Elesio soon returned to the castle, with Zagato following anxiously at her side. In truth, Zagato also hoped this matter could end in a way that satisfied everyone. And besides... why had he not thought of something so simple before?
Before long, the two of them and the wolf arrived at a plaza in the center of the castle.
"This is where I pray."
Perhaps because she had returned to a familiar place, Princess Emeraude, who had previously seemed frail and delicate, appeared somewhat more at ease and calm. Pointing at the gazebo in the distance, she introduced it to the little white wolf beside her.
"Every day, I pray here at the proper time, and Zagato stays by my side..."
"Mm, please save the public displays of affection for later. Let's try this first."
Fang Zheng silently interrupted Ameno's husband-showing act. Girl, did you realize how dangerous that was? Fang Zheng was the God of Magical Girls. Since Princess Emeraude was in the form of a young girl, her prayers could reach his ears. But Fang Zheng knew that after Zagato was killed by the three Magic Knights in the anime, Emeraude appeared in adult form—well beyond the range of his protection.
At Fang Zheng's teasing, Princess Emeraude immediately blushed, while Zagato coughed awkwardly and turned away. Then Princess Emeraude quickly entered the gazebo, knelt on the ground, clasped her hands before her chest, and closed her eyes. She looked as though she were praying.
Soon, a faint white glow radiated from around Princess Emeraude's body. Fang Zheng carefully observed from the side while silently using his Personal Terminal to analyze the entire process. On the way here, he had also asked Princess Emeraude about the Pillar, but had received no useful answers. According to her, this was simply