"Aren't you mistaken about something... Whether you can cure this disease or not, it's none of my business."

Her vacant eyes stared back at me.

The girl, who had briefly closed her mouth, then poured out her bitter thoughts.

A sentence that must have been born from terrible pain.

"I told you from the beginning. I don't want treatment."

In other words:

"I don't want to live."

Had it been the life filled with despair? 

She had been suffering from a dreadful curse. 

The royal family, once her family, had mercilessly abandoned her. 

She was trapped in a palace, a prison no different from a cage, thoroughly isolated from the outside world, and had to spend her days alone.

Only endless suffering kept her company.

In the pain of her insides being torn apart, the girl spent ten years in limbo, unable to live or die.

It had been enough time to break her.

'She lived her entire life like that.'

The girl didn’t know what comfort was.

She had never experienced it.

Though she might have had an inkling, Rose's inner self was much more rotted than I could imagine.

I was touched by her pitiful words.

But at the same time, I knew they were lies.

- "Ah, ah...?"

- "How... how come... I'm not... ugh, why suddenly... me...?"

I remembered.

The first meeting.

The moment her seizures miraculously stopped.

It passed like a mirage, but in that fleeting instant, her eyes had shone with a clear, transparent light.

Her green pupils were sparkling.

They were the eyes of someone who wanted to live.

"You’re afraid, aren’t you?"

The words that she didn’t want to admit— "I don’t want to live"— were nothing but a lie.

Elise was simply afraid of hope.

After being tormented by nightmares for countless mornings and having her shallow hopes betrayed, now even the slightest hope had been worn away and disappeared.

I silently faced her despair.

"Shut up."

"Is that really enough for you?"

"Don’t speak as if you know me. Just leave me to die."

"Charlotte would be sad."

"......"

For a moment, the rose fell silent.

It was like I had caught her off guard.

She didn’t expect me to mention her sister’s name here.

Without giving her a chance to recover, I continued.

"Your highness cares for you."

Despite being trapped in a lonely cage for her whole life, Elise wasn’t entirely alone.

The little prince had never once given up on her.

Even though there was an imperial decree barring entry into the palace, he still disregarded it and showed great care for his sister.

Later, he even searched for a cure for her condition himself.

Knowing this, Elise could not ignore the presence of her sister, Charlotte, no matter how cold her attitude was.

Before her personality had become twisted like this, there had been mentions of Elise following her sister’s lead.

She probably had some reason for rejecting acceptance.

"Why are you bringing up that person suddenly?"

Elise spoke with furrowed brows.

Her tone was nonchalant, but her words were laced with unintended sharpness.

"I’m just expressing my concern."

The rose raised her thorns.

To break through the hard wall, I needed to provoke her in this way.

I subtly pushed through the opening I created.

"What will you do if she really leaves?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I’m talking about Charlotte. She’s already sacrificed so much for you, hasn’t she? But you say you’ve given up on life, and now I’m worried she’ll get tired and leave you behind."

"I’m hoping for that. I don’t need that annoying person."

"Are you really saying that?"

I smiled lightly.

A sneer mixed with a mocking undertone.

"If that happens, there will truly be no one left by your side."

As I said those words.

If the little prince were to leave, nothing would remain in this place.

Only a single, pitiful rose would remain.

Even Tanya, who was attending to Elise, had been assigned by Charlotte herself, so if she were to leave, she would most likely follow Charlotte.

In that case, no one would ever enter this place again.

"Is that really the outcome you want?"

"......Yes."

Her delayed response.

The girl remained stubborn, but her green eyes were trembling.

I poured more fuel into her agitation.

"I understand. I’ll report this to Charlotte myself. I’ll respect your wishes and try my best to convince her."

"Convince...?"

"I’ll make sure she doesn’t come looking for you anymore. If I say it’s for treatment, she’ll undoubtedly agree."

I wasn’t joking.

Since I had declared my full commitment to her wishes, I knew that if I brought up treatment, she wouldn’t hesitate to comply.

This was my way of isolating the rose.

"Think about it."

Of course, I had no intention of tormenting her, but I acted as though I was pushing her, knowing that she wouldn’t budge without pressure.

I smiled faintly as I raised my head.

Her delicate wrist was now re-wrapped in bandages.

"I’ve applied the ointment. Don’t touch it carelessly, or the wound could worsen. At least bear with it for tonight."

"......"

"I’ll take my leave now."

The rose lay still, silent.

I left the room, exiting into the heavy silence, and moved away from the tangled thoughts of the room.

Even until that moment.

Elise did not say a word.

---

After finishing my treatment, I stepped out of the room, and the outside was already fully immersed in the night.

I walked down the darkened corridor for a moment.

The unusually chilly air brushed by me like a quiet breeze.

Lost in thought, I walked, and before long, a scene caught my attention.

It was the garden that led to the end of the corridor.

*Thud thud-.*

I moved forward with familiar steps.

For the past few days, after my schedule ended, I’d take a light stroll like this.

It was perfect for clearing my crowded mind.

‘Another day gone by.’

I slowly crossed over the bushes.

Though it seemed somewhat plain for a princess to stay in, it had a beauty that came from its simplicity.

Every time the grass brushed my legs, a gentle sound filled the air.

The varied plants, tangled together, formed a sanctuary of life that seemed to be alive in the quiet moonlight.

*Rustle, rustle-.*

"Ha... I hope it goes well."

I sighed heavily as I muttered to myself.

My thoughts, of course, were about the rose left alone in the room.

As I recalled the plans I had to follow, I stepped forward.

Lost in thoughts about the future, a breeze suddenly tangled in my hair.

I absentmindedly looked up at the sky.

"......"

The backdrop, thick with darkness.

On that vast canvas, countless twinkling dots were scattered across.

Tonight, I stared particularly hard at one shining star, and a voice that had been buried in my memories began to fill my ears.

It was a memory now rusted over.

- "Oppa! I want to make a wish to the stars too!"

Perhaps it was foolish of me to hold onto such memories after at least five years had passed.

Like a single dying cigarette, the old memories flared up.

As I sighed instead of letting out smoke through my lips.

*Thud-.*

"......?"

I felt an unfamiliar presence.

Reacting to it, I turned around and saw a man walking into the garden.

He briefly glanced around, then approached.

Our eyes crossed, and we both scanned each other.

'The entrance to the palace is supposed to be strictly regulated.'

This was a place covered by the emperor’s personal decree.

Since it was the area where the Rose Princess stayed, it was nearly impossible for anyone without a proper status to step inside.

Yet, the man was walking with confidence.

I looked him over carefully, and certain distinguishing features stood out.

The face appeared to be that of someone in their middle age.

'Is that... could it be?'

Those shining blue eyes.

The platinum hair that came to mind on its own.

The elegance in his every step, and the calm demeanor that didn’t falter even in the darkness.

Lastly, the royal insignia embroidered on his clothes.

All these clues pieced together, and I quickly dropped to one knee.

It was a perfectly respectful gesture.

*Thud-.*

The man’s steps stopped in front of me.

I lowered my head and offered a bow, my posture straight, paying my respects.

I spoke with seriousness in my voice.

"I am honored to meet the greatest sun of the empire."

The "greatest sun."

The man, who was referred to by that title, nodded.

"Mm."

Valcaros Lantana von Staufen.

The father of the princesses.

The ruler of this empire stood before me.

'What is he doing here?'

Why is he here, of all places?