NEVER...
I WILL NEVER BETRAY YOU.
YOU SWITCH MASTERS SO EASILY, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT WHAT SHOULD I DO?
I DON’T NEED EARS AND A MOUTH THAT ARE LIGHTER...
THAN THAT OF A MAYFLY’S...
APPARENTLY, MY ELDER BROTHER PLANS TO SHOW HIMSELF...
AT HIS MAJESTY’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION NEXT MONTH.
IT WOULD BE BEST TO MAKE A MOVE BEFORE THEN.
ENSURE, SOMEHOW...
THAT HE CANNOT SHOW HIMSELF.
EVER.
I HEARD THAT PRINCE EISEN...
IS TARGETING HIS MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.
I HEARD THE CROWN PRINCE SPEAKING WITH SOMEONE ABOUT ENSURING HIS HIGHNESS...
DOESN'T APPEAR AT THE BIRTHDAY BANQUET.
AS YOU'VE PROBABLY NOTICED,
I WAS BORN IN THE SPRING OF BALESTEGA...
AND GREW UP ALONGSIDE WATER SPIRITS.
AMONG SPIRITS, THOSE WHO WIELD THE POWER OF WATER...
POSSESS A PURIFYING POWER CAPABLE OF SAVING OTHERS.
I THOUGHT THAT POWER...
MIGHT BE OF USE TO YOUR HIGHNESS.
YOU MUST VALUE YOUR LIFE QUITE DEARLY.
JUDGING BY HOW DESPERATELY YOU'RE NOW CLINGING TO ME.
...YES.
I WANT TO LIVE.
...PLEASE SPARE ME, MASTER.
A DESPERATE OBSESSION FOR LIFE,
EYES LIKE THOSE OF A YOUNG BIRD TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH ITS EGGSHELL,
THAT SUBTLE LACK OF AESTHETIC SENSE,
SOMEHOW MADE PERFECT BY A GAZE LIKE THAT ALONE...
AS EXPECTED, IT WOULD BE A WASTE TO KILL HER.
I'LL TURN THIS AROUND SOMEHOW...
FOR ANY OUTINGS, SEEK PERMISSION FROM ME, NOT THE CHIEF ATTENDANT.
MAKE SURE TO BURN INTO YOUR MIND WHO YOUR MASTER TRULY IS.
MASTER, DOES THAT MEAN....
YOU...
WILL BECOME THE MOST FASCINATING PAINTING AMONG ALL THAT I POSSESS,
DIANA.
THE NEXT DAY.
ARE YOU...
SAYING I SHOULDN'T DO ANY WORK?
YES, IT IS THE CROWN PRINCE'S ORDER.
CATHERINE LUIGIAN, THE NEW HEAD MAID OF THE DETACHED PALACE.
HIS HIGHNESS HAS ORDERED YOU TO COME TO THE STUDIO AS SOON AS BREAKFAST IS OVER, SO HURRY.
BUT...
I ALREADY SAID YOU HAVE NO DUTIES TO PERFORM, DIANA.
SOON, HIS HIGHNESS'S UNCLE, DUKE CHRISTEN,
WILL FILL THE DETACHED PALACE WITH SERVANTS HE CAN TRUST,
AND YOU, WHOSE BACKGROUND IS UNCERTAIN....
Haa...
ENOUGH CHATTER. JUST HURRY AND GO TO HIS HIGHNESS.
YOUR EYES,
KEEP THEM STILL.
THEY'RE LACKING SOMETHING.
...WHY DOESN'T IT HAVE THE SAME FEELING AS IT DID BACK THEN?
...HOW ANNOYING.
MASTER, WHAT SHOULD I-...
OH, DEAR...
RED DOESN'T SUIT YOU.
THAT'S TROUBLESOME.
Diana swears she will never betray the Crown Prince; however, her master appears not to trust her, accusing her of changing masters as circumstances dictate. It is revealed that Prince Eisen plans to act before His Majesty's birthday celebration to prevent the Crown Prince from presenting himself. Diana explains that she grew up with water spirits in Balestega and that those who wield the power of water possess a purifying power. The Crown Prince finds Diana's clinging to life and her gaze aesthetically striking; thinking it would be a waste to kill her, he takes Diana under his own protection. The next day, Diana is given no duties and is told to seek permission directly from the Crown Prince, not from the head maid. Diana learns that she will become the Prince's most captivating painting.
