Episode 15 of “Who Made Me a Princess” plunges viewers into a heart-wrenchwrenching and pivotal moment, forever altering the relationship between Princess Athanasia and Emperor Claude. What begins as a ceremonial offering quickly spirals into a life-threatening crisis, forcing Athanasia to confront her father’s deepest pain and the very origins of his cold demeanor. This episode is a critical turning point, blending tragedy, love, and sacrifice as Athanasia risks everything to save the only family she has left.
The Harvest Festival’s Dark Turn at the Magic Wellspring
The episode opens with the annual harvest festival, a seemingly joyous occasion where Athanasia accompanies Emperor Claude to the sacred magic wellspring. This ancient site, described as the birthplace of souls and the source of all life, radiates intense luminous light and holds profound significance for the Obelian Empire. However, the peaceful ceremony takes a sinister turn when black magic is unleashed. Athanasia is engulfed by this dark force, pulled beneath the water as dream lotuses transform into deadly, coiling monsters.
In a desperate act of protection, Claude immediately reacts, shielding Athanasia with his magic. As the magical barrier shatters, Claude selflessly pushes his daughter away, sacrificing himself as he is dragged under the water and disappears from her sight. The attack, later attributed to a tampered hair ribbon, causes the dream lotuses to become hostile, endangering both Athanasia and Claude.
Athanasia’s Desperate Resolve and Lucas’s Aid
Athanasia awakens to find Lucas, the formidable Magician of the Black Tower, by her side. Still weak from the attack, she instinctively searches for her father. Lucas explains the dire situation: Claude is trapped within a sealed magical barrier, a consequence of his protective magic being triggered. Only those whom Claude trusts with all his heart can enter this mental prison. Lucas, despite his immense power, was unable to penetrate the barrier, as forcing it open would cause severe damage to Claude’s mind.
Overwhelmed with worry and realizing her father’s sacrifice, Athanasia declares her unwavering resolve to enter the barrier herself and wake him. Lucas warns her of the extreme danger; if she fails, Claude could be erased from existence, and her own mind could be destroyed by the attacking lotuses. Despite the peril and the ongoing purification process of the magic wellspring, Athanasia, seeing Claude as her only family, pleads for Lucas’s help. Reluctantly, Lucas agrees, placing a protective spell around her and guiding her towards the core of Claude’s mind, with the strict instruction that she must return before the purification is complete.
Journey Through Claude’s Memories
Upon entering Claude’s subconscious, Athanasia embarks on a poignant and often painful journey through her father’s most deeply engraved memories, searching for the key to awaken him.
Diana’s First Appearance and Happy Times
Athanasia first witnesses memories of Claude and her mother, Diana. She sees Diana dancing gracefully at a harvest festival, captivating a young Claude who watches her with quiet admiration. This is the moment her parents first met, a tender scene that reveals the initial spark of their relationship. She also sees numerous memories of her parents spending peaceful and happy days together, full of love and laughter. These glimpses are confusing for Athanasia, who wonders why Claude never spoke of her mother despite these evidently cherished memories.
The Pain of Childbirth and Loss
As Athanasia delves deeper, the memories become more painful. She encounters a memory where Claude desperately opposes Diana’s decision to give birth, fearing that the child would drain Diana’s magic and cost him her life. Despite his anguish, Diana chooses to go through with the birth, leading to Athanasia’s own arrival. Athanasia witnesses her mother naming her “Athanasia,” meaning “eternity,” and entrusting her with watching over Claude before quietly passing away.
The immediate aftermath shows a devastated Claude, broken by grief and soaked in rain, unable to comprehend why Diana left him behind. These memories reveal the profound love Claude held for Diana and the immense suffering he endured from her loss.
Claude’s Choice to Erase Emotions
The most critical memory Athanasia encounters is the moment Claude resolves to sever himself from his pain. Overwhelmed by grief and unable to bear living in a world without Diana, he decides to discard all his emotions through magic, choosing to forget everything tied to his suffering. Athanasia realizes with horror that this would not only erase Diana but also herself from his heart. She desperately tries to stop him, but the memory space begins to collapse around her.
Another memory shows Claude in a world stripped of all color, sitting alone and writing documents. This reflects his acceptance of emptiness, believing that living without feelings was his destined state.
The Race Against Time
As Athanasia struggles to navigate the collapsing memories, Lucas telepathically urges her to awaken Claude immediately, as she has reached the very core of his mind. The memory space shatters, violently throwing Athanasia back. Despite the instability and her own fading senses, Athanasia refuses to accept her father’s emotionally numb existence. Overwhelmed with urgency, she pushes forward, desperately trying to reach him and awaken him before he loses himself completely and the magic wellspring’s purification erases them both.
Episode 15 is a raw and emotional journey into the heart of Claude’s past, providing crucial context for his character and deepening the bond between him and Athanasia. It sets the stage for a critical confrontation, as Athanasia’s love becomes the only hope to rescue her father from a self-imposed emotional prison.
