-Estelle… it hurts… I’m scared……”

“Cecil… everything will be alright.”

“Huh, what?”

“Do you trust me?”

Cecil tilted her head with a face that showed she didn’t understand. Seeing her innocent expression, Estelle’s heart broke. Of all times… when her mind wasn’t sound, having to do this deed herself…… Why was she born with such a fate?

Transparent tears silently rolled down Estelle’s cheeks. She gritted her teeth and pulled out a dagger she had secretly brought.

“Estelle, what’s this?”

Looking at the amber eyes full of curiosity, Estelle whispered inwardly.

‘I’m sorry.’

She firmly covered Cecil’s mouth with one hand.

‘I’m sorry……’

And she plunged the dagger into Cecil’s chest with all her might.

‘But… I will grant your request.’

“…!”

‘I will set you free.’

As the blade penetrated deeper through flesh, Cecil’s pupils dilated, and a chilling “Ugh!” escaped through the gaps between Estelle’s fingers.

“Keuheuk……”

The more the blade dug past the ribs, the more horrible groans warmed Estelle’s hand. The red, hot blood flowed continuously, running down Estelle’s hand and dripping. The sound of blood falling to the floor stimulated her eardrums with an unnaturally loud noise.

Estelle watched Cecil’s face while silently weeping. Cecil’s eyes were wide open with pain and shock, but gradually… gradually… they grew dim. When her body went limp and sagged, Estelle removed her hand from Cecil’s mouth and embraced her tightly.

「Thank you.」

This was definitely not an auditory hallucination. Cecil had clearly said those words before her breath was completely cut off.

Soon after….. A familiar energy slowly spread, enveloping Estelle’s body. Biastes’s holy relic. It was Cecil’s corpse itself. The goddess’s primordial power, passed not through objects but from person to person.

Space distorted and Estelle’s vision rippled. The sensation of her existing ability disappearing was the same, but as she inherited the Biastes ability, Estelle was overwhelmed by a wondrous phenomenon she had never experienced before. Like… being sucked into another world, this feeling transcended everything.

An endlessly expanding universe, Estelle reached beyond limits, and infinite possibilities lay before her eyes.

Each time she accepted a new power, instinct naturally acquired the identity of that mysterious ability, and Estelle smiled sadly as she realized the nature of Biastes’s power.

Ah… so that’s it. She had finally obtained the power she had been desperately searching for. Estelle reached out to that rapturous radiance and embraced the truth of the universe with her heart.

Then, in an instant, the Empire’s sun vanished into darkness. The clear sky turned black as night, and holy light began to surge majestically, creating waves across the land. That mysterious light extended fiercely toward the sky as if trying to return the sun to the firmament.

It was the moment when the sacred breath completely disappeared from the Empire. The power that Biastes’s ability brought to Estelle was the complete annihilation of the goddess’s fragments spread throughout heaven and earth.

A hollow laugh kept escaping her. Estelle pulled the dagger from Cecil’s body, gripped it firmly, and cut her own throat without hesitation.