“Thanks to the Empress who personally offered her body, Miss Chadmon has become healthy.”

At that moment, Brother’s gaze flew toward me.

With a completely different expression than when I had revealed the truth earlier.

“No, I only feel sorry about it.”

Gratitude? What a preposterous notion.

When I waved my hand with an awkward smile, Father began speaking heavily.

“Thank you so much.”

Then he turned to Brother Allentain and continued.

“Allentain, apologize for your rudeness earlier.”

Apologize?

I didn’t want to receive an apology from Brother.

No, not wanting to receive it meant there was no reason for it.

I had been the one deceiving the Chadmon family all this time, so an apology was suddenly out of place.

“No, there’s no need for—”

But before I could finish, Brother Allentain bowed his head.

“Please forgive my rash and disrespectful words.”

“Brother, please don’t say that.”

But then I realized my mistake.

It was no longer right to call him Brother. That realization made my heart sink.

“I’m sorry. It was a slip.”

When I bit my lip, a shadow fell across Brother’s face as well.

I could instinctively tell he was thinking something similar to me.

“It was too sudden for me to control my emotions.”

“It’s all my fault.”

“If Leonora is safe and healthy, I couldn’t ask for more.”

Can I really say that’s entirely because of me?

“It wasn’t my intention. So receiving thanks is—”

Unexpected formal words made cold sweat run down my spine.

Then Millean stepped in again.

“Seeing how excessively nervous you are, I can roughly guess what the atmosphere was like before I arrived.”

At Millean’s words, Brother Allentain pressed his lips tightly shut.

“If you have more to say about this matter, it would be better to seek an audience with His Majesty.”

“……”

“Since His Majesty was the one who directed everything.”

Though his voice was polite, anyone could see it was something close to a threat.

Brother Allentain lowered his eyes gloomily, and I didn’t want to see him bow his head.

“High Priest, you misunderstand. Both of them accepted it with surprising calmness.”

“……”

“It must have been uncomfortable and difficult to accept.”

At my words, Brother took a slow, deep breath.

I hadn’t meant to defend him. I knew his anger earlier came from a place of affection.

I could understand how disappointing it was to be let down by someone you trusted.

After all, I was the one who had first hurt these consistent people.

Just then, Brother Allentain spoke with a voice mixed with a sigh.

“My emotions came first, and I failed to consider that Your Majesty would have had difficulties too.”

“……”

“It wasn’t something you wanted to do. I think my anger was misdirected.”

“No, that’s not true.”

“I’m sorry, and thank you.”

I actually felt more comfortable when he was angry.

While we were buried in that awkward atmosphere, someone entered the reception room with rough breathing.

‘Ah.’

It was Brother Orie, who had hurriedly returned from the academy after receiving Father’s message.

“Father.”

Brother first glanced at me once, then immediately greeted Millean.

Judging by his bewildered face and reluctance to speak, he must have received the situation through a letter.

“Sit down.”

At Father’s voice, Brother Orie took a seat.

But he turned his head toward Brother Allentain with anxious eyes.

He seemed to want someone, anyone, to say something.

Millean summarized the conversation they had so far for Brother Orie, albeit somewhat reluctantly.

Perhaps because of his presence, or due to the subdued atmosphere, Brother Orie didn’t show as dramatic a reaction as Brother Allentain.

Instead, he listened to the story calmly and then spoke quietly.

“I never imagined such a thing could happen.”

Brother Orie hadn’t been able to see me often due to his busy schedule at the academy .

But I knew his affection for Leonora was greater and deeper than anyone’s.

“It’s strange and hard to believe. That our Leonora wasn’t Leonora.”

He looked at Father with a weak smile.

“I hope I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know?”

“No, you weren’t.”

“Are you alright, Father?”

“Yes, I was a bit surprised, but ultimately I’m relieved that Leonora will regain her health.”

Then he smiled gently toward me.

“Father.”

Brother Orie swallowed once and glanced at me. His face showed how uncomfortable he felt looking directly at me.

Reading his thoughts, Father spoke.

“For a year, haven’t we been happy together, facing a healthy and energetic Leonora?”

“……”

“I think that’s enough for me. So I hope we won’t burden each other’s hearts with past events anymore.”

Father finished speaking calmly and looked at me intently.

“Since Leonora is safe and the imperial family that was in danger remains intact, I couldn’t ask for more.”

“……”

“Though unintended, I’m happy to have gained another daughter.”

Feelings of gratitude and bewilderment crossed chaotically in my mind.

Not knowing what to say, I looked toward Millean.

I ended up making eye contact with him as he sat there with a lofty expression.

‘Did you really come to help? You’re not just enjoying watching me flustered, are you?’

When I narrowed my eyes at Millean, he indifferently avoided my gaze.

Then he slowly rose from his seat.

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

He’s just leaving like this?

The remaining three also stood up following Millean.

After another round of thanks, just as Millean was about to leave the mansion completely.

“I have something to tell you.”

“…?”

“Could you spare some time, at least while walking to the main gate?”

When I carefully spoke up, surprisingly, Millean nodded.

“Sure.”

I actually became anxious when he agreed to the conversation without any protest.

Wasn’t he usually the type to say he had nothing to discuss when someone said they wanted to talk?

But I suppressed those thoughts and didn’t voice them.

“Thank you for coming all the way here.”

“No need to thank me. I was just following orders.”

“So His Majesty sent you.”

Now that sounded more like him, and I somehow found myself smiling.

He was always detached and grumbling, yet reliable.

“Anyway, you came without disobeying.”

“You sound like someone who wants me to disobey.”

“How could that be? You’re a good person, so you wouldn’t do that.”

I meant nothing special by it, but Millean’s expression became strangely distorted.

“A good person?”

“I know that despite your rough and blunt expressions, you’re more caring than anyone.”

Looking back, it had been that way from the beginning.

Even when I was caught sneaking around the Empress’s chambers, though he said it was Ainberg’s order, it was Millean who came to find me.

Thanks to his surveillance that wasn’t quite surveillance and the various things he told me, I was able to find clues.

“You’re terrible at judging people.”

“That’s why I’m always grateful.”

“You’re about to take charge of His Majesty’s household, yet you’re this naive.”

“How should I repay this kindness?”

Just then, Millean stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me.

“Isn’t this conversation a bit strange?”

“What do you mean?”

“We’re both talking past each other.”

“What does it matter? Conversations don’t always need to be an exchange.”

“Huh.”

He furrowed his brow with all his might and started walking again.

“So what did you want to tell me?”

“I want to know if His Majesty is alright and what the current situation is.”

Did the search of Foil’s house conclude well?

Where is Ainberg now?

“And also when I can return.”

Having revealed my identity, it seemed awkward to continue staying with the Chadmon family.

It was now difficult to call Father “Father” and Brother “Brother.”

Though Father would likely treat me the same as before, my heart felt differently.

I wanted to return to my true self as soon as possible.

And I missed Ainberg too.

“Everything will be settled soon.”

“His Majesty is alright, isn’t he?”

Millean just nodded once.

“It won’t take long.”

Once again, he left after giving only a brief answer.

The urgent letter from the imperial palace arrived a few hours later.