Though she had prepared herself to some extent, each and every word from Iris was so filthy it made her want to vomit.

It was horrifying to even breathe the same air as such a person.

Iris watched Cynthia’s contorting face with satisfaction and gently stroked her pink hair.

“Cia, my sister. You know, I liked you. I don’t care where Grandmother picked you up from or your unknown origins. You’re my sister. My attendant who should forever shine beside me.”

“Iris.”

“You love the Grand Duke, don’t you? And it seems he likes you too? Right?”

At this piercing question, Cynthia bit her lip tightly. It felt as if her heart had dropped to her feet.

“How pitiful. What can you do? Even if you love him, I’m the soulmate determined by the goddess.”

Iris said with a giggle.

“Love? How beautiful. Right? But if he loves you, the Grand Duke will die. If you want to save him, leave.”

“……”

Iris recited into Cynthia’s ear as if singing a song.

“You’ve heard nobles say that love is a luxurious emotion. That when a man and woman live together, rubbing flesh, their hearts naturally change.”

“Iris!”

“You, who have lived with the mission of saving people, will kill the Grand Duke for the first time. Because of such a trivial emotion.”

As Cynthia stiffened, Iris sneered and whispered again.

“Don’t worry. I’ll also offer a gift of consolation for my sister who will suffer from heartbreak.”

Iris took out a cracked pocket watch from her pocket and handed it to Cynthia.

“5:43. Turn back the time.”

Cynthia adjusted the time by turning the crown. Then a familiar voice came from the watch.

“Pl… please. ……Don’t touch Cynthia, my granddaughter.”

Cynthia’s eyes widened.

It was clearly her grandmother’s voice. But the other person’s voice couldn’t be heard.

“Please! Huck……”

Cynthia looked at Iris with trembling eyes. No more sounds came.

“This is just a small part containing Grandmother’s final moments. I kept it separately just in case, but I didn’t know it would be used like this.”

“……”

“Don’t look at me so frightfully. I’ll give you the real thing, I promise. But only after the Grand Duke and I safely complete our marriage and he becomes my husband. After all, I can’t use magic tools because of the magic he cast on me.”

Iris took out a contract from the table drawer. Cynthia surely knew what this was. Iris’s actions were meticulously planned as if prepared in advance.

“Read it and sign. Oh, right. I learned how to write such contracts from the Grand Duke.”

Iris cackled, saying it wasn’t a loss for Cynthia.

The contract stated that after leaving Kaisel’s side, once his birthday passed, the original magic tool containing the voice of the person who killed her grandmother would be handed over to Cynthia.

Cynthia, already planning to leave due to the Emperor’s command, squeezed her eyes shut.

“You must keep your promise.”

“Don’t worry. I’m desperate too.”

This time too, there was no lie in Iris’s words.

Cynthia finished signing with a calm expression. Then she added one thing.

She had no intention of backing down like this.

“I’ll tell you one thing too. The evidence I found isn’t all.”

Iris thought Cynthia was bluffing.

“Moonlight water lily. And I know all about you meeting Prince Felix at the temple. And you say you fell for Kaisel? Don’t lie too much.”

“……!”

“Lady Blewitt, called the flower of social circles, actually used hallucinogens strictly prohibited by the Emperor to control addicted nobles, and even used the Prince for an affair?”

Where on earth did she get such information?

“……That’s not true.”

For a moment, Iris lost the light in her confident eyes at the thought of her angelic image completely shattering.

“You can deny if you want. But listen well. Once Grandmother’s evidence comes into my hands, I’ll risk everything to report this matter.”

“……!”

“Don’t foolishly think you can detoxify the nobles addicted to hallucinogens. The Helix hospital has a method to detect hallucinogen addiction and its condition for up to five years. So until that day, don’t sleep or eat comfortably. Iris.”

“……”

Two months at most.

Cynthia, who had left Iris’s room trembling, staggered as soon as the door closed.

Then she moved her feet, squeezing out her last strength. From beyond Iris’s door came the loud sound of something being smashed.

❀❀❀

“Did the conversation end well?”

Mila looked at Cynthia with a worried expression. From her pale complexion, she vaguely sensed that things had ended in an unfavorable direction.

“It didn’t go well.”

“……”

Iris was someone who knew her weaknesses better than anyone. Not understanding her true nature was Cynthia’s mistake.

Mila’s face darkened. She quietly stepped aside.

Tap.

The sound of the door closing coldly echoed inside Kaisel’s bedroom.

“If you choose the evil dragon, you will inevitably remain weak until the end”

The goddess’s voice, coldly speaking to Cynthia through the blind saintess, was clear in her ears.

Cynthia wanted to report Iris to the Imperial Guard right now.

Though she knew intellectually that was right, her body wouldn’t move easily.

Because she loved Kaisel, the mere thought that he might die caused her heart-wrenching pain.

She didn’t even have the right to choose and decide something. Today, his curse felt especially resentful.

If Kaisel’s life wasn’t at stake, I would never have handed him over to an evil woman like Iris.

I have to leave.

The sadness of having to go without saying goodbye to Kaisel trickled down.

Don’t weaken your heart. It’s better than Kaisel dying. With time, seeing him will become easier too.

Cynthia brushed back Kaisel’s black hair. His face, sprouted with scales, looked very pitiful.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t answer Your Highness’s confession. You’re right that I’m running away because it’s burdensome. So please don’t look for me.”

Because your love is too big and warm for me to handle…… that’s why I’m running away scared.

Cynthia swallowed the words that lingered in her mouth.

“Still, I hope Your Highness won’t be sick. Please survive. Just that alone will help me endure.”

Cynthia gathered a bit of courage and kissed his cheek. It was a final farewell, delivered with a forced smile.

❀❀❀

Early dawn before sunrise.

Having already completed preparations to leave, Cynthia only carried a light bag.

After taking a final look at the cottage, she ran her hand over the herbs emitting fresh scents with a feeling of regret.

“Are you leaving?”

Cynthia’s green eyes trembled at Mila’s voice.

“You knew?”

Mila couldn’t answer and slowly nodded. Then she approached and took her light bag.

Cynthia spoke while taking in the cottage, the maple tree path, and the mansion one by one.

“Mila, I have a favor.”

“Please tell me.”

“……Even after I leave, I’ve prepared herbal tea and liqueur for His Highness in the cottage. You would know best where they are, so could I ask you? I can’t trust anyone else.”

Mila hugged Cynthia tightly.

Being shorter than Cynthia, it felt like Mila was the one being embraced.

It was behavior unlike her, who always maintained rigid etiquette.

Feeling a warm comfort from her desperate appearance, Cynthia greeted her.

“Won’t you stay at the grand ducal residence?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Then at least see the master’s face before you go.”

Cynthia couldn’t give any answer.

More than the Emperor’s command and the contract with Iris, she didn’t have the confidence to leave after seeing Kaisel’s face.

“I’m sorry for that too.”

The corners of Mila’s eyes, now distant from Cynthia’s embrace, drooped downward.

“I’m not blaming your choice. I know the contract period has ended, and that you have reasons. Just…… where are you going?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“……You’ll write letters occasionally, won’t you?”

“Yes. Once I settle down, I’ll definitely contact you.”

Cynthia embraced Mila once more. Then she slowly moved her steps.

In the cold dawn air, she silently gazed at the mansion one last time.

Hoping he would forget his memories of her, survive, and find happiness.

Cynthia endlessly looked back at the grand ducal residence, growing distant like a dot, from the hired carriage she had called in advance.