Thave one more thing Tid like to trouble Your Highness with," Eliza said caludy.


    Eliza nodded. "Alright"


    That made Eliza chuckle. "You''re agreeing before you''ve even heard what it is?"


    Nn raised a brow, his voice light but steady. "If it concerns you, then the answer is yes."


    "What if I ask for something really difficult?" she teased.


    06%


    "There are very few things left in this work that I''d consider difficult," Nn replied. "And even if it is one of them, I''ll still do everything in my power to make it happen for you"


    He spoke without the slightest hesitation, neither flippant nor dramatic, just... resolute.


    Eliza''s heart stirred. She pressed her palms together and bowed deeply, her tone just as sincere. "With such devotion, I will never betray a friend"


    To her, Nn''s kindness-his friendship-was a debt she would repay with her life. If anyone deserved to be saved, it was him. She would cure him, no matter what it took.


    At her solemn vow, Nn offered a faint smile-handsome as ever-but if one looked closely, there was a flicker of sorrow buried deep in that smile. A kind of quiet ache... because she still called him friend.


    He changed the subject quickly. "So, what was it you wanted to ask me?"


    I''d like


    та


    find


    Someone to teach me self-defense. A martial arts instructor."


    Nn blinked. "A martial instructor


    "Yes," Eliza nodded. "I''d considered asking Tina, but she said the skills she learned were all for assassination-moves that have to be trained from childhood. They wouldn''t suit someone like me, not at this age."


    She knew she was well past the ideal age for martial training. Her bones had set; her reflexes weren''t honed from youth. But she was tired of always being the one protected. Even if she only learned a few basic techniques-paired with her poisons- it would still be better than nothing.


    Nn smiled slightly. "You want to learn martial arts, and yet you''re looking so far afield? In Hasen City, if I im to be second-best inbat, no one dares im first."


    Eliza blinked, surprised. "But you already have so much on your te..


    "No matter how busy I am, I can spare time for this, Nn replied smoothly. "And female instructors are rare. Rather than search endlessly, why not let me teach you myself? An hour a day would be more than enough."


    "But the distance from Hasen City to Saint Grace Nunnery." Eliza begat, clearly hesitant. "Making the trip daily would waste too much of your time."


    "It won''t," Nn cut her off gently. "As it happens, my condition has been acting up again. I was nning to relocate temporarily to Holy Cross Monastery anyway-it''s much closer"


    The moment he mentioned his illness, Eliza''s hesitation vanished. "In that case, you should absolutely move over as soon aAS possible. That way I can recite scriptures for you daily-it''ll help suppress the symptoms"


    What she didn''t say aloud was this once Nn moved in nearby, she could "identally lead them to discover the Bloodshade Blossom she had


    transnted. Though it wasn''t mature yet, nting the idea of its existence early on would


    10:45 Sat 19 APE


    make it far easier to exinter especially when she eventually unveiled the hundred-year-old bloom she''d been cultivating in secret.


    Nn caught the shift in her tone and couldn''t help but let a satisfied smirk tug at the corner of his lips.


    To avoid her rethinking it, he pivoted the topic once more "By the way, the King took advantage of the chaos today to strip away much of my authority. He''ll being to see you?


    Nn''s gaze settled gently on her. "Do you want me to stay by your side!"


    "No need, Eliza answered. "If he still wants to get Sophie out of the pce, then today he''ll have no choice but to how his head


    And she had been waiting a long time to see that.


    Sure enough,ter that day, Gabriel stood at the gates of Saint Grace Nunnery.


    The moment Eliza came out to meet him, he started without preamble, his voice solemn and low. "Eliza... I was wrong"


    The apology was immediate, and delivered with gravity.


    Even Anthony, standing beside him, looked shocked.


    Father... actually apologized?'' he thought in disbelief.


    He''d expected Gabriel toe with a softer approach than usual-but not this. This wasn''t just soft. This was submission.


    Then it clicked. "Is Father nning to retreat now... only to striketer? Anthony stepped forward too. "Eliza, I was wrong as well. We came here today because we want to talk. We hope you can forgive us."


    If Eliza hadn''t known these two like the back of her hand-if she hadn''t lived through a whole previous life filled with their poison-she might have actually believed them.


    She had heard these same words before. From Anthony


    That time, Sophie had been upset because someone said she wasn''t as beautiful as Eliza. To cheer her up, Anthony had crafted a vial of poison.


    He poured it on Eliza''s face, ruining herpletely.


    And as shey there, skin torn open, bloodied and howling in pain, he gently, tenderly said, "I''m sorry, Eliza. It''s my fault. But please forgive me. I''ll help you fix your face once Sophie''s happy again. It''ll just be a few days."


    But those day''s turned into weeks. Months. Years.


    He never restored her face.


    And when she finally, finally broke down and demanded to know why, Anthony had only sneered and said coldly, "Why" would I help you? You''re a jealous, spiteful wretch. Your face matches your soul-ugly. And that''s all you''ll ever be." Now, here he was again-smiling, apologizing, asking for forgiveness. Eliza looked at him and felt nothing but disgust. Pure, seething disgust. "Forgiveness?" she said, lips curled coldly. "You think you''re worthy of it?" Anthony''s expression froze.


    ENT THE ADE


    Text used-boped-thin leser he will folds diere of fame to Fixe eyes. That the might treat him beter than their


    father


    Hat his tone del no doubt. Not even a shared of merry remained for him


    AD