“Do you have important information I should know? Or has the goddess spoken to you about the Princess?”

“…”

“If not, there’s no reason for Pope Isis to come all this way…”

Erin looked at him with puzzlement. A desperate hope gleamed in Duke Asili’s eyes, but seeing Erin’s confused expression, he quickly abandoned it.

“No, it’s nothing. Forget what I said.”

Duke Asili gazed down at Erin and Alexis, recalling the remarkable feats Erin had accomplished recently.

‘If I had been alone in that place, I couldn’t have prevented the tragedy.’

He knew he wouldn’t have been able to protect people from hordes of monsters while simultaneously defeating the Emperor.

Had Erin not appeared at that crucial moment, he might have met a miserable end himself. The Duke raised his eyes to look enviously at Erin, who had miraculously recovered despite being afflicted by the Emperor’s curse.

His daughter, Princess Asili, remained in a deep slumber. Though she had sacrificed herself willingly, the situation left him with a bitter taste.

He didn’t resent those who survived, it had been his daughter’s choice, driven by her sense of duty.

Yet he couldn’t help feeling heartbroken seeing her lying alone and forlorn while everyone else was happy.

Recently, he had refused even Ferdin’s request to see the Princess and had withdrawn into seclusion, unable to find direction. The Emperor who had reduced his daughter to this state was dead, and there was no way to take revenge on the goddess who had shown her this path.

All he could do now was quietly watch over his daughter’s final moments.

The Duke thought of his daughter. With her paper-white face and closed eyes, she would never regain consciousness. Such was the fate of all Saints.

Without even a chance to say goodbye, she would disappear into the goddess’s embrace.

“Duke?”

Erin’s voice brought him back to reality.

“You said you came to see the Princess.”

Erin nodded.

Silently, the Duke led Erin and Isis toward the Princess’s room. Upon arriving, Erin was struck speechless.

The Princess’s body had become terribly emaciated. Her face, once pale but full of vitality, now held no expression, seemingly drained of its soul.

She merely breathed shallow breaths with her eyes closed, her breathing so faint it seemed ready to cease at any moment. Even those with no medical knowledge could tell her life was fading rapidly.

Looking at the Princess, Duke Asili spoke, “She’s being kept alive by holy power, but even that won’t last much longer.”

Isis nodded with a somber expression. It was inevitable. No matter how much holy power they poured into her, she couldn’t survive without proper nourishment. This was one of the horrors of eternal sleep: slowly withering away to death.

“If not for Lady Erin, I wouldn’t have allowed anyone to cross the threshold of the Duke’s mansion.”

There was a reason Duke Asili had been refusing visitors. He couldn’t bear to show others how emaciated she had become.

‘She was always the child who hated showing weakness to others.’

The Princess had always tried to overcome the holy power that tormented her through sheer willpower, while hoping others wouldn’t notice her suffering.

“I hate when people pity me for being ill.”

“Even this pain is something I chose.”

Originally, the Duke had no intention of granting Erin’s request to visit the Princess. But after dreaming about his daughter, his mind changed.

He felt Erin needed to meet his daughter, a feeling that everything would be resolved and she would open her eyes if Erin arrived.

“Last night, she appeared in my dream. She scolded me for doing strange things.”

“Strange things?”

“Yes, she was angry that I had spoken so impiously about cutting down the goddess.”

Isis’s expression turned startled upon hearing the Duke’s words.

“Then she told me not to prevent you from coming.”

Duke Asili said this with a self-deprecating smile, believing he had dreamed it because he desperately wanted his daughter to wake up.

“I… don’t know what to do anymore.”

Erin looked at Duke Asili. The always strong-looking Duke suddenly seemed unfamiliar to her, reminding her of her father’s denial.

Erin approached the Princess carefully and gently took her hand. Nothing happened. Princess Asili remained with her eyes closed, seemingly lifeless.

Still holding the Princess’s hand, Erin spoke softly, “You once told me I was a kind person.”

Erin habitually fingered her necklace, something she always did when she desperately wished for something. Naturally, no answer came.

“But you are kinder than I am, Princess.”

“…”

“You also said you wanted to become a strong knight like me. That you wanted to be strong.”

“…”

“But Princess, you’re already stronger than I am.”

Just as Erin finished speaking, the jewel on her necklace shattered into pieces.

* * *

In the carriage leaving Duke Asili’s mansion, Erin couldn’t hide her troubled feelings. When her necklace broke, she felt a glimmer of hope. After all, whenever the necklace glowed or changed, it meant the goddess was lending her power.

Perhaps… she had thought the Princess might wake up. But after the necklace shattered, nothing changed.

Erin stared at the broken necklace with empty eyes. The Princess’s face wouldn’t leave her mind.

Isis, who had been quietly observing her, finally spoke up.

“Actually, I wasn’t going to tell you since you would find out soon anyway. But seeing your expression, I can’t bear to keep silent.”

Isis sighed softly and addressed Erin.

“The goddess made a promise to you, Lady Erin.”

“Isis?”

“She promised to make you happy.”

“…”

“When you are at your happiest, the Princess will be able to open her eyes again.”

Saying this, Isis shook his head, frowning with apparent frustration.

“I can’t tell you the details. I’m only telling you this much because the goddess asked me to, seeing how distressed you are.”

“Then the Princess can wake up? Really?”

At Erin’s words, Isis gave a faint smile.

“Yes, so don’t worry and feel free to return to the academy.”

Relieved by his words, Erin looked out the window with a joyful expression.

Though becoming a Sword Master meant she no longer needed to graduate from the academy, Erin didn’t want to leave. Graduating from Atenz Academy as a proper knight had been one of her greatest wishes since the past.

Of course, she still had obligations as a Sword Master to fight monsters on the frontlines, but Duke Asili and Ferdin had made special arrangements for her, considering her young age.

Isis continued speaking beside her.

“The reason I accompanied you here was to tell you this fact. However, revealing the future is burdensome even for me, so I couldn’t tell anyone but you.”

Saying this, Isis also turned his gaze out the window. Erin tilted her head at his words, puzzled.

She was already happy. If the Princess returned to life, that would surely be her happiest moment.

“I don’t understand… when will I be at my happiest?”

To Erin’s question, Isis replied in a meaningful tone.

“You’ll realize it soon after you return to the academy.”

* * *

Back at the academy, Erin felt more intense gazes on her than ever before.

Karon stood protectively between her and the students, saying, “Sister, hurry up. I understand their curiosity, but these guys are really annoying.”

Countless swordsmanship students had gathered upon hearing the news of her return to the academy.

Deliberately ignoring their stares, Karon turned to Erin.

“I heard His Majesty was very disappointed. Since he’s at the imperial palace, he won’t be able to see you often now. Are you okay with that?”

“It can’t be helped. Just because we’re far apart doesn’t mean I… don’t love Ferdin.”

Erin thought of Ferdin. A smile automatically formed whenever she thought of him. Despite his busy schedule with the coronation preparations, Ferdin had stayed by her side. Sometimes Alexis would come looking for him when urgent matters arose.

When she told him she wanted to return to the academy, his expression was unforgettable.

“Since it’s what Lady Erin wants, I’m fine with it.”

Remembering Ferdin’s face, unable to hide his disappointment yet willingly letting her go, a gentle smile spread across Erin’s lips.

“I’m glad you look happy. You seem content.”

“Happy?”

“I’m still upset. Because of Corelia, you lost so many things you should have enjoyed since childhood.”

“…”

“You should have received these kinds of looks much earlier.”

Karon said, looking around at their surroundings. Students were gazing at Erin with admiring eyes. Some had competitive spirits, others showed respectful glances.

One thing was certain: they all saw Erin as their goal to strive toward.