The next afternoon.

I entered the palace to go to the guest chambers where the Princess of Veloster stayed.

I hesitated at the door, and Awen asked,

[You’re not going in?]

‘Huh? I... I’m going....’

I couldn’t bring myself to knock. I needed to ask—why does she oppose Father and his friends so fiercely? What reason could there be...?

Just as I wavered, the door opened, and Dalia stepped out.

“What are you doing here?”

“Right back at you.”

“Me? I’m always with the Princess of Veloster!”

She bragged as if to prove how close they were. Her lady’s maid beside her giggled wickedly—as if she took pleasure in my chill reception by the Princess.

I said coldly, “I came to see Her Highness too.”

“The Princess is resting.”

Dalia crossed her arms and tilted her mouth up.

“She couldn’t sleep last night. I came ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) to brew her a tea that helps with deep slumber.”

“I didn’t ask about that, so step aside.”

As I moved to knock, Dalia yanked my wrist.

“I said she’s resting!”

“I’ll ask—if she says she is, I’ll leave.”

Dalia snorted in small vexation.

“She’d refuse to see you anyway—what’s the use?”

“If you must mutter to yourself, do it out of earshot.”

“Did I say something wrong? Everyone knows the Princess hates you.”

“....”

Dalia shrugged.

“But why are you so despised? Or rather, I think I know.”

“What?”

“You’ve always been at odds with adults.”

“Don’t spout nonsense—”

“It’s true. Your grandmother, your father, even your mother found you disagreeable.”

I arched an eyebrow.

“Thanks to you.”

“What do you mean?!”

“You weave lies to blame me—did you think your parents and grandmother, who seemed ready to give you the world, would love me instead?”

“I never lied—!”

“You’re the one who stole money from Grandma’s purse—yet I was blamed for touching her wallet. You broke your father’s golf club—but it was my fault.”

At the blunt truth, Dalia’s face turned scarlet.

“That was when I was a child!”

“Even as a child, you should know right from wrong.”

“Lies...!”

Dalia clenched her teeth. The same girl glaring at me mere moments ago now burst into impish laughter.

“Why don’t you deny being hated by the Princess?”

“....”

“Why do you deny everything else but that?”

“....”

“You know it too—the Princess hates you.”

“....”

“And all the other adults hate you as well. They say you’re insolent, never simply obedient, as if the child stands atop the adult’s head.”

What Dalia said rang true: many nobles had slandered me just so.

She smiled smugly.

“Want to know why? Because you grew up unloved.”

“You....”

“See? As Yuhye-min you were insufferable, and when you became Erilot, even your own mother abandoned you.”

“...!”

I gripped my skirts tightly.

Dalia continued triumphantly.

“Honestly, you’ve never known unconditional love.”

“....”

“Your grandfather, your father, even your brothers, and some few others—they only liked you for what you gave them.”

“Stop it.”

“So you struggle endlessly for affection.”

“I said stop.”

“Well, I suppose being abandoned by your mother explains it—but it’s still pitiful.”

“I said stop—!”

I exploded, and just then—

Click—the door opened.

“Your Highness!”

Dalia lit up and hurried to the Princess.

“You said you’d rest—but here you are! Oh, did you hear an unpleasant voice? I nearly sent her away....”

“It is time for the regent prince’s appointment.”

“Ah, of course.”

Dalia glanced at me disdainfully, then turned back to the Princess with a giggle.

“I will attend to you.”

“....”

The Princess and I met eyes. I bowed my head.

“I apologize for arriving unannounced.”

“...What is it?”

“I wished to ask you something....”

“Go now. I do not meet with ladies-in-waiting.”

I pressed my lips together. Awen murmured,

[How ruthless. As if you mean to show everyone you’ve offended her.]

I lowered my head in silence. As the Princess strode away, Dalia followed, chirping,

“I’ll have the best tea leaves ready for you to enjoy when you rest!”

My shadow grew long under the afternoon sun.

Dalia chattered on endlessly.

“So I told them: if this is for the Princess, only the finest tea leaves will do! My maid Leticia said she has the perfect blend...!”

In the corridor, the Princess of Veloster stopped and eyed Dalia.

Dalia looked up at her with a bright innocence. The maid by her side chuckled,

[I like the Princess.]

‘I do, too.’

She alone was gentle to me—strong, beautiful. Her coldness toward Erilot showed her character.

‘The Princess does not waver before power.’

[Yes, yes. I wish she were my mother.]

‘It’s a thought I understand.’

[But I grew up with my mother.]

‘Perhaps, you know? They say in her youth Laontra was in turmoil, so she was raised among the common folk.’

[Could be...?]

‘To protect her, they might have entrusted the child to a peasant woman.’

At that, the maid’s face brightened.

[Then I could be not just of the Astra line, but also Laontra royalty?]

Dalia gazed at the Princess in wonder.

‘I’ve always wanted a mother like that.’

Not one who came home in a stained tee from the kitchen—but one who wields a cold blade at the center of power.

The Princess asked,

“What is this ‘Yuhye-min’ you speak of?”

“What?”

“You were so loud about it.”

“Oh... that... Father told me not to mention it....”

Dalia clamped her fist, determined.

“I will tell you because you are the Princess!”

She looked around, ensuring none could hear, then whispered,

“You know I am a dimensional traveler, yes?”

“I have heard your soul was brought here from another world.”

“Actually, in that world, Erilot and I were sisters.”

“What?”

“I don’t know how—but we were sisters. I saw the souls. Erilot was the older half-sister named Yuhye-min... her mother had remarried in that world.”

Dalia recounted her life to the Princess: the love of her parents and grandmother in childhood, the family’s hatred of Yuhye-min, the grandmother’s beatings.

“Why so much hate... for a sister to care for her younger sibling? You only stayed late at a friend’s for a project, and they all turned on you....”

“You two weren’t that far apart in age!”

“Princess....”

Dalia shrank in embarrassment.

“Were you angered?”

“...Continue.”

“Well... I do think my grandmother was wrong. Storming into a friend’s house screaming was foolish....”

“...”

“Watching you ostracized, I pitied you, so I tried to help.”

“...”

“But that gave rise to resentment, and you began to talk back....”

Dalia babbled helplessly. The Princess clenched a fist so pale it trembled.

Then Grimie’s voice echoed in my mind.

“Do you know why Erilot is the Savior?”

“A story of a cast-off daughter?”

“Haha, I like your practicality. But you, her birth mother, should know.”

“Why?”

“Because she is the Messiah of the Chronos Council.”

“...!”

I had chased every clue about the Chronos Council. As a palace princess, forbidden texts were open to me. Laontra’s second Kumal founded the nation, so I discovered knowledge even Grimie lacked.

“The Messiah is one protected by an ancient priest’s guardian aura.”

Among the ancient heralds, one walked between worlds. A Seilon—able to wield that power—could have guided Erilot’s soul to safety.

In that moment, every puzzle piece snapped into place.

Why was a mere three-year-old so astute—because she was sent back in time.

A time-manipulating Apostle must have used that power. The reason was clear:

‘Something went wrong in her first life.’

To protect her soul, Seilon cast her to another world. And there, monsters nearly tore my daughter—my Erilot—apart.

“ERILOT—!!”

I felt I could not breathe. A child I had once faced away from to survive had endured those terrors.

“Princess...? Are you unwell...?”

“Such a dreadful past,” the Princess murmured, “I am sorry you endured it.”

“Yes... thank you. It was hard under such parents....”

Dalia smiled sadly.

“You know, I had talent at the piano—but my parents and grandmother tried to use me until I failed, then turned on me.”

“How sharp your tongue is,” the Princess said. “You twist others’ pain as weakness—and speak of things you should never utter.”

“Princess....”

“You so resemble your family,” the Princess said as she gently took Dalia’s throat.

“But be cautious.”

“P-Princess, why...? I’m scared....”

“Speak carelessly again, and your neck will break.”

“....”

“Leave now. I shall see the Regent alone.”

With a cold glare, the Princess passed Dalia and strode off. Dalia stared after her, dumbfounded.

[Why? Why did she do that? She seemed angry.]

‘I don’t know... did I strike her fatal spot? She, too, was abused by her noble kin. Maybe I reminded her of Erilot’s past—and her own.’

[Oh no! Then I must apologize...!]

At that moment, hands seized Dalia’s wrists and slammed her into the wall with a crash.

“Eeek! What is this... little mashi—?”

The guardians had arrived: the Mashi-ta Twins, Hera, and Gu, glaring as if to tear Dalia apart.

Dalia, about to cry for help, froze.

‘We’re within Gu’s barrier! No sound can escape...!’

Turning ghastly pale, Dalia shouted,

“Don’t you dare attack me! Father will expose your order to the world!”

“We heard everything.”

“I—I don’t even know what you—!”

“Don’t you dare—!!”

Her face drained of color. They had heard all she said about Erilot.

Gu’s sister, whose devotion to the Messiah was extreme, nearly lost reason. Hera glared with lethal eyes.

‘How can they look at me like that?’

All for a few careless words about Erilot?

“I didn’t lie—did I?!” Dalia cried.

Hera ground her teeth,

“Shut it before I rip out your tongue.”

“Suhurma—.”

“That name!” Hera roared, the barrier trembling.

“It is a name for the Messiah.”

“I hate it—she doesn’t want to be the Messiah! So I offered to be it for you—!”

“The Messiah is one who summons the bravest soul.”

“What?”

“One who never gives up despite suffering, who rises after ruin, who learns the meaning of life instead of succumbing. That is the Messiah—and that is Lady Erilot!”

“...I could do it too.”

“You couldn’t, not in a million lives,” the Mashi-ta elder said.

“The only reason we guardians endure you is for the Messiah’s safety.”

“....”

“If it means you, the Savior, might be hurt, we would overturn the world itself.”

The younger Mashi-ta withdrew his hand and threatened,

“If you dare utter such words again, you stake your life.”

Dalia sank to her knees. The guardians, still glaring fiercely, departed.

Once outside the outer palace, the younger Mashi-ta asked,

“Might she discover the Princess’s true identity?”

Hera answered evenly,

“Yes. With the Messiah’s relic, she saw the guardian aura.”

“We should have warned her not to ask—and advised her to avoid her.”

“She holds deep resentment toward us. Would she have believed us if we’d spoken?”

“When might we ever be forgiven?”

“—Could we?”

Their faces darkened.

I exhaled in resignation.

[Are you unwell?] Awen asked. I lacked the strength to respond, but shook my head.

‘I did think she might refuse to speak.’

It’s all right. Speaking with the Princess was not my only purpose in the palace.

With the Empress Dowager’s help, I had slipped into the Empress’s quarters. An elderly maid who oversaw her care warned me,

“You must leave soon. Consort Ocelia will arrive shortly.”

“So we may be sure of her return.”

“....”

The maid’s face was grave. I nodded and entered the Empress’s bedroom.

She lay on the grand bed, eyes closed as if dead.

[No scent of the living.]

Indeed. One must tread so carefully that only the faintest breath is heard—and her complexion was ashen as a corpse.

‘First, assess her condition.’

If a noble such as the Empress lacked a guardian aura, she could not survive this.

I fitted the holy stone into the pendant and returned my gaze to the Empress—only to find...

‘Huh?’

What on earth is this!