The Duke’s generous acceptance of my situation made all my worries seem unfounded.

If I had been in Father’s position, could I have reacted the same way?

I would probably be angry at the thought of being deceived by the Chadmon family.

I don’t think I could have handled it so calmly.

Either way, it was something to be grateful and relieved about.

But that didn’t mean peace had returned to the Chadmon household.

“What exactly happened?”

Brother Allentain’s reaction was distinctly different from Father’s.

He openly displayed his surprise, and the way he looked at me had changed.

“I’m sorry. At first, I didn’t think someone had done this intentionally.”

“……”

“I simply thought I had transmigrated into Leonora’s body. So I believed I had to live as Leonora from then on.”

He roughly ran his hand through his hair and asked.

“Am I supposed to believe that?”

“…It may sound strange, but it’s true. Then while staying at the imperial palace, I discovered that Leonora and I had switched bodies.”

“Then you should have revealed the truth at that point.”

Brother Allentain clenched his fist tightly.

I could clearly feel him suppressing his anger.

“I only learned the exact situation recently. I was afraid of causing confusion when even I didn’t know the truth.”

“And you call that an excuse—”

Brother Allentain continued speaking while crumpling his face.

“So without knowing, our entire family was dancing in the palm of your hand.”

I kept my head bowed, listening to him pour out his anger.

If even my older brother had understood me too easily, it would have made my heart feel even more troubled.

Father’s reaction was so unexpected that I still felt dazed.

At this point, I was almost grateful that Brother was angry.

“Allen.”

Just then, Father placed his hand on the suffering Allentain’s shoulder.

“Didn’t she say she didn’t know the whole situation?”

“Do you believe that, Father?”

When Brother responded roughly, Father sighed lightly.

“Nothing changes whether I believe it or not.”

“Aren’t you angry at all, Father?”

“Allentain.”

“Such a major matter without any consultation!”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

If only I knew what would be best to do in this situation.

“Calm down, Allentain. What’s done is done.”

“……”

“The only important thing is that Leonora is safe.”

Father turned toward me and spoke.

As if seeking confirmation from me.

I nodded and carefully opened my mouth.

“Leonora is safe.”

“You expect me to believe that? How can I trust the words of someone who has been lying all this time?”

“I’m sorry. But I can tell you this with certainty. Leonora is safe and well in a secure place.”

Brother said nothing.

The longer his silence continued, the more fear grew within me, but there was nothing I could do.

After a long while, Brother finally spoke.

“Just because Father has accepted this, don’t expect me to understand everything too.”

It was an unfamiliar voice from someone I’d never seen like this before.

‘He was always such a kind and warm person.’

Though the situation was upsetting, I didn’t feel hurt.

I wished he wouldn’t take it to heart and would just freely express his anger.

“I’m sorry for causing confusion and deceiving everyone.”

It was natural for Brother to be angry, given how much he cherished and loved Leonora, and how sincere he had been with me for a year.

“Of course, it must have been just as difficult for you during this year. You probably had no other choice or method.”

Brother continued speaking in a voice that had softened somewhat from before.

“However, the thought that you deceived all of us doesn’t seem like it will fade easily.”

“……”

“I’m sorry for causing confusion.”

Just as I apologized once more in a low voice,

“I sometimes thought something was strange, but that was as far as it went. I never imagined you were actually a different person.”

He looked at me with a dejected expression.

I quickly avoided his gaze. My head kept dropping toward the floor.

Just as I was trying to endure as calmly as possible, thinking this wasn’t right.

There seemed to be a presence at the doorway, and then the closed door opened.

“Master, a guest has arrived.”

At the maid’s words, Father gestured, and soon solemn footsteps followed.

“…..?”

The person who entered was none other than Millean Hartmann.

High Priest?

Feeling bewildered, I turned my head following his movements, and Millean muttered with an indifferent face.

“Judging by the atmosphere, I came at the right time.”

Father’s expression changed instantly when he faced Millean.

“How did you come here, High Priest?”

“I thought you might have many questions, so I came in person.”

He glanced at me once and continued.

“The person I entrusted with this doesn’t seem to do anything properly.”

I pouted my lips, but in truth, I was so grateful he had come that I could have cried.

Despite his words, it was clear he had come because he was worried about me.

As Millean took his seat, Brother Allentain called for a maid.

“Bring us some tea.”

“Yes, young master.”

The tense atmosphere thawed slightly with Millean’s arrival.

“Why don’t you all sit down instead of standing like that?”

At Millean’s words, even Brother, who had been standing with a complicated expression, quietly sat down in a chair.

Judging by appearances, the two looked about the same age.

It seemed awkward to see him following the High Priest’s words like a gentle lamb.

‘It must be because of his high holy power that he looks young.’

Every time I saw him, I noticed his glass-like transparent and beautiful eyes were extraordinary.

‘I heard he performed a blessing when Leonora was born… so how old is he exactly?’

Suppressing such thoughts, I carefully sat on the sofa.

Soon after, when warm tea was placed on the table, Millean opened the conversation in an insensitive tone.

“You’ve probably heard most of it, but this was completely unexpected and happened like an accident.”

He’s jumping straight to the point without even greeting?

I froze, stopping my movement to pick up the teacup.

“If that coincidence hadn’t occurred, Miss Chadmon would have died.”

I thought he would explain in more detail.

I didn’t expect him to start with that statement.

‘He’s trying to prevent any further discussion from the beginning.’

His strategy seemed to work.

Both Father and Brother’s expressions hardened simultaneously at Millean’s words.

Father was the first to speak.

“What do you mean by that?”

Father asked again with a face drained of color, seemingly quite shocked.

“What do you mean our Leonora would have died?”

Millean knew exactly what the Chadmon family would respond to most quickly and what they were sensitive about.

By mentioning Leonora first, he had clearly taken control of the conversation.

‘He’s annoying but truly clever.’

“As I said, Miss Chadmon was about to die. She was on the verge of disappearing due to her weakened spiritual energy.”

At his statement, everyone in the reception room froze like ice.

Only Millean slowly picked up his teacup and took a sip.

“It was remarkable timing. Well, all thanks to me, of course.”

Father pulled his body forward in his seat and asked urgently.

“Then Leonora now is…”

“After resting comfortably in a healthy body for a year, she’ll be full of vitality, unlike before.”

“Is that true? Oh, my goodness.”

Only then did Father run his hand over his dry face.

Brother, sitting nearby, closed his eyes and exhaled a sigh of relief.

“Haaa……”

“Thank you, High Priest.”

“This is truly, truly fortunate.”

The atmosphere had changed significantly from before. In the somewhat relaxed mood, I stared blankly at the teacup on the table again.

My throat was parched from being nervous and reading the room the whole time.

‘Just one sip.’

But at the words that followed, I quickly withdrew my hand again.

“Your gratitude should be directed not to me, but to the Empress.”

Millean looked at me and spoke in a subtle voice.