“La… Lailea!”

At Theodor’s astonished cry, Laila vaguely realized that something strange was happening. She also understood that the phenomenon was connected to both her and Nathan.

‘Please save him…’

Instinctively, Laila channelled the energy she felt in her heart towards Nathan. It was as though her desperate prayer had become reality, bringing him back to life.

The ball of fire that had tormented her only moments earlier now felt like a cool breeze enveloping her heart.

Laila moved the energy according to her will, directing it towards the wound in Nathan’s abdomen.

Golden light streamed from her and rapidly seeped into the wound, radiating a brilliant glow.

‘This is it.’

Although it was a power unlike anything she had ever experienced before, Laila controlled it with ease, as though she had been using it for a long time.

The longer the golden light remained over the wound, the more it gradually closed. The bleeding stopped and color returned to Nathan’s face.

Unconsciously, Laila was not only healing his visible wounds, but also the internal injuries he had sustained while fighting the assassins alone.

“Haah…!”

How much time had passed? Having exhausted all her power, Laila’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, and her hands were trembling.

“L-Laila?”

Then she felt warmth within her arms and heard his voice.

“Sir Nathan!”

Nathan, who had lain completely still and silent moments earlier, was now looking at Laila as though nothing were wrong.

“You healed me. But how…?”

Even Nathan could not explain what had happened. Confronted with excruciating pain and a failing body, he had prepared himself for death.

But as time passed, he began to feel lighter, and soon his mind became clearer, too.

He had quite literally died and come back to life — all thanks to Laila.

“Your magic has manifested.”

Theodor, who had witnessed everything, approached them.

“My magic manifested?”

Theodor lowered himself onto one knee before the startled Laila and slowly examined her hands. The deep furrow between his brows made him appear grave.

“Yes. It is healing magic.”

Healing magic! Could it be called an answer to her desperate prayer?

“You must have been in pain before it manifested. Are you all right?”

“Ah!”

Only then did she understand why she had been in such terrible pain over the past few days, repeatedly losing consciousness. It was because her magic was manifesting.

A distant remark suddenly flashed through her mind.

“They say members of the Adelina imperial family are born with their own unique magic, do they not?”

The manifestation of unique magic was an unmistakable sign of imperial blood. Yet Laila was the only member of the imperial family to be born without magic.

“Your blood is so lowly that you could not even be born with magic.”

Scarlet’s mocking laughter echoed in Laila’s memory.

Laila trembled at the horrific voice.

“Are you all right? Using magic for the first time must have taken a great toll on you.”

“Ah, I’m all right.”

Pulling herself from her thoughts, Laila answered Theodor, who was watching her with concern.

“Wow…. You used your very first magic on me? What an honor.”

Although he had died only moments earlier, Nathan was smiling as though he had been given a wonderful gift.

The sight of that smile brought tears to her eyes, absurdly.

‘His refreshing smile is exactly the same as it was back then.’

Having regained all her memories through the manifestation of her magic, Laila recalled the first time she had met Nathan. She recalled Nathan laughing and declaring that the princess was far too adorable, and that he wanted her to be his little sister.

He had remained unchanged until now.

This brought Laila immeasurable comfort. Taking Nathan’s hand, she conveyed her feelings.

“Thank you for protecting me.”

“…!”

His grip on her hand tightened. Unable to speak, he stared at her with wide eyes as his face flushed.

“And thank you for remaining exactly as you were, Nathan.”

“D-Don’t tell me…. Laila, your memories….”

Nathan grasped Laila’s shoulders as he asked. Pure joy filled his trembling eyes.

“Yes. They have all returned—every memory I lost.”

It was not only Laila’s expression that had changed. Her voice was steady, her gaze was composed, and the childhood affection she had felt for Nathan and Theodor had returned intact.

How could she ever have forgotten Nathan? He had promised to protect her ever since they were children, and he had kept that promise.

“Laila!”

Nathan pulled Laila into a tight embrace and breathed heavily.

As though overwhelmed with joy that she had regained her memories—as though deeply moved that she remembered him—he could not conceal the frantic beating of his heart.

***

Once the situation had been brought under control, darkness fell.

Laila, Nathan and Theodor decided to stay in the small village for a few more days. Theodor had explained that adjusting to newly manifested magic would take time, and that Laila might fall ill again.

“Haah.”

Unable to sleep in the quiet night, Laila stood outside the inn and gazed up at the night sky.

A pleasantly cool breeze swept past her.

When she drew a deep breath, she felt refreshed, as though new life were filling her body.

“Lailea.”

“Ah, Your Highness.”

Laila awkwardly bowed to Theodor.

Her recovered memories were filled with the radiant smile of the young Theodor, but they had been separated for far too long. She felt awkward and uncertain how she should behave around him.

“Why are you out here at this hour? You must be tired. You should be resting.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“…Then may I stand beside you and admire the night sky with you?”

“….”

Only then did Laila notice that Theodor was trembling. His hands, clasped behind his back, shook faintly, and even the gaze he directed at her seemed uncertain.

“Yes, you may.”

He was afraid that the younger sister he had not seen in so long might reject him.

“But how did you know to come here?”

Even in hindsight, Theodor had appeared at precisely the right moment and brought the situation under control. Had he not arrived, Nathan might have died while Laila fought the assassins.

“I discovered that Empress Scarlet had sent assassins and came here immediately.”

“Ah….”

Empress Scarlet.

At the name she never wanted to remember, Laila lowered her head.

“She had not yet discovered that you were returning, but she knew the person being escorted posed a threat and sent assassins.”

“I see.”

Just as she had done in the past, Empress Scarlet was threatening Laila.

For a moment, Laila wondered if she should return to Adelina Imperial Palace after all. Despite being a princess, she no longer had the strength to endure another devastating ordeal.

“Lailea.”

“Yes.”

Laila quietly answered Theodor’s low call. The atmosphere surrounding them felt both uncomfortable and sorrowful.

“Do you…?”

‘Yes, it was uncomfortable because Theodor stood before her like a man awaiting judgement.’

With barely suppressed emotion, he asked:

“Do you resent me?”

“….”

Resentment.

To be honest, she had forgotten about him for so long that she couldn’t bring herself to resent him. Having lived her whole life unaware that she had an older brother, the sudden return of those memories threw her into a state of profound confusion.

“I don’t know. Honestly….”

Laila answered truthfully. He felt too distant for her to know whether she resented him.

At her response, Theodor lowered his head and dropped to his knees.

“What are you doing? Please get up, Your Highness.”

The crown prince of an empire was kneeling before her. Flustered, Laila tried to stop him, but he did not move.

“Lailea….”

Theodor looked up at her. She was holding his arm, urging him to stand up. Yet he could not bring himself to speak.

There were far too many things he wanted — and needed — to say. He felt lost, unable to decide where to begin.

“Your Highness.”

“I’m… sorry.”

When Laila knelt before him, Theodor finally found the courage to say what he had wanted to say all along.

It was the apology he had longed to give her ever since they had met again.

He wanted to embrace his suffering younger sister and tell her how much she had endured. However, as he watched Laila anxiously care for Nathan, Theodor became painfully aware of the distance between them.

Unable to take her eyes off Nathan even after he had returned to life, Laila seemed closer to and more comfortable with him than with her own brother.

‘She had lost her memories. She had not lived as Lailea for a very long time….’

It was only natural, yet Theodor was filled with regret and fear.

What if Laila refused to forgive him? If she poured out her resentment and wept, what could he possibly say?

The only thing he could offer the younger sister who had suffered alone for so long was an apology.

“I’m sorry. I failed to protect you…. I’m sorry I left you alone to endure such suffering.”

“….”

Laila wanted to tell him that it was not his fault, but instead of words, tears streamed from her eyes.