Three days passed.

However, Ariel still remained in a deep slumber.

Emperor Leopold Diaz visited her several times a day. At first, he thought she would wake up soon, but that hope gradually faded.

“Sigh…”

He put strength into his forehead and hesitated at the door.

Whether she avoids me or dislikes me, today, please wake up.

Even in an unconscious state, Leopold straightened his expression in case Ariel sensed any negative atmosphere.

He turned the doorknob.

Creak—!

When the door opened, May, who was sitting next to the bed, stood up.

“I greet Your Majesty with honor.”

The Emperor’s face, growing paler day by day, entered her eyes.

Leopold walked in with unsteady steps and sat heavily in an empty chair.

‘She still hasn’t regained consciousness.’

A lonely smile crept onto his lips.

“You’ve suffered a lot. I’ll watch over her so you can go out.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

May hesitated to say more but ended up leaving the room without saying anything further.

Creak.

Perhaps feeling guilty for not being able to protect her, the most distressed person must be Emperor Leopold.

May’s heart pacing in front of the room also trembled.

After hearing about Ariel through Evan, Marquis Louis Clark and Marchioness Rose rushed to the palace in one go.

Before them, His Majesty couldn’t say anything. Eventually, he had to leave the room due to Marchioness Rose’s sobbing.

―Ariel will hear you.

―Huh! She must snap out of it after hearing her mother crying!

Even the Emperor’s personal physician, Rodney, couldn’t explain why Ariel hadn’t woken up.

“Pulse, breathing, pupil response — everything is normal. But why she hasn’t woken up until now, I really don’t know.”

If there was a reason for this state, they just needed to solve the cause, but everything seemed normal. Leopold fell deeper into despair.

“Your Majesty… Please wake up soon. Everyone is waiting for you.”

Tears welled up in his eyes.

May tried not to cry. Eventually, she returned to her room just to rest her eyes for a moment while the Emperor remained present.

After May left, Leopold stood up from his seat and sat on the edge of the bed.

Neat eyebrows. Long eyelashes under the eyelids. A soft nose bridge. Firmly closed red lips.

There was nothing unlovely about Ariel.

Leopold stroked her hair.

The soft touch tickled between his fingers.

‘We’re this close, yet I feel like we’re further away than ever before.’

He swept her golden hair behind her ear.

According to Rodney, everything was normal.

Yet, no matter how much holy power Liese Willington, soon to be revered as a saint, poured in, Ariel’s consciousness did not return.

What could be the problem?

He tried to hide his sorrow in this space.

But as his thoughts drifted towards negativity, the devastation in his heart was plainly visible on his face.

“Ariel. I am grateful that you are alive. Thank you for being by my side, incomplete as I am.”

They were in the same space, just sharing breaths was something he was thankful for. He tried to console himself.

But he felt devastated. His heart was torn and rotting away.

His eyes reddened. Red veins bulged over the whites of his eyes.

Eventually, his true feelings spilled out.

“But, Ariel. That alone is not enough for me to hold on. Even if you wake up hating me… please, let me see myself in your beautiful eyes.”

He spoke in a calm tone, suppressing his explosive emotions.

Then he lay down beside Ariel.

The beginning of this journey might be long. He felt he had to do this to endure what was to come.

He slid his arm under Ariel’s neck, turned her face towards him, and wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her tightly.

Feeling Ariel’s warmth, his heart strangely found peace. A sense of stability came over his fear-filled heart.

Leopold kissed Ariel’s forehead.

“I love you.”

He finally voiced the words he had been too shy to say.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

‘I’m getting sleepy.’

For nearly three days, he had hardly slept or eaten, finishing this task and dealing with the remnants of the dark mages.

Yet, he had stayed by Ariel’s side whenever he could.

Using mental strength and mana to cope with his physical limitations, he had been incredibly busy.

‘It was hard to fall asleep…’

Despite Walter and Rodney’s nagging, he tried lying in bed but got up again when sleep wouldn’t come.

But then, magically, the smell of flesh and warm body temperature coming from Ariel made his eyelids move slowly.

“Ariel, I’ll sleep just a bit…”

Leopold eventually closed his eyes.

***

The next day. When the dazzling morning sun shone through the window, Leopold woke up, rubbing his eyes.

“Hmm… Ariel…”

He embraced Ariel without fully opening his eyes to the bright light.

This would give him the strength to live through today.

Suppressing his sorrow, Leopold’s throat moved up and down significantly.

That’s when it happened.

He felt something wriggling against his chest.

‘Could it be…’

She’s in a coma, but could it be that her body moved unconsciously?

Leopold raised his eyebrows while still keeping his eyes closed.

“Aren’t you getting up?”

Then, a voice he missed penetrated his ears.

Leopold reflexively opened his eyes wide, and a pair of emerald eyes were staring at him.

“Ariel. Am I dreaming?”

His red eyes trembled. Leopold reached out to caress Ariel’s cheek.

It’s warm. It’s not a dream but reality.

He moistened his dry lips with his tongue.

“It’s not a dream. Why are you so surprised as if you’ve seen something unbelievable?”

Ariel grumbled with a pouting expression.

Her lips moved adorably, filling his vision.

Ariel’s consciousness had really returned.

“Have you woken up?”

His throat tightened. The one thing he had desperately hoped for and wished for had come true while he was asleep.

“It’s been a while. I drank some water and went to the bathroom.”

Imagining her sneaking out like a thief and then coming back into his arms made him insanely fond of Ariel.

A wave of emotion passed through him. The joy he felt through Ariel gradually filled his heart.

Leopold’s eyes curved beautifully. As expected, his smile was enchanting.

“Today is the fourth day since you lost consciousness.”

“Has it been that long? No wonder. My legs felt weak.”

Ariel still lay down, tapping her legs lightly.

‘Four days…! That’s why Leopold was so shocked to see me awake.’

She quickly understood Leopold’s overly dramatic reaction.

“Should I massage them?”

“What, massage?”

Immediately after regaining consciousness, Ariel felt the curse break and her mana recover instantly.

So when she was about to collapse due to her weakened legs, she could support herself with mana.

“I’ll get up now.”

Ariel said nonchalantly as she tried to get up, but Leopold held her waist tightly and wouldn’t let go.

Trapped in his embrace, Ariel thought that the muscles under Leopold’s pajamas felt unusually firm and heavy today.

‘Everything is embarrassing.’

Before regaining consciousness, trapped in a dream, she realized only one thing: she was in love with Leopold.

Ariel’s cheeks reddened.

“Where are you going?”

Leopold, unaware of Ariel’s condition, hoped she would rest until her body and mind fully recovered.

“I’m hungry.”

What to do? She couldn’t bear the hunger. Ariel’s eyebrows drooped. She didn’t deliberately want to look pitiful.

She was really so hungry. Feeling empty inside made her look naturally pitiful.

Seeing her pitiful face, Leopold felt a surge of emotion welling up.

Tender and affectionate.

“I will have breakfast prepared immediately.”

“Will you really do that?”

“Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

“I would prefer something warm and soft.”

Leopold nodded quietly and, getting up from the bed, he poked his head outside the door and called for Richard to prepare breakfast and bring it to the room.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will attend to your requests.”

Through the crack of the open door, she could hear Richard’s voice, then the door closed.

Leopold quickly returned to Ariel. As he sat on the bed, Ariel got up.

Ariel’s expression facing him looked resolute.

“I have something to tell you while we eat breakfast.”

She had made her resolve while she was wandering through her subconscious. If she were to see Leopold’s face again, she would truthfully tell him everything.

About her true identity.

About her feelings towards him.

She wanted to tell him everything without hiding anything.