When I opened my eyes, a ceiling both familiar and strange appeared beyond my blurry vision.

“Mmm.”

My head throbbed, but I couldn’t move a hand to my forehead. I could only wiggle my fingertips before squeezing my eyes shut again.

‘This feels exactly like waking up after drinking until five in the morning.’

Yes, my entire body felt pickled in alcohol and night air.

“Goodness, my lady! Are you awake?”

I turned toward the refreshing voice and saw the maid standing at the foot of the bed with a startled expression. I knew I should answer, but my voice wouldn’t come out.

The maid watched me struggle to part my lips, then waved her hands urgently.

“My lady, please don’t move. I’ll bring Sir Merten right away.”

She left without delay.

Click.

Soon after the door closed, the maid’s footsteps quickly faded away. I turned over on the soft bed.

Right, I collapsed.

So this must be the imperial palace.

The imperial palace……

“……I can’t believe I’m back here again.”

After a moment of despair, I couldn’t help recalling what happened just before I collapsed.

“It was strange. Really…… a strange experience.”

Everything went dark instantly, as if someone had turned off the lights, and my body went limp. Not stranger than transmigrating into someone else’s body, of course.

I had a good guess why. Leonora Chadmon had always been physically weak.

Until just before I transmigrated into this body, she spent most of her days in bed.

The ducal household staff would take turns checking if Leonora was still breathing while she slept.

‘So suddenly collapsing due to health issues isn’t that surprising.’

I thought her body had become quite healthy since my transmigration, but apparently not.

Or maybe it was from excessive stress.

‘Of all places to collapse, why here?’

I slowly opened my eyes again. My knees and thighs ached slightly, probably from hitting something when I fell to the floor.

I needed rest, but I didn’t want to stay here any longer.

Just as I was trying to push myself up, the firmly closed door opened and Levi walked in.

“Len.”

He approached my bed in one stride and immediately bent down to sit.

“Len, are you conscious? Do you recognize me?”

I mustered all my remaining strength to give him a comfortable smile.

“Yes.”

Levi took my hand and pressed it to his forehead, murmuring in a small voice.

“……Thank God.”

“Sir Merten.”

He must have been shocked to see someone collapse right before his eyes, especially someone as fragile as straw like me.

“I’m sorry.”

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been lying here, but Levi’s face seemed somehow more gaunt than when we first entered the palace.

Levi shook his head and wrapped his hand around mine.

“Don’t say that. I’m just so relieved you’re safe. That’s enough.”

“I was probably just tired. I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“I had no idea this matter was causing you such extreme stress. I apologize.”

“No, I was stressed, but it’s because this body is so weak. I didn’t used to collapse like this before.”

I spoke casually to ease his worry.

But Levi’s expression changed subtly.

“This body?”

“No, I mean…… me. I’m just weak. Haha.”

I accidentally used out-of-body phrasing.

“I understand, Len. From now on, I’ll be more attentive.”

“No, there’s no need to go that far.”

“I will. Even if you say no.”

Haha, that look in his eyes is a bit burdensome.

I laughed awkwardly and scratched one cheek. Then I glanced toward the door, and Levi spoke again.

“Len, His Majesty was here until just now.”

No, I wasn’t looking for the Emperor.

I opened my mouth with a disgruntled expression.

“I see. How embarrassing to have shown such a state in the audience chamber. I don’t know where to put myself.”

In truth, I was thinking the complete opposite. Since he was there when I collapsed, perhaps he was a bit flustered?

I should have witnessed his panicked face. It’s a shame I missed it.

“Don’t think that way.”

Levi’s voice sounded somewhat subdued.

“I’m fine, so please don’t worry too much.”

I answered brightly, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears.

He still looked at me with dark, gloomy eyes. I realized immediately that it wasn’t just concern for my well-being.

“And Len, just now.”

“Yes?”

Levi’s face turned quite serious, like someone about to deliver important news.

“The Empress has awakened.”

“What?”

The Empress is me.

Sienna Viper. That pitiful body woke up?

My heart started racing as if I’d just run a hundred meters.

“The Empress has awakened? Please tell me more details.”

I grew anxious. If Sienna had woken up, what would happen to me?

Unable to hide my confused emotions, I gripped my hands tightly. Levi’s calm voice soothed me.

“She was awake for just a moment. She didn’t recognize anyone or speak. She merely opened her eyes, looked around once, and fell back into a deep sleep.”

“……”

“After you collapsed, His Majesty stayed by your side the whole time…… but when he heard about the Empress, he went to her chambers.”

The news that Ainberg had been here and then gone to the Empress’s chambers made my emotions truly strange.

What thoughts went through his mind as he looked at the Empress who had been lying down for a year?

Was he angry that her stubborn life persisted when everything would be easier if she just died quickly?

Perhaps he rushed there in confusion and irritation upon hearing she had opened her eyes?

While I was thinking cynically, Levi continued speaking nobly.

“There was quite a commotion, but unfortunately, opening her eyes briefly was all that happened.”

Hearing my own story through someone else was a truly strange experience.

I could only nod, unable to make any response.

“……Len, are you alright?”

He tilted his head to examine me, perhaps reading the subtle change in my expression.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“You’re worried about the Empress.”

“Sir Merten, have you ever heard of cases like the Empress, lying unconscious for so long?”

When I asked, Levi sank into thought for a moment before slowly shaking his head.

“I’ve heard of people losing consciousness from accidents or illness, of course. But I’ve never heard of someone not waking up for as long as the Empress.”

“Ah.”

“Of course, it’s possible due to the imperial family’s quick response. They have capable doctors and priests here.”

I thought that when I returned home, I should learn more about such people.

Either through my personal physician or through books.

“Sir Merten, this might sound like a strange question.”

I hesitated, and Levi nodded as if to say it was fine.

“If a new Empress is selected, what will happen to the current one lying in bed?”

Levi exhaled slowly, seemingly finding it difficult to answer.

“It would depend on His Majesty’s intentions. It’s hard to say for certain.”

I changed my expression, pushing away the lingering feelings like remnants of attachment.

“I want to go home now.”

“Not yet. First, I’ll call for a physician.”

“Our family doctor might be better, you know.”

“But.”

“Please. I feel like I’ll develop new illnesses just by staying here.”

I didn’t want to remain in the imperial palace for even a moment.

When I spoke with a whining voice, Levi smiled gently and said:

“Len, I’m sorry to say this.”

“……”

“I’ll make sure you can return home as soon as possible. But we can’t just leave after His Majesty has shown such kindness.”

After hearing Levi’s words, I felt sorry for my childish behavior.

I thought I knew court etiquette better than anyone after living in the imperial household.

I felt ashamed for making such an unreasonable demand out of emotion.

“I’m sorry. It’s not like I’ll break out in hives from staying here a few more hours.”

When I responded playfully, Levi covered his laugh with the back of his hand and said:

“Your resolve is much stronger than I expected.”

Yes, multiply what you’re thinking by 100 and you’ll be close to the truth.

“But what should we do? Our plan seems to have failed.”

Yes. The source of all my stress, perhaps the reason I collapsed.

Emperor Ainberg.

And that bastard didn’t permit my marriage.

He even issued a marriage ban until a new Empress is selected. Is he insane?

“Len.”

As I hung my head in confusion, Levi gently called my name.

“The marriage ban confirms His Majesty’s feelings as good as anything could.”

“His feelings confirmed?”

I already knew but didn’t want to acknowledge it.

But kind Levi seemed to want me to face reality.

“Len, listen to me without misunderstanding.”

He began speaking in a slightly different tone.