Chapter 1
Diana, born into the prestigious House of Pereshte, always believed she was happy.
Raised in a wealthy household, showered with love, she possessed a warmer heart than anyone. She believed that the most precious thing in the world wasn’t money or fame, but people. That’s why she treated everyone with kindness and warmth, regardless of whether they were nobles or commoners.
She always insisted that sharing was one of the duties of the nobility, and she even volunteered to help orphans who had lost their parents at a young age.
Anyone who had the chance to spend time with Diana—whether noble or commoner—inevitably fell for her noble character. Some even went as far as to say she was an angel descended to earth. Because of this, Diana came to be known as the Saint of House Pereshte.
However, that wasn’t the only reason she became famous.
Her angelic nature was matched by her striking beauty, spreading her name far and wide.
Her golden blonde hair glistened like dripping honey, her eyes shone as if they held emeralds, and her thick, delicately arranged lashes framed her smile in a way that made it impossible to look away. And as if she were blessed by a goddess, she possessed incredibly rare magical power.
Sadly, Diana was never able to fully blossom with that gift.
She was forced into a political marriage with Calypso de Ernst, the Grand Duke of the northern region of the Edith Empire.
In the Edith Empire, nobles often arranged marriages for their children when they were young, but the Marquis of Pereshte had never done so. He wanted his beloved daughter to choose her own groom.
Unfortunately, by the time Diana made her debut and reached marrying age, there were few high-ranking nobles left of suitable age. Additionally, many noble families feared the Pereshte family’s overwhelming influence and wealth, and thus hesitated to propose marriage.
The Marquis began to grow anxious. If Diana wasn’t going to join the Magic Tower and become a mage, she would have to marry like other noblewomen.
That was when Calypso de Ernst appeared. Rarely seen in high society, he never danced with women even when he did attend balls. Because of this, he was often called the Cold-blooded Duke of the North.
The Marquis immediately arranged a meeting between Diana and Calypso. Though he had a somewhat cold appearance, he turned out to be a polite and upright young man, contrary to the rumors.
“What do you think? Though his family may not compare to ours, being a Grand Duchess wouldn’t be beneath you.”
Though his character was good, not everything was ideal. The House of Ernst held the title of Grand Duke in name only. In truth, they lacked both power and wealth. Calypso’s grandfather had been the emperor’s eighth illegitimate child, which was the only reason the family held its noble title.
But when Diana met Calypso, she could tell. He wasn’t like the rumors. He was gentle and kind.
“It’s alright, Father. I like him.”
There was only one reason Diana chose him.
“Love doesn’t always have to be passionate. I will respect and cherish you forever, Diana.”
Those words that touched her heart—the sincere proposal to respect and cherish her forever—led Diana to accept Calypso’s proposal on the spot.
Even after their marriage, the two didn’t share a passionate romance. Still, they always treated each other with respect and care. Diana believed that this kind of quiet love was love all the same.
Before long, she gave birth to a precious child. Though she lost consciousness during labor, thanks to her childhood friend and doctor, Alicia, both mother and child came through safely.
“Your Grace, please wake up.”
By the time Diana regained consciousness, everything had already been taken care of. In Alicia’s arms, a tiny baby who had just finished her bath wriggled gently.
“This… this child…”
“How about the name Catherine?”
Calypso, looking down at the baby, suggested a name with a strangely somber expression. Still, the way he gazed at his child was full of warmth.
“Catherine… I like it.”
Exhausted from the long labor and fainting spell, Diana was drained. Yet, when she looked at her baby, a gentle smile naturally spread across her face.
“Catherine… Catherine…”
Whispering the baby’s name, Diana made a vow in her heart—to love her more than anyone, to protect her for as long as she lived.
And so, Diana, Calypso, and Catherine lived a very happy life.
Catherine would often sing to them in a beautiful voice like a canary’s. Diana enjoyed listening to her songs while having tea with Alicia.
But misfortune came without warning.
It happened on a day when Catherine, Alicia, and Diana had gone on a picnic near the Grand Duchy. They were sitting on a mat, enjoying the gentle breeze, when suddenly a piercing scream tore through the air.
“Kyaaah!”
Startled, Diana and Alicia rushed in the direction of the scream.
There, they found Catherine with her eyes tightly shut, blood streaming from them.
“Mother, it hurts so much! Mommy!”
“Oh, Catherine!”
Diana gathered her flailing daughter into her arms, soothing her trembling body. Alicia frantically searched the surrounding bushes, then suddenly cried out.
“This can’t be…!”
Her crimson eyes trembled with shock. Diana looked at her anxiously, holding Catherine close, and asked in a panic.
“What happened, Alicia?!”
Alicia pointed to a spot in the brush. Diana’s gaze followed her finger—to a dense patch of black thorns.
“It’s a poisonous plant… a very strong one. If it touches the eyes, it can cause blindness. But why would something like that be in the Grand Duchy…?”
At her words, Diana’s hands began to shake. Watching Alicia’s darkened expression, she asked again in a trembling voice,
“Then what will happen to Catherine…? Don’t tell me—!”
Alicia quickly examined Catherine’s eyes, but her face contorted further in distress. Diana let out a shaky breath and supported Catherine to help her stand.
“Alicia, can you treat her here?”
Biting her lip in worry, Diana asked. Alicia shook her head.
It was impossible to examine Catherine’s bloodied eyes properly in this place. They needed to return to the estate as soon as possible for a full diagnosis.
“…I can’t see clearly here. We need to go back to the estate immediately and examine her properly.”
“…Alright. Let’s move carefully. Catherine…”
As Diana held Catherine’s hand and led her to the carriage, her emerald eyes darkened with despair.
They hurried back to the estate. Alicia, after laying Catherine on the bed, began carefully disinfecting her blood-covered eyes. Just then, Calypso rushed in, having heard the news.
“What has happened, my lady?!”
“Huuk… my love… Catherine’s eyes… a poisonous plant…”
Diana collapsed into Calypso’s arms, sobbing. Even so, her eyes never left Alicia, who was examining Catherine.
But after a moment, Alicia quietly shook her head.
“She’s… completely lost her sight.”
The poison from that plant had been far too strong—Catherine’s eyes had already lost all vision.
“No… no, this can’t be…!”
Catherine was only fifteen. She thrashed her trembling hands in the air, her eyes bleeding, consumed by fear. She sobbed from the pain stabbing through her eyes—but even more from the despair of never being able to see again.
“Sob… I won’t be able to see beautiful flowers anymore, or the little birds… right, Mother?”
Catherine’s grief-stricken voice broke Diana’s heart. With a trembling hand, she gently caressed her daughter’s bloodied eyes.
She was a girl just on the verge of blooming brighter than anyone. She hadn’t even made her debut yet. Losing her sight was no different from losing everything.
“There’s really no way…?”
Diana barely held back her tears as she asked Alicia, who had come with her.
Alicia, unable to hide her anguish, opened her mouth hesitantly.
“There is… one possible way…”
“Tell me, Alicia—please!”
Diana looked ready to do anything. Alicia hesitated, debating whether to say it at all, then finally spoke with care.
“…I’ve heard it’s possible to use holy power to transfer someone’s sight to another.”
But there was a condition: it required a heart full of deep, earnest love. In other words, it was something only Diana, who truly loved Catherine, could hope to achieve.
“It needs… a very strong, sincere heart for it to work.”
“Holy power and a sincere heart…”
“Mother, no!”
Catherine grabbed her mother’s hand tightly, shaking her head. But Diana had already made up her mind.
“My lady, you can’t possibly mean—”
“I’ll go to the temple.”
“My lady!”
Calypso tried to stop her. No matter how precious their daughter was, offering her own eyes wasn’t a decision to take lightly.
“My love… I love Catherine more than my own life.”
Tears streamed down Diana’s cheeks. She threw open the window, and the warm spring breeze tousled her beautiful golden hair. Outside Catherine’s room bloomed a lush rose garden.
Catherine had always loved and cherished flowers more than anyone. To never again see these beautiful things—how tragic her life would become.
It was okay if she herself could no longer see. As long as Catherine could live happily.
Diana took one last look at the roses, vibrant in every shade, and etched them deep into her memory.
“Please prepare the carriage… my love.”
Moved by the deep sincerity in her eyes, Calypso could do nothing but nod.
And so, Diana went to the temple and gave her sight to Catherine. The shimmering emerald light vanished from her eyes.
Darkness fell completely. ‘So this is what it feels like, Catherine.’
She was a little afraid. But it was okay. She could endure it.
Because she had saved her daughter.
But what she didn’t know… was what kind of expressions Calypso, Alicia, and Catherine wore as they looked upon her blind form.
