Chapter 78
The next morning, what was placed on the table was none other than candied sweet potatoes.
Even sweeter than usual, the naturally sweet sweet potatoes were coated in sugar syrup and honey.
“…This is really delicious!”
While Liliana smiled happily as she ate, Jeina, who took a bite of the candied sweet potatoes, was watching Helene’s reaction carefully.
Helene had remembered the random words Jeina had said yesterday.
Not only was it not just the usual roasted sweet potato, but Helene had made a delicious sweet potato dish that Jeina had never seen before. She felt grateful again.
Just say it casually, subtly…
It’s not even that difficult to say, right?
Jeina mustered her courage and spoke.
“…I-It’s delicious. Th-Thank you.”
‘Thank you for taking April to the Tower of Magic, for letting me participate in the Debutante Ball, for making me a royal knight…’
The words she couldn’t say out loud she swallowed inside.
She could easily picture Liliana smiling if she looked up, so Jeina focused even more on eating the candied sweet potatoes.
From today, Jeina, the royal guard, returned to the crown prince’s chambers and stood by the sleeping prince’s side.
Her duty was to protect him, so Jeina could thoroughly observe the sleeping Louihardt’s face.
Since their first meeting had left her flustered, Jeina hadn’t had a proper chance to study his face.
Shiny platinum hair inherited from the empress.
The crown prince had skin beautiful enough to make even women envious, but his high nose and sharp jawline resembled the emperor’s.
Usually playful and joking, his upturned eyes and large red pupils had always seemed fox-like and cute.
With his mouth closed now, he appeared breathtakingly handsome, just as he had once said.
But that was all the admiration she allowed herself.
Soon, the emperor’s aide entered the crown prince’s bedroom, followed by the emperor himself.
A girl Jeina had never seen before came in after him, but she immediately recognized her.
‘So this must be Princess Angelina…’
With hair like sunlight and eyes sparkling like a summer lake, as the rumors said, she truly looked beautiful and lovely enough to captivate the crown prince.
Her delicate shoulders, draped in a sky-blue dress adorned with pearls, seemed like they could fit perfectly in Jeina’s arms if she tried to hug her.
Her appearance naturally triggered a protective instinct.
“…L-Louihardt….”
As soon as Angelina saw Louihardt lying there, she was so shocked she seemed about to collapse.
The emperor stepped forward and held Angelina’s wavering shoulders.
Once steadied, she approached Louihardt again.
“Louihardt… I’ve come….”
She gently caressed his cheek and then held his hand.
The scene of the two of them was like a painting, leaving everyone speechless, gazing with admiration.
Their eyes were those of the future emperor and empress.
Jeina, looking away, suddenly noticed her own rough hands—blistered and scarred…
She had thought Liliana was overreacting, but compared to Angelina’s pale, slender hands adorned with a tiny aquamarine ring and diamond bracelet, the contrast was staggering.
‘…I’m going to be a knight, not a noblewoman!’
Jeina reminded herself. Holding a sword was her destiny.
Her rough hands were something to be proud of. She bit her lip, shaking off distracting thoughts.
“Angelina, let’s stop now and call the clerics.”
Angelina nodded and stepped back, and soon the clerics arrived with the servants sent by the emperor.
This time, they planned to heal Louihardt with divine magic.
Jeina prayed it would work.
“Then let’s begin!”
The clerics formed a circle around Louihardt, with a high-ranking minister at his feet.
Muttering incomprehensible chants, the clerics enveloped Louihardt’s body in a warm, golden light.
‘So this is divine magic…!!’
It was Jeina’s first time seeing divine healing, but it felt familiar.
It resembled the light that came from Liliana when she healed someone.
As expected, Liliana’s healing ability was indeed divine magic.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but the golden light from Liliana’s hands seemed even warmer and brighter than all the clerics’ combined.
The light from the clerics gradually dimmed.
“…Continue!”
At the emperor’s command, they poured all their strength into the divine magic.
The emperor glared at Louihardt as if daring him.
‘You are my only son. You’re not meant to die like this!’
His red eyes, filled with anger at the situation yet tinged with emotion, were fixed on his son.
“…Continue.”
The minister, exhausted, finally spoke.
“Your Majesty… If we expend more divine magic, the clerics’ lives are at risk. We should continue gradually later. For today, this is as far as we can go…”
The clerics, drenched in sweat, staggered, barely able to stand.
“Damn it!! Didn’t you say divine healing was different?!”
The minister held a very high position, untouchable even by the emperor.
The emperor, fully aware of this, could do nothing.
His guards and aides barely prevented him from grabbing the minister by the collar.
“Your Majesty, today is not the day. If the clerics die, it will be impossible to receive divine healing again.”
The emperor realized he must give up for now.
Expectations and disappointment were always proportional.
Jeina felt the same.
Perhaps Liliana’s divine magic could have healed him…
She thought this suddenly.
Liliana’s light seemed brighter and warmer than all the clerics’ combined divine magic.
If it were Liliana’s power, things might be different.
Should I ask? No, I should ask her first…
At that moment, Angelina spoke up.
“…Perhaps I could try?”
“Y-Your Highness?”
“Actually… I also have divine magic… With my divine magic, I might be able to heal Louihardt!”
These clerics were the finest in the capital.
The emperor thought it was sweet that Angelina cared for Louihardt, but he no longer held any expectations.
No matter how talented she was, it seemed impossible she could succeed where the clerics failed.
Still… she was the woman his son loved. Perhaps it might work.
“…Very well. Try it.”
It was like letting a child hold a sword for the first time.
The emperor willingly granted the gesture to his son’s beloved future wife.
“I will try.”
Angelina clasped her hands, knelt, and prayed to the Sun God.
Astonishingly, Louihardt’s body glowed, just like when the clerics had done it.
The light was blindingly bright and warm.
It was a light Jeina had never seen before.
The emperor, Jeina, and everyone in the room were amazed, unable to speak.
“I-I’ve never seen divine magic this strong…!!”
“It’s so warm and powerful!!”
The clerics held each other’s hands, witnessing a miracle.
Louihardt’s eyelids twitched slightly, and he let out a small groan.
“…Mm.”
The emperor, surprised, grabbed his aide by the collar.
“Did you hear that? It wasn’t just me, right?”
Louihardt’s twitching eyelids opened.
The glowing red eyes, passed down through generations of Herssen emperors, were revealed.
