The red-velvet room atop the Dim Palace fell quiet. Prince Nash and Benadetto in the mirror both seemed to be occupied with their own thoughts. After an unknown length of time, Prince Nash, tall and thin beneath his black robe, was the first to break the silence. "It's just the two of us here. Tell me honestly—do you think I'm a qualified administrator?"
"You shouldn't be asking me that—you know, from the moment I was born, I was set to be forever loyal to and trusting of Violet's administrators. I will not question your decisions, nor will I doubt the workings of the Violet Kingdom." Benadetto's expression grew serious. Standing with perfect composure inside the mirror, she answered Nash Narte's question as meticulously as she had on the day she first awakened. "That is the foundation of my existence."
"Having the goal of one's entire life set from the moment of birth... actually, we're much the same in that regard." Listening to the figure in the mirror, Prince Nash suddenly revealed a self-mocking smile. "We are born into this world with our identities and duties already assigned: farmers, merchants, craftsmen, scholars, nobles, warriors... and me, the 'Arcane Prince.' You're right. There is no need for us to doubt Violet's workings. It is a perfectly fitted machine, its operating rules established from the very beginning. As parts of that machine, all we need to do is turn in our proper places."
Prince Nash seemed more melancholy than usual today. Benadetto merely watched him quietly from the mirror, with not the slightest surprise in her eyes—this was perfectly normal, because today was the "day of prayer." The sleeping Lord would release His breath from the dream, listening to and answering the voices of His people. On this day, when the Lord was