I looked up at Ainberg.

His unexpected answer and that unpleasant expression.

The moment I met his lofty gaze, I clenched my molars tightly.

Did he notice my cheek twitching?

Did he realize how flustered I felt?

I thought I’d never have to see him again after escaping Sienna’s body. I thought a new beginning awaited me. The fact that even this was dictated by a single word from the Emperor was truly devastating.

While I stood there, too shocked to react, Levi’s voice reached me.

“I heard Her Majesty the Empress of Ostrin is gravely ill. Perhaps I’ve been misinformed?”

His voice was calm and respectful, but his words bordered on provocation.

Ainberg surely understood this.

I knew the Emperor’s temperament well.

Feeling afraid, I turned toward Levi, but Ainberg’s voice descended upon us.

“You’re well-informed. The Empress has been ill, leaving the position virtually vacant for over a year.”

I unconsciously clutched my skirt. My original body is here. Somewhere in this place, I’m lying down.

‘Am I alright?’

What do I look like now?

“This is truly a tragedy for Ostrin.”

A strange thought suddenly occurred to me.

How did I end up becoming the protagonist of this tragedy?

Of course, I clearly remembered the day I suddenly became Leonora. After an ordinary day, I had changed clothes with the help of my maids and laid down in my elegant, comfortable bed.

But when I opened my eyes again, I had become the esteemed daughter of the Chadmon family.

There had been no accident, no incident.

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have read the novel more carefully.’

Just a thought, of course. Even in the novel, the details of how the Empress became a vegetative patient weren’t covered extensively.

‘I was so happy and comfortable living as Leonora that I never deeply considered why I suddenly experienced transmigration. Maybe I wanted to avoid thinking about it.’

But avoidance isn’t always the best approach.

Since I had come back here and faced the Emperor, I needed to find out something.

I would have been scared if I were alone, but Levi was with me now. I composed myself and respectfully addressed Ainberg.

“Your Majesty.”

When I finally broke my silence, I could feel both Levi and Ainberg’s gazes falling on me simultaneously.

“Though brief, I share a memory with Her Majesty the Empress.”

Well, it’s somewhat trivial to call it a memory.

“A memory?”

“Yes, Her Majesty the Empress once blessed my brooch.”

Of course, I hadn’t directly met Leonora that day either.

Duke Chadmon, Leonora’s father, had brought her possession, and I had blessed it for the frail young woman who was said to be confined to bed due to her weak constitution.

‘I’ll put my heart into this so Lady Leonora may quickly regain her health.’

Duke Chadmon had carefully tucked the brooch away before leaving, and for some reason, I couldn’t easily forget his expression that day.

The look of a father who truly loved his daughter.

That image contrasted sharply with my own father, Foil.

‘Leonora is a fortunate person.’

Though I possessed more than her and sat in a much more dignified position, no one truly cared for me or prayed for me.

It seemed like just yesterday I had such thoughts, yet now I stood in the imperial palace as Leonora—how strange.

“I cannot hide my sorrow that such a good person remains bedridden.”

I was trying to create some connection between Leonora and myself to naturally inquire about the Empress.

But Ainberg stared at me with even drier eyes.

“I see.”

He only gave brief answers, like someone who didn’t want to engage in conversation.

Why? Don’t you want to talk about your unfortunate Empress?

Surely you don’t regret having despised and ignored me?

That can’t be. If you were capable of regret, you wouldn’t have chosen to select a new Empress while I still lived.

“Your Majesty, I know this is an impertinent question.”

Ainberg looked at me again.

His dark blue eyes were difficult to meet directly, so I shifted my gaze slightly before continuing in measured tones.

“I would like to know why Her Majesty the Empress has been bedridden for over a year.”

It was officially known that the Empress lay unconscious, barely clinging to life through the efforts of those with holy power.

But why, exactly why she had ended up that way had never been revealed.

Of course, I didn’t expect Ainberg to answer my question readily. He wouldn’t disclose something he hadn’t officially announced, especially in a private setting to Levi and me.

Yet I wanted to ask.

Why did I end up like that?

Don’t you know anything?

Then, Ainberg tilted his head and answered dryly:

“I’ll tell you if you become a member of the imperial family.”

“……”

Good grief, is he insane?

I disliked it even if it was a joke, no, I disliked that he would make such a joke at all.

Perhaps sensing the subtle, unpleasant current flowing between Ainberg and me, Levi stepped forward.

“The situation with Her Majesty the Empress is indeed unfortunate. However, I fail to see what the imperial circumstances of Ostrin have to do with our marriage.”

Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted to say.

‘You do as you please—find an Empress or a mistress, whatever you want.’

But at that moment:

“Because until I welcome a new Empress, every woman in Ostrin is a candidate.”

What did he just say?

At this point, even I couldn’t hold back.

The moment I raised my head to look at Ainberg, our eyes met.

Those eyes, devoid of emotion, unchanged from before.

‘That’s not the important thing.’

Just as I was about to speak, Levi grabbed my hand.

I don’t know what he wanted to say, but he seemed to be telling me to stay quiet for now.

“I understand, Your Majesty. The Empire’s affairs take priority above all else.”

‘What? Are we just going to let this slide so easily?’

Whatever his reasons, he had promised to help me. I was disappointed that Levi seemed to back down more easily than I expected.

“Sir Merten.”

As I tried to free my captured hand, he tightened his grip and continued:

“Then until Ostrin regains stability, I will simply court the beautiful Len.”

He looked at me and subtly winked.

“Surely you don’t intend to forbid women’s personal romances as well?”

His gesture was beautiful, but somehow it made me want to laugh, and I had to press my lips firmly together.

But I couldn’t back down completely.

If we left now, I might never see Ainberg again, and I wanted to say at least one thing.

Despite his expressionless face, he must be quite irritated after Levi’s comeback.

“I believe personal romances don’t require Your Majesty’s permission, so we shall take our leave.”

Just as I added this politely:

One of Ainberg’s eyebrows, which had remained perfectly still until now, twitched.

Darn, I wish I could have seen a more annoyed expression.

Looking back, no one was as expressionless as Ainberg.

Those eyes whose thoughts I could never discern, those firmly closed lips. The slightly raised gaze with which he always looked down at others, and that firm jaw.

Witnessing his eyebrow slightly distort due to our appearance today was half a victory.

‘What? Something about Empress candidates?’

That means I’m a candidate too? Come on, even if they tied me with rope and dragged me, I would never enter the imperial palace again.

Am I crazy?

As I sharply turned my head with these thoughts:

My head suddenly began to feel hot.

What’s this… I feel strange.

“Leonora, are you all right?”

Noticing the subtle change in me, Levi asked in a low voice.

“Yes, of course.”

But contrary to my answer, the heat that started in my head was gradually spreading throughout my body.

What’s happening? My body feels… a bit strange.

My gloved hands felt extremely uncomfortable. As soon as I thought about this discomfort, a chill swept over me, and breathing became difficult.

“Leonora?”

“Sir Merten, I feel a bit strange.”

“Leonora, are you all right?”

“It’s… it feels quite hot in here.”

I tried to breathe calmly and remove my gloves. But they were already damp with sweat, making even that difficult. Levi, finally realizing my condition was serious, hurriedly addressed Ainberg:

“Your Majesty, I apologize, but Leonora—”

“No, I’m fine.”

I quickly stopped him.

I don’t want to show this side of me here. Even if I’m unwell, I need to leave this place.

Even if I’m sick, let me be sick at home.

Leonora, don’t do this.

Just as I firmly gripped Levi’s hand, thinking I needed to get out of the audience chamber and walk a bit further down the corridor:

“I’ll call the imperial physician.”

Ainberg’s voice came from behind me.

Fighting the darkness closing in on my vision, I barely managed to answer:

“I’m fine, Your Majesty.”

“Leonora!”

But those were my last words.

Suddenly my legs gave way, and I lost consciousness.