After sending Soniel back, I headed alone to Ainberg’s bedroom.

He’d probably expect me to come with Soniel today, so would he be disappointed if I came alone?

Well, even if he was disappointed, he wouldn’t say it out loud.

“I wonder if he’s better today.”

He had been someone who wouldn’t bleed a drop even if stabbed, always appearing like a massive mountain. A man of power who kept everything beneath his feet.

Seeing him wounded and lying in bed wasn’t particularly pleasant.

‘I’m not worried about him. Right, let’s just focus on his recovery. Let him recover completely first.’

With these thoughts, I stepped inside.

“Your Majesty.”

Ainberg was sitting up in bed, looking over some documents.

“Your Majesty, didn’t you hear that you need absolute rest?”

I quickly walked over, glaring at Oz once.

He stared at me with bewildered eyes and cleared his throat.

“I apologize, my lady.”

“Your Majesty, please leave the work to the council and rest now.”

As I approached, Ainberg put down the documents he was holding onto the blanket.

“There are many decisions to make.”

“Even so. Please entrust everything to the secretary and aide for now.”

Ainberg raised one eyebrow and said to me.

“Do you plan to treat me like a child?”

“No, I’m simply following the doctor’s orders.”

I picked up the documents Ainberg had put down and handed them back to Oz.

“When you’re sick, you should listen to the doctor.”

“I’m not sick.”

“No, Your Majesty, you’re still a patient.”

Ainberg stared at me intently.

I avoided his gaze and spoke sulkily.

“…You don’t want me to collapse from exhaustion while attending to you, do you?”

“I have no choice.”

He buried himself deeper into the pillows supporting his back and smiled gently.

“Is this good enough?”

“It would be better if you lay down a bit more.”

At my words, Ainberg rested his head more on the pillow.

‘…..’

What’s going on? Why is he doing everything I tell him to?

Something feels subtly different from usual.

“Good. Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

“I’m fine.”

Ainberg finally smiled faintly at my persistent questioning. His peacefully closed eyes looked more serene than ever before.

I instinctively realized that now was the right time.

I had so many questions for him.

From beginning to end, I had mysteries that needed resolution.

The most curious thing was still the handkerchief.

I felt I absolutely needed to hear his explanation or excuse or whatever about this.

Next was about Miamo.

Why he specifically took in my cat.

Lastly, I wanted to know why he met with Millean last night.

‘Of course, I doubt he’ll answer that one.’

But to ask these questions, I first needed to confirm that there was nothing wrong with Ainberg’s consciousness.

Last night, as soon as he opened his eyes, he looked at me with a strange gaze.

‘…How much do you remember?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Nothing? How can you say that?’

I need to know if it was just a prank to tease me or not.

Just then, Oz spoke to me.

“My lady, I heard that Miss Viper entered the palace this morning.”

He trailed off, studying my expression.

He seemed to find it strange that I hadn’t come with Soniel.

“She didn’t seem fully prepared, so I sent her back.”

He seemed somewhat surprised by my answer.

“Prepared?”

“Yes, but there’s no issue. She’ll return later this afternoon or tomorrow morning.”

Oz asked me with eyes that still showed lack of understanding.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

I answered with a gentle smile.

“No, it’s fine.”

Oz still looked puzzled but didn’t ask further.

“Then please continue your conversation.”

After Oz left, I adjusted my posture, ready to unleash my questions in earnest.

“Your Majesty, are you feeling a bit better now?”

Ainberg stared at me silently for a moment before speaking.

“No.”

No?

But he just said he was fine a moment ago?

I didn’t know how to respond to this negative answer.

Gathering my wits, I asked Ainberg.

“Where are you uncomfortable? Should I adjust your position?”

“……”

“The pillow might be a bit too high.”

While I was flustering about not knowing what to do, he dropped a dry statement in front of me.

“It feels empty.”

“…Pardon? What feels empty? From what I can see, the pillow is very well stuffed.”

I was blinking in confusion at his incomprehensible words.

Ainberg languidly opened his mouth again.

“Sienna Viper.”

Then he suddenly called my name.

For a moment, I felt my blood run cold.

Did he just… call me Sienna?

But that’s not who I am now!

‘It must be a mistake. Or is he joking?’

A scene from the past overlapped, but I deliberately ignored it.

‘What’s wrong with him, really!’

After barely suppressing my bewildered feelings, I spoke calmly.

“Your Majesty, why mention the Empress’s name?”

“Is that your name?”

“What?”

Ainberg didn’t seem to be joking.

Nor did he look like someone who had lost his mind.

He had the face of the Emperor I knew and always faced, but.

He was acting like a completely different person.

Like his soul had left his body—

Wait, this pattern seems very familiar.

“I’ll call the doctor—”

“Wait.”

I hesitantly stood up, but Ainberg’s voice held me back.

“If Sienna Viper is the Empress’s name, then are you Leonora Chadmon?”

“……”

Confused emotions completely blocked my throat, preventing me from speaking properly.

I could only nod my head a couple of times.

Something’s wrong.

“Your Majesty, do you know who you are?”

“……”

Why aren’t you answering, you jerk!

I quickly extended two fingers and waved them in front of him.

“Can you tell how many these are?”

No, that’s not right.

“Your Majesty, can you tell which is left and which is right?”

That’s not right either.

“I think I should call a doctor. Something… something seems to be wrong with Your Majesty right now.”

“It feels like jumbled things that aren’t organized.”

“Your Majesty.”

“I’ve lost something very important.”

Ainberg looked at me with somewhat unfocused eyes.

His gaze was so alarming that I unconsciously gulped.

“…Have you told your aide about this?”

Ainberg shook his head in response.

“This is a serious matter, so I think we should first inform the chief aide.”

But again, Ainberg shook his head.

“I want only you to know.”

“…Pardon?”

Such a critical issue as Ainberg being different from before, something unusual happening to him—he wants only me to know about this?

“As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw you, and you were the one who stayed by my unconscious side the longest.”

“……”

He’s not a baby bird just hatched from an egg.

What is he saying right now!

“Your Majesty, so you don’t remember anything?”

“That’s not it.”

Ainberg closed his eyes and continued.

“Right now, I know who I am and what I need to do. But there are memories in between that don’t connect.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“And they seem to be very important memories.”

“Oh my goodness.”

This was no small matter.

Anyone would quickly notice after just a few words of conversation that he had lost his memory and wasn’t normal.

With Foil Viper raising a private army and scheming, if he realized the Emperor’s condition wasn’t good.

The thought alone was terrifying.

‘He could create a justification for rebellion if he wanted to. He’s been lying low only because Ainberg has been healthy and strong.’

Swallowing a sigh inwardly, I said to Ainberg.

“Then what about just now? Weren’t you working with your aide?”

“You.”

Ainberg tilted his head to one side and said to me.

“I haven’t lost my ability to read.”

“Right, that’s… that’s good.”

Yes, it’s a bit disconcerting, but he’ll be fine soon.

It’s just temporary.

It won’t be a big problem.

“It’s probably because you were asleep for so long. With enough rest, you’ll get better, so don’t worry too much.”

This was also meant for myself.

Then a thought suddenly occurred to me.

“Your Majesty, did you meet High Priest Millean yesterday?”

Ainberg shook his head.

“Why did you look for the High Priest yesterday?”

“I had a feeling he could solve this problem.”

“Why couldn’t you meet the High Priest?”

“They say he’s not at the temple.”

Yes, that was typical of Millean Hartmann.

“For now… you need to rest. Your Majesty needs stability right now.”

I tried to calm my own heart while arranging Ainberg’s blanket.

Meanwhile, Ainberg spoke again.

“I have something to ask.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

I was afraid of what Ainberg might ask.

Still, I deliberately maintained a calm expression so he wouldn’t worry, waiting for his question.

“If you are Leonora Chadmon, then where is Sienna Viper?”

“……”

Oh, d*mn.

This problem seems more serious than I thought.