The next day.

We spent time in the same dark room.

The serpent, the rose, the little prince, and the devoted maid.

What originally was a scene filled with gloom transformed into something lively as we gathered together.

The children sat in their respective places, engaged in conversation.

“...I can’t believe it.”

A sudden murmur broke the silence.

It was the maid.

She appeared to be no older than a middle schooler.

With her bright eyes shining, the young girl gazed at Elise, who lay on the bed.

She seemed astonished by her master’s improved complexion.

‘Her name was… Tanya, right?’

I had heard that Charlotte had given her this position personally.

Though younger than the other maids, she was skilled like a veteran, and her bright personality made her a perfect choice.

Her demeanor was said to be obedient, making her an ideal fit for the role.

For now, she was essentially the only maid attending to Elise.

“I-I’m so relieved… hic, I’ve been worried because her seizures have been happening more frequently.”

Tanya’s response conveyed a sense of relief.

She couldn’t bring herself to get too close but stood on the opposite side, wiping away tears.

There was a sense of maturity about her for her age.

Enduring the prickly personality of the rose must have been quite the feat for one so young.

The way she stood steadfast by her master’s side was quite admirable.

“It’s such a relief that the doctor came.”

Tanya smiled brightly.

Had she been an ordinary maid, she would have faced reprimand for intruding into conversations meant for the higher-ups, but the atmosphere suggested that the princesses all tolerated her presence.

It felt like they treated her like a younger sister.

After all, she was quite young and practically family in the secluded palace.

Any reprimands she received were quite mild.

“Tanya.”

“I-I’m sorry. I just… it’s just that seeing Your Highness so comfortable is so rare, I couldn’t help it…”

Choosing only pretty words, how could anyone scold this little angel?

In the end, Charlotte shut her mouth.

She gently took out a handkerchief to wipe Tanya’s cheeks.

“Wipe your tears. Stop crying.”

“Yes, yes… Princess Charlotte.”

The two looked just like sisters.

They stood close together, yet, following my suggestion that they maintain some distance, they only dared to look from afar.

Of course, since they were in the same room, I could still hear their voices clearly.

There was no issue with conversing as long as they were cautious about another’s mana.

Thus, we spoke while separated on either side.

“Your Highness… are you really okay?”

“Is there anywhere that feels uncomfortable?”

Most of the questions came from Tanya and Charlotte.

Each word dripped with concern.

The two had already been shocked by Elise’s improved appearance.

Just days ago, she had been on the brink of death, yet today, she showed no signs of distress, and the cold sweat that had poured from her like rain had dried up, and the regular seizures seemed to have ceased.

The previously worsening condition appeared to be getting better, which brought them joy.

Yet…

On the other hand, they also seemed worried.

Her rapid recovery raised doubts about whether she was truly okay.

Since it was still early in the treatment, I decided to overlook it.

“Elise.”

“What?”

“You always said your head hurt. How is it today?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Her voice was sharp, as if a chill had passed through.

Unaware of her sister’s anxious feelings, Elise was giving nothing but evasive answers.

Her sharp thorns rejected any approach.

“...Elise.”

Charlotte hesitated but eventually backed off.

As always, her expression was stoic, but an unusual bitterness seemed to linger in her eyes.

That bothered me.

I knew her distorted attitude wasn’t genuine, but it was disheartening that she couldn’t say a kind word to her devoted sister.

Seated beside them, I quietly slipped my hand under the blanket.

I was thinking of teasing the bad girl.

“Now, now… I think Princess Charlotte will feel hurt by what you’re saying.”

“Shut up.”

“Fufu.”

My soft hand approached her.

It was drenched in the girl’s warmth.

Delving into her neatly dressed upper body, I stopped at the soft skin of her abdomen.

Without hesitation, I pressed down on her lower core.

Squeeze-.

“...?!”

Elise’s shoulders jerked in surprise.

Turning her head, she glared at me with disbelief.

Her green pupils swayed like leaves in the wind.

“What are you doing...?”

“This is treatment.”

“Then why here…?!”

“As I mentioned, I can do as I please.”

I whispered blatant words into the ear of the girl who was weakly resisting.

Without waiting for further reactions, I pressed her belly again.

Squeeze-.

“Don’t…!”

Elise couldn’t even muster a groan.

She was being controlled by deception.

If this were to be discovered, it would lead to all sorts of trouble.

Since the treatment inherently required direct contact, it was easy to misunderstand if anyone else saw.

Thus, I had imposed restrictions on any mention of this.

Elise was caught in this situation, unable to move.

She could only hold back her heated breath, gritting her teeth until the sensation passed.

I repeated my actions, as if to teach her a lesson.

Squeeze-.

“...Ugh.”

The situation was precarious.

The room was dark, and perhaps due to the blanket covering us, neither of the other two seemed to notice.

The distance also contributed to this.

Meanwhile, questions kept coming in.

“Elise.”

“...”

“How’s the treatment going? Can you feel yourself getting better?”

“...Yeah. I can feel it.”

Perhaps realizing that ignoring their concern only meant more pressure, she belatedly responded to her sister’s question.

Perhaps because of the unexpected compliance in her answer, Charlotte blinked in surprise.

Her blue eyes curved softly, and a faint smile appeared.

It was the first smile from the little prince in a long time.

“I’m so relieved… yes, truly relieved.”

Charlotte seemed to beam at her sister’s words.

If only this had happened sooner, why must it hurt the hearts of those dear to her?

From now on, it would be a matter of correcting things, one step at a time.

I planned to keep them with me for at least another year.

I hoped that by then, everything would be resolved.

Squeeze-.

“Why this time…!”

Ah.

This was a mistake.

“You will definitely… ugh, kill me…!”

With the familiar threat of death left hanging, I discreetly withdrew my hand.

Surely, now she would snap back to her senses and respond properly.

Pretending nothing had happened, I noticed Elise glaring at me with her eyes now slightly moist.

Charlotte and Tanya remained clueless, merely tilting their heads in confusion.

“It seems your complexion has worsened.”

“Yeah, you’re flushed, and your breath is rough.”

“Elise… are you really okay?”

“Are you perhaps overdoing it because of us?”

“...It’s fine, so stop fussing.”

Elise brushed off their pouring concern.

I smiled in appreciation and continued to stroke her belly gently.

So softly that it was nearly inaudible.

“You’re such a good girl.”

Though a few curses flew back at me, I maintained a playful demeanor.

A few more exchanges of dialogue flowed without interruption.

And so we spent our time in that dark room.

The visit had been somewhat lively.

Elise fell asleep early to recover her strength.

Though she was undergoing treatment,

it was still only the beginning, so her body remained in disarray.

Thus, she could only tire more quickly than the others, and noticing this, the children stepped aside to allow her to rest.

At that time, when the rose had been covered by a glass lid,

the serpent and the little prince were having a private conversation in the next room.

“I believe you’re starting to feel a bit more confident.”

“...”

The voice echoed through the cool air.

Charlotte sat alone.

Across the sofa, the boy sat.

His dull blonde hair leaned close to the girl’s back, as he whispered into her ear.

His lips maintained a dangerously close distance.

“I would like to ask, Your Highness.”

“...”

“Has there been anyone capable of such a thing until now?”

The serpent inquired.

About the value of the miracle he had shown.

A solution to the nightmare that seemed impossible to resolve, something no one had been able to cure.

The girl’s younger sister was beginning to gain vitality for the first time.

“Do you think there will be someone in the future?”

His voice melted slyly into her thoughts.

Charlotte, lost in contemplation, eventually shook her head vacantly.

“...No.”

Her reddish lips murmured a denial.

At the same time, this statement opened her heart, accepting the value of her existence.

Knowing this, the boy curled his lips into a smirk.

“Remember this.”

He continued speaking.

“Only I can help you.”

This was a process.

Weaving through the cracks of exhaustion, licking the weakest wounds, and staining the other’s world with oneself.

From now on, she would be unable to live without leaning on him.

“Do not listen to the words of others.”

“...”

“Only I can help you, and only I will not betray your hope.”

So lean on me.

If you wish to save the princess.

His voice, sweetly invading her ear.

As if entranced by the stimulating words, the little prince nodded his stiff head.

Perhaps it was a gesture of complete devotion for what lay ahead.

“Yeah... I’ll trust you.”

“Only I can help you.”

“Only you... can help me.”

“Good.”

The

 serpent wore a satisfied smile.

The girl cautiously raised her hand and reached out to stroke his platinum hair.

Accepting without any real resistance.

Her characteristic narrow eyes gleamed for an instant.

Beneath her slightly lifted eyelids shone dangerously bright white pupils.

A sense of foreboding flowed over her lips.

“Take it slow… just trust me with everything.”

It was a remark that hinted at the future.