‘Phew.’

I stood in front of my bedroom door but couldn’t enter right away.

‘…Why is it so hot?’

I rolled up my sleeves and fanned myself, but the heat wouldn’t easily subside.

“My lady, are you unwell? Should I call for a physician?”

“No, I’m fine. You may go now.”

Even after dismissing the attendant, I stood blankly staring at the door.

“…What did I do today?”

The tightly closed door looked just like my future.

I know life rarely goes as planned, but…

Could things get any more twisted than today?

My plan to get drunk at the banquet and cause a scene fell apart, and instead I danced with the Emperor.

Dancing!

Dancing with Ainberg!

Should I take comfort in the fact that we danced where no one could see us, in the darkness?

‘No, that’s not comforting at all!’

I focused on the music flowing from afar and slowly followed his lead.

If we had been in love, if we had been lovers, it would have been a perfectly romantic moment.

‘…What nonsense.’

I shook my head trying to erase the strange sensation lingering on my hands and waist, but the more I tried, the clearer the recent memory became.

‘I’m going crazy, truly.’

❀❀❀

I entered my room completely exhausted, but even then I couldn’t rest easy.

“Miss, why are you back so late!”

Sabine greeted me with a flushed face.

“Why… did something happen?”

“Let me tell you what I found out today.”

Sabine came closer to me. Just then, footsteps echoed in the corridor as someone passed by.

But Sabine couldn’t contain what she wanted to say even for a moment and whispered to me.

“What? Is that true?”

“Yes, Rie heard it clearly.”

The news she heard from someone at the banquet was quite shocking.

“Did Duke Viper really say that?”

I asked anxiously, pausing while removing my gloves.

It was about me, after all.

More precisely, about Sienna’s body.

“Yes, Duke Viper definitely said so.”

“……”

“That there’s no longer any meaning in keeping Her Majesty the Empress in the imperial palace.”

Sabine continued, pressing her lips tightly.

“He said he would take her back to the mansion.”

It seemed my former father was starting to make his move in earnest now that he had brought Soniel.

Given that a new Empress would be appointed, Sienna couldn’t remain lying in the Empress’s chambers indefinitely.

“So? What will happen to my body? Did His Majesty give permission?”

When I spoke anxiously, Sabine swallowed hard.

“But His Majesty flatly refused.”

I stared at Sabine making an X with her hands and asked again.

“He refused?”

“Yes, he said it’s not a simple matter and he can’t permit it right now.”

I could somehow imagine the voice Ainberg would have used.

Indifferent yet resolute, a strong voice that would allow no further discussion.

“It’s certainly not a simple matter.”

I felt relieved but also found his behavior strange once again.

‘From Ainberg’s perspective… shouldn’t he be happy if the Viper family takes the Empress away?’

Yet for some reason, he was protecting Sienna with numerous guards.

I couldn’t understand the Emperor’s actions at all.

“Duke Viper apparently wants to take her before a new Empress is officially appointed.”

“……”

“He even shed tears, saying he couldn’t bear to watch his daughter lying there with unexplained symptoms any longer.”

What? He shed tears?

I shuddered at the memory of my former father’s detestable expression.

“But His Majesty apparently avoided the situation. It seems to have been settled that way for now.”

Sabine carefully said while watching my reaction.

“In the end, don’t you think Duke Viper will take her to his mansion?”

This was truly troublesome.

I still hadn’t discovered why Sienna’s and Leonora’s souls had switched, or who was behind it.

“…Miss?”

“Yes.”

I looked at Sabine with a blank face.

“Sabine, what should I do?”

‘That’s just it. To return to normal, shouldn’t the body—Her Majesty’s body—be nearby?’

The problem wasn’t just that my original body would be far away if it went back to the Viper mansion.

‘That man won’t leave me alone in my comatose state. Since I’ve become useless to him.’

I recalled the conversation my former father had with his secretary in the garden.

When something becomes useless, he discards it.

‘Even if he kills me, no one would question it. If someone who’s been lying unconscious for over a year dies from worsening symptoms, who would be suspicious?’

It might not happen immediately while people are watching.

But if my body goes to the Viper mansion, both my body—no, both Leonora and I would be in danger.

If Sienna’s body disappears, what happens to Leonora’s soul?

…Something bad would surely happen.

I need to prevent that at all costs.

“It’s fortunate His Majesty didn’t give permission.”

“No, he won’t be able to hold out for long. There’s not enough grounds to stop a father from taking his daughter.”

“Then what should we do?”

Sabine fidgeted with an even more anxious expression than mine.

Then suddenly her face turned pale.

“What if you just tell him honestly?”

“Who?”

“His Majesty.”

“Tell him what?”

“About your situation with Her Majesty the Empress.”

What? Tell Ainberg that I’m actually Sienna?

I almost laughed at the suggestion I’d never considered.

But Sabine’s expression was so serious that I couldn’t bring myself to laugh.

When I said nothing, Sabine misunderstood my silence as positive consideration and continued.

“You said His Majesty was cold, but I don’t think so. Perhaps… he cared about Her Majesty the Empress more than anyone.”

“……”

“If you honestly tell him and ask for help, wouldn’t he help better than anyone else? He’s someone who can do anything.”

He certainly was someone who could do anything.

Someone who could discard people like worn-out shoes, someone who could get whatever he wanted.

“I think His Majesty would quickly figure out what happened between Her Majesty and you, my lady.”

Yes, one could think that way.

But Sabine.

Would he really believe me?

‘His Majesty won’t believe me. He might dismiss it as nonsense.’

Moreover, above all, I didn’t want to.

I didn’t want to confess my situation to him.

I had no desire to lean on him or depend on him.

I would solve my problems myself and leave cleanly and elegantly.

I’ll demand a divorce with dignity and find a new life.

Once my thoughts were organized, I felt calmer than before.

“Miss?”

“Sabine, thank you.”

“Pardon?”

My conversation with Sabine unexpectedly helped me sort out my emotions and thoughts.

“I’ll talk to His Majesty when I see him tomorrow.”

First, judging from Ainberg’s attitude, I was confident he wouldn’t easily hand over Sienna.

Second, I had a feeling he might have other intentions.

‘He might even see through my former father’s mind.’

I needed to figure out what he was thinking.

“And about what you asked me to look into before.”

Sabine lowered her body and said to me.

“…High Priest Millean.”

Millean Hartmann was the most likely suspect among those I was suspicious of.

Forbidden spells and souls… a priest would be closest to such matters.

I adjusted my posture and stared at Sabine.

“Yes, did you find out anything about him? Anything new?”

Having stayed in the imperial palace for quite some time, Sabine seemed to have become quite close to the palace servants thanks to her natural friendliness.

‘Erika, do you know where the Chief Aide is from?’

‘Well, I wonder if anyone knows about the Aide?’

‘Can you find out for me?’

‘Sure. But why?’

‘Why do you think?’

‘Oh my, why are you making that face? And twisting your body like that?’

‘Isn’t the Aide too handsome? He keeps coming to mind lately. I must be crazy.’

‘Oh my, look at you.’

‘You’ll find out, right? Please!’