It was deep in the early morning hours when Eve fell sound asleep. Michael was on his way to change the water in the basin when he ran into Sylvestian.
“Oh, Sylvie. You were awake at this hour?”
Sylvestian was just leaving the barracks when he saw that Rosenite was barely asleep.
Rosenite had been exonerated and spared quarantine, but she was still in a half-conscious state. Sylvestian couldn't seem to let go of his concern for the imprint. His tired face was filled with depth.
“Is Her Highness the 7th Princess okay?”
“She’s asleep now. Her fever won’t go down.”
“Is she okay?”
Even though the whole situation was over, Michael couldn't answer right away.
Sylvestian reproached himself for asking the wrong question.
The terrible experience of almost losing someone was not something that could be easily overcome.
In the end, Michael's emotional connection to Eve pushed him to the brink of insanity. It's not surprising that the scars of this day would remain with him forever.
“No, it’s me.”
Michael lowered his eyes and confessed his mistake.
“Because I tried to harm the engraved image in front of you.”
It was definitely a sensitive issue.
“Isn’t it impossible to harm the royal family because of loyalty brainwashing anyway?”
"Well..."
A thin smile tugged at the corners of Michael's mouth, replacing the denial. Only then did Sylvestian realize he could no longer ignore him.
“Anyway, I’m glad you kept your wits about you even during the hard times. I can’t stop you from running wild.
“Ah, yes. I’m glad I didn’t have to let you experience the shock of losing my imprint.”
“You speak profane language so casually.”
“Because it’s true.”
In fact, in some ways, Rosenite was saved because Sylvestian got in front of Michael and acted as a brake.
'Even if I kill the 8th Princess, I must first break Sylvi's imprint before killing her.'
Even though Rosenite was not involved in this case, that didn't change his assessment: she was still a threat to Michael.
In these deliberate thoughts, Michael suddenly realized that Sylvestian was staring at the water. Sylvestian seemed to be lost in thought as well.
“Oh, it’s just... Her condition was really dangerous earlier. I had a feeling that the spiritual bond between you and the 7th Princess was something special.”
The death of an Imprinter, or its equivalent, is a psychological blow to a homunculus. However, it doesn't always lead to extreme consequences like rampage. Michael is a rare case.
Michael smiled and replied meaningfully.
“The imprint is very deep.”
“Ah, well. You were not an easy homunculus. Even the Emperor himself failed to bring you into his service, and it would have been impossible for him to accept you as a knight without a very deep imprint, I understand.”
“I don’t mean it exactly like that, but that may be one reason.”
Eve and Michael's imprinting rituals had devoured the amplified alchemical stones. There had to be an effect.
The homunculus imprinting was a magical and alchemical ritual, and alchemy is based on the idea that the quality of the result varies according to the sacrifice and ingredients.
Then Michael remembered something he'd been overlooking. Even as Sylvestian was being imprinted in front of him, a substantial offering was made. Though it was meant to compensate for Rosenite's lack of talent, it was a piece of the Philosopher's stone.
Michael's brow narrowed slightly. It seemed that he should awaken quickly, just in case, and turn on his friends upon liberation.
“What is the condition of Her Highness the 8th Princess?”
Sylvestian held his tongue, and that was enough of an answer.
What happened in the barracks was a shock to Roseniet, who was already mentally weak and had nightmares.
Sylvestian had to comfort Rosenite as if he were a child who had just seen a ghost.
“It seems like the nightmare had something to do with Her Highness the 7th Princess.”
Michael's eyes softened at Sylvestian's confession. Perhaps Rosenite's dreams are like his own. He's not the only one who sees past lives through dreams.
“I wish Her Highness the 7th Princess could come and check on the 8th Princess for a while, but she's not feeling well right now, so I can't ask her.”
Those words were also a roundabout warning to Sylvestian.
It meant that he would not allow Eve to be asked about Rosenite by surprise like before.
" I get it."
Sylvestian also had no intention of making his own judgment any longer.
The words Michael had spoken to Rosenite in the barracks right after Eve collapsed were still etched deeply in my mind.
"Did you feed her belladonna poison again?"
Again?
He felt like he shouldn't interfere with the relationship between these three people.
Sylvestian decided to wait patiently.
The next day, Eve, as expected from a patient, had a stamina sausage stew instead of a stamina sausage stew.
She finished her meal with a simple sausage soup. Then she asked Michael.
“Rosie? Is she awake?”
After all, internal enemies are scarier than external enemies. No matter how much Michael tried to block out the external factors that were causing Eve's anxiety, it was useless to ask her directly.
Michael tried to suggest it slyly.
“How about taking care of your body first?”
“It’s gotten a lot better.”
Her fever would rise again when she moved, but it was nothing compared to yesterday when she was so sick that she went into magical hibernation.
“Just as I was blessed with growth through the medium of the branches, I was also blessed with healing and purifying powers.'
The mana core was also quickly stabilizing as meditation was performed.
If things continued this way, it seemed like the core growth spurt would be completely over within a few days.
As Eve let go of her worries, the first thing that came to mind was Rosenite.
It was because she kept thinking about the face that Rosenit showed me right after Eve collapsed.
Her stepsister, who she thought would just laugh viciously, was shocked and terrified.
It was a face that felt unreal and unfamiliar, so Eve wanted to meet Rosenit to check it out.
Of course, there were realistic reasons to convince Michael.
“The problem started before she could even drink the World Tree tea properly. I can’t just leave her alone, she’ll still be suffering from nightmares.”
“All you have to do is deliver the tea leaves through Lady Granice.”
“Oh, that’s right. I thought of Peony, but there’s another reason. Fiona told me that Michael said some weird things to Rosie when I fell down. I'm going to go take care of that.”
"Ah."
Only then did Michael remember how he had scolded Rosenite for feeding her Belladonna's poison again.
It seemed that Eve was responsible for everything he said and did when he was out of his mind. Michael's eyes were gloomy.
“From now on, I will be especially careful about my words and actions toward the royal family at all times.”
“Let’s go to Rosie first.”
Since Eve's will was firm, Michael did not try to dissuade her any longer.
Eve then went to Rosenit's barracks with Michael.
“Hello, 7th Princess.”
Sylvestian greeted Eve with a smile as she arrived at the door much earlier than expected.
Sylvestian also greeted Michael with his eyes.
'You reported to Her Highness the 7th Princess early.'
'No.'
A light of emotion rose within the walls. Friendship was forcibly strengthened.
Amid the sticky feeling, Michael slightly averted his gaze.
“What is Rosie’s condition?”
“She must have been very shocked and is in a very unstable state.”
“Sleep?”
“She barely slept, and she kept waking up freaking out.”
“The problem started before she could even drink the World Tree tea properly. I can’t just leave her alone, she’ll still be suffering from nightmares.”
“All you have to do is deliver the tea leaves through Lady Granice.”
“Oh, that’s right. I thought of Peony, but there’s another reason. Fiona told me that Michael said some weird things to Rosie when I fell down. I'm going to go take care of that.”
"Ah."
Only then did Michael remember how he had scolded Rosenite for feeding her Belladonna's poison again.
It seemed that Eve was responsible for everything he said and did when he was out of his mind. Michael's eyes were gloomy.
His mood subsided as he remembered Eve bowing to Brigitte yesterday to defend him, he promised with a reflective look.
“Oh, no, wait a minute. I'll just turn Rosie and Betty into people who you don't have to watch your language.”
Her good, sunny smile was full of sincerity. Eve, after all, was his Princess.
Since Eve's will was firm, Michael did not try to dissuade her any longer.
Eve then went to Rosenit's barracks with Michael.
“Hello, 7th Princess.”
Sylvestian greeted Eve with a smile as she arrived at the door much earlier than expected.
Sylvestian also greeted Michael with his eyes.
'You reported to Her Highness the 7th Princess early.'
'No.'
A light of emotion rose within the walls. Friendship was forcibly strengthened.
Amid the sticky feeling, Michael slightly averted his gaze.
“What is Rosie’s condition?”
“She must have been very shocked and is in a very unstable state.”
“Sleep?”
“She barely slept, and she kept waking up freaking out.”
"Yes."
Eve answered with a sigh.
Soon she threw back the veil and stepped into the barracks. Michael and Sylvestian followed her.
Even though it was morning, the barracks were dark and had a damp atmosphere.
On the table lay breakfast, untouched as if Sylvestian had laid it out.
Rosenit was curled up on the bed. Eve approached her slowly.
Even though she must have heard the sound with her good hearing, Rosenite did not move at all.
“Your Highness, the 7th Princess has arrived.”
Only then did Rosenite's hunched shoulders flinch slightly. It was unclear whether it was a response to Sylvestian's voice or to Eve's visit.
Michael moved a chair in front of the bed. Eve sat down there.
“Rosie.”
“If you wake up, don’t eat.”
Attempts at conversation didn't seem to make much sense. Eve reached back in her arms, eager to settle the matter. A small glass vial emerged.
“You look tired, so I’ll go now.”
That was when.
“...Sister Eve.”
A small call caught Eve's ear. Eve was about to turn around but instead looked back at Rosenite.
“Don't go.”
Comments
Post a Comment