"Mm... I understand. It seemed this situation might be even more serious than I had imagined."
After listening to Larkspur's account, Emerald lowered the hand supporting her cheek and looked up. "At least, based on what I know about Her Majesty, this isn't something that can be reconciled just by returning to her, admitting your mistake, and making a declaration."
"I don't believe I was wrong at the time."
Larkspur looked at her and said seriously, "I will reflect on whether I was too impulsive back then, or whether my words toward those in power were too harsh. But if you are asking me to apologize to her for becoming the Sapphire Scepter, then even now, I still would not do such a thing."
"Sigh, you youngster... All right, all right, did you think I couldn't tell?"
Emerald could not help sighing again. "I never expected you to back down in the first place, so I came here today to discuss a solution to this matter. Zhe Helan, explain it to her."
"Yes, understood."
Zhe Helan, who had been standing nearby, nodded in acknowledgment and continued from Emerald's words:
"Then, Lady Cornflower, we are already aware of your circumstances. In my personal view, they do not actually conflict with our original plan. Because from the very beginning, we never expected to return you to your rightful position through mere verbal communication."
"And this plan is fully in accordance with the law. Under the Kingdom's old regulations, if a magical girl violated the law and received punishment from the Kingdom, having her personal freedom and range of activity restricted to a certain extent—including serving a sentence in prison or being exiled—then, so long as she retained the ability to act, she could offset that punishment by rendering meritorious service."
"We have