“Leonora!”

After my father came my brother Allentain.

He rushed to find me with flushed cheeks, as if he had been running.

“Did you meet Father?”

When I spoke in a somewhat indifferent voice, my brother approached with narrowed eyes.

“Yes, I just heard something unbelievable.”

“It just happened that way.”

“Leonora, this isn’t something that ‘just happens.'”

After saying that much, my brother rubbed his face once and sat beside me.

“This is about becoming a member of the imperial family.”

“……”

“You really.”

Somehow sensing his lecture would be longer than Father’s, I sighed inwardly.

“What are you trying to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“When you collapsed, we should have dragged you home somehow.”

“I’m not a horse or pig—how were you planning to drag me?”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Leonora, does this look like a joke to you?”

“No.”

“Do you know how significant this is for all of us?”

I sat up straight and pretended to focus on his voice, but my brother’s words weren’t really registering.

‘You don’t need to worry in advance since I won’t go through with it anyway.’

This is frustrating—I can’t just come out and say it.

“I know, brother.”

“If this fact is announced through His Majesty’s lips—”

I carefully took my brother’s hand and said:

“Nothing worrisome will happen.”

“Everything is already worrisome.”

“Don’t worry.”

These words were sincere, partly directed at myself as well.

At that moment, my brother looked at me with quite serious eyes.

“The atmosphere in the imperial palace has been unusual lately.”

He continued speaking, applying slight pressure to our joined hands.

“Did you know that in three days is the late Emperor’s memorial ceremony?”

The very thing that had made me uneasy even before the imperial ball.

If the late Emperor’s memorial ceremony is in three days, that means—

“…Then the Empress’s birthday must be in two days.”

When I muttered this, my brother seemed somewhat surprised.

“You don’t remember anything from your childhood, yet you remember Her Majesty’s birthday.”

“Ah, I think I heard it here. Someone mentioned it.”

As I laughed casually and glossed over it, my brother said:

“His Majesty intended to let it pass quietly, but it seems that won’t be possible.”

“And so?”

“An event will be held to pray for Her Majesty’s recovery.”

They’re holding an event to pray for my recovery?

I almost burst into laughter from the absurdity.

Fortunately, thanks to my improved acting skills from being in the imperial palace, I asked with a polite smile:

“That’s truly meaningful. Will I be able to see the Empress that day?”

“I can’t say for certain yet. Perhaps prayer might be possible for a select few.”

My heart trembled with hope that I might soon see myself.

What would my pitiful body look like?

What thoughts would Ainberg have about me lying there?

Would he be reproaching me for making him uncomfortable by lying there instead of conveniently dying?

Or would he hate the Empress for creating this neither-here-nor-there situation?

Maybe he simply doesn’t care since he never paid attention anyway.

“Brother, do you know anything about… why the Empress ended up like that?”

I, the person involved, couldn’t remember anything.

I had simply closed my eyes and opened them to find myself as a lady of the Chadmon family.

“Nobody knows. There are only stories created by those who want to gossip.”

“What kind of stories?”

Allentain opened his mouth with a cautious voice.

“I wasn’t going to tell you this originally.”

“Yes.”

“But your circumstances are different now, so I’ll tell you.”

My heart began to race at the thought of possibly hearing some new information.

As I applied pressure to my fingertips and quietly stared at my brother, he began speaking heavily.

“Some say the temple was involved, others say His Majesty is hiding something.”

“The temple?”

The high priest and I didn’t get along well.

He wanted me to use my blessing powers only for the imperial family, while I wanted to use them for commoners too.

I knew he didn’t like me, but could it be—

“Of course, these are just rumors. No one knows the exact cause.”

“But why would the temple—”

“Hush, Leonora. I’d prefer if we stopped this conversation.”

When I nodded somewhat dejectedly, my brother took my hand.

He seemed to have misunderstood my gloominess.

“That’s how dangerous the position is. Even Lord Viper couldn’t protect his daughter.”

“……”

“Yet you still want to be by His Majesty’s side?”

For now, I should strongly affirm.

I nodded and said:

“Yes, that’s what I want. I didn’t make this decision lightly, brother.”

My brother remained silent for a while.

When he opened his mouth again after organizing his thoughts, the tea on the table had completely cooled.

“Leonora, I’m prepared to support your decision and protect you. Whatever it may be.”

“I know.”

“When you came forward saying you would marry Levi, I was more surprised than anyone, but didn’t I bless you both?”

At this point, I couldn’t help but hesitate.

I wondered if I was making too many people tired because of me.

“Yes, you did.”

“You said your feelings then were sincere, but in just a few days, you’ve changed your mind and now say you’ll become His Majesty’s woman.”

“……”

“Leonora, I don’t know what Father thinks, but—”

Allentain stared at me with eyes that were gentle yet somehow sharp.

“I want to know your true feelings.”

“I’ve spoken with Sir Merten and resolved things. We’ve been good friends for a long time, and that remains true.”

“Leonora.”

“Being with a good person is enjoyable, but it couldn’t be more than that. Since I was always lying in bed, I think I had little time to experience various emotions. Sir Merten thankfully understood these feelings I realized belatedly.”

I had forgotten while focusing on my own emotions.

The fact that Levi might be feeling quite uncomfortable, just like me.

“I never intended to hurt him. But I feel sorry, truly sorry.”

“I wasn’t trying to blame you.”

Allentain shook his head with a gentle smile.

“Since he’s not here, I’ll stop the conversation here. I believe the guilt I feel now is an emotion I must repay going forward.”

When he came up in the conversation, my brother’s expression had darkened compared to before.

Suddenly, I recalled what was mentioned earlier.

“Oh, I heard the Prince of Bilmotz met with an unexpected accident.”

“Yes, I heard about it just now.”

Levi was originally from Bilmotz. He came to study in Ostrin, known for its flourishing education and culture, from a young age and grew close to my brother while studying together at the academy.

“Sir Merten must have been close to the Prince.”

When I carefully asked out of curiosity, my brother spoke again.

But he showed a meaningful expression.

“You seem to have forgotten all your childhood memories.”

“……”

“Do you remember almost nothing?”

No, it’s not that I don’t remember—it’s that the person from that time wasn’t me.

While I was hesitating, Allentain stood up.

“It would be better to hear about that directly from Levi later.”

“Are you leaving already?”

I wanted to know more, but my brother left only a light smile and rose from his seat.

“Yes, things might get quite busy soon, so I need to prepare in advance.”

❀❀❀

That night, I couldn’t fall asleep easily for some reason.

My secret operation seemed to be progressing well yet somehow felt like a mess, and my only ally had left the imperial palace.

I thought I had explained things well to Father and my brother, and everything seemed somewhat sorted out—

I don’t know why I still feel so uneasy.

Eventually, I got out of bed.

‘…A quick trip should be fine.’

During my time living in the imperial palace, I had a place I would go whenever my mind was troubled like this.

I considered going with Sabine but didn’t want to wake the girl after her exhausting day.

I carefully left the bed and opened the door.

‘Phew, I can breathe now.’

Walking into the dimly lit corridor with only a small light to guide me, I felt my breathing ease a little.

The balcony overlooking the garden had a hidden round, narrow space inside.

I would occasionally come here with just one or two maids to get some fresh night air. This small space was far more comfortable and peaceful than the spacious and splendid Empress’s quarters.

The moment I slipped into the narrow space, thinking to organize my thoughts—

A familiar shadow, and then someone’s scent carried by the wind.

“……!”

Someone had arrived here before me.