"We’re going to the Academy. All of us."

The casual way I dropped the bombshell left Elise staring at me in shock. Her expression was blank for a moment, but as understanding dawned, her green eyes wavered with confusion.

"Wait… what do you mean?"  

"Exactly what you heard."  

"But the Academy… that’s not just a sudden problem. It’s impossible!"  

"And why are you so certain of that?"  

I responded calmly, deliberately feigning innocence.  

---

Elise’s confusion was plain. Her crimson hair, cascading over the bed, caught the light as she stared at me in disbelief. Her eyes, searching for answers, felt as if they were prodding at my face for clarification.  

I smiled, my voice soft and reassuring.  

"You have nothing to worry about. Everything is already part of the plan."  

---

My words lingered in the air, smooth and deliberate.  

Leaning closer, I narrowed the space between us, letting our breaths mingle in the stillness of the room.  

"Your Highness," I murmured, reaching out to touch her stomach gently.  

---

Sliding my hand just beneath the fabric of her nightgown, I let my fingers graze her pale skin. Her warmth seeped into my fingertips as I pressed lightly.  

"Ah…"  

A faint sound escaped her lips, her breath catching as her body tensed.  

Her reflexive reaction was something I had come to expect after the past few days of treatment. Even the lightest touch now elicited a response from her fragile form.  

---

"Wait… hold on…"  

My fingers moved with intention, kneading softly as her lips quivered, unable to stifle the faint, involuntary sounds slipping past them.  

The cool air between us grew warmer, her trembling breaths filling the space. Her unfocused eyes began to lose their clarity, a slight haze overtaking them.  

---

"Ah… haa…"  

Her breathing grew ragged, the once cold room now heated with a tension that neither of us acknowledged aloud.  

I leaned closer to her ear, my voice a soothing whisper.  

"All you need to do is trust me."  

---

Her fragile resistance faltered as her body leaned into the shadow I cast. Like a rose losing its petals, she was drawn into the embrace of something inescapable, unaware that it would consume her entirely.

"…Fine."  

Her response was faint, accompanied by a nod.  

I smiled, reaching out to gently stroke her hair.  

The sharpness in her eyes, once filled with hostility, had softened, though the remnants of her fierce personality lingered faintly.  

"Good."  

---

It was enough.  

What I wanted from Elise was simple: the ability to intervene in her life, enough to prevent her from succumbing to despair.  

With this first step, I could finally begin rewriting the tragedy that had loomed over her.  

---

"Everything will be fine."  

"You keep saying that. Stop making me repeat myself."  

Her lips jutted into a faint pout, her irritation laced with a hint of warmth.  

We exchanged a few more words, filling the coldest night of autumn with the beginnings of change.

---

The next morning, I immediately discussed the matter with Charlotte.  

Unlike Elise, who had been taken off guard by my sudden announcement, Charlotte had been prepared. I had given her advance notice, which sped up the conversation considerably.  

However, she didn’t agree without hesitation.  

Much like her sister, Charlotte’s reaction was laced with doubt. Her blue eyes reflected skepticism.  

"Can this really work?"  

"All you need to do is follow my instructions. This is all for Elise’s sake."  

"…If it’s for her, then fine."  

---

Her voice, perpetually drowsy, carried a hint of uncertainty.  

She hesitated before nodding, spurred by her desire to help her sister. She left to petition the Emperor personally.

---

As expected, Valcaros didn’t meet with us.  

His excuse was simple: he was busy.  

Instead, he sent one of his aides, a man who knew of Elise’s condition and the secrets surrounding it.  

The aide delivered the Emperor’s message with a curt tone.  

"His Majesty said he doesn’t particularly care. Do as you please."  

---

Predictable.  

Valcaros didn’t block our plans. He showed no interest, as if he had already discarded all attachment to his daughter.  

When I mentioned that Elise’s condition required treatment outside the palace, his approval came within half a day.  

He even arranged for her to be enrolled in the Academy, offering assistance with the process.  

---

On the surface, it seemed like he was throwing her away.  

But in some ways, his actions also resembled those of a father letting go.  

I found myself reevaluating him, though the conclusions I reached weren’t entirely positive.  

---

"Still," I thought, "he’s Valcaros, the Heart of Ice."  

He was, and always would be, the worst father. A man who had cast his daughters into hell.  

Yet, if my theory about him was correct, perhaps there was room for a faint, begrudging understanding.  

---

"Well, then," I said with a smile, "it seems everything is proceeding as planned."  

Charlotte remained silent, her expression complicated.  

Her transparent gaze betrayed the worry she couldn’t fully suppress.  

"…Will she really be okay?"  

"Hm?"  

"I’m just… worried."  

---

She was speaking about Elise.  

Though her sister’s condition had improved over the past two weeks, she was still confined to bed for most of the day.  

It was clear Charlotte doubted Elise was ready to leave the palace.  

---

Her concerns weren’t unwarranted.  

Without a wheelchair, even a short walk would have been impossible for Elise. Taking her outside the palace was undeniably a risk.  

In the original story, her admission to the Academy had been indefinitely postponed for this very reason.  

---

"But this time is different," I thought.  

This time, I was here.  

If Elise wanted to survive the chaos ahead, staying by my side was her best option. Keeping her confined to this cage would only worsen her depression.  

---

"I understand your concerns," I said, my smile fading slightly.  

My gaze grew firm as I addressed her.  

"But continued doubt will only make things more difficult."  

"That’s not what I—"  

"If you’re not willing to follow my lead, I may have no choice but to step away."  

"No, please… don’t."  

---

Charlotte’s hand gripped my sleeve tightly, her transparent eyes trembling with desperation.  

Having finally grasped a chance after so much despair, she clung to it fiercely.  

I placed my hand on her platinum hair, stroking it gently.  

---

"I don’t ask for much," I said. "All I need is for you to trust me and follow my guidance."  

"I’m sorry…"  

"Do you remember what I told you before?"  

"That only Yuda could help me."  

"Exactly. Ignore what others say. My voice is the only one you need to listen to. It will never betray your hope."  

---

Charlotte repeated my words softly, as if trying to etch them into her mind.  

Finally, my stern expression melted into a smile.  

"I’m glad we’re on the same page. I’ll handle everything regarding the cage."  

"Okay… I’ll leave it to you, Yuda."  

"Gladly."  

---

The conversation ended with Charlotte nestled against me, surrendering to the comfort of my presence.  

"I’m here for you," I whispered.  

And so, the plan moved forward.

---

Two days later, preparations were complete.  

We were ready to leave the cage.  

A carriage awaited outside, the same one we had arrived in.  

"It’s time to go," I said.  

---

Elise, seated in a wheelchair, seemed momentarily dazed before regaining her focus.  

"Oh."  

"The others have already boarded."  

"Then I suppose we should go."  

"Of course. Allow me."  

---

I pushed the wheelchair gently, guiding her toward the carriage.  

Though she could walk short distances, standing for long periods was still difficult. Her frail body required constant care.  

---

As the wheels rolled quietly, Elise’s voice drifted to me.  

"I never thought… I’d leave this place."  

She wasn’t wrong.  

In the original story, Elise’s fate was to remain trapped in this lonely cage until the end.  

---

"From now on," I said, my voice soft and steady, "your life will be filled with good things."  

"If that’s really possible…"  

"It is. The world is full of things you haven’t experienced—things to see, hear, touch, and feel. You’ll find that life has more to offer than fear. You’ll find hope."  

"…I’ve never been afraid."  

Her words were defensive, but the flicker in her eyes betrayed her cautious excitement.  

---

This was her first step, her first flight beyond the cage.  

I couldn’t know how much she had longed for the open sky.  

All I could do was help her spread her wings again.  

---

As the wheelchair moved forward, Elise murmured, "I don’t get it."  

"What don’t you get?"  

"You and my sister… you’re both so good to me. I don’t understand why."  

"I’ve told you before," I replied, smiling faintly.  

"And I’ll say it again."  

---

"I just want you to be

 happy."  

---

As the autumn breeze carried us forward, we left the cage behind.  

We stepped into the world.