Sabine opened her eyes wide and quickly looked around.

“What? Now?”

I had blurted it out impulsively, but thinking again, it didn’t seem like the wisest action.

When my expression turned serious, Sabine carefully spoke.

“You want to assess the situation?”

“Perhaps it’s better not to go. The timing isn’t good.”

I’d already caused unnecessary misunderstandings by lingering around the Empress’s quarters before.

“Yes, even my going might raise suspicion, so I’ll find out indirectly.”

“Good, please check what’s happening now.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Though I wanted to confirm with my own eyes.

This was exactly when I needed to be cautious.

I couldn’t meet Ainberg, and the situation with Levi still felt like something stuck in my chest.

Just as I was returning to my room with a gloomy mood, I saw my brother Allentain and Soniel walking side by side in the distance.

My brother’s expression looked relaxed, but Soniel still seemed quite tense.

Strangely, seeing the two of them together made my sunken spirits lift a little.

‘Brother must have been kind to her.’

My lips curled up involuntarily at the heartwarming thought.

Just then, Soniel spotted me first and raised one hand to wave enthusiastically, but quickly lowered it in surprise.

She had expressed her delight without thinking about my brother’s presence, then suddenly came to her senses.

‘How cute.’

My brother handed Soniel over to me and turned away with a gentlemanly smile.

After confirming my brother had completely disappeared, I said to Soniel.

“I’m sorry, Soniel. I had something urgent to discuss with Sir Merten.”

“Not at all! I enjoyed walking with someone I like—I mean, someone good. Sir Chadmon is so kind and gentle and knowledgeable. He knows the imperial palace inside out.”

Then, perhaps thinking she had talked too much, she hastily closed her mouth.

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

“I’m glad you had a good time. Thank you for saying so, even though it must have been awkward and uncomfortable.”

“Awkward and uncomfortable? Not at all.”

“My brother isn’t very talkative, so he probably wasn’t the best conversation partner.”

“He was by far the best person I’ve conversed with so far. No, I mean, you’re first of course, my lady.”

Just as I was listening to Soniel tell me about aspects of my brother Allentain I hadn’t known—

“Miss.”

Sabine walked in looking somewhat flushed.

However, upon seeing Soniel, she closed her mouth again.

I waved my hand and said to Sabine.

“It’s fine, go ahead.”

Sabine glanced once more in Soniel’s direction.

“Soniel knows everything.”

Soniel looked puzzled for a moment, but soon seemed to realize an unusual conversation was about to begin.

Meanwhile, Sabine seemed to want to confirm my words once more and asked quietly.

“When you say she knows…”

“Everything.”

“……”

“So tell me quickly. Is there any news?”

Sabine began speaking with a determined expression.

“It seems certain that the Empress has disappeared. They appeared to be trying to contain it until this morning, but now the rumors seem to be spreading uncontrollably.”

At those words, Soniel was startled and opened her eyes wide.

She looked back and forth between Sabine and me, unable to ask anything.

“My lady.”

I spoke to Soniel, who was blushing and at a loss for what to do.

“It seems the Empress has disappeared, as Sabine says.”

“W-what did you say?”

Soniel stared at me intently, her face turning pale.

She seemed unable to comprehend the news that the Empress had disappeared.

“I don’t know exactly what will happen yet. But I think we all need to prepare ourselves mentally.”

“My lady.”

Soniel slowly closed her eyes.

As if trying to suppress her rising anxiety, she took a deep breath and then opened her eyes toward me.

“Has my father finally made his move?”

“I don’t know yet. But if Lord Viper planned this…”

At that moment, a thought crossed my mind.

“It’s not that Lord Viper planned it, but someone wants to make it look like he did.”

I felt I could vaguely understand Ainberg’s plan.

At the news of the Empress’s disappearance, even Soniel, his daughter, was suspecting Foil.

What if Ainberg was aiming for this very situation?

“My lady, what do you mean?”

When I muttered with my brows tightly knit, Soniel carefully opened her mouth again.

“What do you mean by making it look planned?”

“I think I understand His Majesty’s intentions somewhat.”

Soniel seemed to want to know what I was thinking, but she didn’t ask.

I could understand her feelings.

She must be curious but also afraid.

“Then what should I do now?”

“You’ve been with me in the imperial palace all along. For His Majesty’s health. The reason is clear and there are many witnesses. So don’t worry too much.”

“My lady.”

Soniel bit her lip and nodded with a determined expression.

I took her small hand and added one more thing.

“Trust me. I won’t let you get hurt, Soniel.”

❀❀❀

That night, perhaps due to accumulated worries, my body felt tired.

Sabine insisted I should rest early on days like this, so I lay down in the early evening, but sleep wouldn’t come.

I was thinking about reading a book when something occurred to me.

“Sabine.”

“Yes, Miss. Did you call?”

“Could you teach me how to sew?”

Sabine blinked a couple of times and asked again.

“Sewing? Do you have something that needs mending? I can do it for you.”

“No, that’s not it.”

I rubbed the back of my neck and chuckled.

“I don’t know how to do many things. I feel like I should learn at least one thing properly.”

“Ah.”

Sabine seemed to finally understand my intention and playfully stretched her lips.

“I see you have someone you want to give a gift to.”

At those words, Ainberg’s face immediately came to mind.

But I couldn’t tell Sabine that, so I hastily changed the subject.

“Which is easier, embroidery or knitting?”

Sabine tilted her head and answered.

“What kind of gift are you thinking of? They’re both similar, Miss.”

What do I want to make for Ainberg?

Instead of a handkerchief with crooked embroidery, I wanted to give him something more impressive.

At least something Ainberg wouldn’t be embarrassed by.

“I think something practical would be good.”

“Then how about making a scarf or muffler before the weather gets cold?”

A muffler.

Somehow I couldn’t quite imagine Ainberg wearing a muffler.

“You mean knitting? Would that be better than embroidery?”

“Yes, you’ll pick up knitting quickly. But who are you planning to give it to?”

Look how persistent Sabine is.

“I was thinking of giving it to His Majesty.”

When I answered casually, Sabine covered her mouth with both hands.

“Oh my, Miss.”

“It’s not a big deal. I just can’t sleep right now. I need something to fidget with when I can’t sleep.”

I offered explanations without being asked. Sabine pressed her lips together to suppress a smile and nodded.

“Then I’ll teach you knitting first. You can practice step by step with a muffler, and later it would be so meaningful if you made vests for your princess and prince with your own hands.”

“W-what?”

I froze at her sudden words.

Make a vest for whom?

Trying to hide my flushing face, I deliberately laughed loudly.

“Sabine, aren’t you getting ahead of yourself? What princess’s vest—”

“Getting ahead? It doesn’t seem that far off to me.”

Sabine kept smiling as she trailed off.

“That’s not it! Really, you.”

“I’m sorry, Miss. Anyway, I’ll prepare the yarn and needles.”

Sabine giggled and turned around with a happy face.

“Rest well.”

“Yes, thank you.”

With that, Sabine modestly left the bedroom.

But in the quiet, the regular footsteps suddenly stopped with a strange sound of breathing.

Something seems off.

“…Sabine?”

As I craned my neck at the noticeably changed atmosphere, the footsteps resumed.

But this time, it wasn’t Sabine.

They were footsteps that felt both rough and heavy.

Additionally, there was no response from Sabine.

I completely got out of bed and put on my slippers.

“Sabine?”

Just as I cautiously called out while pressed against the doorway. The closed door slowly opened, and a completely unexpected person walked in.