Almond – illustratör

With the Faith Council of Saints established and the way cleared to begin the grand tournament of the Saintly Trials, the stage is set for the ultimate confrontation between Carolina and her sister Flora. Although Carolina has always been overshadowed by Flora, now that she wields the power of Divinity and enjoys the support of her husband and loyal companions, she’s determined to cast off her sister’s looming influence once and for all. Meanwhile, Flora, her pride at stake, will stop at nothing to preserve her image and honor her mother’s legacy. In this grand finale, which sister will emerge as the one true Saint?

In the grand empire of Malcosias, Lady Carolina Sanchez has found herself living a life far from what she imagined. Her new husband is unexpectedly tender, her in-laws surprisingly warm, and her enemies...closer than she ever anticipated. With the Founder’s Day Fete—a glittering event where she and Edward will proclaim their marriage—fast approaching, Carolina must navigate palace politics, masked threats, and an assassination attempt that has left her shaken. Her only shield is her impulsive bodyguard, Owen, who seems as ill-suited to the task as he is brash. But as dangers begin to close in, Carolina can’t help but wonder: Why was Owen chosen to protect her? Was it fate, mere coincidence, or something far more dangerous that placed him by her side?

After surviving several assassination attempts, Carolina finally makes it to her wedding day. Being the first royal marriage in decades, the ceremony is a grand and beautiful affair set to be broadcast across the empire. But when Prince Edward refuses to consummate their marriage and leaves on a months-long quest to exterminate mana-beasts, old insecurities rear their ugly heads. Though Flora is worlds away, her dark shadow continues to loom over Carolina’s consciousness.

But then, Prince Edward sends Carolina surprising news: the mana-beasts have seemingly disappeared, but nobody can figure out why. This allows the newlyweds to finally go on their honeymoon, but it’s to be spent in Count Kissinger’s domain—a situation that leaves Carolina’s handmaiden, Marisa, less than thrilled. Can Carolina use this opportunity to rewrite her story and prove her life can be different from before? And what truths might she uncover about her ever-loyal handmaiden along the way?