He lay there as if dead, and the bedroom reeked of harsh disinfectant and the thick smell of blood.

“He’s past the critical point for now, but absolute rest is necessary.”

“……”

I had expected his condition to be poor after hearing about the attack.

But the situation was far more serious than anticipated, making my heart sink. I thought I had prepared myself mentally while waiting in the antechamber.

Had he been stabbed? If so, where was he injured?

“Is he still unconscious?”

When someone asked, the doctor began speaking in a somber voice.

“His breathing and heartbeat are stable, but we’ve administered high doses of narcotic painkillers and sedatives. Until consciousness returns… we can only wait now.”

Sighs and laments erupted from all around.

“We can only wait? What irresponsible nonsense! Tell me exactly what condition he’s in right now.”

When Foil asked, the doctor standing at the bedside answered with an exhausted face.

“It’s exactly as I said. We’ve done everything possible, but he lost a significant amount of blood, and his physical strength was already weakened from accumulated fatigue.”

“Oh my.”

“The medication administered is so strong that I cannot guarantee when he will wake up.”

While confused voices intertwined, Foil abruptly asked in a chilling tone.

“Are you saying he might not wake up at all?”

“Lord Viper, don’t say such nonsense.”

My father, who had maintained a calm face throughout, spoke with a firm voice.

Foil glanced in my father’s direction once, then cleared his throat.

“I’m just concerned. With the Empress already in such a state, and now His Majesty lying like this…”

“……”

“Besides, due to His Majesty’s extended absence, hasn’t the council been handling all affairs?”

“Then there should be no problem. Until His Majesty recovers, the council and we can work together, can’t we?”

At my father’s words, Foil narrowed one eye.

“State affairs are not so simple.”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“Shouldn’t we prepare countermeasures? The mountain of pending issues won’t be resolved just by gathering here and pacing anxiously.”

“Nor will they be resolved by arguing among ourselves here.”

My father had always shown gentle and affectionate sides, but not today.

“That’s why I’m saying this. Aren’t we the people who should prepare for contingencies!”

I tried to hold back, but I couldn’t anymore.

Being abominable once or twice is one thing, but who are you pretending to care about the country and Ainberg in front of?

“Contingencies? By that, Lord Viper, do you mean the possibility of His Majesty not waking up?”

When I suddenly spoke up, everyone’s attention turned toward me at once.

But such focused attention doesn’t bother me at all.

“I ask because you seem like someone who hopes His Majesty won’t wake up.”

As I added coldly, Foil let out a scornful laugh.

“Your words are excessive, my lady.”

“If that’s not the case, there seems no need for such discussions here.”

I looked around at the gathered people and continued calmly.

“Shouldn’t His Majesty’s well-being be our top priority and focus right now? It seems more important to hope for his swift return to consciousness.”

Then someone voiced agreement with my words.

“The lady’s words are correct. Such arguments here are unnecessary.”

“What are you all doing in front of someone who needs rest?”

“Come now, let’s all leave.”

Even as people began to move one by one, Foil glared at me with piercing eyes.

‘What are you going to do by glaring?’

There was a time when I couldn’t say what I should have said under that gaze, but not anymore.

As almost everyone had left, Foil stopped moving and said with his head tilted askew:

“The lady should leave as well.”

What’s he saying? I’m staying here.

I ignored his words completely, pulled up a chair, and placed it at Ainberg’s bedside.

Then I spoke to the doctor standing there with a tired face.

“Please dismiss all attendants and maids. I will stay by His Majesty’s side today.”

Foil then spoke with his brows tightly knit.

“I understand you’re in poor health, my lady. Wouldn’t it be better to go upstairs and rest?”

“……”

“You may not know since you’ve never done it, but nursing someone isn’t such an easy task.”

“Thank you for your concern, but…”

I continued with a gentle smile.

“When His Majesty opens his eyes, wouldn’t he feel better seeing my face first?”

“……”

“I think I would be much better than you, Duke. What do you think?”

I showed him a bright smile with my face cupped in my hands.

Foil’s face turned bright red up to his forehead, but he said nothing more.

Why, what?

Nothing to say?

After standing there speechless for a while, he finally turned around.

Then he cleared his throat once toward my father and brother standing by the door.

“You’ve raised the lady very well, Sir.”

With those final words, Foil left the bedroom.

I smiled with satisfaction.

After Foil went outside, my father and brother approached with worried faces.

“Leonora, saying you’ll stay by His Majesty’s side…”

“Who are you going to protect? Stop talking nonsense and go upstairs.”

My brother spoke to me in a seemingly angry voice.

“I’ll go up after seeing him wake up.”

“Didn’t they say they don’t know when he’ll wake up?”

“Even if I go upstairs now, I don’t think I could rest. You know, how could I sleep when my mind is so unsettled?”

“……”

“If I get tired of waiting, I’ll go up with Sabine. So don’t worry.”

After a long dispute, I was finally able to send my father and brother away too.

While I was fending off Foil and sending away the men of the Chadmon family, Aide Oz stood calmly by the door.

After my brother Allentain finally left, Oz closed the door and slowly walked toward me.

I spoke to Oz, already intimidated.

“Even if you say something, I’m going to stay here.”

Perhaps this person might be a much tougher opponent than Foil or the Chadmon men.

As I looked up at him tensely, Oz nodded with a bitter smile.

“I understand, my lady.”

“……”

Why is he answering so readily?

As if he already knew that I would end up staying in the end.

He walked over with a forlorn expression, took something out from inside his coat, and placed it on the table.

Then he took out a white cloth from his pocket and covered it.

“……”

I didn’t ask what it was.

I assumed it was one of Ainberg’s possessions, something he had dropped or lost in the confusion that Oz had kept and brought back.

“I’ll be on standby, so call me anytime.”

Oz paid his respects to me and went outside without making a sound.

Finally, an icy peace settled in the bedroom that had been full of chaos until just moments ago.

Only then could I examine Ainberg’s face in detail.

“……”

For someone who had nearly died a few hours ago, his face was strangely peaceful.

I carefully reached out and placed my finger under his nose.

A faint breath, and warm temperature.

Why does this make me feel relieved again?

But soon I withdrew my hand and turned my head.

‘I just don’t want you to die so suddenly. If you die, I won’t be able to resolve my concerns.’

Yes, that’s why I insisted on staying here.

Not because I’m worried about you.

So when you wake up and see me first, don’t be too moved.

I straightened my back and stood up, trying to escape my increasingly complicated feelings.

His bedroom suddenly caught my attention.

“……”

So this is your bedroom.

Your space that was never permitted to me even once.

I slowly examined Ainberg’s room. Instead of flashy and eye-catching decorations, it contained only calm furniture that seemed almost modest.

The only notable point was…

‘Why are there so many books in the bedroom?’

After scanning through the books on the shelves one by one, my gaze finally went to the table.

“……”

The item Oz had left earlier.

The object covered with a white cloth seemed quite important.

Observing it from the corner of my eye, I discovered that the corner of the white cloth was stained red.

‘He must have had it when he was attacked.’

Coming face to face with the bloodstain gave me an eerie feeling, but it also stimulated a primal curiosity.

I carefully reached out and removed the white cloth.

“This is….”