"Phew, I'm exhausted..."
After returning to her palace and finally sitting down, Sophia Einhorn at last dropped her royal reserve, leaned back in her chair, and let out a long sigh.
"Your Highness, please stand up. Let me help you remove your armor."
A maid came over and spoke.
She had brown hair, large eyes, and a few freckles on her face. Though not particularly pretty, she looked gentle and considerate.
Sophia rested for a moment before mustering the strength to stand and spread her arms, letting the maid remove her armor. Wearing all that heavy equipment through the lengthy ceremony in the hall had truly exhausted her.
"Your Highness, did anything unexpected happen during the blessing ceremony?"
The maid asked quietly as she helped remove the armor.
"Thankfully, no. Things have been fairly quiet lately."
Sophia asked, "What about my father? Has his condition improved today?"
"His Majesty has been sleeping almost constantly, with only brief moments of lucidity. He may not have much time left..."
The maid answered respectfully. Although the Church of the God of Combat's ceremony had been very grand, it had clearly been nothing more than a formality and had done nothing for the emperor.
"Ah..."
Sophia let out a long sigh at the news.
As expected, no miracle had occurred. And as long as her father could not get back on his feet and take charge, her two older brothers would not abandon their secret struggle, and the attacks against her would continue.
"There's one more thing, Your Highness."
The maid finished removing her armor and put it away, lowering her voice as she said, "Marquis Fedorov sends his apologies. He says he intends to support His Highness Nicholas from now on..."
Sophia had been fixing her hair. Her arms paused at the news,